Wow, we are at the end of Season 8.  Seems like we were just fighting for it and now it is over.

This episode I think seemed a little choppy and a little forced and a little slow all at the same time.   But, it was nice to see so many things wrap up.  I’m very interested to see where the last 13 episodes are going to go.  With the baby boom in Tree Hill, I would love to see another time jump with Jamie’s generation and yes, I still miss Lucas and hope they get him back.

• I loved Brooke and Julian having twins.  I loved how they measured her belly.  I hate though that her accident was just glossed over.  I didn’t get to feel the full impact of that.
• I loved Karen’s Cafe being opened.  I think I said it last week but I really wish they’d have done it earlier and  more scenes could have been there.
• I love seeing Naley and family.  That shot of the four of them sitting on the bed was priceless.
• I enjoyed seeing Clay and Nathan look for the next “Nathan”.  Would have liked to see Nathan mentor someone like that.
• So good to see Dan.  More Dan, please!
• I loved the idea of Mouth and Millie morning show.  Glad she didn’t take the Charlotte job and I’d really like to see more of the show.
• I’m happy that Chase and Alex got back together.  Also good to see a great relationship between Chase and Mia.
• The final scene with Jamie brought tears to my eyes.  Such a full-circle moment.  I wish that would have been the series finale just so that could be the final scene.  So much hope for Tree Hill and the generations to come.

So we shall see what Season 9 brings.  What’d you think of the finale and what do you hope for in Season 9?

I feel like such a downer in my past few reviews.  I just can’t believe that this could be the 2nd to last episode ever.  First, nothing happened.  Second, we spent more time with Chuck and a very  stranger-to-us blonde in a bikini than we did with any of the core folks.  What is with that??  Third, I felt like Puerto Rico was just an excuse to see our beautiful OTH girls in bikinis the entire episode.  While beautiful, I think it was a waste of a gorgeous location.  No decent drama whatsoever!  There were some good moments though, let’s concentrate on that:

• Mouth’s speech at the Rivercourt was tear-inducing.  I think it’s just a symbol of letting go not only of the RC in the show but of the show in its entirety.  We watched them grow up and now we might have to let them go.
• Brooke faking eating was hilarious.
• Lauren drunk was probably more hilarious.
• So happy Haley is reopening COB as Karen’s Cafe.  I wish they would have done it sooner instead of wasting the space so we could enjoy it too.
• The closing scene with Jamie and Nathan on the RC was just precious.  Could be my favorite scene of the whole season.

Next week looks very juicy though.  A very pregnant Brooke and Dan caught my eye the most!

What’d you think of tonight?

I have to get this out of the way first.  I was not a fan of those flashback type scenes.  I got totally lost on what was happening and it felt so spastic.   That said, I have to think really hard about what actually happened.

• I’m just “eh” about how they took Ian out to the bridge.  I felt like they were being school bullies and while I’ve said in the past I like Nathan’s edge, this just felt a bit, I don’t know, beneath him at this point.
• Clay was HILARIOUS this episode.  I really did enjoy his comedic moments.
• However, that being said I felt like it was really weird in one scene he was being funny about a spray tan and the next he’s throwing someone off the bridge.  There was just no flow to the episode at all.
• I did like Nathan dealing with the Professor. I thought it was cool how they brought in him dealing with Dan and I liked Haley’s comments about him going to talk to Dan for Nathan and not Dan’s sake.
• I got really tired of seeing a little league baseball game.  HOWEVER, I nearly cried when Nathan told Jamie the game was just a game.  Lovely full-circle moment for the show.
• SO HAPPY for Brooke and Julian!  I thought she couldn’t have kids, but ok!  I’ll take it!

I think the stories were actually decent this week but as I said, I had a hard time following watching it.

Next week looks like a lot of fun in Puerto Rico!

What’d you think?

Hm, how do I say this?  That episode was just ok for me.  There were some good spots though.

• I loved seeing the fire back in Nathan.  I especially loved the calm sort-of passive aggressive tone he took with Jamie against Kellerman in class.
• And also loved Julian for the same.  Nice seeing him have a little storyline on his own.
• As for the storyline, I don’t think it was a big shock that Jr was the real culprit.  I’m glad Nathan finally started putting the pieces together at the end.
• I feel so bad for Brooke.  And honestly, I kind of like seeing this side of Brooke.  Fun Brooke is fun sometimes but I like the deep, a little depressed Brooke too.  I hope she takes the job in NY.  It is sad for her to leave Tree Hill, but it really is a great offer.
• Seeing Haley with the baby was awesome.  I just love that her real-life pregnancy was played out on the show instead of trying to hide it.  I think because of it many have been endeared to Haley and even moreso Joy.  Sharing that experience on-screen and a little through her blog and Twitter I think as a fan has really been fantastic.  So thank you, Joy, for letting the audience share that with you a bit.
• Really good to see Mouth and Skills but not good to see the news about the Rivercourt.  Would be super sad to see that go.
• I super duper LOVE Alex/Jana’s song.  I think she’s a great performer and she’s got a great sound!  And seriously, I’m not just saying that.

Seems like tonight maybe wasn’t so bad as much as it was just a set up to what looks like an insane next two weeks!

What’d you think?

First of all, CONGRATULATIONS to Nathan and Haley!  We have a little Lydia!  Was she not adorable??

And I want to be saying congratulations to Brooke and Julian but oh my, what a sad note to end this episode on.  I wanted to come out feeling extraordinarily happy for little Lydia but I have to say it was overshadowed by the loss for Brooke and Julian.  And not saying it shouldn’t be a big deal.  They both should be a big deal but I’m afraid Lydia’s moment got stolen.  Heck, we didn’t even get to see Nathan with the baby!

I don’t have all bad things to say.  Austin did a great job directing.  That shot of Brooke and Julian upset with Nathan in the background was heart-wrenching.  Brooke going in and having to hold Lydia was heart-wrenching.

I also enjoyed the mesh of flashbacks but I have to say, by the end it was a tad too much for my taste.  It seemed there was more time spent in the past than in the present and while I like the past much better, it only made the present look that much worse.    Sorry to be harsh but I think by the end I was itching for old scenes to get through just so we could move on with current time.  BUT I did especially enjoy seeing Nathan being so vulnerable with Haley back in the day and the scene with Dan made me want more Evil Dan!

The cracker scene was hilarious and I really hope to see outtakes of that on the DVD.  Clay had perfected the art of spraying cracker while talking.

I enjoyed Jamie’s voiceovers and loved Haley’s at the end even more.

I do have one more nitpick…not a fan of “Lydia Bob”.  Haley Bob rolls off your tongue but Lydia Bob feels hokey to me.

Music was outstanding this episode.  I wanted to buy every song.  Well done, Lindsay Wolfington.

All in all, a good episode.  It will be interesting to see what happens with Brooke and Julian as well as watching the Scott family adjust to a new little one.  And it looks like there is going to finally be some drama surrounding the car accident.

What’d you think?

Dear Mark, I know we’ve discussed this before but I really need you to write every single OTH episode. kthxbai

• I loved Haley testing everyone on the delivery.
• I loved Millie and Mouth.  Good to see her doing something new and I really did find her funny.
• Yay for Brooke and Julian getting a baby early!  I wish they knew the sex!
• I’m back to being “eh” on Ian (wrote before I saw the very end).  And leave him alone, Alex!  What is with that?  added: I can’t believe he’s the guy with the car.  Ugh!
• Chase and Chuck are cute but I’m not good with seeing Chuck more than Jamie.
• And yay!  Khloe and Haley are having babies at the same time!

One of the best episodes lately, what’d you think?

If anyone noticed, a took a few weeks off from the reaction but I’m glad to be back tonight to say I thought tonight was a really cute episode.

• You’re not going to believe this but I LOVED Quinn tonight.  Her trying to get Haley to Brooke’s and her getting aggravated at Haley was so funny.
• I think they went a bit overboard with Julian and the baseball.  Literally chasing a butterfly?  Too much.
• I actually liked Ian this week too.  I really liked seeing someone else who had issues with their dad and that Nathan could relate to that.  I loved the small reference to Lucas.  I really think this is what they’re not taking advantage of…using the past of the show in the present.  And I’m not just talking Leyton.
• I loved the adoption storyline.  I really liked the birth mother.  Is that Sloan’s daughter from Grey’s? I liked that she decided to back out and then decided to go for it.  I’m really happy for Brooke and Julian.  I love that they are timing this so that Brooke and Haley will have little ones at the same time.
• I loved this episode we got to see some great girl time and then guy time.  I always like when they are grouped and the storylines don’t feel so disjointed.

The thing that I’m really missing in the show right now is there are no moral struggles, little drama.  I don’t feel like there’s a bad guy or anything anyone is really struggling through.  I mean, yes, Brooke wants a baby and Haley is having one but that’s not really a moral storyline.  And I don’t mean drama like Mia and Alex fighting.  Does anyone get what I’m saying?  I think I just need evil Dan back.  I need something like Lucas and Nathan fighting the fact they have a really bad dad.   I’m just rambling here but all I’m saying is I wish they’d step it up a notch with the long-term storylines.

So what’d you think?

It’s official!  Mrs. Baker and Mr. Davis

Julian and Brooke are so sweet and I loved watching scenes from the past of them. Their vows were beautiful.  Brooke looked gorgeous.  The speeches were fantastic.  The father-daughter mother-son dance was sweet.  Skills was funny.  I’m so happy for Julian and Brooke.  But overall, from a review perspective, I thought the episode was weak.  Sweet and simple but…bland.  I wish I loved it more because it was such a special moment for them.

And I’m just going to say it.  Peyton should have been there.  I know I said last week that I was going to go with the flow and accept what was going on.  But I have to admit there was a hole in the episode.  Peyton should have read a speech and been there when she was getting ready.  Haley was gorgeous and has been a wonderful friend but I just really missed Peyton.

I do still want to offer my congratulations to the new couple (you know, if they were real

What’d you think of the episode?

Welcome back to Tree Hill!  It feels like forever since I’ve written a reaction.  And what a great episode to come back to.  I have to say, I’m usually not a fan of these one-off episodes where all the storylines get put on hold for some random fun but I think they got this one right.  Here’s why:

• They left the pregnant women and children out of it.  While I hate that Haley bailed on a very special night for Brooke, it just didn’t make sense for Haley to be around that.  And SO glad they didn’t try to rope in Jamie in some way.
• The story was told in an interesting way.  I love, love, love that they told it in a backwards sort of way.  Made it so much more interesting and it wasn’t an hour of watching a crazy night dissolve into hysterics.
• The girls were together and bonding.  It was great seeing the girls actually interact with one another and not be fighting.  I particularly loved Millie’s nickname and tattoo.  It felt like one of those inside jokes circles of friends have that we just haven’t seen with the characters in a long time.
• I loved the thread of the missing ring through the episode.  It gave it a purpose even though major storylines were on hold.
• I love that they brought in some seriousness at the end with Brooke and Sylvia.  That was definitely some patching that needed to happen before the big day.  And yay for Brooke getting her wedding!
• I love that they addressed Peyton.  Yeah, it’s a big coincidence that Sylvia’s best friend Melissa wasn’t at her wedding but you know, I’ll bite.  It’s true that circumstances do prevent travel, especially not knowing where Lucas and Peyton are exactly.  I also loved that she asked Haley to be her maid of honor.  It was a great moment.
• I love that the ring ended up with Julian as well as the kiss.  Such a sweet moment.

Tonight got me really excited for Brooke and Julian.  It’s taken forever but it’s really sinking in that this thing is happening and this is really Brooke’s big day.  I really can not wait for next week!

What’d you think of tonight?