One Tree Hill (season 1)

The first season of One Tree Hill, an American teen drama television series created by Mark Schwahn, began airing on September 23, 2003 on The WB television network. The season concluded on May 11, 2004, after 22 episodes.

One Tree Hill
Season 1
One Tree Hill Season 1 DVD cover
Country of origin	United States
No. of episodes	22
Release
Original network	The WB
Original release	September 23, 2003 (2003-09-23) – May 11, 2004 (2004-05-11)
Season chronology

The series premiere was watched by 2.5 million viewers and achieved a 1.9 Adults 18–49 rating on September 23, 2003. However, the following week it rose to 3.3 million viewers and a 2.4 demo, becoming only one of three shows to rise in its second episode in the 2003–2004 TV season.[1]

Warner Home Video released the complete first season, under the title of One Tree Hill: The Complete First Season, on January 25, 2005, as a six-disc boxed set.[2]

Overview

The first season follows junior Lucas Scott as he joins his high school basketball team and forges a relationship with his half-brother Nathan Scott, while also coming to terms with who he is and who his father is. The season also explores the love lives of the boys as they develop relationships with characters like Peyton Sawyer, Haley James and Brooke Davis, while the parents of these teens must also face the past in order to move on from it.

Cast and characters

See also: List of One Tree Hill characters

Regular Chad Michael Murray as Lucas Scott (22 episodes) James Lafferty as Nathan Scott (22 episodes) Hilarie Burton as Peyton Sawyer (22 episodes) Bethany Joy Lenz as Haley James (22 episodes) Paul Johansson as Dan Scott (22 episodes) Sophia Bush as Brooke Davis (21 episodes) Barry Corbin as Whitey Durham (19 episodes) Craig Sheffer as Keith Scott (22 episodes) Moira Kelly as Karen Roe (18 episodes) Barbara Alyn Woods as Deb Scott (episode 13 onwards; recurring ep. 4-12) (19 episodes)

Recurring Brett Claywell as Tim Smith (20 episodes) Bryan Greenberg as Jake Jagielski (13 episodes) Lee Norris as Mouth McFadden (12 episodes) Cullen Moss as Junk Moretti (7 episodes) Vaughn Wilson as Fergie Thompson (7 episodes) Antwon Tanner as Antwon "Skills" Taylor (6 episodes) Bevin Prince as Bevin Mirskey (6 episodes) Emmanuelle Vaugier as Nicki (6 episodes) Thomas Ian Griffith as Larry Sawyer (5 episodes) Sarah Edwards as Theresa (4 episodes)

Episodes

See also: List of One Tree Hill episodes

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	Prod. code	U.S. viewers (millions)
1	1	"Pilot"	Bryan Gordon	Mark Schwahn	September 23, 2003 (2003-09-23)	475360	2.48[3]
Aside from a love for hoops, it would seem that Lucas and Nathan are two young men with little in common, but they are bound by the dark secret that they share the same father. Nathan is the star of the high school basketball team called the Ravens and local town hero, while Lucas is the only child of a single working mom. Now the two boys' lives collide when a twist of fate puts Lucas on Nathan's team and the half-brothers compete, not only for control of the court, but also for the heart of Nathan's girlfriend, Peyton.
2	2	"The Places You Have Come to Fear the Most"	Bryan Gordon	Mark Schwahn	September 30, 2003 (2003-09-30)	177501	3.30[4]
Lucas blows his first varsity game and decides to quit the team. The wedge between Nathan and Peyton continues to grow after Peyton tires of Nathan's jabs at Lucas. Meanwhile, Keith forces Karen to deal with her feelings for Dan after she refuses to set foot in the high school gym to support her son. This episode is named after a song by Dashboard Confessional.
3	3	"Are You True?"	Michael Grossman	Jennifer Cecil	October 7, 2003 (2003-10-07)	177502	3.54[5]
Annoyed by Lucas's growing popularity, Nathan searches for his weak spot and finds it in Haley James - Lucas's best friend. After convincing the team to aggressively haze Lucas, Nathan seeks tutoring help from Haley and tries to befriend her, after all, nothing could hurt Lucas more than seeing his best friend help his worst rival. Meanwhile, Brooke develops feelings for Lucas. Karen must face some not-so-friendly acquaintances from the past. And Peyton becomes furious with Lucas when she discovers that he secretly submitted her drawings to a local newspaper. This episode is named after a song by The New Amsterdams.
4	4	"Crash Into You"	David Carson	Mark Perry	October 14, 2003 (2003-10-14)	177503	3.78[6]
A party at Dan's beach house, complete with basketball players, cheerleaders and beer? Sounds cool. But things heat up when Nathan humiliates Lucas, then crashes Peyton's car and lets Lucas take the blame. When Lucas sees the wealth that was denied him, he finally confronts his mother about why she let Dan ignore them. Meanwhile, when Nathan's mom returns home to hear her son was involved in a hit-and-run, she turns to Karen for advice. This episode's title is inspired in the Dave Matthews Band's song Crash Into Me.
5	5	"All That You Can't Leave Behind" "Where I End And You Begin"	Duane Clark	Ann Hamilton & Mark Schwahn	October 21, 2003 (2003-10-21)	177504	3.53[7]
Lucas asks Keith to play with him in the annual "Father and Son" basketball game, and realizes he got the better father figure after Dan publicly humiliates Nathan on the court. Meanwhile, Peyton turns down Nathan’s attempts to make up; she is having a hard time dealing with the anniversary of her mother's death and finds a comforting ally in Whitey. Haley continues tutoring Nathan and their developing friendship bothers Lucas. The original title of this episode comes from an album by U2. The alternative title comes from a song by Radiohead.
6	6	"Every Night Is Another Story"	Jason Moore	Mike Kelley	October 28, 2003 (2003-10-28)	177505	3.40[7]
When Whitey throws Lucas and Nathan off the team bus for misconduct, the two boys wind up stranded thirty miles from home. On the long walk home, they encounter a carload of players from the team they just beat who kidnap them at gunpoint. Injured during the game, Brooke needs Peyton to drive her home and Haley reluctantly accepts a ride with them. Meanwhile, Karen and Keith attend a business function, and tempers flare when Dan and Deb are seated at their table. This episode is named after a song by The Early November.
7	7	"Life in a Glass House"	Robert Duncan McNeill	Mike Kelley	November 4, 2003 (2003-11-04)	177506	3.62[8]
The night of Dan and Deb's annual basketball appreciation party stirs up old wounds and new feelings. As Karen makes a new friend, Keith faces off with Dan once again and Lucas finally makes his move on Peyton. Meanwhile, Haley and Nathan grow closer until Brooke spreads a vicious rumor that leaves Haley devastated. This episode is named after a song by Radiohead.
8	8	"The Search for Something More"	John T. Kretchmer	Jennifer Cecil	November 11, 2003 (2003-11-11)	177507	3.64[7]
Looking for some fun, Brooke and Peyton crash a college party, but things turn ugly when one of the guys in the dorm drugs Peyton. After Brooke calls Lucas for help, the two bond while caring for a sleeping Peyton, prompting Lucas to look at Brooke in a new light. Meanwhile, Haley gives Nathan another chance and the two go on their first date. This episode is named after a song by Antifreeze.
9	9	"With Arms Outstretched"	Greg Prange	Mark Schwahn	November 18, 2003 (2003-11-18)	177508	3.75[9]
After fighting with his father and Haley, Nathan succumbs to the pressure he is feeling and takes amphetamines to help his game. However, he isn't prepared for the destruction the drugs do to both his body and his family. Meanwhile, Peyton goes to Lucas to rekindle their relationship, but when she arrives at his house, Brooke is there with him. This episode is named after a song by Rilo Kiley.
10	10	"You Gotta Go There to Come Back"	Keith Samples	Mike Kelley	January 20, 2004 (2004-01-20)	177509	4.35[10]
Lucas decides if he wants to date Brooke or Peyton. Elsewhere, Whitey cancels practice to help the team refocus. Dan takes Nathan on a weekend outing in an attempt to reconcile with his son; and Deb and Haley plan an open-mike night at the cafe. This episode is named after a song by Stereophonics.
11	11	"The Living Years"	Thomas J. Wright	Mark Perry	January 27, 2004 (2004-01-27)	177510	3.81[7]
After quitting the basketball team, Nathan takes advantage of his extra free time to see more of Haley. The couple spend an afternoon at his beach house, where the liquor flows. The Scotts see a therapist to try to fix their family problems, but the distance between Deb and Dan continues to grow. Meanwhile, Brooke grows jealous of Peyton's growing bond with Lucas. This episode is named after a song by Mike + The Mechanics.
12	12	"Crash Course in Polite Conversations"	Sandy Smolan	Jessica Queller	February 3, 2004 (2004-02-03)	177511	3.89[7]
After Peyton receives the devastating news that her father is lost at sea, she and Lucas take an overnight trip to Hilton Head to identify a body that has washed ashore. Overcome with emotion, Peyton kisses Lucas. Meanwhile, an unexpected visit from Dan's parents leaves the Scott family in turmoil, as numerous family secrets are revealed at Dan's birthday dinner. This episode is named after a song by Gameface.
13	13	"Hanging by a Moment"	John Behring	Mark Schwahn	February 10, 2004 (2004-02-10)	177512	4.00[7]
On their way to pick up Karen from the airport, Keith and Lucas' car collides with an oncoming vehicle and an unconscious Lucas is left fighting for his life. Having witnessed the accident, Dan races Lucas to the hospital and must acknowledge that Lucas is his son in order to save his life. This episode is named after a song by Lifehouse.
14	14	"I Shall Believe"	Greg Prange	Jennifer Cecil	February 17, 2004 (2004-02-17)	177513	4.39[11]
While holding a vigil at Lucas' bedside as he lies in a coma, Karen meets her son's new girlfriend, and learns that Deb and Dan are divorcing. Most shocking of all, Karen is horrified to discover that Keith was drinking while driving at the time of the accident. Meanwhile, Nathan tries to win Haley back after she gets to know that he was dating her just to mess with Lucas. This episode is named after a song by Sheryl Crow.
15	15	"Suddenly Everything Has Changed"	David Carson	Mark Perry	February 24, 2004 (2004-02-24)	177514	3.87[12]
After his near-death experience, Lucas decides he made the wrong choice between Brooke and Peyton so he breaks things off with Brooke and secretly rekindles his romance with Peyton. However, the truth becomes obvious after he is rushed to the emergency room again and the girls come face to face in the hospital. Meanwhile, unable to pay his mortgage after paying Lucas' hospital bill, Keith puts his garage up for sale. This episode is named after a song by The Flaming Lips.
16	16	"The First Cut Is the Deepest"	Robert Duncan McNeill	Mike Kelley	March 2, 2004 (2004-03-02)	177515	3.95[13]
Nathan must decide which parent to live with after the divorce, but Dan decides to force his hand by threatening to reveal Deb's darkest secrets in court unless Nathan chooses him. Meanwhile, Lucas meets a beautiful stranger in a bar, while trying to drink his frustrations with his shoulder away. Grammy Award-winner Sheryl Crow appears as herself and performs the song "The First Cut Is The Deepest" in Karen's Cafe. This episode is named after a song by Cat Stevens.
17	17	"Spirit in the Night"	Duane Clark	Terrence Coli	April 6, 2004 (2004-04-06)	177516	3.24[14]
The gang hits the road to Charlotte where Brooke is determined to win first place at the annual cheerleading competition. But when one of her squad falls ill, Peyton begs Haley to step into a cheerleader's shoes for a day. Meanwhile, after Whitey assigns Lucas and Nathan to the same room, tempers flare and Haley is caught in the middle. This episode is named after a song by Bruce Springsteen.
18	18	"To Wish Impossible Things"	Billy Dickson	Mark Schwahn	April 13, 2004 (2004-04-13)	177517	4.81[15]
Lucas, Nathan and Jake are auctioned off to the highest bidder in the annual "Boy Toy" charity auction and the night leads to surprising developments with old flames. Meanwhile, having missed out on the auction, Brooke ends up spending the night with Mouth and he has the time of his life. This episode is named after a song by The Cure.
19	19	"How Can You Be Sure?"	Thomas J. Wright	Karyn Usher	April 20, 2004 (2004-04-20)	177518	4.40[16]
Is History repeating itself? Brooke is pregnant, and Lucas finds himself in the same situation Dan faced years ago. Karen turns down Keith's proposal and Nicki tries to force her way into Jake's life. This episode is named after a song by Radiohead.
20	20	"What Is and What Should Never Be"	Perry Lang	Edward Kitsis & Adam Horowitz	April 27, 2004 (2004-04-27)	177519	4.23[17]
Nathan looks for an after-school job to pay his rent and looks forward to the party that Haley is throwing for him that night. However, Haley panics when things get out of control. Brooke realizes that she isn't considered a "close friend," when she isn't invited to the party so she goes to a bar, meets the infamous Nikki and they decide to crash the party together. This episode is named after a song by Led Zeppelin.
21	21	"The Leaving Song"	Davis Carson	Jennifer Cecil & Mark Perry	May 4, 2004 (2004-05-04)	177520	4.09[18]
Dan becomes temporary coach of the basketball team when Whitey has to have eye surgery; no one else thinks this is a good idea. Haley finds objectional material on Nathan's laptop and gets offended. Peyton and Brooke are to blame for Nikki kidnapping Jenny and Jake gets upset - and worried. Lucas takes on a complicated decision. Nathan realizes that he is pressuring Haley for sex in ways he doesn't even know. Keith and Karen are at odds in their relationship. Dan finally gives Deb the divorce papers. This episode is named after a song by AFI.
22	22	"The Games That Play Us"	Greg Prange	Mark Schwahn	May 11, 2004 (2004-05-11)	177521	4.49[19]
In the first season finale, Lucas and Nathan bear the brunt of Dan's abuse as he coaches them into the playoffs, pushing both of them to their breaking points. Lucas is stunned when Haley's reconciliation with Nathan heightens the intensity of their relationship. Meanwhile, Whitey learns that his medical condition may be more serious than he first believed, and Dan suffers a medical condition after walking in on Deb and Keith having a one night stand. This episode is named after a song by The Blackouts.

Reception

Season	Timeslot	Season premiere	Season finale	TV season	Rank	Viewers (in millions)
1st	Tuesday 9/8C	September 23, 2003	May 11, 2004	2003–2004	#173	3.5[20]

DVD release

The DVD release of season one was released after the season has completed broadcast on television. It has been released in Regions 1, 2 and 4. As well as every episode from the season, the DVD release features bonus material such as audio commentaries on some episodes from the creator and cast, deleted scenes, gag reels and behind-the-scenes featurettes. The words "The WB Presents" were printed on the packaging before the "One Tree Hill" title, although they were not included on international releases as The WB was not the broadcaster.[21]

The Complete First Season
Set details[2]			Special features[2]
22 episodes 944 minutes (Region 1); 903 minutes (Region 2);[22] 862 minutes (Region 4)[23] 6-disc set 1.33:1 aspect ratio Languages: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround) Subtitles: English, Spanish and French (Region 1) English, Arabic, Dutch, Norwegian, Swedish, English for the Hearing Impaired (Regions 2 and 4)[22][23]			Audio commentaries: "Pilot" - with creator/executive producer/writer Mark Schwahn and executive producer Joe Davola "To Wish Impossible Things" - with creator/executive producer/writer Mark Schwahn and executive producer Joe Davola "The Games That Play Us" - Commentary 1 with actors Chad Michael Murray, James Lafferty, Hilarie Burton, Bethany Joy Galeotti and Sophia Bush. Commentary 2 with actors Paul Johansson, Moira Kelly, Craig Sheffer and Barbara Alyn Woods. Deleted scenes: Episodes: 2, 5, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22 "Diaries from the Set" "Building a Winning Team: The Making of One Tree Hill" "Christmas Elf Gag" Exclusive unaired music performance of "Chariot" by Gavin DeGraw with introduction
Release dates
United States	United Kingdom	Australia
January 25, 2005[2]	September 5, 2005[22]	February 1, 2006[23]

References

1. Breaking News - 'One Tree Hill,' 'Eve' Top Freshman Growth The Fruton Critic. Retrieved: November 3, 2010.
2. "One Tree Hill - The Complete 1st Season". TVShowsOnDVD.com. Archived from the original on 2008-03-02. Retrieved 2008-02-09.
3. "Alphabet comedies lead pack on Tuesday night". Variety.com. September 24, 2003. Retrieved August 6, 2011.
4. 'One Tree Hill,' 'Eve' Top Freshman Growth
5. "ABC 'Rules' record". Variety.com. October 8, 2003. Archived from the original on August 5, 2011. Retrieved August 6, 2011.
6. "'Whoopi'-ing it up". Variety.com. October 15, 2003. Archived from the original on August 5, 2011. Retrieved August 6, 2011.
7. "SpotVault - One Tree Hill (CW) - 2003-04". Spotted Ratings. January 13, 2012. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
8. "'Rules' rules Tuesday". Variety.com. November 5, 2003. Archived from the original on August 5, 2011. Retrieved August 6, 2011.
9. "Will finds way for UPN". Variety.com. November 19, 2003. Archived from the original on August 5, 2011. Retrieved August 6, 2011.
10. "'Idol' pesters Peacock". Variety.com. January 22, 2004. Archived from the original on August 5, 2011. Retrieved August 6, 2011.
11. "Weekly Program Rankings". ABC Medianet. February 24, 2004. Archived from the original on December 21, 2008. Retrieved March 28, 2009.
12. "Weekly Program Rankings". ABC Medianet. March 2, 2004. Archived from the original on December 21, 2008. Retrieved March 28, 2009.
13. "Weekly Program Rankings". ABC Medianet. March 9, 2004. Archived from the original on December 21, 2008. Retrieved March 28, 2009.
14. "RANKING REPORT: FROM 04/05/04 THROUGH 04/11/04". ABC Medianet. April 13, 2004. Archived from the original on July 28, 2014. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
15. "Weekly Program Rankings". ABC Medianet. April 20, 2004. Archived from the original on December 21, 2008. Retrieved March 28, 2009.
16. "Weekly Program Rankings". ABC Medianet. April 27, 2004. Archived from the original on December 21, 2008. Retrieved March 28, 2009.
17. "Weekly Program Rankings". ABC Medianet. May 4, 2004. Archived from the original on December 21, 2008. Retrieved March 28, 2009.
18. "Weekly Program Rankings". ABC Medianet. May 11, 2004. Archived from the original on December 21, 2008. Retrieved March 28, 2009.
19. "Weekly Program Rankings". ABC Medianet. May 18, 2004. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved March 28, 2009.
20. "2003-04 Ratings". ABC Medianet. Retrieved 2007-05-25.
21. "American packaging for season one" (JPG). Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-12-05.
    • "Australian packaging for season one" (JPG). EzyDVD. Retrieved 2012-12-05.
22. "One Tree Hill - Series 1". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 2008-02-11.
23. "One Tree Hill; Season 1: The Complete First Season: 6DVD (DVD)". Sanity. Archived from the original on 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-02-11.