Summary
- One Tree Hill struggled after the transition from high school to young adulthood, particularly in season 7 without its key stars.
- Season 9 of One Tree Hill felt unnecessary and relied on unrealistic storylines, hindering its success.
- Season 3 of One Tree Hill was the peak of the show, featuring emotional storylines and addressing serious subjects like school shootings.
One Tree Hill was one of the biggest teen dramas of the early 2000s, but when it came to the show's quality, not all seasons were created equal. Set in the fictional town of Tree Hill, North Carolina, the series followed the students of Tree Hill High School through their teen years and well into young adulthood. One Tree Hill went on for a whopping nine seasons, making it one of the longer teen dramas of its time — and that came with positives and negatives.
While viewers got to follow the Tree Hill gang as they built careers and families, One Tree Hill was forced to reinvent itself multiple times over its nine-season run. As such, some of its outings felt more natural and straightforward than others. The best seasons embraced the show's early charm, while the worst dropped the ball on big moments or transitions.
9 One Tree Hill Season 7 (2009)
Notable Moments: Quinn And Clay Come To Tree Hill, Nathan Gets Accused Of Cheating
One Tree Hill struggles in general after it jumps from high school to young adulthood, but season 7 faces another rough transition period, as it's the first outing without stars Chad Michael Murray and Hilarie Burton. Lucas and Peyton serve as the dramatic center of the show for six outings. While Haley and Nathan are the other "main couple" of One Tree Hill, they're a mosty stable presence in the series' lineup. It's Lucas and Peyton's "will they, won't they" dynamic that so often drives the story forward, creating drama that extends beyond just the two characters.
Without Lucas and Peyton, One Tree Hill stumbles, and it's particularly noticeable during season 7. Haley's sister, Quinn, and her husband, Clay, join One Tree Hill's cast this season. Quinn and Clay both become staples of the later seasons of One Tree Hill, but it takes a while to get used to the newcomers during this outing. Additionally, Mia's season 7 storylines feel a bit out of place, even if the actor (and singer) herself is always a welcome presence. The storyline that teases Nathan cheating on Haley — which, thankfully, isn't true — also brings this chapter down a notch, making it the worst of One Tree Hill's offerings.
8 One Tree Hill Season 9 (2012)
Notable Moments: Chad Michael Murray's Guest Appearance, Nathan's Kidnapping
One Tree Hill season 9 arguably doesn't need to exist, as the series is clearly beyond its expiration date by the time the final season rolls around. The show could have ended with Brooke Davis' happy ending in season 8 without dragging the story on further. Admittedly, it is nice to see Brooke and Julian's relationship post-wedding, and the series finale makes slogging through the ninth season worthwhile. Chad Michael Murray's guest appearance is also a nice touch, even if it was better suited for season 8.
Unfortunately, One Tree Hill season 9 tries too hard to keep the drama going using unrealistic storylines that feel forced at best and completely outlandish at worst. While Nathan's kidnapping is clearly a means of covering the actor's inability to work on the whole season, it's a tad unbelievable, even for One Tree Hill. Developments like this work against the final season, raising questions about whether it should have happened at all.
7 One Tree Hill Season 5 (2008)
Notable Moments: Lucas Breaks Off His Engagement With Lindsey, Jamie Gets Kidnapped
One Tree Hill season 5 is the first chapter set after high school, and the show goes slightly downhill after its time jump. Season 5 picks up four years after graduation, and the surprise of the season is the fact that Lucas and Peyton are no longer together. Fate brings both characters back to Tree Hill, but Lucas is engaged to Lindsey, a woman who never stands a chance at winning fans over. As Peyton and Lucas are clearly endgame, the love triangle that evolves between Lucas, Peyton, and his new fiancé is expected. However, it makes it difficult to respect Lucas as he drags both women along.
The Lucas and Peyton drama throughout One Tree Hill season 5 gets exhausting, though it does occasionally throw a great scene or two into the mix. Still, their dynamic alone places season 5 toward the end of a ranking, even if the show is better with them than without them. Unfortunately, the duo also overshadows the other characters this season, which makes Jamie's kidnapping and Haley and Nathan's marital problems feel less impactful than they might have during another chapter. These are still big emotional moments, but they could have been stronger than they were.
6 One Tree Hill Season 8 (2010)
Notable Moments: Brooke's Wedding, Nathan & Haley Have A Daughter
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One Tree Hill season 8 is probably the best outing without Lucas and Peyton, and it delivers something that's much needed after seven seasons of dating drama and self-discovery: Brooke's wedding. Brooke and Julian are a surprisingly good match for one another, and Brooke's happily ever after feels earned by the time the two characters tie the knot. It's a shame Peyton and Lucas don't return for the festivities, but Brooke's relationship with Haley is equally compelling by this point in One Tree Hill.
One Tree Hill season 8 also sees Nathan and Haley having a daughter, Brooke learning she's pregnant, and Brooke and Haley reopening Karen's Café. The latter brings the story nicely back to its earlier seasons, while the former developments could easily mark the end of everyone's stories. Despite a bleaker opening, One Tree Hill season 8 feels like a warm hug after everything these characters go through in the outings leading up to it. Lucas and Peyton's absence is still felt, but the main events make it worthwhile.
5 One Tree Hill Season 6 (2008)
Notable Moments: Lucas & Peyton's Wedding, Lucas & Peyton Have A Baby, Quentin's Death
While One Tree Hill season 5 feels exhausting in its portrayal of Lucas and Peyton's relationship, season 6 makes up for it by finally giving the pair their happy ending. Chad Michael Murray and Hilarie Burton's last outing, One Tree Hill season 6 gives the actors a proper send-off. Lucas and Peyton finally get married, surrounded by family and friends, and they even have a daughter. This season solidifies their endgame once and for all, and after five seasons' worth of build-up, that makes it the strongest of the post-graduation outings.
One Tree Hill season 6 isn't all romance and joy, as this outing also sees Brooke getting assaulted and features Quentin's murder. The drama handles both storylines with care, proving that it does well with serious subjects. Overall, One Tree Hill season 6 strikes a good balance between its highs and lows, and it's another place the series could have ended. The sixth chapter is a mostly positive affair, though some of the Nathan and Haley drama feels overdone — and it still fails to capture the charm of the first four seasons.
4 One Tree Hill Season 2 (2004)
Notable Moments: Chris Keller Comes To Tree Hill, Lucas Moves In With Dan
One Tree Hill season 2 is the weakest of the show's high school outings, but it still surpasses everything that comes post-graduation. The sophomore season opens with Haley and Nathan recalling their decision to get married, and although their relationship almost immediately faces challenges, there are many sweet scenes during this outing. Season 2 also offers a glimpse of Peyton and Brooke's relationship when they aren't fighting over boys, and it integrates Haley into the Tree Hill gang nicely.
The biggest issue with One Tree Hill season 2 is the amount of unnecessary drama it injects into the gang's lives, using newcomers like Chris Keller and Felix to do so. Additionally, Lucas' attempts to repair his relationship with Dan are even worse in hindsight, as later seasons of One Tree Hill prove Dan is an irredeemable character who isn't worth the time. It's obvious such aspects of One Tree Hill season 2 hurt the teen drama, but they're worth sitting through, if only for the pay-off in seasons 3 and 4.
3 One Tree Hill Season 4 (2006)
Notable Moments: The Ravens Win The State Championship, Lucas & Peyton Get Together, Nathan & Haley Learn They're Expecting
One Tree Hill season 4 isn't perfect — it certainly could do without its most tragic Peyton moments — but it's still among the show's top three outings, and it could have even served as the series finale. Many of the storylines from the first three seasons come together during season 4, which crafts satisfying conclusions to the biggest relationships and story arcs. The Ravens finally win the state championship, Lucas and Peyton get together, and Nathan and Haley find out they're having a baby. It's all very fitting for the Tree Hill High gang's senior year, and it feels like a reward for viewers who stuck around to see it.
It's a shame One Tree Hill season 4 isn't the best chapter overall, but Lucas' realization that Dan is the one who killed Keith manages to keep this outing from reaching the top two. This revelation should deliver top-tier drama, but it fails to pack enough of a punch. Additionally, Peyton's stalker storyline is an effective means of bringing her and Brooke back to one another. However, one can't help but wonder if there was a better way than giving the two even more trauma.
2 One Tree Hill Season 1 (2003)
Notable Moments: Nathan & Haley Get Married,
One Tree Hill season 1 kicks off the series well, and the teen drama quickly overcomes many of the problems first seasons typically face. While it does take a few episodes for One Tree Hill to find its footing, the character dynamics and major storylines seamlessly fall into place by the halfway point. Nathan's complicated relationship with Lucas dominates the first season, and while Nathan's antics don't hold up well in hindsight, the family drama drives the plot in a compelling way. It's made better by the basketball storyline, which also shines throughout season 1.
The blossoming romances of One Tree Hill season 1 aren't quite at their best yet, but they hold a lot of promise at this point in the show. Nathan and Haley's reluctant relationship is a highlight of this outing, and it's one many viewers look back on with fond nostalgia. Brooke and Peyton's Lucas love triangle has aged less well — one of the harsh realities of rewatching One Tree Hill — but the characters are so lovable that it's easy to overlook the flaws of their relationships even now. One Tree Hill's characters aren't developed enough for this to be the best outing, but it comes pretty dang close.