The Downfall of "One Tree Hill"

When the show One Tree Hill began, it was an unconventional show. It had the Dawson's Creek feel of a group of teenagers growing up in a small town in North Carolina. However, there was an added bonus of two brothers that are rivals on the basketball court and off. Lucas Scott, played by Chad Michael Murray, was the laid back brother from the wrong side of the tracks with the ability to be a great basketball player. Nathan Scott, played by then newcomer James Lafferty, was the younger brother who had it all, including a really bad attitude. He had the money, the rich and successful father, and the girlfriend that Lucas lusted after. Peyton Sawyer, played by former MTV VJ Hilarie Burton was the misunderstood cheerleader with a hidden Goth side. Peyton and Nathan's relationship was very volatile and they broke up constantly, which was why it was so easy for Peyton to fall for Lucas. Add in Peyton's wacky, rich and slutty best friend, Brooke Davis, played by Sophia Bush, and Lucas' best friend, Haley, played by Bethany Joy Lenz, and you had a group of pretty kids with a more realistic set of problems than a lot of kids have on television.

As the first season progressed, relationships changed like chess pieces. Peyton had a slight fling with Lucas but broke it off because she wasn't ready for anything more than physical. Nathan befriended Haley to get back at Lucas for joining the basketball team but their relationship soon became more, and Lucas decided that it would be fun to date Brooke instead. At first, I believe that the producers, and writers, had intended to put Peyton and Lucas together. However, there was an added kink when Chad Michael Murray started to date Sophia Bush in real life. Like all real life couples who work together on television, they pretty much didn't have a choice.

The way they were. The cast during Season 1.

Credit: The WB

Copyright: The WB