Ok, this one was *REALLY* hard because there are so many episodes (174 as of the end of Season 8) and I love so many of them. But, I picked the ones I like the best. By each episode I will also put its season and episode number.
[10] All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone (Episode 4.21)- This was the final episode of Season 4 and would have been a great series finale had OTH not been picked back up. Between Nathan and Haley bugging Deb about Jamie, Mouth defending Erica's honor, the dance of the girls, and so many other little moments, this was just fantastic. And it ended perfectly, with the gang hanging out at the River Court.
[9] 4 Years, 6 Months, 2 Days/Racing Like a Pro (Episodes 5.01 and 5.02)- I am only counting both because they originally aired together. I liked the way we were reintroduced to our characters post-college. Watching Jackson having so much fun as Jamie was just cool as as watching how everyone related to him.
[8] The Wind That Blew My Heart Away (Episode 3.13)- You'll notice that there are several Season 3 episodes here, and that is mainly because Season 3 was far and away the best season of the show and this episode was a great example of that. Watching Ellie and Peyton bond, Lucas and Brooke fight and make up, and Naley work out their issues follow by making out in the storm, this episode just totally rocked.
[7] Pictures of You (Episode 4.13)- This episode brought us some good pairings that allowed our characters to look at their lives and see how things were going. I loved this episode so much, that I used some of it in an actual lesson when I was teaching. The individual pictures that they took and the group verbal collage at the end was just awesome.
[6] Screenwriter's Blues (Episode 6.16)- This episode was just flat out fun. Watching the casting for the movie, the faux-Brooke following the real Brooke around, the shirtless Nathans, Peyton "auditioning" to be herself, and finally James Van Der Beek as the asshat director was just a riot.
[5] Just Watch the Fireworks/Who Will Survive and What Will Be Left of Them/When It Isn't Like It Should Be (Episodes 3.15, 3.17, and 3.18)- Ok, I know these weren't broadcast together, but they are the bookends to 3.16, so I am keeping them together. From the return of Jimmy Edwards and the concert at Tric (totally awesome!) in 3.15 to the healing that took place in 3.18 and the process of grieving in 3.17, they just work together so well that I need to include them together.
[4] The Tide that Left and Never Came Back/The Leavers Dance (Episodes 2.22 and 2.23)- My last multi-episode group, but like 5.01 and 5.02, they were broadcast together. I loved the first hour for the theme from the assignment and the second hour ended with an incredible last 10 minutes with the fire and everything. That set into motion events that still echo in OTH.
[3] To Wish Impossible Things (Episode 1.18)- AKA The Boy Toy Auction. This episode was just jam packed with hilarity. The dancing on the stage, the water balloon fight on the roof of Karen's Cafe, Nathan and Peyton playing around, and Tim and Deb (tiger striped briefs!) just left some great moments. Other great moments were Jake coming out on stage and the bidding war for Mouth. Greatest line goes to Peyton "Now that's a creepy threesome!" to Haley's bidding on both Lucas and Nathan.
[2] Over the Hills and Far Away (Episode 3.21)- Naley's "engagement" party. Do I really need to say much more? No, but I will. I loved all the little vignettes the Brooke wheedled out of Nathan and Haley. Having the different people play them at various points in their romance was just neat to watch. No matter how good it was though, it can't compare to...
[1] With Tired Eyes, Tired Minds, Tired Souls, We Slept (Episode 3.16)- This episode is by far the best hour of television I have ever seen. Watching a teen soap cope with a major storyline like a school shooting is normally like watching a train wreck, you don't want to watch, but you can't stop watching. This episode however, dealt with the whole idea with a delicate hand. Mark never got preachy, he just laid everything out and let us decide about the rights and wrongs ourselves. It would have been so easy to just villanize Jimmy, but that didn't happen. Rather, we were shown how we can affect the lives of those around us in a very non-preachy manner. I have said it before, and will say it again, One Tree Hill can really be divided int 2 parts, pre and post 3.16. The events of this episode have ramifications that still echo in Tree Hill.
Next time, favorite storylines.
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