Posted by: haro1d
It was a big night for OTH — not only was it the show in which everyone was cast for Lucas’ movie, but in case you noticed, the episode was helmed by the multifaceted Bethany Joy Galeoti.
So what kind of shiggity went down in Tree Hill last night? Let’s have a look …
It’s the night that everyone gets to see themselves from another perspective. Casting calls for all of the OTH gang are in full swing, and there are plenty of amusing moments, like Nathan wondering aloud why everyone casting for his part has to be shirtless, or Peyton listening to her would-be-Peytons waxing dramatic in her presence.
But things are getting more stressful in Peyton’s world. As Lucas gets more and more wrapped up in everything he has to do for his film, she is left to fend for herself on all domestic fronts, symbolized in this episode by a nice Italian crib sent by Karen and Andy for the anticipated arrival. Peyton is thankful, but overwhelmed by the details of assembling it. She drags Mia in to help her (“You’re Italian, aren’t you?”), but Mia isn’t much help. Skills comes over to the house to examine for child-safety issues, and finds many PBI — potential baby injuries, and Peyton starts to freak out. She eventually reaches a point of despair and calls Lucas and has a breakdown on his voicemail, but she erases the message and leaves another message instead that says that everything is fine … even though it’s not.
Dan Scott gets it out of Jamie that he has a crush on a girl at school, and helps him to invite her for a playdate at Dan’s beach house. Jamie asks her and she says yes — he’s thrilled. As it turns out, the girl he’s crushing on is his teacher, Lauren, who shows up at Dan’s house. As they all get acquainted, Jamie gets jealous of Dan, who is closer in understanding to his teacher. When Dan starts to tell Lauren a cute story about Jamie, Jamie thinks Grandpa Dan is trying to embarrass him. He gets furious and yells out that Dan went to prison. (They later make up, and all is well between the two — best buddies and all that, which shows that Dan may actually be maturing and mellowing, finally …)
Brooke and Julian have now taken their relationship physical, and Brooke feels compelled to tell Peyton about it so that it doesn’t cause problems for their friendship down the road. (Oh, and Peyton also asks Brooke to be her maid of honor, but you knew that was going to happen, didn’t you?) But very soon, when the gal who’s cast as Brooke in the movie pulls the naked-in-the-back-of-the-car move, and tells Brooke she’s just following the Brooke breakdown given to her, Brooke flips out and goes to see Lucas about it — who insists he didn’t write it … which means Julian did. She gets into Julian’s face, throws the letterman jacket back at him and tells him she’s not the sexy high-school Brooke she once was, and walks out. But of course, they make up almost immediately, and it’s all gushy between them once again.
In one of the more interesting plot turns of recent months, Haley summons Sam to tell her she won the school essay contest for her report on what it’s like to be homeless, and in which she expresses her concern for Jack. She also tells Sam that the essay will be published in the school paper. The only trouble is, Haley is summoned herself — to the principal’s office, where she’s told that the essay is not appropriate for the student paper, and that if Haley chooses to publish it, she may be risking her job. Sam hears about it, and begs Haley not to publish the paper — she doesn’t want to lose Haley because of a paper. But Haley goes ahead and publishes it anyway to underscore Sam’s self esteem, and to encourage her further.
Meanwhile, in the Chiefs’ world, Bobby calls Nathan into his office for a private discussion about Devon. Nathan confirms Bobby’s suspicions that he’s the best man for the point guard position, and Bobby tells him that he’s now the starter. What he doesn’t tell Nathan is that he’s cutting Devon off the team altogether. When Nathan later runs into Devon in the locker room, Devon is in tears as his family — including his daughter and pregnant wife — shows up. Devon insists that he’s going to make it to the NBA anyway, and turns and walks out. Nathan goes back to the coach to protest, but the decision has been made. That’s business, and difficult as it is, he has to live with it.
Casting is getting increasingly difficult, Reese and Julian are finding, because Lucas can’t make a decision. Reese wants to hire the “Peyton” with the biggest “rack,” as he says, while Lucas wants to be sure she’s cast correctly. Eventually, Lucas’ initial pick shows up to reiterate her interest in the role, and he follows Julian’s advice and listens to her with his eyes closed. When she offers herself to Reese — literally — the decision is made. Reese beds her and casts someone else, on whom he and Lucas can agree.
As the episode comes to a close, Peyton goes for her ultrasound appointment alone, and just as she’s feeling sorry for herself, Lucas shows up — making him Superhusband, in her eyes.
As all is increasingly right with the world, casting is finished, and the meetings begin. The cast listens as Lucas reads through the script, and all are on board when he closes the pages and says, “Let’s make a movie.”
Don’t you wonder what’ll happen when the movie tanks at the box office?
