I hope I wasn’t the only viewer rejoicing for this week’s episode. After all the murders, funerals, abuse and sadness, we finally got some long-overdue comedy. And it was nice indeed.
Peyton and Lucas are back to their fun selves and their chemistry is back as well. They spend the entire episode teasing one another and playfully arguing about how and where to unpack Peyton’s things. Was it a storyline of real substance? No, but after all the drama and angst last season, it was a welcomed break and a look back onto Season 4 Leyton.
Brooke has been trying to deal with Sam living in her house. While I found myself sympathizing with Sam about her parental situation, or lack thereof, it was nice to see that she and Brooke have some definite potential. In a really funny scene, Brooke storms into Haley’s classroom (in the middle of a lecture on Haiku’s) and demands her wallet and sunglasses from Sam. The physical comedy was the right way to go as Brooke says nothing, but delivers via her actions. By the end of the episode, these two agree to a truce and Sam decides to move in with Brooke as an official foster home.
Before we get off the topic of Brooke, I must say I was excited to see another Brooke and Nathan scene! It was short and it was sweet, but it was a nice nod to us fans who enjoyed the last one so much. Brooke ends up making a bunch of capes for Jamie who deals with a bully at school. Haley ends up bitching out the mother while good old Nathan (the best dad ever, am i right?) shows up to school in a cape and dunks a basket to show the kids how cool a cape really is. Is it just me or did this remind anyone of a particular scene in Billy Madison? Only that was urine. But anyway…
Haley randomly comes across a girl playing guitar and singing on the street, which unsurprisingly makes her miss the whole music thing. She drops in a dollar and walks away. The girl then starts playing Haley’s song, “When the Stars Go Blue.” Another throwback! While she is skeptical at first, by the end of the episode, Haley and the girl (Grace Potter) sing a nice duet.
Mouth is back from Omaha and surprises Millicent. This storyline would have had be bored (again) had it not been for GiGi’s return! You remember her? She’s the really annoying and unqualified co-announcer from Tree Hill High. Sans glasses, she’s all over Mouth and he finds out she’s his new intern after getting his old job back. Are we actually going to see a Mouth triangle?
Speaking of returns, Owen is back. He returns after finding Sam trying to use Brooke’s I.D. to buy drinks. Brooke initially blows him off, but he sincerely apologizes and it looks like we will see more Browen scenes in upcoming episodes.
Like I said, it was nice to laugh at the show again. It’s made me cry a lot more than smile, I gotta say. In one of my favorite scenes, Dan stops to talk to the mother of the boy that was bullying Jamie. He nicely reminds her that he is a murderer and he hopes the boys can work it out. Hilarious delivery.
Next week looks good too! Nathan gets pushed around a bit while playing slamball, Sam and Jamie get into some trouble and someone is interested in making Lucas’ book into a movie. I’ll admit I am also excited because I hear James Van Der Beek (aka Dawson) will be making an appearance in a future episode where Lucas’ book/movie is concerned. Stay tuned!
Sharon Tharp is a freelance writer who has contributed to a variety of publications including HotIndieNews.com and the Web sites of both Marie Claire and CosmoGIRL! magazines.
