One Tree Hill

10 Best Episodes of One Tree Hill - Season 1

In Tree Hill, North Carolina two half brothers share a last name and nothing else. Brooding, blue-collar Lucas is a talented street-side basketball player, but his skills are appreciated only by his friends at the river court. Popular, affluent Nathan basks in the hero-worship of the town, as the star of his high school team. And both boys are the son of former college ball player Dan Scott whose long ago choice to abandon Lucas and his mother Karen, will haunt him long into his life with wife Deb and their son Nathan.

Written by Sophie and last updated on feb 02, 2023.

PS: The following content contains spoilers!

PPS: I will admit that parts of this page was written with the help of AI - it makes my work so much easier to not start from a blank page!

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One Tree Hill - S1E15

#15 - Suddenly Everything Has Changed (Season 1 - Episode 15)

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.

The episode was rated 7.83 from 210 votes.

One Tree Hill - S1E7

#14 - Life in a Glass House (Season 1 - Episode 7)

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On 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 his younger brother once again and Lucas finally makes his move on Peyton. Also, Haley and Nathan grow closer until Brooke spreads a vicious rumor that leaves Haley devastated.

The episode was rated 7.83 from 254 votes.

One Tree Hill - S1E8

#13 - The Search for Something More (Season 1 - Episode 8)

Looking for some fun, Brooke and Peyton crash a college party, but things turn ugly when one of the guys in the dorm, Gabe drugs Peyton. After Brooke calls Lucas for help, the two bond over 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.

The episode was rated 7.84 from 244 votes.

One Tree Hill - S1E20

#12 - What Is and What Should Never Be (Season 1 - Episode 20)

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While Nathan looks for an after-school job to pay his rent, Haley decides to throw a party at his apartment but panics when things get out of control. After a jilted Brooke realizes she was not invited to the festivities, she decides to crash the party with her new friend Nicki.

The episode was rated 7.84 from 191 votes.

One Tree Hill - S1E2

#11 - The Places You Have Come to Fear the Most (Season 1 - Episode 2)

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 step foot in the high school gym to support her son.

The episode was rated 7.84 from 318 votes.

One Tree Hill - S1E5

#10 - All That You Can't Leave Behind (Season 1 - Episode 5)

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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. Also, Peyton has a hard time dealing with the anniversary of her mother's death and finds a comforting ally in Whitey.

The episode was rated 7.85 from 248 votes.

One Tree Hill - S1E17

#9 - Spirit in the Night (Season 1 - Episode 17)

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 the 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.

The episode was rated 7.85 from 198 votes.

One Tree Hill - S1E22

#8 - The Games That Play Us (Season 1 - Episode 22)

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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. Haley is stunned after Dan threatens her, causing her to reconsider her relationship with Nathan. Meanwhile, Whitey learns that his medical condition may be more serious than he first expected, and Dan learns a shocking secret from Deb.

The episode was rated 7.92 from 202 votes.

One Tree Hill - S1E9

#7 - With Arms Outstretched (Season 1 - Episode 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, she catches him with Brooke.

The episode was rated 7.92 from 236 votes.

One Tree Hill - S1E10

#6 - You Gotta Go There to Come Back (Season 1 - Episode 10)

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After Whitey cancels basketball practice, Brooke convinces Lucas to let loose and takes him out for a wild night out on the town. Meanwhile, Deb instructs Dan to take Nathan away for a father-son weekend to try and rebuild their relationship, but things don't go exactly as she had hoped.

The episode was rated 7.93 from 228 votes.

One Tree Hill - S1E11

#5 - The Living Years (Season 1 - Episode 11)

Unable to handle the pressure from Dan, Nathan decides to quit the basketball team and looks to Haley to help him fill his free time. Meanwhile, Brooke becomes increasingly jealous of Lucas and Peyton's growing friendship.

The episode was rated 7.95 from 208 votes.

One Tree Hill - S1E1

#4 - Pilot (Season 1 - Episode 1)

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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 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 beautiful girlfriend Peyton.

The episode was rated 7.96 from 424 votes.

One Tree Hill - S1E14

#3 - I Shall Believe (Season 1 - Episode 14)

While holding a vigil at Lucas' bedside as he lays in a coma, Karen meets her son's new girlfriend and learns from Deb that she is divorcing Dan. 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 dumps him.

The episode was rated 8.03 from 209 votes.

One Tree Hill - S1E6

#2 - Every Night Is Another Story (Season 1 - Episode 6)

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When Whitey throws Lucas and Nathan off the bus due to their misconduct on the basketball court, not only does it leave the two brothers stranded 30 miles from home, but they encounter a carload of punks who threaten them with a gun. Injured during the game, Brooke needs Peyton to drive her home and in, an unlikely turn of events, Peyton asks Haley for help. Meanwhile, Karen and Keith attend a business function and tempers flare when Dan and Deb are seated at their table.

The episode was rated 8.03 from 268 votes.

One Tree Hill - S1E18

#1 - To Wish Impossible Things (Season 1 - Episode 18)

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 with Mouth and gives him the night of his life.

The episode was rated 8.05 from 195 votes.

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