One Tree Hill is a coming-of-age drama television show targeted to younger ages produced by Mark Schwahn. The show was released on September 23, 2003, airing for nine seasons, ending on April 4, 2012.

It is set in a fictional high school called Tree Hill High in North Carolina, taking place in the 2000’s. It follows the lives of two half brothers Nathan Scott played by James Lafferty and Lucas Scott played by Chad Micheal Murray. They compete for positions on their highschool basketball team, drama that presents from each other romances.

Each episode has a different plot, filled with problems and solutions. Most content is on the edge of your seat, not expecting what happens next. It has all the characteristics you can imagine in an ideal drama including murder, revenge, guilt, love, trust and basically anything drama related, you’ll see it in the show.

This show is also focused on sports, specifically basketball. Nathan and Lucas are on the basketball team called the Ravens, which portrays unity, collaboration, competitiveness, success, and failure. The coach, Whitey, plays a huge role in all of the episodes as far more than just a coach, but a friend. This sport portrays the joy and despair of playing a highschool sport. The way the team can move past the drama from their personal lives and just play the sport they love is truly inspirational. With pressure from parents, friends, loved ones, colleges, and wanting to win is captured before every game.

One Tree Hill is filled with musical elements, having background music in most of the big moments that happen throughout the episode and the characters being heavily involved with music.

“I’m tired of looking ‘round rooms, Wondering what I’ve got to do, or who I’m supposed to be, I don’t want to be anything other than me,” sang Gavin Degraw, artist of One Tree Hill’s theme song, I don’t want to be.

Not only is the song catchy but it is also very much in tune with the coming-of-age theme of the show and emphasizes that you don’t need to know who you are and to be yourself.

Episode one hooks the audience right away with drama and the way Tree Hill High was portrayed in a way that appeared similar to a real high school setting. Lucas and Nathan, start out as complete opposites – in different friend groups, different basketball careers, and different living situations in Tree Hill. However, Lucas was asked to play on the Tree Hill Ravens which stirred up a lot of tension between the boys and love interests. This kick starts the premises of the brotherly friendship focus as it begins to develop with the progression of the show.

I strongly recommend this show to any teenager who wants a new perspective on television high school drama or even wants to escape reality for a little while and is looking for a binge-worthy television show. It is on Hulu, if you are looking for an on the edge type of show, this is the one for you.