Posted by: haro1d
Well, the gang was nearly all there last night, and while there was a bit of typical Tree Hill drama, for the most part, it was a “filler” episode. At its center were the bachelor/bachelorette parties for Lucas and Lindsey, sneakily planned to be at the same time and location so that Nathan and Haley would have to see and talk to each other. (Sounds like a great plan for a party, no?) In business news, Peyton, via her recording label, disbursed her first dividends to investor Brooke — in cash. Rachel, currently attempting to detoxify on her own while crashing at Brooke’s house (you see where this is going, don’t you?) tried to seduce Mouth, who had the good-boy sense to stay true to Millie. When it didn’t work out for Rachel, and once Brooke’s mother tore into her at Brooke’s house, Rachel took off — with Brooke’s stash of cash, apparently. Brooke fired her mother from her position with Clothes Over Bros — and possibly as a mom. Everyone in Tree Hill attempted to comfort li’l James (who evidently recovered from last week’s near drowning just fine) as his parents failed to resolve their issues, Skills even giving Haley what for. Lucas handed the manuscript of his new book to Haley for an initial read-through. When she finished reading it, Haley immediately called Lucas and told him that he can’t marry Lindsey.
And Dan Scott is out on parole.
It’s hard to believe that all of this constitutes a filler episode, but that’s how it is with One Tree Hill. Sometimes, even when a lot of big stuff is going on, it still feels like nothing is happening. But usually, such episodes lead up to the big ones — the ones rife with the most hilarity.
Next week’s episode is the big one. The 100th episode, and supposedly the biggest OTH event “ever.” It’s the Lucas/Lindsey wedding, and the whole crew, Karen and everybody, are supposed to be back. The “next week” promo clip was pretty funny — in true soap style, Lucas and Lindsey are at the altar, but Lucas can’t help but look over his shoulder at Peyton, who looks like she’s going to be sick all over the floor.
Which makes it a perfect time for Dan Scott’s return. I can’t tell you how much my wife and I are looking forward to seeing what kind of shenanigans that guy is going to be up to. Let’s think about it for a bit, shall we?
Well, so far, he’s been out of the joint for a few hours and he’s already managed to bed some honey from Tree Hill’s department store. (She must be new in town not to recognize the high-profile former mayor — and onetime high scorer for the Tree Hill Ravens, of course — who got sent up for offing his own brother.) If she’s anything like the rest of the Tree Hill gals, she’ll have very little trouble absorbing the drama of dating a convicted killer. Maybe Dan brings her along to the wedding and introduces her to li’l James as well as himself.
Or maybe he’ll operate better on his own. For some reason, I envision the producers setting things up so that when the doors open at the back of the church to let Lindsey in, it’s Dan Scott who appears. I’d like to think they’ll have him in the red-devil contact lenses and fangs that he’s adorned in recent dream sequences, but that might be a bit much even for Tree Hill. Everyone will try to ignore him, intending to keep the day focused on the bride and groom, but it’ll be too late. Karen will try to stand up to him, but as soon as he makes a move to touch her, Lucas will burn down the aisle, fists flying. Nathan will want to jump in the fray, but Haley’s guilt-inducing glare will keep his temper in check. (But maybe she’ll relent and say, “OK, Nathan — just this once.”)
And that’s when Coach Whitey will step in. He’s apparently the only guy capable of wrangling Dan Scott — which is amusing when you consider how arrogant and self-assured Dan has been through most of this series. But Whitey’s getting older. He’s retired, a longtime widower, and maybe this is how he’ll make his exit. (It’s the 100th episode, after all. Why not celebrate it with a good ol’ death in the family?)
And that’s how they get Dan Scott back to prison.
Like it? Well, tune in next week and see how wrong I am. But right or wrong, it’s going to be laughs.