Songs To Live and Die By | TeenDramaWhore

Favorite Holiday Episodes, Pt. 4

24 12 2009

WEDNESDAY: The O.C.

TODAY: One Tree Hill

1. Episode 4.10, Songs to Live and Die By

This episode is noteworthy for all kinds of reasons. First, among the many things OTH does well is flashbacks, flashforwards and alternate universes. Those episode are usually automatic wins in my book and this one is no exception. OTH also works off a crazy timeline that prevents holidays on our calendar from matching up with the Tree Hill calendar. Even this episode aired the first week in December, though it was clearly meant to be the only Christmas episode we’d likely ever get. Like The O.C.’s Chrismukk-huh?, we have a main character–Lucas–unconscious. And like Beverly Hill 90210’s It’s A Totally Happening Life, we have a spin on the classic Christmas movie It’s A Wonderful Life. The O.C.’s episode teased us with the return of Marissa while this show actually gives us Keith back, even if it’s just as a ghost and only for this episode. It tugs on heartstrings again and again, especially with Haley also unconscious, pays respect to the past, asks a powerful question (does it pay to be a good person?) and sets up a huge story arc for the rest of the season with Lucas trying to find out who really killed Keith. It’s one of my favorite episodes of the entire series.