One Tree Hill

Last week on One Tree Hill, everyone found out that Dan only has six months to live, and the reactions from his loved ones ranged from disbelief to barely contained glee.  Dan (Paul Johansson) wanted to make amends with his family, but Nathan and Haley ultimately decided that they want nothing to do with him.  He'll have to suffer through his karmic bitchslap alone.  Meanwhile, Brooke discovered that baby Angie is going to need serious heart surgery, while the Lucas/Lindsey/Peyton triangle caused me to throw my TV out the window.

Tonight, in the lamely titled "Hate is Safer Than Love," Brooke's baby has emergency surgery, and Jamie is more adorable than ever before.

This is one of those episodes that begins with exciting events and then flashes back 18 hours.  This trick worked well with Alias, but it's not quite as thrilling on One Tree Hill.

It's the day of baby Angie's surgery.  Her doctor is far more attractive than any doctor in real life, which makes me think that Brooke (Sophia Bush) should check to make sure he really graduated from med school.  As Lucas shows up at the hospital to wait with her, he shares an awkward moment with Peyton.  I hope that Team Leyton finally comes together again in this episode, because I can't handle anymore of this.

Dan is also at the hospital at the beginning of the episode, which proves that he actually has a heart condition. Dan is number two on the list of people waiting for donors, but he wants to know what it'll take to become number one.  If Dan ends up killing the nice Reverend who is first on the list, I will love this show so very much.

Nathan (James Lafferty) decides to work his son into his workout regimen.  He ties a rope around Jamie's scooter and then goes for a run while pulling Jamie along.  After they get home, Jam-Jam finds his homemade thank you card in the trash. 

After waiting at the hospital with Brooke, Peyton (Hilarie Burton) goes to the music studio and finds that Mia is back in town.  Mia is a big star now that she's sold 100,000 records, but fame hasn't gone to her head just yet.  Haley wonders if she can juggle an exciting music career with a busy family life.

When did Deb (Barbara Alyn Woods) get so creepy?  A couple of weeks ago she was flirting with a clown, and now she's showing her boobs to some guy online.  After Nathan walks in on her and has the image burned into his brain, she tells him that she's in love with an Internet suitor.  Oh, that always ends well.  Meanwhile, Haley finds Jamie wandering the streets feeling pissed off about his trashed thank you card.  She explains why she did it, and Jamie (Jackson Brundage) says that he just wanted Grandpa Dan to feel like he had a friend.  He tells his mom that she shouldn't lie to him.

In one of the most blatant examples of product placement that I've ever seen, Peyton asks Mia if she wants to play a gig at Six Flags sponsored by Starburst, and even pulls out a package as an example.  Mia then exclaims that she just LOVES Starburst and Six Flags, so of course she'll do it!  Gag.  Over at the hospital, Brooke learns that baby Angie's surgery was a rousing success.  I hope this means that Brooke can send the baby back to her parents and move on to a more interesting storyline.  It looks like she may have a romantic future with the doctor, who looks so much like John Barrowman that I feel like I'm watching Torchwood.

Mouth (Lee Norris) is really moving up in the world.  His boss thinks he has potential and wants him to film a story at the Ravens game.  The game goes well during the first half, with the Ravens pulling ahead.  During halftime, Lindsey gives Lucas a call and tells him something that pisses him off immensely.  He then turns into an angry coach that screams at his team like he's King Leonidas with spikier hair.  After the other team intentionally fouls Quentin, Lucas causes a brawl and has to leave the gym.  I have to say, this version of Lucas is much more interesting than the one we've been dealing with for the past 16 episodes.

Unfortunately for me, the boring version of Lucas (Chad Michael Murray) returns a moment later.  Nathan asks his brother what the problem is, and he tells him that Lindsey is seeing someone else.  I love how easily Lindsey has gotten over all this drama.  I'd rather see more of her exciting life and less of Lucas and his permanent mopey face.

Dan runs into Haley (Bethany Joy Galeotti) and Jamie after the game, and Haley encourages her son to give him the thank you card.  Dan tells Jamie that he's his best friend.  That's nice and all, but I'd rather see Dan plot to kill the Reverend.  In the news room, Mouth denies having footage of Lucas starting the brawl.  He wants to protect his friend, but being morally upstanding doesn't get you anywhere in broadcast journalism.  Mouth chooses his friendship over his career and decides to destroy the tape.

It's time for Deb to meet her Internet boyfriend.  Guess what?  It's Skills!  This plot line has suddenly gone from creepy to potentially awesome.  Deb claims that she doesn't want anything to happen, but they totally end up sleeping together.  I've changed my mind.  This is both creepy and awesome at the same time.

Speaking of creepy, Dan shows up at the hospital and sneaks into the Reverend's room.  When the nurse comes in Dan claims that he's not a relative, but says that the Reverend is number one on his list.  He's definitely going to smother him with a pillow next week, and I cannot wait for it to happen.  I love Dan!

Sad sack Lucas takes his depression to the local bar, where he can bring down others who are trying to have a good time.  Peyton rescues him and takes him home while Kate Voegele massacres "Hallelujah" on the soundtrack.  She apologizes for all that has happened, and Lucas responds by telling her that he wishes she never came back to Tree Hill.  He claims that she's ruined his life.  Lucas is such a douche.

In next week's season finale, Lucas shaves his head and asks one unlucky girl to go to Las Vegas with him. Who will it be?


- Don Williams, BuddyTV Staff Writer
(Image courtesy of the CW)