tvdinner&amovie

By: Nicole + Will

One Tree Hill is back! Whether or not you appreciate the soap-y goodness of the many, varied storylines (i.e., Peyton’s fake half-brother Derek) this show has offered up each season, you have to respect that OTH survived for nine seasons. That’s a “Beverly Hills 90210 staying on the air long after Brandon and Brenda left” level of epicness when it comes to teen dramas.

We went into this season knowing two potentially great things: Lucas is back and a killer is on running around Tree Hill. Will the two be related? Who knows! But instead of trying to connect any dots, let’s revel in the triumphant return (and last season) of one of the few shows to survive losing two of its main characters.

• Why wasn’t the intro real-life in Tree Hill? Sure, the dramatic opening had Dan with a gun and Chris Keller (????), the usually dry Quinn and Clay having a full-blown argument and Brooke flipping out, all of which was great. But why not start the season off with tantrums, (possible) arson, and back-alley beatings? What’s the reason for the tease?

• Last season strayed from the usual Gavin Degraw’s ‘I Don’t Want To Be’ as the opening theme and instead went with weekly variations on the OTH classic. This season opened with….nothing.
• Chris Keller has returned and he still talks in third person. This means that someone’s relationship isn’t going to be the same. The easy bet is on Alex since we’ve already been down that road with Haley. Maybe the writers will really make it interesting and let him mix and mingle with all the ladies on the show.
• Limited amounts of Jamie! Hurray! He was a cute kid a few seasons ago. However, cute turns to annoying quite seamlessly when you’re at that age.

• Can Alex (Jana Kramer) have a spin-off when this train-wreck ends? Maybe on Showtime? HBO? Hell, even Skinemax would work. Remember when they let Brooke be that sexy?

• Brooke’s dad, Ted, is played by Richard Burgi (Desperate Housewives aka another show that overstayed its welcome and is wrapping up this year). Hopefully we aren’t forced into episodes dedicated to his character. Honestly, it’s the last season and we don’t care to learn that much about him.

• Someone – like the director – needs to explain why Clay is sleepwalking by next week. Besides them getting shot, Clay and Quinn are very blah. If this some cheap ploy to make their coupledom exciting and intense….we’re going to be ultra mad….unless it’s actually and exciting and intense plot, then we’re cool with it.
• When Dan Scott is around something catastrophic is not too far away, whether he is directly involved or not. Plus, Lucas is coming back and unlike Nathan, he doesn’t play all that nice with Daddy Dan.

Next Week on One Tree Hill: In the Room Where You Sleep