One Tree Hill

If you're a huge fan of One Tree Hill, chances are you've had a debate at some point about who Lucas Scott should ultimately settle down with.  The people who are dedicated to one specific relationship on a series call themselves "shippers," and these shippers can be an extremely rabid bunch.  There are some fans who want Lucas with Peyton (Hilarie Burton), others who'd like to see him go back to Brooke, and even a few who think that Lindsey was his perfect match.  Since the character himself can't seem to make up his mind, let's take a look at Lucas' women and decide who he should end up with.

Let me be honest by mentioning that I usually don't get overly invested in the love lives of fictional characters.  I don't really care which guy Kate chooses on Lost, nor do I lose sleep over Serena and Dan's antics on Gossip Girl.  I've watched enough TV to know that every show is going to include some torturous love triangle, and I'd rather avoid all of that emotional pain by just going with the flow.  I try to be accepting of each and every couple that comes along.

Though I often attempt to stay impartial, sometimes I get extremely invested in a pairing against my better judgment.  I desperately want William Adama and Laura Roslin to settle down and get married on Battlestar Galactica, and if Eric and Tami Taylor of Friday Night Lights ever broke up, I'd probably cry for a week. Sometimes a television show succeeds at making me a shipper, whether I like it or not.

When it comes to One Tree Hill, I've always been highly invested in the relationship between Lucas (Chad Michael Murray) and Brooke.  Maybe it's just the real life chemistry of the actors shining through, but I've always felt that those two characters brought out the best in one another.  It's always ended badly when they've tried to make it work as a couple, but somehow I still have faith that they could work it out.

As for Peyton, I've never been a huge fan of the way the show paints her as being destined for Lucas. Couples who are obviously destined for each other always bore me, as you automatically know they'll end up together by the final episode.  On some shows, such as The O.C. or Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the predestined couples fall apart forever, but those are the exceptions to the rule.

While I'm sure some people out there are in love with Lindsey, it's obvious that she was just a blip on Lucas' romantic radar.  She'll have absolutely no long-term effect on his character or the show itself, so there's no need to consider her in this argument.

In the end, it all comes down to Peyton versus Brooke (Sophia Bush).  I'm positive that the show is ultimately moving toward Lucas and Peyton living happily ever after, but surely someone aside from myself is rooting for Brooke Davis.  If they can't be together in the series finale, how about for the remainder of the season?  I'm sure even the "Leyton" lovers would be fine with that.


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