This series was one of my favorite series of all time. And the soundtracks are amazingly awesome. Characters are realistic and I loved them. How I wish that during the 9th season Lucas and Peyton will come back. I've missed them so much and reading the tweet from Chad was such a relief coz I am hoping that he'd come back because of the petitions and requests by the subscribers. The show was renewed for a ninth season, with 13-episode order. Original cast member Bethany Joy Galeotti, Sophia Bush are signed on for a final season, while James Lafferty is expected to return part-time. Season 9 will be the final season, and will air mid-season.
One Tree Hill is an American teen, young adult television drama created by Mark Schwan, which premieres on September 23, 2003 on The WB Television Network. After its third season, The WB merged with UPN to form The CW Television Network, and since September 27, 2006 the network is the official braodcaster for the show in the USA. The show is is set in fictional town Tree Hill in North Carolina and originally follows the lives of two half-brothers, Lucas Scott and Nathan Scott. Their relationship evolves from heartless enemies to caring brothers, and the basketball drama, as well as the brothers; on-again/off-again romances with female characters, are significant elements within the series.
The first four seasons of the show focus on the main characters' high school years. With the beginning of the fifth season, Schwahn decided to skip the timeline four years ahead, showing their lives after college. In the seventh season, he adjusted the timeline fourteen months into the future after sixth season. The opening credits were originally intertwined with the song "I Don't Want To Be" by Gavin DeGraw playing in the background. The theme was removed from the opening in the fifth season; Schwahn said the decision was made to lower production costs, add more time for the storyline, and because he felt that the song was more representative of the main characters' adolescent past, not their present maturity. the credits then only consisted of the title written on a black background. The theme was restored for season 8, due to audience demand, and is sung by different artists each week.
The main storyline is originally the relationship between two half-brothers Lucas Scott, both of whom start as enemies but bond as friends and as brothers as show progresses. With the help of Keith (Craig Sheffer), who believes Lucas is a talented basketball player, Coach Brian "Whitey" Durham (Barry Cobin) recruits Lucas on the team. Nathan has the same love for basketball as Lucas. As Lucas falls in love with Peyton Sawyer, who happens to be Nathan's girlfriend and later ex, Nathan falls in love with Lucas' best friend, Haley James. Lucas later dates and falls in love with Brooke Davis. Both brothers share same father, Dan Scott (Paul Johansson), who is also Keith's brother. Backstory given is that after having a high school relationship with Karen Roe (Moira Kelly), Dan conceived Lucas but never claimed him as his son; he did claim Nathan. After leaving Karen, he meets and quickly marries Deb Scott (Barbara Alyn Woods), with whom he conceives Nathan. Although having been married for seventeen years, they divorce and choose different paths. Deb starts having alcoholic problems on and off, until she finally recovers. She also begins a strong friendship, and later partnership, with Karen against Dan's will. However, in professor, Andrew Hargrove (Kieren Hutchison), Dan realizes his sins and temporarily leaves the town, and Deb returns to Tree Hill after an absence but eventually leaves again.
The first season deals with the first half of the main teenage characters' junior years (up to the playoffs). Major storylines include rivalry between Lucas and Nathan, the blossoming of Nathan and Haley's relationship, the setup of the Peyton-Lucas-Brooke love triangle, along with the parents' own love quadrangle, and the basketball state championship.
The second season puts aside basketball and explores new romances. These romances consist of Lucas and Anna Taggaro (Daniella Alonso), Jake Jagielski (Bryan Greenberg and Peyton, and Felix Taggaro (Michael Copon) and Brooke. Also featured is the requited love of Mouth McFadden (Lee Norris) for Brooke, the disintegration of Nathan and Haley's marriage, largely due to character of Chris Keller (Tyler Hilton), Peyton's temporary drug problem and related issues, and the repercussions of Dan's genetic disease hypertrophic cardiomyopathy - especially on Lucas. Karen goes back to school, beginning a relationship with her teacher, Andy Hargrove, in addition to starting the Tric club. Also in this season, a troubled Deb struggles with an addiction.
The third season puts the focus back on basketball and features the arrival of trouble-maker Rachel Gatina (Danneel Harris), who stirs drama in the Brooke-Lucas romance, the resurfacing of Peyton's romantic feelings for Lucas, Jake and Peyton's relationship drawing to a close, while Nathan and Haley reconcile and plan a wedding. Chris Keller exits the season permanently. Dan has a major subplot trying to solve the murder attempt made on his life during the previous season's cliffhanger. A major episode involving most of the main cast in a hostage situation at Tree Hill High ("With Tired Eyes, Tired Minds, We Slept") culminates with Peyton getting shot in the leg and almost dying due to significant blood loss, and Dan murdering Keith.
The fourth season features the second infamous Peyton-Lucas-Brooke love triangle. Haley's pregnancy is threatened by Nathan's risky forays into gambling and loan sharks. Peyton is stalked by an impostor (referred to as Psycho Derek by the group) posing as her half-brother Derek. Lucas and the real Derek come and save her. Lucas looks for the truth behind his uncle's death, as visionsof Keith lead him to suspect Jimmy did not kill him, while Dan is rekindling his romance with Karen. It also sees Lucas and Peyton entering into an official romantic relationship, Chase Adams (Stephen Colletti) and Brooke romance, and the growing friendship between Brooke and Rachel. Chris Keller makes an appearance, and the group enjoy a "real prom" after theirs is ruined by incidents such as further interactions with Psycho Derek. The season builds up to Lucas discovering Dan killed Keith, the group's graduation from high school and Haley and Karen having their babies.
The fifth season jumps forward in time four-plus years. The gap is sometimes shown in flashback as the characters struggle with adulthood and return to the town of Tree Hill for various reasons. Lucas, a published author, is in a committed realationship with his editor, Lindsey Strauss (Michaela McManus), which becomes a love triangle when Peyton returns from a failed music career in Los Angeles. The marriage of Nathan and Haley goes into crisis as Nathan faces major depression after being seriously injured. Brooke looks for life beyond success in her work life and helps Peyton launch a music label. Lucas and Skills return to Tree Hill Ravens as coaches and later asks Nathan to help with hot shot player Quentin.
The sixth season features the progression of the romance between Lucas and Peyton, as they plan a wedding and deal with Peyton's dangerous pregnancy. Brooke takes in a foster child, Sam, and fights her mother for control of her company. A major storyline follows Lucas as his book is optioned for a film, and Julian Baker (Austin Nichols) is introduced. Mouth and Millicent Huxtable (Lisa Goldstein) work on their relationship as Nathan and Haley reach for their individual dreams.
The seventh season is set one year into the future after sixth season, without former co-stars Chad Michael Murray and Hilarie Burton. It introduces two new regular characters: Haley's free spirited sister Quinn (Shantel VanSanten); and Nathan's agent Clay Evans (Robert Buckley). Also Danneel Harris who portrayed Rachel, appears in a ten-episode arc this season, starting with the second episode. Austin Nichols, who portrays Julian Baker, and Jana Kramer, who portrays Alex Dupree, were promoted to full series regulars. The first half of the season focuses on Quinn and Clay's developing relationship after the death of Clay's wife, Sarah. Nathan's NBA career gets jeopardized due to a growing scandal that affects Haley. Dan becomes a motivational speaker with support of his new wife, Rachel Gatina. Brooke releases her new clothing line, and faces conflicts with Julian and Alex. The second half of the season deals with Haley's depression due to her mother's death. Clay is faced with an obsessive Katie, eventually involving Quinn. At the end of the season, the Tree Hill gang travel to Utah for the premiere of Julian's completed film. And proposes to Brooke.
The eight season centers around the progression of Quinn and Clay's relationship after surviving a life threatening attack, the awaited marriage between Brooke Davis and Julian Baker and the birth of Haley's second child. Another love triangle is formed between Chase, Mia and Alex, while Mouth and Millie rekindle their relationship together. As the season continues, Quinn attempts to capture Katie while Julian and Brooke explore adoption options and Nathan prepares to change his career path.
Chad Michael Murray as Lucas Scott
Lucas and Nathan start out as enemies but bond as friends and as brothers as the show progresses. Lucas's best friend is Haley James, and he is a romantic interest for Peyton Sawyer and Brooke Davis at the same time. He finds himself inlove with Peyton in season 1, but wanting to be with and loving Brooke in season 2. His love for the two continue to be an issue throughout most of the series, and aside from basketball, his greates passion is literature; quotes from the books he reads are used on the show. Lucas tries to find balance between basketball, his genetic heart disease hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and his love life. Season 6 was Murray's last season as Lucas.
James Lafferty as Nathan Scott
Nathan was the son that Dan did claim, although his relationships with both parents are stained even at the best of times. In seson 1, he and Lucas start out as enemies, but bond as friends and brothers as the show progresses. He initially uses Haley as revenge against Lucas, but not long after emancipating himself, and with permission from her parents, he marries her because of love. Like his father and Lucas, Nathan has a love for basketball and a dream to play in college. However, his dream is complicated as his career on the court becomes tangled with supporting his family.
Hilarie Burton as Peyton Sawyer
Peyton whose two greates passions in life are music and art; she uses her art to express the issues that play out in her life. Brooke Davis is her best friend, and she is also close friends with Haley. In season 1, Peyton is a cheerleader and dates Nathan, the most popular basketball star in Tree Hill High. She becomes attracted to Lucas after meeting him, and soon falls in love with him. In season 2, she and Lucas become distant and she turns to drugs. Seeing that she is in turmoil, Lucas calls Jake for her, someone she had began having romantic feelings for near the end of season 1; the two begin dating and fall in love. Throughout the series, Peyton is met one tragedy after another and faces the depths of her love for Lucas. Whether things are good or bad, Lucas is always there for Peyton. Season 6 was Burton's last season as Peyton.
Sophia Bush as Brooke Davis
In high school, Brooke is the beautiful captain of the cheerleading squad and is Peyton's best friend but is also very close with Haley. She is girlfriend to Lucas twice. Though her life seems perfect, she is in pain dealing with her distant parents, her friends' inability to originally take her seriously, and the betrayal of Lucas and Peyton when they "date" behind her back. She eventually overcomes the betrayal, and is determined to live a full, happy life.
Bethany Joy Galeotti as Haley James Scott
Haley is the quintessential girl-next-door who is best friends with Lucas Scott. Haley grew up with a large family but often spent her time by Lucas and Karen because she felt they needed her more in their lives. Working as a waitress at Karen's Cafe, and, more importantly as a tutor at Tree Hill High, has presented Haley with great opportunities, as well as obstacles. Her life is thrown for a loop when Lucas's half-brother Nathan asks her to tutor him. Risking her relationship with Lucas, haley agrees but on the condition that her best friend no longer tormented by Nathan and his friends. This moment changes the Scott family dynamic forever and allows a romance between Nathan and her to flourish. Like any relationship, Nathan and Haley experience many ups and downs together throughout the seasons and must deal with the consequences of each others' actions.