10 Classic ‘One Tree Hill’ Episodes To Stream On Hulu

At its core, One Tree Hill is a series about two estranged brothers and basketball… and kidnappers, obviously, but that doesn’t begin happening on a weekly basis until later.

The OTH pilot episode does a remarkable job of introducing viewers to life in Tree Hill. We meet Lucas Scott, the brooding, John Steinbeck-quoting baller from the wrong side of the tracks, and Nathan Scott, popular but conceited basketball icon. The two share a father and a seething hatred for one another. We learn about the complicated family history and, eventually, the two literal brothers from different mothers settle their differences on the basketball court.

Few teen dramas come out of the gate as fully formed as One Tree Hill. If you don’t like the pilot, then this broody soap isn’t for you.

Stream the One Tree Hill pilot on Hulu

The first few episodes set the table for the Lucas/Peyton and Nathan/Haley pairings, but “Life in a Glass House” takes the interpersonal drama to a whole new level. Centering on an annual party Dan hosts for the Ravens, a devious Brooke meddles with the burgeoning Nathan/Haley relationship while also forcing Peyton and Lucas to explore their feelings for one another.

This episode provides the character of Nathan with some much needed pathos and also features the memorable Maroon 5-assisted hookup/quarrel between Lucas and Peyton.

Lucas: I wanted this for so long.
Peyton: Me too. And now we can have it.
Lucas: No, no, no, I don’t mean just that.

Lucas puts his hand over Peyton’s heart.

Lucas: I want this. You know? I want to be here. I want to have everything with you. I want it all. I want us, Peyton.
Peyton: This isn’t supposed to be that. Why couldn’t you just leave it alone?

Stream 'Life in a Glass House' on Hulu

In later seasons, the Lucas/Peyton/Brooke drama devolved into a jumbled mess as the romantic conflict between the trio became an uninspiring retread of previous seasons. But in Season 1, I was 100% invested in this love triangle. The brooding loner meets tortured artist connection between Lucas and Peyton was undeniable, which is why the end of the episode reveal was such a genuine surprise. Emotionally guarded Peyton finally reciprocates Luke’s feelings only to discover he’s now with her best friend.

“With Arms Outstretched” also features another incredible OTH musical moment as Sarah Mclaughlin’s “Fallen” — which is introduced during Nathan’s tearful breakdown with Haley — adds the perfect amount of subtle melancholy to the scene. The episode, the midseason finale of Season 1, ended on the Lucas/Peyton/Brooke cliffhanger and it worked. The ratings went from a 3.75 to a 4.35 when the show returned two months later.

Plus, our boy James Lafferty really delivers during his emotional confession to Haley.

“Tonight when I fell on the floor I was so scared, so terrified, then I saw you and I promised myself that if I could just get up, walk over to you and tell you how much I need you, how much I want you and that nothing else matters.”

Stream 'With Arms Outstretched' on Hulu

The character of Chris Keller was a jerk, but Tyler Hilton, the singer, provided OTH fans with one of the most memorable moments of the entire season. During a storm, Nathan reveals that he followed Haley’s music career while she was on tour (because, yes, at one point Haley was a literal rock star), complete with a collection of newspaper clippings. The youngest married couple in WB history say FU to Mother Nature and reconcile during the violent rainstorm, which was both hopelessly romantic and unnecessarily dangerous.

After watching the pilot, who would have thought that Nathan Scott and Haley James would be the most beloved couple in One Tree Hill history?

“I was hurt, Haley, but I was still proud of you. Every day.”

Honorable mention: “The Show Must Go On” (Season 3, Episode 22)

Stream 'The Wind That Blew My Heart Away' on Hulu

I joke about the absurd nature of One Tree Hill a lot in this article. The show is a mix of genuinely superb teen drama and unrealistic soap opera-esque shenanigans (kidnapping, crazy stalkers, ghosts, Nanny Carrie, Pete Wentz, etc). When shows like One Tree Hill attempt a “very special episode,” it often falls flat. That’s not the case with the exceptional Season 3 offering “With Tired Eyes, Tired Minds, Tired Souls, We Slept.”

The episode centers on bullied classmate Jimmy Edwards bringing a gun to school and holding various classmates hostage. It’s emotional, exceptionally acted, and ends with a twist (Dan shooting his brother Keith) that has a lasting impact on the series.

Stream 'With Tired Eyes, Tired Minds, Tired Souls, We Slept' on Hulu

I’m a sucker for a callback. There’s just something so thematically satisfying about a well-told story reaching its definitive conclusion.

First, let’s just ignore the “Rick Fox as a murderous loan shark who wants Nathan to throw a basketball game” of it all. If you’re going to enjoy the Hill, ya just gotta accept that there’ll always be a Rick Fox to deal with. In many ways, this episode is the finale of MY One Tree Hill. Sure, you have the Lucas/Peyton moment that references the pilot, which is great, but when you strip away all the insanity, at its core, OTH was about quarreling brothers and basketball. “Some You Give Away” finally puts a bow on the story of the Tree Hill Ravens as Lucas hits the shot he missed in the Season 1 finale to finally lead the team to a championship.

The episode directly references the Season 1 finale with Luke’s “doesn’t mean anything if you can’t hit the shot” (although he says “knock down” in the Season 1 episode), as well as Luke once again falling to his knees (this time in celebration) after taking the final shot.

Just a fantastic example of long-form storytelling. Also, Rick Fox hits Haley with a car and then Nathan punches him to death…. because, ya know, Tree Hill.

“It’s you. When all my dreams come true, the one I want next to me. It’s you. It’s you, Peyton.”

Stream 'Some You Give Away' on Hulu

The later seasons of One Tree Hill have a well-earned reputation for bizarre storylines and insane plots, but the series deftly avoided the scourge of teen dramas — aka what do we do about college? — by fast-forwarding the series four years to begin Season 5. Not only is this hard reboot creatively refreshing, but it helps our suspension of disbelief considering many of the actors were in their mid-twenties.

Season 5 begins with all our favorite characters returning to Tree Hill, which makes sense considering this tiny town is inexplicably the epicenter of the sports, fashion, film, and music industries. Peyton and Brooke are reunited! Nathan is… in a wheelchair? Brooke is a world-renowned fashion mogul! Haley is a teacher! 22-year-old Lucas Scott is somehow the head coach of a basketball team and an acclaimed author. Mouth and Skills are there too!

This episode began a hard and necessary creative reboot.

Stream '4 Years, 6 Months, 2 Days' on Hulu

Despite producing thousands of episodes over the last fifty years, the most notorious moment in the illustrious history of One Tree Hill is the “Dog eats Dan’s Heart” scene from Season 6. If TV moments were displayed like pieces of art, and they should be, this would be pop culture’s Mona Lisa.

Being a long-time fan of both dogs and snacks, I wrote about this episode back in May of 2017:

“My favorite thing about this episode of One Tree Hill, and maybe just life in general, is how this gonzo storyline isn’t the main plot of the episode. It’s not even in the TOP FIVE. Per the Netflix description: Lucas and Julian hit a setback with the film. Peyton and Haley help Mia with her new single. James Van Deer Beek appears as Adam.”

Read all about it below.

Related: So THAT Happened: A Dog Straight-Up Ate Dan Scott’s Transplant Heart On ‘One Tree Hill’

Stream 'Searching for a Former Clarity' on Hulu

Of course we’re going to include the One Tree Hill finale on this list. Wait. Hold on a second. The Season 6 finale featuring Peyton and Lucas’s wedding, the birth of their daughter, and the two driving off in the newly repaired Comet isn’t the series finale? There are still 57 more episodes? Huh. Are the next three seasons at least about a group of teens coming of age and/or basketball?

Cool. Got it. At least Nanny Carrie doesn’t return to kidnap Skills or something, right?

Per Wikipedia:

“The series finale will have another time jump and will see the characters lives five years in the future… Nathan will be kidnapped during the season, and Haley and Dan will be searching for him.”

Nathan gets kidnapped?! In fairness, I guess it was his turn. Tree Hill is literally the most dangerous place in the world. On a happier note, here’s Lucas and Peyton’s wedding!

Stream 'Remember Me as a Time of Day' on Hulu