Alright this episode wasn't one of my favorites for some reason. Some people on this forum are saying it was the best one yet, but for some reason this one just wasn't clicking for me. I'll try to watch it on Sunday again if I get the chance when I am not as sidetracked (between reading and tests up the ying yang this week and editor drama, but that's neither here nor there).
It was really good in some parts, for example the Rachel re-intro was really well done. At first when the "scary, suspenseful" music played I thought it'd be like what usually happens when that music plays: it's a false alarm and Rachel would be sexing up some guy. But after reading spoilers (I've been avoiding them as much as possible this year, but part of that is cause of lack of time I guess), I should have known better. Still, I didn't think that scene would turn out the way it did, and I was surprised Owen actually slapped Rachel, but whatever works I guess...I was dissapointed with no Rachel wisecracks too, hopefully we'll get a few next eppy.
The part where Haley catches Nathan and Carrie showering together just didn't work for me. The actress who plays Carrie seemed to just be "shipping it in", maybe because she knows her time on the show is pretty much done, I don't know, but I thought it should have been acted a lot better. Matt Barr (Psycho Derek) sold his scenes and that's what made them work so well for me, but Torrey DeVito, who didn't do too bad of a job in her earlier episodes, in my opinion brought her worst performance of the season.
The Dan part was also disappointing. I really like Dan's character too, which makes this difficult for me to write. It's obvious he's gonna get parole, because he is still listed in the main credits and they would have nothing for him to do in jail except be killed which I don't think Mark has the guts to do (yet). I expected a more emotional scene there, but I don't know it wasn't one of Paul's better scenes. Probably because he's a bit rusty from not having any dialogue this season, much less appearing for that matter, but I digress. Lucas on the other hand did a nice job with his rebuttal towards Dan, although I thought him and Nathan resolved things a bit too quickly, but I'm sure once Dan gets out next week (which we all know he will, so I don't even know why they bother having a cliffhanger for that), maybe more drama will implode there.
The Peyton storyline was kinda blah. I really liked Mia in the last episode, but her "selling" John Knight, although she had me fooled, wasn't a very good job acting, but I guess she isn't suppose to be an actress. I'm holding Mia to Tyler Hilton (Chris Keller) standards as far as her quality of acting goes, but maybe that's not fair. I still think that Mia will eventually leave Peyton and go on tour somewhere (which I think she is with Ryan Adams if I'm not mistaken), so she'll probably pop in periodically like Chris Keller did in Seasons 3-4. I was surprised there wasn't really a mention of the Lindsey-Lucas-Peyton love triangle, and although some of you might be happy with that (Brucas shippers I'm talking to you!), I was disappointed they didn't mention it even once.
No Mouth or "Skittles" as my dad calls him 
this week...and although I'm actually in the minority in enjoy both Mouth and Skills (most people just enjoy him with Jamie), I didn't even notice they were missing till someone brought it up in a post on the forum...guess that shows you how much those characters are needed in the plot
Okay the Naley storyline. For once, Naley had an interesting storyline (probably for the first time since early season 3). I honestly thought the episode was gonna end with Jamie drowning, but they surprised me with Haley's declaration of ending their marriage. I don't get how Jamie was floating in the pool when he was suppose to be drowning, and I could have sworn he was swimming earlier in the season just fine, but maybe I'm wrong. Anyway back to topic. Do I think Haley pushed the panic button a little too soon? Probably. Do I think it would happen like that in real life? Probably not. Do I think it makes for good drama and is needed? Definitely. This couple has gone from likeable to just flat out stale the last two seasons, and I truly believe they shouldn't have gotten married till season 3. Instead of having to have some bogus renewing their vows two years after they get married thing (which would never happen that soon), they could have spilt up for a while and then maybe this marriage thing wouldn't be as tedious of a storyline. So I enjoy conflict, and even though deep down I know (and any Naley lovers should know as well) that Mark isn't stupid enough to split them up (which he already said he won't I believe in interviews) it's still nice to have some drama and conflict with them, cause otherwise what's the point of having them on the show if they are just going to be happy all the time (happy=boring people!, at least on TV!)
People who get married as young as they do are bound to have problems like Naley are having, so it is very realistic and justified to have them go through some problems.
But for those of you Naley fans that are ready to cry yourself to sleep tonight (or not sleep in protest, your pick), don't sweat it. As we found out last year in episode 4x11 I believe, promos are very misleading (remember Haley saying "I can't" when Nathan said something along the lines of "Can't you just forgive me?'
. My guess (even WITHOUT reading spoilers I would put my money on this): Naley are broken up for 2-3 more episodes before they reunite. Maybe not before the hiatus or before the switch to Monday nights (which I know will irate Naley shippers), but I reassure you all will be well in the end.....It is Naley after all lol
Until next time...Holla back young-in whoo whoo!
(yes I just said that)
