Why rewatching One Tree Hill in your 30s hits completely different

I first watched One Tree Hill on the tender age of 13. On the time, I assumed I used to be watching it only for a glimpse of my crush, Chad Michael Murray. However after re-watching it in my thirties, I used to be shocked by how a lot of myself I noticed within the characters, their relationships, and storylines.

One Tree Hill first aired in 2003, following the lives of two half-brothers, Lucas and Nathan Scott, performed by Chad Michael Murray and James Lafferty, who attend highschool within the fictional city of Tree Hill. We discover their lifelong friendship with Haley James Scott (Bethany Pleasure Lenz) and comply with Lucas’ pursuit of Peyton Sawyer Scott (Hilarie Burton), together with an ill-advised love triangle along with her greatest buddy Brooke Davis Baker (Sophia Bush). Collectively, these characters have develop into generally known as the ‘core 5’.

As is sure to occur throughout a rewatch of any Noughties present, I used to be shocked by the toxicity of One Tree Hill – particularly throughout the earlier seasons. Take the pilot, when Lucas and Nathan’s sibling rivalry sees them taking part in basketball to win a prize. Stated prize? An evening spent with Nathan’s then-girlfriend, Peyton, which he generously refuses to assert. Misogyny, fatphobia, and slutshaming had been rampant all through the present. Whereas watching season two, I used to be shocked to see Lucas’ buddy Marvin Macfadden exhibit incel-like behaviour and entitlement when rejected by feminine characters. I additionally hated seeing Brooke and Peyton being relentlessly characterised as damsels in misery.

The toxicity wasn’t reserved for on-screen moments, both. In 2017, actor Hilarie Burton accused showrunner Mark Schwahn of harassment and assault on set, earlier than different solid members and crew signed an open letter testifying to his behaviour. Schwahn has by no means spoken publicly in regards to the allegations.

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