One Tree Hill: The Complete Sixth Season – DVD Review

DVD Reviews, Reviews

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In the last few years, a couple of television shows have decided to fast-foward their storylines by five years or more, for the sole purpose of making things feel fresh. Desperate Housewives and One Tree Hill are the most notable, but in the case of OTH, they decided to do this to skip over the college years of this teen drama and avoid the problems that other shows of its ilk seems to fall victim to. As a result, the fifth season was strong for the majority of its run, but especially towards the end. So the sixth season had a great lead-in, but could it keep the momentum going, especially when fans found out halfway through the season that two of the main stars, Chad Michael Murray and Hilarie Burton, would not be returning for the 7th season of the series?

One Tree Hill focuses on the lives of high-school students living in the small fictional town of Tree Hill, North Carolina. Tree Hill is home to the famous high school basketball team, the Tree Hill Ravens, and two half-brothers Lucas Scott (Chad Michael Murray) and Nathan Scott (James Lafferty). The two brothers have grown up in the same town, but have had little or no contact with each other due to the influence of their mutual father, Dan Scott (Paul Johansson). Music and basketball were at the center of this teen drama at first. In addition, the series quickly became known for its numerous voice-overs featuring either literary quotes or characters reflecting on events of the episode. Most of them have been voiced by Chad Michael Murray’s character Lucas Scott.

The sixth season picks up where the major fifth season cliffhangers left off. Lucas finally chose Peyton (Hilarie Burton) as the love of his life, and they were soon off to live happily ever after, or as close as they could get as a couple in a teen drama. Meanwhile, Nathan Scott (James Lafferty) continues to work on his comeback as a professional athlete with ambitions to play in the NBA. Brooke’s (Sophia Bush) battle with her unscrupulous mother Victoria (Daphne Zuniga) over the enormously successful apparel line Clothes Over Bros. begins to really heat up. Haley (Bethany Joy Galeotti) continues to dream of success in the music business, while being a teacher. Skill’s (Antwon Tanner) and Deb’s (Barbara Alyn Woods) hook-up could be over. Mouth (Lee Norris) and Millicent (Lisa Goldstein) wrestle with leaving Tree Hill and Dan’s (Paul Johansson) life hangs in the balance. What about who ran Dan over with a car at the end of season five? We found the who and whys early on during this season as well. For the most part, that storyline is the weakest one of the bunch. In fact, it’s a little too predictable and soapy, even for this kind of television series.

The acting is still fairly strong (albeit average) during this season. All of the actors have grown into their characters and are able to convey great onscreen chemistry with one another. Even the guest stars this season, which included Torrey DeVitto, Robbie Jones, Joe Manganiello, singer Kate Voegele, and Stephen Coletti, were able to hold their own.

You could say that the series has developed into an ensemble cast with no central star. At least that is what executives at The CW hope is true, since Chad Michael Murray and Hilarie Burton have both been kicked off the series because they cost too much to bring back.

Disc One:

Episode 1 – Touch Me I’m Going To Scream
In the sixth season premiere, Tree Hill residents make decisions that will change their lives forever. Lucas finally pursues his dream with the woman he loves, Brooke faces a reunion with her mother, Mouth makes a startling revelation, Nathan and Haley encounter a ghost from their past and the news of Dan’s accident takes an unexpected turn.

Episode 2 – One Million Billionth of a Millisecond on a Sunday Morning
Tree Hill residents are surprised to learn that Luke and Peyton have decided to tie the knot. Brooke tries to adjust to life after the robbery at Clothes Over Bros. Nathan and Haley receive devastating news and Nanny Carrie’s return creates more blanks than answers, after she kidnaps Dan – whose life hangs in the balance.

Episode 3 – Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly.
Quentin’s death brings sorrow to Tree Hill and Haley and Nathan must find the words to help Jamie understand. Brooke continues to hide the truth of her attack which strains her friendship with Peyton and Lucas and Skills meet Quentin’s grief-stricken family.

Episode 4 – Bridge Over Troubled Water
Brooke heads to New York to confront Victoria while Peyton forges a connection with famous musician Mick Wolf, who tells her stories about her parents. Meanwhile, Haley’s problems with a student escalate, and Nathan has a strange vision of Quentin.

Episode 5 – You’ve Dug Your Own Grave, Now Lie In It
Tree Hill is in an uproar as Nanny Carrie has finally gotten Haley where she wants her – unfortunately, that means both Haley and Jamie’s lives are in danger. Peyton feels threatened when Lucas must reunite with Lindsay for a business meeting. Meanwhile, Brooke’s struggle for control at Clothes Over Bros reaches the breaking point as Victoria continues to exert her power by making unexpected and unsettling business decisions.

Episode 6 – Choosing My Own Way of Life
Everyone’s favorite bartender Owen returns to Tree Hill and introduces Nathan to a basketball team called Slamball who want Nathan to join the team. Lucas heads to Nebraska to kick off his book tour, leaving Peyton to deal with the repercussion of learning that Mick is her father. Meanwhile, Mouth continues to do brilliantly at his on-air position in Omaha and Brooke starts to pick up the pieces of her life.

Episode 7 – Messin with the Kid
Jamie gets into a fight with a kid named Chuck at school. Haley talks to Chuck’s mother but instead of resolving the problem they get into a fight as well. Mouth gets the opportunity to look for an intern. Peyton and Lucas have their first upcoming marriage problem. Brooke continues to care for Samantha, but things get dramatic when she finds out Owen is back in town.

Episode 8 – Our Life is Not A Movie or Maybe
Success is headed for the Scott brothers as Nathan is offered a spot on a major basketball team, and Lucas decides to turn his book into a movie. Meanwhile, Mouth’s new intern clashes with Millicent.

Episode 9 – Sympathy for the Devil
Sam teaches Jamie about money. Brooke must decide whether to date Owen again, since he broke her heart the last time. Nathan comes face to face with an old rival. Meanwhile, Lucas’ novel forces him to make jeopardizing decisions, and Peyton meets the movie producer, Julian.

Episode 10 – Even Fairy Tale Characters Would be Jealous
Lucas finally confronts Julian about his past with Peyton. Haley gets stage fright at the USO concert. Brooke receives a phone call that could throw a wrench in her arrangement with foster daughter Sam. Millicent continues to be threatened by Mouth’s flirtation with Gigi. Meanwhile, Nathan’s imaginary friend sets him on the right path.

Episode 11 – We Three (My Echo, My Shadow and Me)
Lucas falls asleep and dreams of a 1940s Tree Hill were he owns Karen’s Cafe. Here, Dan is a dangerous mobster and everyone is entangled in his web: Brooke owes him money, Mouth is searching for proof that would link him to Keith’s murder, Haley is his former lounge singer, and Lucas is in love with his step-daughter Peyton.

Episode 12 – You Have To Be Joking (Autopsy of the Devil’s Brain)
Brooke is shocked to find out that Samantha is in her room with a boy named Jack. Along with that, Julian asks her to make some clothes for the movie. Peyton tries to get Mia to focus on her follow-up album. Lucas is excited when he travels to Hollywood to meet the director of the movie. Meanwhile, Nathan gets the chance for a pro-basketball try-out. Haley takes Jamie to his school’s talent show and Millicent confronts Mouth about Gigi.

Episode 13 – Things A Mama Don’t Know
Peyton shares some startling news with Lucas, who discovers that Julian has been keeping another secret about the movie. While searching for runaway Sam, Brooke is forced to confront her lingering feelings over her attack. Nathan struggles with his new professional environment.

Episode 14 – A Hand to Take Hold of the Scene
News of Peyton’s condition spreads like wildfire through Tree Hill. Brooke is devastated by the news but not for the usual reasons. Meanwhile, Peyton and Lucas practice for their future, when they spend an evening taking care of Jamie and Andre. Also, Peyton gives her blessing to a Brooke/Julian union.

Episode 15 – We Change, We Wait
Lucas and Julian have a difficult time finding the right director for their movie. Meanwhile, a present from Lucas confuses Peyton and Brooke battles with romantic complications.

Episode 16 – Screenwriter’s Blues
Peyton throws herself into preparing for the baby, but Lucas is too focused on casting the movie to offer much help. A hormonally charged Peyton enlists the help of others, but it’s Lucas she really needs. Will he be there for in the end? Meanwhile, both Haley and Nathan find themselves caught in a moral dilemma… and doing the right thing could mean the end of a job. Will they risk everything? Also, Brooke comes face to face with someone from her past: herself.

Episode 17 – You And Me And The Bottle Makes Three Tonight
Tree Hill’s romances face more trials: Peyton and Lucas receive shocking news about the pregnancy, Brooke’s relationship with Julian comes to a crossroads, and Mouth and Millie try to pick up the pieces and move on. Meanwhile, Jamie spends the night with his grandparents while Nathan and Haley celebrate their anniversary.

Episode 18 – Searching For a Former Clarity
When upper level executive decisions put the future of the movie in jeopardy, Lucas and Julian fight to save it, but their efforts may be in vain. So might the doctors’ who struggle to find a heart for Dan, but the Scott patriarch never did have one… karma is a bitch – literally. Meanwhile, the younger generation face their own problems when Jamie discovers Dan’s betrayal, and Sam is arrested for shoplifting.

Episode 19 – Letting Go
Everyone seems to be going somewhere: Lucas takes Nathan and Jamie to a place from his past, and Mouth and Skills go on a road trip. Back in Tree Hill, Brooke faces a tough choice when Julian makes her a startling offer. Meanwhile, Sam and Jack fight to get Haley’s job back, and Peyton prepares for her future.

Episode 20 – I Would For You
The parents of Tree Hill face difficult challenges: Lucas finds himself fighting to stay calm when Peyton’s pregnancy faces further problems, Nathan and Haley clash over the decision to pull Jamie out of school, and Victoria returns to tempt Brooke back into the business. Meanwhile, Mouth continues to mend his relationship with Millie.

Episode 21 – A Kiss To Build A Dream On
Nathan and Haley both face their dreams as he questions his ambition to play in the NBA and she receives an offer from Nick Lachey. Meanwhile, Brooke learns something that could change Sam’s life forever, Jamie attends his first school dance, and Lucas and Peyton take a road trip.

Episode 22 – Show Me How To live
The families of Tree Hill draw closer as Lucas bonds with Jamie while working on Peyton’s car, Sam develops a connection with Victoria, and Brooke and Haley throw Peyton a baby shower. Meanwhile, Nathan’s ambitions seem closer than ever when he learns that an NBA scout will be watching his next game.

Episode 23 – Forever and Almost Always
Lucas and Peyton’s wedding day finally arrives, bringing some surprise guests along with it. Haley finds herself playing an unexpected role in the ceremony, as Skills and Brooke try to control Jamie and Nick. Meanwhile, Nathan continues to hope to be drafted into the NBA.

Episode 24 – Remember Me As a Time of Day
Tree Hill bids goodbye to the past while anticipating the future: Lucas and Peyton prepare for the birth of their child with the help of a surprise visitor, Dan nears his end, and Brooke works with Victoria to relaunch Clothes Over Bro’s. Meanwhile, Nathan returns to Tree Hill to face Haley and Jamie after being released from the Chiefs.

The video is given in fullscreen color with an aspect ratio of 1.33:1. The colors look bright and with some great vivid detail. The audio is presented in English 2.0 Stereo sound. There are subtitles available in English as well. No major problems – same good quality as previous seasons.

Audio Commentaries
There are two full-length audio commentaries for two separate episodes from this season. James Lafferty (actor), Jackson Brundage (actor), Kate Voegele (actress), Stephen Colletti (actor), and executive producers, Mark Schwahn and Joe Davola all comment on the “You Have to Be Joking (Autopsy of the Devil’s Brain)” episode. Sophia Bush (actress), Daphne Zuniga (actress), Kate Voegele (actress), Stephen Colletti (actor), and executive producers, Mark Schwahn and Joe Davola, all comment on the “Searching for a Former Clarity” episode. These were both more informational than entertaining, even though there was a good mix of cast and crew. Still fans will enjoy this for sure.

Deleted Scenes
There are 9 episodes that didn’t make the final cut of the season and they total around 10 minutes. There are some interesting scenes that fans will want to watch, but for the most part these scenes just took up too much time and were not needed.

“One Tree Hill Goes Back in Time” Featurette
This runs 17 minutes and it goes behind the scenes of the eleventh episode from this season called “We Three (My Echo, My Shadow and Me).” This is the episode that sees the cast go back to the 1940s. So they explain how they recreated in Tree Hill from the 1940s. Definitely intriguing for fans who love this episode.

“Slammin’ with One Tree Hill” Featurette
This runs 11 minutes and it showcases the new sport of SlamBall, a cross between basketball, hockey and gymnastics. James Lafferty and other crew members discuss everything involved in the coordinating the sport for shooting. This is definitely interesting, if you know nothing about the sport.

“One Tree Hill Celebrity Soundtrack” Featurette
This runs 22 minutes and it features all of guest musical artists that have contributed to series. Various crew members talk about the importance of music on the show. Fans will enjoy this one as well.

“One Tree Hill: The Director’s Debut” Featurette
This runs 13 minutes. Chad Michael Murray, Bethany Joy Galeotti and James Lafferty all directed at least one episode during this season. We get to hear from the other actors about their direction skills. Again solid and entertaining.

Gag Reel
This is 4 minutes of the usual gags and mistakes from filming this season. This one is a little funnier than most gag reels out there.

Quality extras help sell what will likely be the last, great season in the show’s history. It may be a teen drama, but One Tree Hill has developed into a great little drama Chad Michael Murray and Hilarie Burton will be missed next season.


Warner Home Video presents One Tree Hill: Season 6. Created by . Starring Chad Michael Murray, James Lafferty, Hilarie Burton, Bethany Joy Galeotti, and Sophia Bush. Running time: 1128 minutes. Rated: NOT RATED. Released on DVD: August 25, 2009. Available at Amazon.com

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