One Tree Hill One Tree Hill

[ArchieLucasCarringtonEwing1989]

I loved this show, it will I believe, become a cult classic in the coming years, especially for those who were teenagers in the 00s.

It premiered in the same year as The more glamorous, bigger hit, THE O.C. in 2003, yet outlasted it by several years.

OTH was the closest we got to an 80s style prime time soap in the 00s and I would say that and DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES are the true successors of DALLAS, KNOTS and DYNASTY.

The premise certainly could've easily have aired in 1983 as it did in 2003;
Two feuding brothers, one illegitimate, one legitimate, another set of brothers, one the villain of the series, the other the more thoughtful and decent brother, troubled teenage girl, a rich but abandoned teenage girl, and the nerdy cute girl who saves the the bad boy of Tree Hill High from becoming like his father.

The show did delve into the melodramatic and outlandish at times, but it was actually acceptable as OTH succeeded where THE OC failed, it told a good story about each individual character, there was redemption for even Dan Scott, paving the way for Victoria Davis to step into the villain role in later seasons, and she herself was redeemed.

The characters felt as real as your next door neighbor or your best mate from sixth form, it was like PEYTON PLACE in the 60s had a fling with KNOTS in the 80s and produced OTH in the 00s and the result was beautiful.

My favourite character has to be Brooke Davis as she evolves the most over the course of the series and is without a family of her own for most the series run, and my favourite relationship has to be Brooke/Lucas, they brought out the best in each other and taught each other a lot about the world, something which Peyton couldn't do for Lucas at that time, it was a shame CMM was a dick and ruined Brucas because it was clear that they were going to be endgame!

Anyone else a fan of this series? I may rewatch it again if it's on Netflix

 

[Soaplover]

One tree hill...it started right after I finished college...but I admit I had a crush on Hilarie Burton from her MTV VJ days so thats why I checked it out.

If i were to compare it to an 80s soap...i would agree it had the family loyalty and rivarly of a Dallas (replace Oil with basketball)...yet it was about a community as well...so it had a more Knots Landing vibe as well... even though the characters got wealthier (especially Brooke when her fashion line took off)..they still maintained their roots and didnt go over the top.

They had their villians in Dan with his wife Deb as a Sue Ellen type....we had a strong female friendship trio with Peyton/Brooke/Hailey that hung out like girlfriends and didnt only talk about their boyfriends (like val/karen/laura/ginger in the early years).

To me a Dallas/knots landing hybrid...soapy but with an Ingmar Bergman undertone.

 

[Jason73]

Anyone else a fan of this series? I may rewatch it again if it's on Netflix

It's my second favorite show, after Knots Landing. I've watched the entire series three times now and I'm sure I will re-watch in the future. My favorites were Nathan and Brooke.

Speaking of Knots and OTH, Abby met Lucas this weekend at a screening of his new show.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

One of the threads I'm saddest to have lost from the old forum was the one in which I watched OTH for the first time a year or two back. Thanks to sharing the experience with some passionate fans of the show as well as a couple of others discovering the show along with me it became one of the most memorable and profound viewing experiences of my life.

While I don't fully get the Eighties prime time thing, that's not a problem for me. Not everything has to have a parallel with something I watched earlier, and OTH was very much a unique experience. That said, I did recognise a big heartedness and emotional intelligence in common with Knots.

One Tree Hill is responsible for the single biggest shock I had as a viewer. I won't elaborate on in case anyone hasn't got to it yet, but I'm sure seasoned viewers will know which event I mean.

As for favourite characters: well, they were growers for me. The ones that grabbed me early on were quickly outgrown and the characters I found quite off-putting at first grew to become my favourites. Dan, Brooke and Nathan are examples of the latter. Dan is one of the most fascinating TV characters I've ever watched. His journey was riveting.

Speaking of Knots and OTH, Abby met Lucas this weekend at a screening of his new show.

It's been some time since I watched and I was wondering if things have changed but... nope. I still want to slap the smug right off his face.

 

[ArchieLucasCarringtonEwing1989]

One tree hill...it started right after I finished college...but I admit I had a crush on Hilarie Burton from her MTV VJ days so thats why I checked it out.

If i were to compare it to an 80s soap...i would agree it had the family loyalty and rivarly of a Dallas (replace Oil with basketball)...yet it was about a community as well...so it had a more Knots Landing vibe as well... even though the characters got wealthier (especially Brooke when her fashion line took off)..they still maintained their roots and didnt go over the top.

They had their villians in Dan with his wife Deb as a Sue Ellen type....we had a strong female friendship trio with Peyton/Brooke/Hailey that hung out like girlfriends and didnt only talk about their boyfriends (like val/karen/laura/ginger in the early years).

To me a Dallas/knots landing hybrid...soapy but with an Ingmar Bergman undertone.

Yes I agree with your view on OTH, it was very Dallas/Knots hybrid, never thought of the Ingmar Bergman undertone before, interesting.

OTH is definitely a unique experience, some of the stand alone episodes are some of the best I've ever seen, OTH was good at telling a stand alone story that was off the beaten track of the main story of the season, Dan Scott definitely is one of televisions best creations, his journey is quite a ride, you go from hating him to rooting for him by the end.

Nathan Scott also a great character, he was a douche bag at first but then he became a solid, dependable friend, husband and father, I do find it ironic that Lucas and Nathan basically switch roles in later seasons, Nathan is the cad in the beginning and Lucas is the quiet one, then Nathan becomes a one woman man while Lucas becomes the heartbreaker.

I liked how the nice characters didn't become nauseating and still had flaws that others acknowledged them having, unlike characters like Jeff Colby from DYNASTY and Brandon Walsh from BH 90210, they never felt relatable as the nice guys, heck I found Nathan Scott more interesting then those two, because he was relatable.

 

[Soaplover]

Yes I agree with your view on OTH, it was very Dallas/Knots hybrid, never thought of the Ingmar Bergman undertone before, interesting.

OTH is definitely a unique experience, some of the stand alone episodes are some of the best I've ever seen, OTH was good at telling a stand alone story that was off the beaten track of the main story of the season, Dan Scott definitely is one of televisions best creations, his journey is quite a ride, you go from hating him to rooting for him by the end.

Nathan Scott also a great character, he was a douche bag at first but then he became a solid, dependable friend, husband and father, I do find it ironic that Lucas and Nathan basically switch roles in later seasons, Nathan is the cad in the beginning and Lucas is the quiet one, then Nathan becomes a one woman man while Lucas becomes the heartbreaker.

I liked how the nice characters didn't become nauseating and still had flaws that others acknowledged them having, unlike characters like Jeff Colby from DYNASTY and Brandon Walsh from BH 90210, they never felt relatable as the nice guys, heck I found Nathan Scott more interesting then those two, because he was relatable.

Another thing that made me think this was more like Knots wad the fact that the show evolved past the original premise od two half brothers that were rivals on a basketball team.

The show became more of an ensemble hence why the show was able to survove both Lucas and Peyton's departures.

Had the quality continued, I bet it would have even survived Brooke leaving, if Sophia Bush opted to leave.

 

[ArchieLucasCarringtonEwing1989]

One of the threads I'm saddest to have lost from the old forum was the one in which I watched OTH for the first time a year or two back. Thanks to sharing the experience with some passionate fans of the show as well as a couple of others discovering the show along with me it became one of the most memorable and profound viewing experiences of my life.

While I don't fully get the Eighties prime time thing, that's not a problem for me. Not everything has to have a parallel with something I watched earlier, and OTH was very much a unique experience. That said, I did recognise a big heartedness and emotional intelligence in common with Knots.

One Tree Hill is responsible for the single biggest shock I had as a viewer. I won't elaborate on in case anyone hasn't got to it yet, but I'm sure seasoned viewers will know which event I mean.

As for favourite characters: well, they were growers for me. The ones that grabbed me early on were quickly outgrown and the characters I found quite off-putting at first grew to become my favourites. Dan, Brooke and Nathan are examples of the latter. Dan is one of the most fascinating TV characters I've ever watched. His journey was riveting.





It's been some time since I watched and I was wondering if things have changed but... nope. I still want to slap the smug right off his face.

Ooh what shock!? ;-)

 

[ArchieLucasCarringtonEwing1989]

Another thing that made me think this was more like Knots wad the fact that the show evolved past the original premise od two half brothers that were rivals on a basketball team.

The show became more of an ensemble hence why the show was able to survove both Lucas and Peyton's departures.

Had the quality continued, I bet it would have even survived Brooke leaving, if Sophia Bush opted to leave.

Yes OTH did survive the departures of several major characters well, because it was an ensembled cast
Especially from season 2 onwards, I think the show could've survived with a mostly new cast.

I hope Netflix does a sort of reunion series with all the cast at some point in the future.

 

[JROG]

Finished Season 2, and what fun it was! For the second season in a row, Dan provides us with the cliffhanger. First he has a heart attack, then he gets poisoned and someone tries to barbecue him alive! What fun!

There is one thing, however, I cannot in any way, absolutely not, never will, can't do it, impossible, stand..... those super long jeans Lucas wears, which he then... he then... he pairs them with flip flops!!!!!!!! I cannot. Ew. Nasty. I've considered quitting the show several times because of this.

 

[ArchieLucasCarringtonEwing1989]

Finished Season 2, and what fun it was! For the second season in a row, Dan provides us with the cliffhanger. First he has a heart attack, then he gets poisoned and someone tries to barbecue him alive! What fun!

There is one thing, however, I cannot in any way, absolutely not, never will, can't do it, impossible, stand..... those super long jeans Lucas wears, which he then... he then... he pairs them with flip flops!!!!!!!! I cannot. Ew. Nasty. I've considered quitting the show several times because of this.

Lucas was a victim of bad fashion choices in the mid 2000s

 

[ClassyCo]

Now that I have Netflix, I've started watching One Tree Hill. I've only watched the first nine episodes, but luckily it has the entire series, so I'm gradually going to make my way through it.

 

[Alexis]

I have decided that the time is right for Alexis to visit One Tree Hill. It took a red wine hangover to bring me to this point. Wish me luck in my journey.

 

[Alexis]

Well I watched the first 4 episodes today and I have enjoyed it. It doesn't instantly hit you as a soap. The pilot has that slow build story feeling. It sometimes reminded me of Gilmore Girls although without the comedy. I think the show is going to be very, very character driven which can only be a good thing. It doesn't feel very clichéd soapy, also a very good thing. Every episode doesn't have that cliff hanger ending. I'm guess I'm going to get storylines that take a long while to reach climax and that there will be more pay off.

More thoughts later.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

I think the show is going to be very, very character driven which can only be a good thing.

I'm guess I'm going to get storylines that take a long while to reach climax and that there will be more pay off.

Yes. Yes. And thrice yes.

I'm glad you're diving in, Alexis and will look forward to reading your thoughts as you watch. My first viewing a couple of years ago is one of the more profound TV series journeys I've been on.

Keep watching. You will be richly rewarded for sticking with it. And whatever you do (as tempting as it may be)... google nothing to do with the show.

 

[Canon]

One Tree Hill had me at "I never had a Dad who wished I was a stain on the bed sheets."

 

[Alexis]

Yes... The biggest bitches on this show are men.

 

[ArchieLucasCarringtonEwing1989]

Yes... The biggest bitches on this show are men.

Nathan is especially snarky in the early seasons, glad to hear your going to visit Tree Hill @Alexis, it'll have you laughing, crying, shocked all at once at times.

OTH is one of my favourite shows of the 2000s, its like a frame by frame snap shot of an era, trying to find itself, just like the characters are, and at the same time you'll realise how much more simplistic the 00s were, I do hope next year there will be some sort of reunion, especially since by 2018 it'll been 15 years (I know 2003 will be vintage and ripe for nostalgia) since it aired.

 

[Alexis]

So I watched on, maybe to like episode 7. Sorry, I haven't even looked at an episode title since I watched. I am just bunging the dvds in and hitting play all. There is a nice sense of cosiness about One Tree Hill. It feels very Middle America and I weirdly like that. The high school, the basketball, working as a mechanic and running a café, prom queens and varsity jackets. It all feels cosy and warm and familiar and yet very fragile. Like something is going to happen and tear it all apart. Though, what? I don't know. I remember some bits and pieces from these episodes from the first time it aired here so I must have at least tried to get into it then. I can see why I didn't at the time though. It isn't really a glamour soap at all. I was too taken with The O.C and it's glossiness and had no interest in a soap that was seemingly about high school basket ball. The music probably didn't help it's cause with me either. Even now the music is a little annoying. Not unlike the original Melrose Place, ok maybe not as annoying as that. With One Tree Hill it sounds like a busker is just quietly tuning up his guitar someplace just off camera... Always. With Melrose Place an obnoxious Slash wannabe was raping an Electric guitar every time a character opened the fridge or farted or did anything. I'll take that sensitive busker please.

The dynamics of the show are interesting. Of course warring brothers isn't a new thing in soaps. In fact it's been done to death. Though here we have two sets of warring brothers. One set of brothers being the other set's respective, (or non respective) fathers. That is just so juicy right from the get go. A father who abandoned his high school sweet heart and his first born son, and then quickly moves on to find a new woman and start a perfect family with her. His big brother stepping into pick up the pieces and so setting up a long running rivalry and seasons worth of juicy drama.

Dan Scott is just disgustingly vile as a character, and Nathan his legitimate son seems to be shaping up to be a mini me of his daddy. Where as Keith Scott, Dan's older brother seems a solid, dependable but maybe slightly tortured man and shock and horror Lucas seems to be shaping up just like his stand in daddy. Then there are the love interests. I full heartedly expected both Dan and Keith's love interests to venomously hate each other as would be the standard for a soap opera. They don't. They get on very well, if not a little careful with each other at times. But that's refreshing to see these two women have some sort of common ground in the awkwardness and not become token bitches. And like I previously mentioned maybe One Tree Hill has it's quota of bitches already filled with Dan and Nathan?

The younger female leads are also not what I expected. Peyton is a not so cheery cheerleader who likes dark music and being gloomy on webcam in her spare time when she's not angry at herself for dating Nathan who she never seemed that into. In fairness he never seemed that into her either.
Haley who seems all sweetness and light and much too nice to be in the vicinity of Nathan or Dan. Like you just know she's a moving target for one of them. She's bound to have a "Carrie" moment before the season ends. Nathan cant stop being a bitch, not even for saintly Haley. Then there is Brooke she feels like the most "stock character" to me. She's the sassy perky cheerleader type. She speaks like a cheerleader and she knows all the moves. She's sharp and feisty and maybe a little mean at times. Though I think I'm only just seeing the exterior of Brooke I'm thinking she's deeper than a very deep thing.

Well that's my initial thoughts and feelings on watching the first few episodes. I don't expect to post episode by episode. That would take me out of the show too much and maybe make me over think it. I will likely just post random rambles here as I watch.

 

[Alexis]

Right now though my big dilemma is which brother am I attracted to most... And yes I know James Lafferty was like 17 when he did the pilot. But he don't really look it...

I'd say back then I would have been all about Lucas. Now... Hello Nathan!

 

[ArchieLucasCarringtonEwing1989]

Peyton was the one character that irritated me, she really was lucky to have had Brooke as a friend despite the amount of times she hurt her.

Karen was epitome of the good mum to almost everyone even Nathan, who I guess Is her quasi stepson of sorts?

I think its a shame that we never got a flashback of Karen, Keith, Dan and Deb in the the 1980s, yet I kinda like that we don't see it, aa it keeps their past somewhat mysterious.