Sep 28,2010
8.03 The Space In Between Reaction
Posted by Amy with 46 Comments
This was a slow one for me, folks. I know it was supposed to be somber and sad and full of tension but it just didn’t quite strike a chord with me. Yes, some great moments, but overall, not a favorite.
- Podcasts are close to my heart. And so is Mouth. And Mouth doing a podcast is just perfection and all feels right in the Tree Hill universe when Mouth is in front of a microphone.
- Nathan wanting to save Clay was quite noble. “I love you. I love the person you are.” “Where’d you think I learned it?” Ahh. I love that. Just think about where Nathan came from. So good to see a character redeem themselves. I enjoyed Clay’s “fly-on-the-wall” banter with him as he tried to decide what to do. Also? Jamie offering his kidney is so sweet.
- As much as I’m not a fan of Quinn and Clay, it was sad to watch Quinn with Clay. Shantel did a great job with those scenes. And Nathan crying? Break my heart!
- I’m glad they sent Victoria to prison. That sounds cruel but if she really was lying, then I’m glad she got a proper punishment.
- That was pretty cool about Clay…I’m assuming it was Will’s kidney? Nice one!
Also, I must mention the music was perfection this episode. Beautiful!
What’d you think?
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no chase or mia, loved it. good to see more of nathan today and wow the scene where he was holding haley while she was crying and then brooke and julian come in and they had their tender moment while brooke watch. i think that was my favorite scene tonight.
but i agree with you that it wasnt the best but it did have good moments as always. next week looks a lot more light heartedness which i love and its good that we’ll see victoria in prison haha
Ok, I LOVED this episode. Tears were shed a couple times: Quinn with Clay, Nathan breaking down, and at the end when Clay woke up. I totally saw the Clay-gets-Will’s-kidney thing coming, but it was still nice to see.
Two things I didn’t really care for. 1. When I first heard that there was going to be a different artist singing the credits every week, I was super psyched. But now, after two less-than-great covers, I just want the original back. And 2…don’t hate me…but I’m kinda over the Dear Lucas voiceovers. On one hand I do like them. I like that Haley has an outlet for her emotions and sending letters to Lucas is cool, but I don’t know…I just don’t like them anymore.
I loved the Brulian scenes with Jamie and all of Brooke’s scenes in general she looks AMAZING this season and I love that her long hair is making a comeback! =) This was a great episode but I hope things lighten up soon, especially if this is the last season, I would rather see happiness and fun scenes instead of 95% of the episodes taking place in a hospital… =O Also they need to can these “I Don’t Wanna Be” covers, the one from tonite’s episode was actually sickeningly horrible they are killing all the love I have for the credits coming back!
My reaction to this episode was the complete opposite of yours. Literally everything that was meant to strike a chord stroke me HARD. I haven’t cried at OTH in a LONG time, but I probably cried about 4-5 times tonight. Watching Nathan cry always has a deeper impact than any of the other characters for some reason. And that scene where Quinn started crying, and then Haley started crying, and then Brooke and Julian brought Jamie in…if Brooke would have started crying too, I probably would have completely lost it. What an amazing episode. Season 8 might just be my new favorite. The ONLY bad thing was the credits. I HATED that rendition of the theme song.
hated it. i cant stand watching all screen time being giving to clay and quinn. i dont like these two characters and im bored watching them. like the little bit of naley and baley, and really like brulian and jamie. thats about it. theme song sucked really bad. flipped back and forth from oth to glee. i hope next since clay is awake the show will get back to something.
I am sorry but I am just not buying this show anymore. I have watched since day one and until last year I was so into it. I was heart broken when Lucas missed the shot at the end of season one, shocked when Nathan and Haley got married. I was completely surprised when Lucas went to Brooke’s house to tell her he thought she was slipping away when we all thought he was going to Peyton. I yelled “NOO” when Dan Scott killed his own brother. I cried when Nathan and Haley welcomed their newborn son.
I did not however for one second buy into that Clay and Quinn were going to die nor do I buy this whole “out of body” nonsense. Where is the One Tree Hill of days before with real, believable emotions?
I didn’t like all the Clay and Quinn stuff but compared to last episode, I loved the new one. All the Naley bits were adorable. When Haley broke down in Nathan’s arms…loved it!
i disagree with you melody. the emotions were pretty real! haley could have lost her sister! quinn could have lost clay! and nathan too! i think loss and being scared to lose someone forever is a pretty REAL emotion! remeber season 4, lucas had a out of body experience kinda! so its not knew really!
Ok it was slow for me too. I did have some favorite moments.
I liked seeing the sensitive side of Nathan driving the car as well as when he and Haley were in the chapel discussing how hard it was going to be.
I liked Will’s character even though short.
I enjoyed the ending. Although I figured Clay was getting Will’s kidney I really liked how they made you wonder who died until Quinn was reading clay the newspaper.
I also really enjoyed Quinn voice over at the end.
I too loved music
kelly… Word to everything you just said. I can’t stand how much screen time they are giving to CQ and I don’t buy their “epic” love story.
Also, Mark should know there are other actors on this show other then Shantel, I don’t get the point of live tweeting if he’s only talking about her all the time.
Marco
I think it was unclear. I was saying the emotions weren’t real because the storyline was so predictable. As for Lucas’ experience that was also crap but slightly more believable. I do however agree about Haley being afraid for her sister but come one, did anyone really think they were going to die?(even though some of us wished for it all summer) The most exciting thing to happen on the show for years was last season when they were shot. That was real! I just want the old show back. Unfortunately that is never going to happen courtesy of Chad Michael Murray and Hilaire Burton who didn’t know better then not to mix business with pleasure.
This was the best yet! First episode of this season I was real iffy…but after episodes 2 and 3, I am back to being totally on board! I LOVED the “Ghost” storyline with Clay…LOVED that Ghost Clay had quite the sense of humor as well, it was the perfect touch to such an emotional episode! Thank You Mark S for NOT killing Clay!! Phew! BUT, please do not resort to killing us with the overload of sexual remarks between Clay and Quinn or half naked Quinn like in Episode One…that was too much : ( Yes she’s gorgeous, and they make a cute couple, but continuing with that will kill their characters and their fan base. After weeks of crying and almost losing some of the gang, I’m looking forward to more laughs and drama…but not THAT kind of drama, the kind we will see when the attempted murderer gets caught, and the sure to be laughs we will get from Victoria being in jail! And yes, please go back to the Original opening song, by original artist…it gives those fans who have been around from the beginning, something to reminisce about and enjoy!
PS…also loved how it sent a strong message about texting and driving and brought awareness to the importance of organ donation!!
Awesome episode. Season 8 is making season 7 look like a total joke. Great stories. Great acting. Great music.
Still with all the haters hating that the core 3 are not the main focus anymore when they were told two seasons ago the cast was going to be an ensemble cast after Chad and Hilarie left.
The core 3 will never get more screen time. Get over it already. We’re 25 episodes in to the core 3 being bit players in a larger world. It’s not going to change.
The (majority of) Leyton fans have gotten over their favorite couple leaving. The core 3 fans need to get over their fantasy that the core 3 actually still have any real extra value.
Great episode!!!!! This season is one of the best and I hope we get 22 episodes.
James was awesome tonight, as was Joy and Shantel. Why does everyone complain about Shantel and Rob’s screentime, they’re main characters!!!!!
Kinda slow. And yes Clay received Will’s kidney. Nice touch with the name will too. Think about he was willing Clay to live and giving him will power. Very good literally and metaphorically.
I didn’t like last weeks episode as much as this one, but geez only 3 episodes in and already making me shed tears. James Lafferty really shined in this episode the character nathan has grown so much since season 1 and its great to see. I think most of new clay was gonna live except they got you there for a second. I know this may sound awful, but i would like to see nate do something other than basketball. He made it to the NBA and that was his dream and did so…his backs messed up lets get him to try something else, just a thought. Mouth was perfect. I feel bad for brooke
Overall good eppy
Love everything about One Tree Hill! Another great episode that pulled at your heartstrings!
it was an okey episode for me
The Credits..what was that?!! it was awful really! like a skipping record!
I enjoyed Haley tonight, she was what kept me watching honestly as well as NH, they are such a solid, loving couple <3 them.
Brulian with Jamie were cute.
Quinn and Clay surprisingly i didn't feel like throwing things at my tv this time coz they weren't together, i can stand them apart but as a couple, no way jose! even if Naley are pimping them LOL!
Victoria..she got what she deserved, she's a fiesty woman she can handle it.
Well, I beg to differ with Ed. The core 3 def still have the focus on them. Obviously CQ needed to be more involved because they were the ones shot. I actually think that the core 3 are getting their proper screen time as opposed to last season. Actually, the fact that Clay and Quinn didn’t have to directly interact with each other, i think made them more bearable. I still dont buy their epic love story but what i got from the actors this week was that raw emotion that makes you fall in love with OTH. the show has heart and this episode shows it.
Obviously, not every episode can be about one character but tonight had a lot of focus on Clay and then Nathan. Last week, Nathan didn’t even show up until 30 minutes in. First episode had a lot of Nathan/Haley, second episode not so much. It changes and i can respect the show for that. I’m thinking that there’s been a lot of CQ drama that next week will ease it back. The wedding will be coming up soon and we can expect a lot of Brooke/Julian as welll.
really ed fury? ok the ones who think that the core 3 should still be seen as main character can get over it by turning the channel. from the looks of the ratings more and more will keep on doing that.
This episode was a slow one, but I’m thankful for some of the moments. I loved how Nathan could finally relate (somewhat) to Haley’s loss of her mother…I cried when he broke down at the farm.
I loved the Brulian scenes…especially with Jamie. My favorite quote for the night was when Jamie asked Brooke where babies come from and she said, “Not from me.” Such a funny line, but sad too because of her struggle.
^ i was beginning to think they were glossing over brookes infertility with the jokes but it was nice of julian to ask her. you know brooke is just putting on a strong face.
Was it just me, or was the black guy way more interesting than Quinn OR Clay?
bootsie, lol I agree. I liked the addition of Will. He made Clay’s scenes more tolerable, that’s for sure. The opening credit cover was completely horrendous. It just didn’t fit at all. I also thought the Lucas letter writing fell flat this episode. I think it would be cool if Haley got a letter from Lucas and read that to the audience. The only thing that was a plus was the Mouth voiceover, I liked the way they paralleled the scenes to Mouth’s description of different sports movies. Did Mark write this episode?
I thought the episode was very slow tonight. It took me until the show was half over to get into it and then I did get the emotion for the last half. My problems is that I’m eh on Clay. I like him but I’m not emotionally invested in him at all. I still think it’s odd that Nathan is as devastated over him as he is. I mean, I get being extremely sad about it… but comparing it to Haley’s mom’s death… just no. Now if he was upset about all of it ( Clay, Quinn, his back, Haley’s depression), that I could handle. That being said, I thought James Lafferty did a great job tonight. I enjoyed the Naley scenes immensely. I love them. I also liked the Brulian scenes. I was glad Brooke’s mom showed her how much she loved her by accepting the responsibility and going to jail for her. I’m not a huge Quinn fan but I though Shantal did a great job tonight being emotional.
I did like the new guy tonight but his and Clay’s scenes got kind of old. I didn’t like Clay being all jokey in the beginning. And I am so over the hospital and this part of the story.
I’m sad for Nathan and his back. I just want him to decide what to do and not let it go on for the episodes and episodes. And I need Naley to be happy again. I want to see them smile and joke. I need some happiness on the show after the heaviness of the first three episodes.
I just have to say I disagree. I didn’t think this was slow at all. I thought it was devastating. I love Haley writing to Luke–it’s like the replacement of the Lucas voiceovers from earlier seasons. Haley and Nathan are really getting screen time and I love that. I love Haley’s hair lighter on a side note. Quinn has really stepped up the acting. She did amazing this episode. I really like the crossover. Basically, I’m really loving this season so far. I hope they keep this up. So far this season is better than 5, 6, and 7 for me–and I hope they continue it. It has brought back the heart that has seemed somewhat missing since HS and especially the last couple seasons. (I still liked 5 a lot). I’m feeling reminiscent when I watch these episodes but in a great way. I also love how they are pulling in a little more realistic stuff instead of ignoring blatant things like Quinn & Haley’s whole family was there for a week and talked about it–I think Mark finally listened to us griping about that. So I’m LOVING this season so far–and I see some fun, exciting and funny episodes in the near future as well
I hate the opening song – go back to original artist and leave it alone. For the hour the show was on, no one talk to me, no phone calls, no nothing. It is my one hour all week I want just for me and OTH. When Clay opened his eye, I about lost it. Yes, I think it was Will’s kidney. When Jamie said he wanted to donate his kidney, I could have kissed him to death. He is so cute!! Nathan has really grown into a good looking and great compassionate man. I am watching the earlier shows during the day and I compare the actors from then to now. Man, they all have really gotten “grown” and I love it. I hate this is going to be the last year. I miss Lucas, Payton and the Comet. Thanks for great show. NO MATTE WHAT OTHERS SAY, I LOVE OTH!!
The episode was a good wrap up to the 3 episode arc of them being unconcious. Most episodes like this are going to be a bit slower, glad Mark seems to be taking his time with this stuff, where in some of the older post skip seasons, it seemed he tried to hard to get everything in too quickly (like the whole Peyton pregnancy problem being over in less than 20 minutes). I find it odd that Kelly keeps coming here, I’m sure the Glee blogs would welcome you with open arms since you seem more interested in that, are you at least getting paid some promotional fee for coming to a different shows blog to talk about it I hope? I love when people bring up rating, most of the best shows on TV get lower ratings than the garbage, sadly your post show the reason that tends to be. It gets tiresome having to keep reading you, you’re on an OTH blog, stol plugging Glee, it’s annoying and unfortunate the moderators keep allowing it.
AHH SO INTENSE!! I TOTALLY THOUGHT CLAY WUZ GONNA DIE OMGZZZ
ok but really……I feel like it’s all been done before. Out of body experience…waiting around in the hospital….yep. Idk, maybe I’m just not that connected to Clay, because I really wasn’t that concerned about him. I almost feel like they’re forcing Nathan to be so emotionally attached to Clay in order to gain more acceptance of him as a main character. It was really slow tonight…too much sitting around the hospital. When they did this in S4 with Lucas, it didn’t feel slow for some reason. I can’t pinpoint why it does now…but perhaps it’s just because I felt like I’ve seen this all before. And the moment we found out Nathan’s kidney wasn’t a match, I knew that it was going to be Will. A nice and touching storyline there, but a little bit predictable.
With that said, I do really appreciate the performances from the actors. Quinn was really good tonight, as was Haley and especially Nathan. Although I did not understand the horses….did I miss something? and as always….I love Brooke. Naley moments were also very sweet.
I fell in love with OTH years ago, and have stuck with it for these last few seasons because of fierce loyalty to the characters and what they used to mean to me. It used to be so inspiring. It used to move me to tears on a regular basis. I kind of see seasons 5,6,7 & 8 as a completely different show…but I can’t help but still hold it to the standards of how great it used to be. Like I feel like if this was a different show where seasons 1-4 didn’t happen, i wouldn’t be criticizing it this much. There are flashes of the good ol’ days once in a while, like when they played they original theme song in 8×01. And I appreciate that they’re kind of trying to bring that back in haley’s letters to Lucas and Mouth’s podcasts….but even still, it’s a far cry from what the show used to be. Although, I’m really glad that they’re still sticking with this show. I’ll always be a fan, and stick with it myself.
I agree, Amy, I thought it was a slow episode tonight. I just could not bring myself to care. I admit that I really don’t like either Clay or Quinn, but I’m usually a sucker for death scenes, even if it’s characters I don’t like. I think this episode was just way too predictable, it’s been done by this show so many times. The emotional punch has worn off. Plus the fact that the ridiculousness of the situation, with the psycho, makes it hard to take seriously.
I have to say, having to watch Nathan be so prominently concerned about Clay annoyed me. I dunno, I just don’t think I’ve ever been sold on the idea that Nathan and Clay are actually that close, they hardly interact, so this feels like it’s coming out of left field to me. Plus, I’m not really sure I want them to be close in the first place. I always loved that Nathan never needed anyone but Haley, that she was effectively his only friend in season 1 (Tim doesn’t count as a real friend in my book), and seasons 2-6, the only other person he was really close to was Lucas. To me, the core of Nathan’s story is family, coming from a sham of a family with Dan and Deb and then building his own family with Haley. Tossing Clay into the mix, trying to build some kind of half-hearted bromance, distracts from that, IMO. I dunno, the scene where he cries, I understand it, but it’s not something I wanted to see. In 150-something episodes, we’ve never seen him get that emotional about anyone but Haley, not even Lucas, and it bothers me that we had to start now.
On a less Naley-biased note, I enjoyed Will a lot, particularly compared to Clay and Quinn, and, I liked that he could emote…I also got irritated at the fact that Clay didn’t bother to ask Will’s name or how he, y’know, died, until the end of the episode, after spending all that time just talking about himself. so very OTH.
Also, I don’t know about anyone else, but I was really annoyed with the constant mirroring of dialogue from one scene to another. This was a problem last episode too, but tonight it was just over the top. I know OTH likes to think of itself as really clever and deep but when it’s used this much and this obviously, it makes the conversations seem artificial and makes it difficult to suspend disbelief.
I did like Brooke and Victoria, and the Nathan and Haley that we did get.
Sure, while it was slow, the rate the episode was going was actually perfect. Because they did only focus on these few characters, we were able to see more of them and their emotions. This entire episode broke my heart, ESPECIALLY the break down scenes (nates, haleys, and quinns). And OF COURSE it was wills kidney. Otherwise they wouldn’t have mentioned in the article that he donated his organs. And as for the theme song, kates and gavins were both better, but I did enjoy petes. Also, I LOVE how they brought back the night of the championship. And when clay woke up, I had the chills all over. I had a feeling that the flatline would be will, mainly because I was praying clay wouldn’t die. But anywho, LOVED this episode. Major tear jerker and heartbreaker.
Amy this is the 2nd week where you have had no reaction to Brooke scenes. I take it this is just a oversight on your part.
Anyone know which song that piano ballad playing towards the end was?
too much of Clay and Quinn …. as for me, far too much…
Crappy episode. WAY to much Clay & Quinn. It’s like the CQ show with the core cast as supporting characters. CQ made me want to stab my eyes out last night.
Not enough Brooke, she had like 6 minutes of screen time, and that’s far from what she deserves. Maybe now that QC are both awake, the focus will be put on the core cast rather then newbies.
I loved the eppy tonight. I felt the heartbreaking emotion from everyone. I liked that Quinn thought of Sara and wondered how it would work in HEAVEN with the three of them. I am glad she got him back. I knew that Will would be a match for Clay, no surprise there, but the story was scripted beautifully. James Lafferty was amazing in the show tonight. Anytime a grown man cries it makes me cry (even if it is acting).. I know that some people thought that there was too much CQ, but I thought that it was respectful to them. I mean when you have friends in the hospital that you care so much about and they are hanging on for dear life are you really gonna go on with your daily life or are you gonna be at the hospital and make sure that they are ok. Nate and Haley delivered some strong scenes as did Brooke and Julian in the midst of all the uncertainites. Loved that Julian mentioned how Brooke is puttiing on a brave face about the baby thing. I really hope she gets her baby!!! Really really hope she gets her baby! The music was fantastic tonight! Very envoking with the scenes. Mouth was as cute as ever and so loving his podcast, it seems like home for him, and it always takes me back to ravenshoops.com! HE belongs behind a microphone! And him and Millie, wow amazing so hoping that they get back together! The best part of the night was the ending. Loved the reunion between CQ…. they deserve to be happy, just wish the confetti was there to fall down like Jamie had mentioned, by the way loved the reference to the state cchampionship… always nice to hear stories from the past!!! Great job! give it two thumbs up!
I pretty much second almost all of what Alex76 said. I did not like Nathan’s big show of emotion for Clay AT ALL. I always thought he was so much closer to Lucas and he did not even visit Lucas in the hospital in season 4 (granted his wife was also unconscious…but even 10 seconds to check on him??). For him to get so emotional over Clay (who I also agree I have never seen the depth of their relationship) is kind of a crock when he has had soooo many other opportunities to show this much emotion. I just can’t imagine that Nathan really knows how Haley felt when she lost her mother when it does not seem like he and Clay are that close. Maybe if it were Lucas or Peyton or Brooke or someone that he has known for more than a year and seemed to have a closer relationship with. Its just not that believable. Also upset about him wanting to end his NBA career after all that he has done to get there. His back issues have never stopped him before. What the hell is he going to do now???
I REALLY like the Julian/Jamie scenes. They have a nice relationship and if he is with Julian then he is NOT with Chuck whom I cannot stand. I usually can’t stand Jamie but last night was cute with the baseball and Brooke not even attempting to catch the balls…that actually made me LOL.
I hope that the Quinn/Clay gag me professions of love end soon…because I have never wished for a fast forward button so much. They have been dating for what…a month…two? This show has always been my go to guilty pleasure…but episodes like last night’s where the acting/storylines are so stretched…makes me continue to wish the show had ended with season 6.
I agree with just about everyone in regards to the opening song. I think they just need to go back to Gavin DeGraw and stay with it. I liked the episode tonight. I really liked the Naley moments, especially when Haley broke down crying in Nathan’s arms. I’m glad Clay is awake because I’m tired of the ghost thing. Hopefully we can get a few more light-hearted episodes and continue to show Naley love.
I actually really liked this episode and it had me tearing up a time or two. I think Shantel has really brought out her A game for this arc and even though I find it hard to buy their epic love story, she did a wonderful job. Nathan and Haley were also great last night, but I think a story line like this came to soon after just having experienced Haley’s mothers death. I am looking forward to seeing them addressing Nathan’s decision to leave the NBA. I feel so bad for him, but at least he managed to achieve his dream he just didn’t get to play that long. But the relationship they have and have worked so hard for is priceless. It is so nice to see a couple that has been together since the show began still going strong and better than ever. They are the heart and soul of OTH and I am glad that they get that recognition. I am also glad that Nathan/James had more screen time and we got to see his POV a bit more than in the past season. I wish the show spent more time showing and developing Nathan and Clays friendship on our screens, rather than have us assume about it. It would’ve made it easier to understand why Nathan was willing to give a kidney and his career for him.
wonder why so many people cant see the relationship behind quinn and Clay or Nate and Clay… Is it not ok they Clay and Quinn fell in love or that Nate is as close to Clay as he was with Luke. I like the male bond between Nate and Clay I saw the relationship last year and I see it this year! How long do you have to know someone to feel connected. He is his best friend. Sure that USED to be Lucas, but he moved away, so I guess Nate is not supposed to have a bestfriend anymore? I mean come on people, it is life people move on no need to sit around and complain for what isnt there anymore! And as for Clay and Quinn I think that they have had a beautiful relationship. Not to fast not too slow, they compliment each other well, and I love that they are apart of the show!
I loved this episode. I,too, like that “ghost” Clay has a sense of humour. I like when he was walking through the hospital at the beginning commenting on the nurses hair and saying that the old guy’s son was still trying to change his will. I loved Naley and my other favourite part was Mouth’s podcast about sports movies and how they intert-twined with the storylines.
i liked the episode evan though the comments from jamie about brooke and julian about a baby were sad.. i hope they have a baby!!
It was an ok episode. To me it was a little thick on the Clay/Quinn. Everyone’s performances were great though. But I thought it was a little odd that Nathan seemed so upset over Clay, but when Lucas, Peyton, and even Haley were in the hospital with the possibility of dying he didn’t seem so emotional. I loved Mouth and Millie, and was impressed with Victoria. I enjoyed Will too, great character.
Anyone know what the significance was behind Nathan getting out of the car and looking at the horses? I, obviously, get why he was crying, but why was that happening there?
Thanks!
Jared
This episode made me cry so much I never wanted Clay to die, he and Quinn are perfect together! I think the music was perfect. Glad Brooke never had to go to jail and I’m glad Victoria claimed responsibility for her actions.