A dream episode set in the 1940’s – why that’s the bee’s knees!

 

This week was all about style. Cool clothes, cool hair and cool dialogue. Chad Michael Murray actually wrote the episode and tried on a Bogey impersonation. He fell a little flat but he gets an ‘A’ for effort.

 

Part of his problem was he and Peyton had no heat. For anyone who’s seen Casablanca or anything in that genre, the mysterious woman out with the wrong guy walks into a room and takes your breath away. Peyton didn’t have that charm. So it was hard to see why Luke was so drawn to her. Their banter wasn’t the snappy, bullet speed stuff of classic cinema dreams. Weird, isn’t it? I’m a Lucas/Peyton hater but they normally have great chemistry.

 

Never fear, Haley and Nathan brought the heat. Haley owned the screen when she walked on. She had that Rita Hayworth girl-next-door sex appeal and her voice has never sounded better. Kudos to actress Bethany Joy Galeotti. She obviously researched the era because her delivery was pitch perfect. It was like Haley stepped out of a black and white movie. Their whirlwind romance seemed genuinely romantic whereas Peyton/Lucas was forced.

 

Brooke could not have been a better choice for the femme fatale. Those red lips and 40’s shoulder pads were made for her. Too bad she and Owen, as a straight-laced cop, didn’t tangle. Since he was in this episode maybe there’s a chance he’s not gone from the show. Fingers crossed.

 

Mouth was another treat. His drunken reporter hit all the right notes. And it was fun to watch him do comedy. He’s typically the overly sincere one but it’s hard to be serious when you fall into a pile of trash.

 

The biggest disappoint of the whole flashback was Dan. He was way too subdued. I wanted scenery chewing! He’s more evil on a regular episode.

 

Things in 40’s Tree Hill were uneven. Unfortunately I can’t blame that on my whipping boy because Chad Michael Murray wrote a spot on homage to film noir. Some of the actors weren’t confident enough to embrace the style and they brought everyone else down. At least they all looked spectacular on the way!

 

(Recommended films that ‘inspired’ this week’s show: Casablanca, Gilda and The Big Sleep)