Well, after an excruciatingly long break, One Tree Hill is finally back. Q’s family will get justice. Nathan’s on his way to the pros. And a baby is way better than cancer.

 

But first, way to go Millie! Mouth is a jerk and Owen’s really hot. Mouth was spending all his free time with a trampy little co-ed who threw herself at him. He says nothing happened, except he dressed her in his t-shirt and let her sleep in his bed while Millie was out of town - then lied about it. Oh, and he stayed at work late to get drunk with Gigi. There was also the half-naked picture and the fact that Mouth was definitely thinking about cheating. If Gigi’s blatant disregard for his relationship were really a problem, he would have fired her. No, he should have fired her. Millie had every right to be angry. Losing her virginity for spite was a huge mistake but she’s better off without a guy who wants everything from her without giving her much in return.

 

Brooke got back everything she put into fostering when Sam called her ‘mom’. That kid was so smart, stopping Brooke from murdering her dirtbag attacker with a single word. Now he’ll get what’s coming to him, not just for Brooke, but also for Q’s murder. And Sam and Brooke survived a life or death situation, which bonds people for life in Tree Hill. The best part was Jack and Julian didn’t get there in time. Brooke kicked that guy’s butt herself and Sam kept her from pulling that trigger. The girls took care of themselves without the requisite man coming to save them. Could it be that we’re making some progress with that whole women’s lib thing?

 

Nathan doesn’t look like he needs to be rescued. If he’s too short to be a point guard (and he’s pretty short by NBA standards) his competition is even shorter.

Give Nathan a week or so back on a pro court and he’ll be schooling the hotshots in D-league. Q’s jersey number will give him the strength.

 

Maybe Q’s mother will find her own inner strength now that Q’s killer is behind bars. Maybe she’ll kill the guy. Who knows? But introducing her deep depression at this point in the season has to be leading somewhere. I hope.

 

Otherwise, bring back Deb and Skills! In fact, scrap the whole ‘Q’s mother is sad’ bit and just give us fans what we deserve! Yes, the broken record is back but who doesn’t agree? You can’t disappear two major characters for half a season then expect us not to notice. Skills showed up Deb-less. I smell a rat. You can’t sneak them back in and sweep the relationship under a rug. So here’s what I would advise you Mark Schwann, and your writing staff: plot out the season, episode by episode, before you begin. You may have heard of a ‘story arc’ or ‘season arc’. Look it up and do it!!!

 

While you’re googling that, also type in ‘pregnancy + symptoms’. Clutching your stomach like you’ve been shot, falling over and struggling to get up are not signs that you’re pregnant. They are signs that something is seriously wrong with your baby.

 

Hopefully that’s not going to be the case here (although it seems likely). I was so sure Peyton’s cancer was going to drive a wedge between her and Lucas. Watching them cope with impending parenthood will be much more fun. It will get her out of mope mode and give them something good to focus on. Plus they will produce an unusually attractive, if somewhat squinty, baby. Now I find myself rooting for them to make it as a couple. And for Brooke to fall for Julian. And Millie for Chase (two virgin-esque types would be a great fit).

 

And maybe the season will end with Deb and Skills’ surprise wedding. Then all would be forgiven.