Haley is singing again. Mouth is back on the air. Dan is threatening mommies in the schoolyard. Everyone in Tree Hill is being true to who they really are. The season is saved!

Even Lucas and Peyton managed to be entertaining. She was still her doubting self but it led to some really funny moments, particularly when he couldn’t ‘perform’ in his mother’s bedroom. She was completely awkward when trying to seduce him in just an old t-shirt and it was charming. And yet, Lucas fell even farther from my good graces. He thinks The Cure, one of the greatest alternative bands ever, is depressing and whiney? Add squinty to that and you could be talking about Lucas.

Music was a big part of the episode, with Haley finally finding her passion again. She needed to be something other than Nathan’s wife and Jamie’s mother. Singing is what defines her as an individual so it felt right to have her back in that element.

Welcome back to your element B. Davis: we were worried about you! Brooke said she was going to start designing clothes on her own terms. What a relief. She and Haley had such a unique moment when they supported each others’ dreams. Female television characters are constantly backstabbing each other. How enlightening to see two young women talking about their strengths and talent. Then there was Brooke giving Samantha a chance at a real life. It gives me hope that girl power isn’t dead.

Well, it did, until Gigi showed up. Mouth’s one time companion is going to cause trouble between him and Millie.  She made that clear with all of her sex talk. It seemed odd that Mouth got his on air position back so quickly in Tree Hill but maybe it was too boring to have everybody struggling with work, especially the guy who was destined to be a talking head. He will be the juicy love triangle for this season. Hopefully all the feminist good will worked up by Haley and Brooke won’t be put to shame with a Millie/Gigi cat fight.

Nathan teaching Jamie how to walk away from a fight officially turned him into the hero of our show. He’s become the moral, stable guy with his heart in the right place while Lucas flounders. He was even more responsible than Haley, who got physical her son’s bully’s mother. Now if only his Slamball career works out…

All we need now is someone for Dan to focus his rage on. Skills is ripe for the picking!