The relationships in One Tree Hill were the heart of the show, whether that be turbulent love triangles or impromptu teen marriages. Throughout the nine-season run, each of the show’s main characters had significant relationships that have stood out to fans over the years.
Since the show began, there have been firm favorites among viewers, like the staple couples Nathan and Haley or Peyton and Lucas. However, there are many great relationships outside of just the most well known, all of which shined in one season or another.
Season One: Nathan And Haley
Outside of the dramatic love triangle that embroiled Lucas, Brooke, and Peyton, season 1 also marked the beginning of the fan-favorite relationship between Nathan and Haley. Their relationship was a slow burn at first, quickly building to a climactic turn of events in the season finale, “The Games That Play Us.” The first season did well to introduce each character singularly, and also showed how Haley seemed to bring out a softer side in Nathan, and Nathan brought out an adventurousness in Haley.
Despite the two encountering some growing problems as they navigated their early relationship, by the end of the season they realized how much they had grown to love one another and decided impulsively to get married. Through all the drama that focused on the show’s other main characters, Nathan and Haley’s relationship was a beacon of hope for viewers.
Season Two: Peyton And Jake
Peyton and Jake were never officially together and yet, they were one of the best couples on One Tree Hill. Before Jake had to leave with his daughter to get away from her estranged mother, season 2 showed their potential relationship as one filled with understanding and trust.
The couple shared some genuinely sweet moments that balanced out the other tumultuous relationships in the season – like the breakdown of Nathan and Haley’s marriage – and it seemed that Jake managed to bring out Peyton’s more optimistic side. A highlight of their relationship came in “The Tide That Left And Never Came Back,” when Jake came back to Tree Hill just to help Peyton through a dark time, even with the risk it posed for him and Jenny.
Season Three: Karen And Keith
Although their relationship was tragically short-lived, Karen and Keith’s romance was a joy to watch unfold, as they cared for one another profoundly and truly brought out the best in each other. All of the will they/ won’t they tension that built up in the show’s first 2 seasons made their eventual romance particularly memorable for fans, despite the tragedy that befell them.
Keith’s sudden death in one of One Tree Hill‘s most devastating episodes, “With Tired Eyes, Tired Minds, Tired Souls, We Slept,” was heart wrenching, as not only was a beloved character killed, but it also meant certain heartbreak for Karen. It seemed unfair to have this relationship ripped away so quickly after it had only just begun, but Karen’s love and devotion for Keith never faded, keeping his memory alive with her, always.
Season Four: Peyton And Lucas
Season 4 of One Tree Hill was particularly dramatic for most of the couples – Brooke and Lucas dealt with the fallout of their relationship, Haley and Nathan navigated money troubles and having a baby, and Peyton suffered with her seemingly unrequited love for Lucas.
Yet, the love triangle between Lucas, Brooke, and Peyton finally came to a head. “Some You Give Away,” one of season 4’s best episodes, saw Lucas confess his feelings for Peyton, as he realized out loud to her: “When all my dreams come true, the one I want next to me. It’s you.” Lucas and Peyton put their past behind them and it really seemed like they knew that they were soulmates and that nothing could ever change that.
Season Five: Mouth And Millie
With the time jump in season 5, a lot of drama involving the main characters ensued, especially in the relationship department. However, outside of this, a quiet relationship was blooming for Mouth, with Brooke’s assistant Millicent. Mouth and Millie’s relationship began timidly at first, but even their first proper date in the episode “Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want,” demonstrated how compatible they were.
Perhaps one of the most underrated couples in the show, Mouth and Millie’s romance was sweet, particularly for fans of Mouth, who hadn’t yet had any serious relationships on the show. Amidst all of the drama in the other relationships throughout this season, Millie and Mouth were a welcome glimpse at happiness, even in the early stages of their relationship.
Season Six: Peyton And Lucas
Despite the promises made to one another at the end of season 4, Lucas and Peyton parted ways once more, leaving Peyton hopelessly in love with Lucas whilst he was engaged to another woman in the following season. However, season 6 kept all of their promises and finally saw the on-again / off-again couple get together, and stay together.
Not without drama, Peyton and Lucas still battled a lot for their happiness, most notably a doomed pregnancy that left Peyton in critical shape on the day of their wedding in “Forever And Almost Always.” However, all ended well for them and they welcomed a beautiful baby girl, before leaving Tree Hill together to start a new life, far away from the drama of their hometown.
Season Seven: Clay And Quinn
Both Clay and Quinn are introduced in season 7 of One Tree Hill. At first, they seemed like a replacement couple after Peyton and Lucas’s departure in the previous season. However, Clay and Quinn came into their own, building upon a sweet friendship before their romance developed properly.
Both characters understood each other deeply and cared for one another in times of need – most significantly in understanding their respective grief after Quinn’s mom died and Clay was still mourning the death of his wife, Sara. Whilst the season 7 finale, “Almost Everything I Wish I’d Said The Last Time I Saw You,” ended with them both in a critical state, it also detailed some more light-hearted moments between the two that hinted at their potential in the seasons to come.
Season Eight: Brooke And Julian
The road to Brook and Julian’s happy ending was rocky, to say the least. The closing episode of season 7, “Almost Everything I Wish I’d Said The Last Time I Saw You,” saw the couple finally happy, with Julian proposing. However, season 8 proved to be even more climactic for them. “The Other Half Of Me,” detailed their beautiful and emotional wedding, whilst “This Is My House, This Is My Home,” saw Brooke give birth to twins.
Whilst there are other couples in this season who shine, seeing Brooke finally get her happily ever after with Julian was a delight for fans. After all the complicated relationships she had, Julian was truly Brooke’s best love interest, and season 8 proved this.
Season Nine: Nathan And Haley
Despite Nathan and Haley getting together in the show’s first season, by the final season they were still one of the best couples in the show. Season 9 explored their relationship in a darker way than ever before, as Nathan was kidnapped in a terrifying turn of events, and spent most of the series away whilst Haley desperately tried to find him.
The events of the season were hard for fans to watch, but that only made Nathan and Haley’s long-awaited reunion in the episode “Danny Boy,” all the more moving. Throughout all that the pair had been through since the show’s first season, One Tree Hill concluded the longest running relationship with a flourish, and even saw them dancing in the rain again, just like they did in season 1.
