One Tree Hill producers really know how to pull the rug from underneath their viewers’ feet just when the ground appears to be stable. It’s just shocking news after shocking news in this week’s episode. After last week’s fun and amusing episode, the show takes a 90 degree turn for sadness and depression. The episode was a tear-jerker, and for someone who cries easily to fictional TV shows, I had a box of Kleenex at my side the whole time.
We’re told by Taylor, that David dumped her. It’s not that shocking, in fact, that was probably the least bit of shocking news in this week’s episode. How she expected Quinn to sympathize for her was beyond me. For some oddly strange reason, I though David and Taylor were done two weeks ago….
“Oh look, 6 letters across, superficial b**** - Taylor.”
-Quinn
This week’s episode introduced a familiar face back to the show, Haley’s mom, whom we haven’t seen since season one. She’s back, and as predicted from the preview, she brought bad news with her. I had a feeling she was sick and dying, cause no news can be more shocking than death.
Even more shocking, though, was the information that Haley’s dad had past away! Now, although I’m not a die-hard fan of the show, I have watched every episode since the pilot…when did Dad die? And if Dad’s been away all these years, what was Mom doing? Traveling around the world by herself in a large and quiet RV? Some questions may never get answered.
So we find out that Dad’s gone to Heaven and Mom’s not too far away thanks to pancreatic cancer. Everything’s falling apart for the girls, and Taylor takes her anger out by boycotting the family and running away. Sounds just like Taylor.
“She’s gone, I couldn’t keep her. I’m not the glue. My mom is. And when she’s gone, everything is going to fall apart.”
-Haley
Another depressing story is the one going on with Julian and Brooke. As much as I love drama, I feel the drama’s not moving anywhere and I find myself feeling tired watching the same conversations taking place about how Julian still loves Brooke, and Brooke still loves Julian, but they can’t be together because of Julian’s stupidity and Brooke’s pride. And of course, there’s also the fact that Alex is in love with Julian. However, from what we saw this week, she’s also falling for Alexander – or maybe it’s just a diversion – I’m not sure.
“I don’t drink when I’m upset – I sleep with boys.”
-Alex
I’m also not sure what is going on between Miranda and Grubbs. It just seemed like a completely different show that is too far and too irrelevant to One Tree Hill’s main story lines and characters. Miranda is supposedly Haley’s agent – ok. And Grubbs is a bartender – ok. But I honestly feel that there are ten too many story lines within the show, and that just confuses viewers.
With Millie’s story, at least it’s somewhere revolved around the main story line, and it helps that she’s a regular cast member. I just feel, however, that her story line with cocaine can be rather shorter and much more simple than what One Tree Hill producers are making it out to be.
“I keep telling everyone that I’m fine. But truth is….I’m not fine.”
-Millie
It seems that these last few episodes have slacked on the characters of Nathan and Clay – who, by the way, are 2/3 of the show’s male leads! But I guess that’s what happens when there are too many characters and too many story line going on at once. It’s confusing for viewers to follow everything and everyone, so producers keep some and sacrifice others. It comforts me a little, though, knowing that the first half of the season was focused on them.
However, I am highly anticipating next week’s episode 1) because Bethany Joy Galeotti (Haley) is directing the episode, and 2) because a Sara (Clay’s dead wife) look-a-like will appear – I loved Sara’s character and I thought her and Clay were a perfect match. But with Sara will most likely come the drama between Clay and Quinn, and Clay trying to figure out what it all means.
I also hope Julian figures out what it all means in his story and life too – because this 4-way pushing and pulling between him, Brooke, Alex, and Alexander is making me very impatient.
Chloe Nguyen is a sophomore at the University of Utah and an intern at KTVX/KUCW.
