One Tree Hill Season 3 Recap

In a Word: As the kids deal with their senior year of high school, tensions and resentments that have been simmering for two years explode in violence -- and some really, really mean name-calling.

The Action: With Brooke in California, Lucas and Peyton have a great summer together. But then Brooke gets back, and things aren't so good. Peyton's got other stuff on her mind, since her long-lost mom has returned to town and she has to deal with that huge shift in her life. Oh, yeah, and said mom has breast cancer ... and then she dies. Well, having a mom was good while it lasted.

Senior year starts, and the basketball team hits the court. Lucas isn't up to par because of his heart condition, but he doesn't tell anyone about that. His dad, though, isn't the silent suffering type -- he's driven to find out who tried to kill him at the end of last season. He assumes it was Keith, but Lucas knows it was Deb, and she gets out of town. Meanwhile, things are going a bit better for Karen, who reconciles with Keith and gets engaged.

We get a Very Special Episode in which Jimmy, a bullied Tree Hill High student, takes the school hostage at gunpoint. Keith goes inside to help, but when Jimmy shoots himself and Dan sees Keith there, Dan shoots and kills his brother. He feels terrible later, when he finds out Keith wasn't the one who tried to murder him. But maybe he should have thought about that before being such an ass in the first place. Everyone assumes Jimmy killed Keith before offing himself.

After these deaths, everyone of course takes stock of their own lives. Peyton tries to forget about Lucas but can't, and confesses to Brooke that she's still not over him. Karen tells Dan she's pregnant with Keith's child, and he vows to be there for them.

Nathan and Haley get back together. They decide to renew their vows and do it right this time, with a ceremony, a reception, and all their friends and family around them. Maybe not the best idea when half of their friends and family hate the other half, but that's what the open bar is for. New student Rachel (who's been playing with Lucas's pal Mouth's feelings AND lying about her age) gets drunk. On the way home with Nathan's uncle Cooper, she crashes into the limo carrying Nathan and Haley. Rachel and Cooper go off the bridge and into the river, and Nathan goes in after them. But he doesn't come up.

Our Take: We keep thinking Dan might redeem himself, but then he goes and kills Keith. We hope someone gets revenge!

Your Take: What does the future hold for the Tree Hill High seniors? Will they stick around or get out of town?