Seeing as we jumped four years in the future this season, flashbacks are a great way to show the audience what happened during those missing years. One question, though: do they have to be so darn boring? Going back three years to explain what exactly went wrong in Lucas and Peyton's storybook romance is a good idea on paper, but the execution was dull dull dull.

(Transylvania sized spoilers below!)

The episode focused almost exclusively on Lucas's journey during his first year in college juggling assistant coaching duties, trying to get his novel published, being a part of Nathan, Haley and Jamie's family, and having a long distance relationship with Peyton. It started out fabulous, showing how Lucas really came into his own as a basketball coach, even winning himself and Nathan a Division II championship. When this show started it revolved almost entirely around basketball and it was nice to see it taking center stage again, if only for a few minutes. It also came with a welcome cameo from Whitey, who stuck around long enough to pass head coaching duties to Lucas and give some sage advice about success in life being nothing without having someone special standing by your side when you attain it. If you forget this life lesson don't worry, as every character will utter it at some point during the hour until you want to bang your head against the wall and scream, "I get it already!" Also, a student head coach? Even at a Division II school that seems a might unrealistic.

After realizing his dreams are nothing without Peyton, Lucas impulsively flew to Los Angeles and surprised Peyton at work. His grand dreams of proposing, sweeping her off her feet, out of Los Angeles and off to college with him are dashed, however, when Peyton makes it clear that she is committed to making a go of it in the music business out in L.A. Lucas basically tells her it has to be now or never, and she rightfully tells him if he loves her, he can wait for her. Ridiculous Lucas apparently can't do that, and leaves in the morning before Peyton wakes up, even going so far as to leave the love mix CD she made him lying on the pillow next to her as a goodbye note. Burn! Also: cold, Lucas.

On his way out of town Lucas gets a surprise call from a publishing house (Lindsey's publishing house, to be exact) telling him he needs to get to New York right away because they want to publish his novel. Once he arrives we listen to much drivel about how profound Lucas's novel is, but by the snippet we heard in the season premiere I'm thinking that's a whole lot of smoke being blown where the sun don't shine. The best part of his New York trip by far is when Brooke shows up and they have a natural, interesting and friendly night on the town where people mistakenly believe they just got engaged and give them lots of free stuff. Note to self: I need to get an engagement ring and try that trick next time my bank account is a bit anemic. Remember when I said everyone kept talking about success being nothing if you don't have someone you love to share it with? Well, even the freaking handsome cab driver gives this advice to Lucas. We get it, dude. If you don't have someone to love you will be miserable and bitter and die a horrible, lonely death. Also, I hope for Brooke and Lucas's sake that horse didn't eat any beefaroni recently.

In the end, this entire episode was a vehicle to show the audience that Lucas still isn't over Peyton. We already know Peyton isn't over Lucas, so you can see where this is heading. Poor Lindsey. She's a completely underdeveloped character, but she doesn't deserve this. Also, does anyone else think Lucas and Peyton are far more interesting when they are dealing with anything but their love lives? I enjoy Lucas the basketball coach, Lucas the brother, Lucas the friend and Lucas the godfather. Lucas the boyfriend is far less palatable, and the same goes for Peyton. Her adventures with her record label are far more compelling than her pining over the fair-haired Scott.

Also in this episode: Nathan and Haley! The flashbacks showed a wonderful side of their relationship with a one-year-old Jamie, where they were all happy as clams. In the present, Nathan tells Haley he realizes their relationship isn't as solid as it used to be but vows to fix it. Uh oh. If there's one thing you can be sure of on this show, is that when someone makes a declaration of doing one thing, the exact opposite will immediately happen. Be suspicious of that nanny, is all I'm saying...

What did you guys think? Was this a good use of flashbacks? How long until Lindsey realizes that Lucas isn't over Peyton? And does anyone else miss the credits as much as I do?

Comments

I probably stand alone in this, but I felt bad for Lucas! Putting yourself out there and basically being slapped right back hurts. Yes, they're young, yes she had career she was aiming for, and yes he basically gave her an ultimatium, but it was understandable. It was clear that they were on the verge of heading in two different directions, and with Lucas being the monogamous-lover that he is, the proposal really did feel that surprising. Besides I didn't hear that he wanted them to march right on down to the court house now, he just wanted the security that comes with someone telling you that yes they too can't wait to share their life with you. Besides we all know Peyton, whenever she gets what she wants, she ineveitably does something to second guess it.

Jo M | Jan 30, 2008 6:06:26 AM | #

---

Yeah, I found it odd that Peyton wouldn't say yes, and you know be engaged. I mean typical weddings are at least a year after engagements, some people wait 2 or 3. I was engaged for 3 years while in college, cause we wanted to wait til after graduation. It really didn't make sense.

It was nice for them to fill in the blanks. The covered then necessary aspects. It was nice to see Brooke and Lucas be friends. Although wasn't it funny the whole "engagement" thing considering their real life marriage and divorce. I found it amusing.

It sounds like we were all right last week about Victoria made c/b what it is. After tonight though, doesn't it seem odd that Lucas would coach the Ravens, if he could be coaching college? Seems like quite the step back, even though he's a "writer" and the coaching is a secondary job. Honestly, I would have liked the story to stay in the time frame of tonights episode, because it seemed unpredicatble, whereas we all know where the stories are going now that they are all back in Tree Hill. I think we need Deb, Dan, and Karen back, because there storylines were the only ones that never seemed predictable. The writers took more chances with those charachters.

realgenius | Jan 30, 2008 7:13:38 AM | #

---

lol, and after reading what I wrote I must apolgize for my typos and improper use of grammar:)

realgenius | Jan 30, 2008 7:17:22 AM | #

---

CARRIE: I really enjoyed your review of OTH. I had the same feeling of BORDEOM when watching an ENTIRE episode of flashbacks. I think the episode could have been improved if Lucas, Peyton, Haley, Nathan and Brooke had each been given their own shorter flashbacks, instead of an hour-long flashback told from the same point of view. It just seemed that all the information about what happened three years ago could have been condensed into a more concise (and interesting) half hour.

The only time I managed to pay attention was when they showed Haley/Nathan/Jamie and Brooke. It's clear to me that Lucas has a lot more chemistry with Brooke than with Peyton, even though Chad and Sophia are divorced in real life!

Yes, I miss the old credit sequence, but I might be the only one here who still likes that Gavin DeGraw song. :-) Those previews for next week looked good, but also too predictable that the hot nanny would be attracted to Nathan. Personally, I don't think that Nathan will cheat on Haley, but Haley will assume that he did.

Paige | Jan 30, 2008 8:18:24 AM | #

---

did any one else notice that lucas had an iphone....3 years ago? didn't it only come out a few months ago?

Dory | Jan 30, 2008 9:35:51 AM | #

---

I loved the episode. It was very informative and allowed us to see what really happened with Lucas and Peyton. It also gave me some Brooke and Lucas interaction and made it clear that Brooke, at least at that point, was still not over Lucas (and maybe never will be). Nathan and Haley are getting better, which is always good news!

Me | Jan 30, 2008 9:48:20 AM | #

---

Dory, thank you! I totally forgot to mention that. What year is it exactly in the present time of Tree Hill? Since their junior and senior years of high school spanned 4 seasons, do we assume that they graduated in 2005, which would make the iPhone incorrect? Or was their proof in the graduation episode that shows they ignored their timeline and graduated in 2007? Then that means the iPhone would be correct, and it is now 2011 in current times in Tree Hill? Yikes.

I honestly don't know. Anyone have any ideas?

Carrie | Jan 30, 2008 10:12:41 AM | #

---

LOL, yeah it's sad that we all thought the iPhone was out of place. I myself was using my fingers trying to figure out what year was supposed to be. Very funny. Of course if you want to rack your brain trying to figure out timelines, go read the Sarah Connor Chronicles blogs, those will keep you busy.

realgenius | Jan 30, 2008 10:34:29 AM | #

---

Did anyone else find it odd that a mail girl would need to stay at work so late? and then be called back not even half an hour later?

ralyks | Jan 30, 2008 12:40:52 PM | #

---

I agree, why would Peyton have to stay late and run "special" errands. I can't wait for next week, it's cheesy, predictable and totally soap opera worthy.

Jo M | Jan 30, 2008 1:31:58 PM | #

---

As for Peyton's job: That's how it is. If you want to work in entertainment, you have to put in your dues, and there's normal quite a bit in terms of "dues". I live in LA and have friends that are at similar places in their job right now. They have to put with it because there is so much supply in terms of young people wiling to do whatever for the job, they have to accept the treatment to compete.

I will say that I was not bored last night at all. The flashbacks had purpose, and we had some great Lucas/Brooke interaction, which is always great. Having been in a long distance relationship, I can understand the need and awkwardness displayed by both Lucas and Peyton. At a certain point you realize that you either commit together or stay apart and see if you're ever brought back together. Lucas was clearly in the 1st camp, Peyton in the 2nd - and still was three years later - in their scene from the season premier, you could tell that Peyton was still thinking they'd be getting back together (that scene seems about three times better, on both actors parts, now knowing what had come before)

Seamus | Jan 30, 2008 3:04:25 PM | #

---

Quick note, they did graduate june 2007, though keith's gravestone says he died march 2006 and they graduated the same year, so in theory, it's 2011 and they are flashing back to 2008, but really dates on this show are insane, if we operate on the graduation and keith's death, karen was pregnant for16 months, I pity the woman, lol.

Sherri K | Jan 30, 2008 5:01:36 PM | #

---

How the hell did they get IPhones 3 years ago? That was really stupid.

Leo | Jan 31, 2008 10:50:47 AM | #

---

I notice the iphone thing too and also choked on my drink when I heard that Lucas was going to be a student coach. Please. The guy supposedly went to college, coached the team (which would, of course, include time consuming recruiting trips), and wrote a book -- all within 4 years?!

Ali | Feb 7, 2008 1:56:45 PM | #

---

Ali- Lucas wrote the book in highschool!!!! Remember, Karen had a copy bound for him for his graduation present!

becky | Feb 14, 2008 11:03:43 AM | #

---

Ali- Lucas wrote the book in highschool!!!! Remember, Karen had a copy bound for him for his graduation present!

becky | Feb 14, 2008 11:03:47 AM | #

---

do you know what happened to deb and karen?

sarah | Feb 27, 2008 8:30:52 PM | #

---

I started watching one tree hill and got hooked. This show is were good, but i didn't know they were in high school, there so old. I thought Karen Roe was a student. The show needs to cancel about now. After high school graduation would of been good

Samtastic Rivers | Sep 10, 2008 4:24:45 PM | #

---

ONE TREE HILL NEEDS TO GET CANCEL PLEASE. THE SHOW IS DUMB NOW. CRUCIAN MASSIVE

Samtastic | Sep 10, 2008 4:26:16 PM | #

---

CLASS OF 2008, ST. CROIX CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL. 20008!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ONE TREE HILL IS GETTING ME CRAZY. CANCEL

SAMTASTIC | Sep 10, 2008 4:28:45 PM | #

---

TELL ME THIS. HOW DID UGLY ASS MOUTH END UP WITH THE INCROWD. WHY IS THERE ONLY ONE BLACK GUY. SKILLZ IS AN ASS FOR BEING THE ONLY BLACK GUY. ONE TREE HILL ARE RACIST. I DIDN'T SEE ANY BLACKS ON THE SHOW. LUCAS IS A FAKE TAN MODEL, BROOKE IS A MESS, MOUTH SMELL LIKE A MOUTH STINK!!!!!!!!, AND PEYTON YOUR A BACKSTABBER LIKE 3 TIMEZ, NATHAN YOUR UNGRATEFUL, HALEY YOUR MARRIED TO THIS ASS, SKILLZ IS DESPERATE FOR MONEY TO DO THIS SHOW

| Sep 10, 2008 4:33:16 PM | #

---

CLASS OF 2008

CARIBS LIVES ON

THE BEST

THE ONLY

THE ONE

samtastic | Sep 10, 2008 4:34:51 PM | #

---

ANY ONE WHO WANT TEST ME BRING IT SAMTASTIC

sAMTASTIC | Sep 10, 2008 4:35:46 PM | #

---

Post a comment

Name:
Email Address:	optional
URL:	optional
Comments: