100th episode premiere: "One Tree Hill"

In a season full of shows in perpetual re-runs, One Tree Hill is going strong with new drama. The CW show, in its fifth season, has come a long way. The season began by jumping four years ahead from the previous one, bringing all the characters into post-college-age adulthood. The cast also celebrated its 100th show, a milestone marked by new beginnings, endings and a returning.

The show centered on pretty boy and author, Lucas and his editor, Lindsey getting married. Karen, Lucas’ mom and her daughter Lily returned to America from France for the occasion while a suspenseful scene plays out with the psycho nanny, Carrie and the newly out of prison Dan, Lucas’ biological father. Are you following? It was an overload of drama for one hour.

While we waited for Lucas and Lindsey to get married, aspiring record executive, Peyton, who is still in love with Lucas (even after denying his proposal years earlier) questioned whether or not to proclaim her feelings for him at the ceremony. Her eventual decision not to was completely overshadowed by Lindsey abruptly leaving Lucas at the altar. Her reason for the exit? Lucas is clearly still in love with Peyton. His new book is even a testament to how much he still cares for her, disguised as a boy waiting for a comet to return. What tipped Lindsey off? Peyton’s car, the one that broke down the first time she met Lucas, is a Comet. Lindsey saw it parked outside the church that day. What a coincidence that she never saw it before the wedding.

In other news, married high school sweethearts Nathan and Haley find that reconciliation is harder than it seems. After Haley caught the now ex-nanny Carrie in the shower with Nathan, her whole world was shaken. Though Nathan was innocent in the matter, she cannot find the nerve to trust him. All she has is her son, Jamie.

Jamie, the show’s cutest star and by far one of the best actors (yes, he is four) leaves the church sanctuary for a bathroom break. While he is gone, he stumbles into Nanny Carrie, as he calls her, in the lobby. She tricks him into leaving and kidnaps him. The whole cast is frantically sent looking for him. This twist brings Nathan and Haley closer than ever. The good news? Jamie returns home safely, but only because of Dan, the most hated man in Tree Hill.

After killing his brother and going to prison, Dan is a free man. It is still unclear if his motives were pure, but bringing Jamie back was no less than noble. The look on everyone’s face when he showed up with Jamie was a priceless, shocked look of fear, anger and confusion all rolled into one.

What will become of all of this? The ending of Lucas and Lindsey clearly leaves room for a love between him and Peyton, but is somehow seems wrong now. He said “I do,” but she left. Why was he going to marry Lindsey when his heart was so conflicted? Even if Lucas and Peyton are meant to be and it is what everyone wants, it still feels too soon.

As for Dan returning, there is much to be explained. He is far too hated to be a good guy again, but his safe-keeping of Jamie can’t be overlooked. Haley and Nathan seem to be on the road to a happy marriage, thankfully, because they are a constant in a batch of unstable relationships. For the 100th episode, much was revealed and still much to be explained. Would it be so interesting without a dozen or so story lines? I think not.