The Complete First Season marks the beginning of a genuinely engrossing series that maintains, for a long while, an unusual focus on a single, powerful conflict defining the destinies of two characters. Adolescent half-brothers Lucas (Chad Michael Murray) and Nathan (James Lafferty) Scott have lived parallel lives in Tree Hill, North Carolina. They share a common father, Dan Scott (Paul Johansson), who has disregarded the existence of Lucas, his son by a one-time flame, Karen (Moira Kelly), whom he dumped years before to accept a basketball scholarship to college. While neglecting Lucas, Dan--whose hoop dreams never materialized--has spent his time almost perversely micro-managing every one of Nathan's moves on and off the court at his old high school, where the lad is currently an arrogant superstar under gruff-but-wise coach Whitey Durham (Barry Corbin). Nathan (whose mother is separated from Dan) is a child of privilege and has been raised to disregard teamwork, compromise, or the feelings of others. He regards Lucas, a basketball sensation on neighborhood playgrounds, as trash, and his own girlfriend, Peyton (Hilarie Burton), as a pretty bauble he can abuse and dismiss at will. Still, he's sympathetic; one can see glimpses of the human being struggling to emerge from under Dan's control.

Meanwhile, Lucas helps Karen run her cafe, hangs out with platonic best friend Haley (Bethany Joy Lenz), and pines for Peyton (herself a punky misfit at heart). He also turns to surrogate dad Keith Scott (Craig Sheffer)--actually his uncle and Dan's older brother--for support, and sees himself as a perpetual and doomed outsider in One Tree. All that changes when Whitey invites Lucas to join the b-ball team that Nathan dominates, a move that challenges the status quo of multiple relationships in a small community. For about a third of its episodes, this series from creator Mark Schwahn (who wrote the hit film Coach Carter) stays true to the suspense surrounding Lucas's and Nathan's changes in fortune. Then a bit of padding follows to the end of the season; there are 22 episodes to fill out, after all. But even as various distractions (a kidnapping subplot, a car accident and coma for a major character) and random events creep in (Dan, rather incredibly, takes over the team from Whitey at one point, thus coaching both his sons), One Tree Hill remains highly watchable. The writing is shaped well and organic, while performances are consistently excellent. (It's especially good to see Sheffer, perhaps best known for A River Runs Through It, again.)

One Tree Hill: The Complete Second Season finds life in an uproar for virtually every major and minor character in the WB series set in One Tree, North Carolina. Basketball sensation Lucas Scott has left town with his Uncle Keith to start a new life. (Keith himself has split One Tree to nurse a broken heart after his marriage proposal to Lucas's mom, Karen, was rejected.) It's not long, however, before Lucas has second thoughts, prompted in part by Dan's recent heart attack and the mess he (Lucas) left behind with Peyton and Brooke. Meanwhile, half-brother Nathan has married the former's lifelong best friend, Haley, a union approved by the bride's parents but not by Nathan's mother, Deb.

All that's just the first couple of episodes of season 2. In the remaining 21, Dan temporarily fools everyone into believing he's a changed man following his cardiac crisis. In fact, he's worse than ever, trying to wreck Nathan and Haley's marriage, attempting to buy Lucas's loyalties, driving Deb into a drug-addicted stupor, pulling the rug out from beneath Keith (who took over Dan's dealership during the latter's illness), and waging a war, of sorts, with basketball coach Whitey for influence over Nathan's destiny. While all this is going on, Haley leaves Nathan to join a music group, Peyton finds success running an all-ages night at a new club opened by Karen, Lucas finds evidence that Dan is cheating the IRS, Brooke's once-wealthy parents go broke, and actress Sheryl Lee (Twin Peaks) turns up toward season's end playing a mysterious visitor with a surprising connection to a major character's past. The final episode of One Tree Hill's sophomore season ends with quite the cliffhanger, leaving open to debate which of many possible One Tree candidates might have committed a foul (if understandable) bit of vengeance against a certain bad dude one loves to hate.

The third season of the WB's small town soap begins with the blaze that ended the second ("Like You like an Arsonist"). Dan makes it out alive, but vows to seek vengeance on the perpetrator--even if that person happens to be estranged son Lucas. In the following episode, Dan's preferred offspring returns to Tree Hill. Will Nathan reconcile with wife Haley? It's her deepest desire, but Nathan has his doubts. Further changes are afoot. Haley and Brooke, for instance, move in together...which wouldn't seem so strange if they were in college rather than high school. Brooke and Lucas also try a "non-exclusive" arrangement (her idea, not his). When sexy schemer Rachel (Danneel Harris) joins the cheerleading squad, Brooke starts to regret her decision. Meanwhile, the delightfully odious Dan runs for mayor. Just when he thinks he's got it locked, Lucas's mom, Karen, throws her hat in the ring. But those developments are minor compared to the school shooting in episode 16.

Guest stars include musical groups Nada Surf and Fallout Boy, while recurring characters include Peyton's birth mother Ellie and smug singer/songwriter Chris (Tyler Hilton), with whom Haley collaborates again.

Goodbye, Tree Hill High. Graduation nears. And with its approach comes the realization that, for students and parents alike, life is changing forever. There are new loves to nurture, old scores still to settle. The longtime triangle of Lucas, Peyton and Brooke finally comes down to two. The memory of Keith - or is it his spirit? - inspires Lucas and Nathan, and haunts Dan. Peyton is terrorized by a stalker. Two expectant mothers are about to raise Tree Hill's population stats. Lucas begins to wonder what really happened the terrifying day Keith died. And the Ravens - led by Coach Whitey Durham - have one last chance for hoops glory and the state championship. Live for now. Make way for what's to come. Hello, future...

This is the last season of high school. Peyton and Brooke's friendship take a dramatic turn and Dan is forced back into Lucas' life.

Summaries paraphrased from amazon.com

It's four years into the future and everyone is back in Tree Hill. However, a lot has changed. Lucas and Peyton are no longer together; Lucas is now involved with his book editor, Lindsay. Peyton, whether she wants to admit it or not, came back for Lucas but is crushed when she finds out about Lindsey. Trying to focus on other things in life,she creates her own record label and struggles to get artists. Brooke - though a successful fashion designer - feels like there's something missing in her life, and somehow needs to get it. Nathan and Haley hire a nanny named Carrie who causes problems for the whole Scott family. Dan is still in jail, for now... Rachel is back but isn't on the best life path, having developed a drug problem while seeking a career in modeling. Mouth is having a lot of problems with his new boss and new job, but still aspires to be a sports caster. Questions remain, but watch and they will be answered.