Nathan Scott (James Lafferty) is the arrogant star basketball player of the Ravens in Tree Hill, North Carolina. His father Dan Scott (Paul Johansson) is overbearing and a crooked car lot owner. His lead cheerleader girlfriend Peyton Sawyer (Hilarie Burton) is artistic. Her best friend is shallow fellow cheerleader Brooke Davis (Sophia Bush). When Nathan takes a joy ride with the bus, most of the team is suspended and the wise basketball coach Whitey (Barry Corbin) recruits Lucas Scott (Chad Michael Murray) to the team. Lucas is the bastard child of Dan. He and his mother Karen Roe (Moira Kelly) are barely acknowledged by Dan. His friends are Mouth McFadden (Lee Norris), Skills Taylor (Antwon Tanner) and Haley Jams (Bethany Joy Lenz). He works in Dan's brother Keith (Craig Sheffer)'s garage.
This is more than beautiful people watching. No doubt, these are beautiful people. The characters are archetypes. It's a sibling rivalry. It's several Romeo and Juliet. It's rich and poor. The first few seasons are great teen melodrama. It does go on way too long. The show is able to keep a few of the original characters but that doesn't stop the slow slide especially in the last few seasons. While I don't mind jumping ahead 4 years in season 5, the reunion feels forced. The fact is the show starts off with great characters and a photogenic cast. By the last few years, the show has fewer characters that I care about and too many new characters that I don't care about.
This is more than beautiful people watching. No doubt, these are beautiful people. The characters are archetypes. It's a sibling rivalry. It's several Romeo and Juliet. It's rich and poor. The first few seasons are great teen melodrama. It does go on way too long. The show is able to keep a few of the original characters but that doesn't stop the slow slide especially in the last few seasons. While I don't mind jumping ahead 4 years in season 5, the reunion feels forced. The fact is the show starts off with great characters and a photogenic cast. By the last few years, the show has fewer characters that I care about and too many new characters that I don't care about.