One Tree Hill – Episode 7-12 Review

Shows

This week’s episode sure did wrap up a lot of storylines nicely, probably to try to hold us over until the show returns January 18. For me, it was a great ending to the first half of an impressive season that I originally had little hope for. I’m excited to see what they have in store for next year.

I wasn’t surprised to see Alex survive her suicide attempt seeing as there are a lot more stories to tell with this girl. I think we are only scratching the surface of the charade of Julian and Alex. Julian sadly finds her lying in a blood-filled bathtub. He pulls her out and he waits in the hospital room until she awakes. Brooke is by his side, but is still having trouble with his relationship with Alex, seeing as all his past relationships have been linked to him playing the knight in shining armor to the damsel in distress. He tells her that his deceased mother was never told how special she was and although Broke assures him that helping Alex won’t bring her back, he wants to help her anyway. He tells Alex that they are going to make their movie and Brooke walks away hurt that they are getting so close while she is left lonely.

Nathan and Haley are gearing up to move to Spain, and Jamie is not happy about it. He and Nathan go to the bar, drink and reminisce about what they will miss about Tree Hill. Haley joins in and they somehow end up in a tomato fight with Grubbs the bartender. Random.

Quinn shows up to Clay’s house wanting to help him get back on his feet. They take a roadtrip to talk to Joe Turner, a player whose mother had been diagnosed with cancer. The two bond on the ride to visit the general manager of The Bobcats to try and negotiate a deal. Quinn has to pretend to try out for cheerleader to get them into the building. She puts on a hilariously awkward dance to which Clay cutely says he’s sorry for who has to follow her. Aw. Anyway, the two show up to Nathan and Haley’s just in time as he is about to sign the deal to play overseas. Instead, Clay tells him that he got a deal for the Sacramento Kings for $15 million. And if he takes it, he will immediately be traded to the Bobcats. There are a few conditions though, one being that Clay is his agent again and the other being that he has to accept him and Quinn’s relationship because he “plans on falling insanely in love with her.” Loved this scene.

Dan decides to end his show and his marriage. He apologizes to Keith on live television and donates all his money to charity. He leaves behind divorce papers and nothing for Rachel. Hah! As he boards the bus, Nathan shows up to tell him that he is back on the Bobcats and thanks him for helping him get there. Jamie runs up and tells Dan that he forgives him for all the bad he’s done. This was a touching moment. Dan has done some really messed-up things, but I love the small moments between him and Nathan, as well as him and Jamie.

Millie goes into rehab after talking to Mouth about all her lies and addiction. She admits that all she thinks about is using cocaine and finally apologizes to Brooke for stealing the dress. By the end of the episode, she is sneaking out the window. Since Mouth and Skillz are moving to LA, it looks like she won’t have anyone to pick her back up when she inevitably falls back into her bad habits.

I’d say one of best parts of the episode was the music. Wakey! Wakey!’s Mike Grubb plays the bartender who I’ve been wondering about. Turns out his song, “War Sweater” was played in last season’s finale (an amazing song). And in this episode, he takes to TRIC’s piano and belts out a moving performance of his song, “Brooklyn.” Seriously, it was a perfect song and a perfect ending to this fall’s final episode.

We see Haley leave for tour with Nathan and Jamie, Brooke stare sadly at Julian and Alex holding hands in the hospital room, and Clay and Quinn jump into the ocean (as a metaphor for their new relationship perhaps? I don’t know). Brooke gets a nice surprise at the end when her “new designer” walks into COB. Of course, it’s a hot guy. Just another wedge between her and Julian, I’m sure.

While I’m not loving the sad Brooke/Julian distance, I am excited to see where it all goes. The rest of the storylines were heart-warming and like I said, the music MADE this episode. Well done! See you all in January!

Sharon Tharp is a freelance writer who has contributed to a variety of publications including Hamptons magazine and the Web sites of both Marie Claire and CosmoGIRL!.