Mark Schwahn takes a tip from Tom Batiuk's Funky Winkerbean, as he fast-forwards the cast of One Tree Hill exactly "Four Years, Six Months, Two Days" into the future for the two-hour fifth season premiere -- an event that's sure to register at least a 7.0 on the OMG Scale with fans everywhere.
The future-shock sets in early, as we find our characters living their dreams. But dreams aren't all they're cracked up to be, and some of them are absolute nightmares. As the premiere opens, we know right off that things have changed, as we see a disheveled Nathan (James Lafferty) -- his hair long, his beard unkempt -- is married, with a young son, James. What's strange about the scene is that we see four-year-old James playing with a toddler's basketball set, and Nathan makes it clear that he doesn't want the child learning the game -- odd behavior indeed from a guy who was such a basketball nut just a few years before.
Other things have changed in Tree Hill, NC as well. Nathan's brother, Lucas (Chad Michael Murray), is now a published author, currently battling with writer's block on his second novel and fending off his pleading editor. He's returned to Tree Hill to get his head together. But his Veronica-Archie-Betty history still hasn't let go of him -- and, in fact, may have become geometrically all the more complicated!
In addition, Lucas is also the head coach of the high school basketball team, where he's assisted by his old pal, Skills Taylor (Antwon Tanner).And basketball also touches the life of another Tarheel State citizen, as we find the nerdy "Mouth" McFadden (Lee Norris) struggling to cut audition tapes for a sportscaster's job, but facing constant interruptions from his sports-obsessed roommates.
Nathan's Lament. Just one of the many future-shocks in store
for One Tree Hill fans when they rejoin their characters "4 Years,
6 Months, 2 Days" later.
But not everything is focused on the roundball in the newly-matured setting. Brooke (Sophia Bush) is the owner of a high-profile fashion line, "Clothes Over Bros," living a life that finds her on the red carpet a lot, linking arms with this celebrity or that one, just to keep the rumor mills grinding away. However, just because she owns the company doesn't mean she gets to run it the way she likes, and shortly into the show she is forced to terminate one of her models -- a difficult decision, since this model is also her close friend.
Not everybody is still in Tree Hill at this time. We learn that Karen and Lily are on a tour of the globe, with Lucas telling little Jimmy that they're currently in Ireland as they pin another postcard to the world map in Jimmy's room. But with some gone, the door is open for others to return, and that's definitely going to shake up the storyline and get fans talking!
There's more -- and I mean a lot more -- but to get it all you'll have to tune in to the CW, Tuesday, January 8, at 8pm ET, for the two-hour premiere for a whole new vision of One Tree Hill.
CD Giveaway - Paper Bird, "Rooms"
Ends May 28, 2013
Drifting ever so slightly away from traditional folk music, this Colorado band delivers harmony and energy aplenty.
