One Tree Hill is a teen melodrama about the interactions of a large group of people who are interconnected in their daily lives. The series original looked at the drama that followed two competing step-brothers in sports and love. As the show progressed, the focus changed to melodrama from backstabbing, scheming, murder attempts, love affairs/triangles, and other sordid drama fit for a soap opera. For more information about this series please refer to DVD Talk's reviews of season one, season two, season three, and season four.

After four seasons of melodrama, love triangles, scheming and backstabbing, and other soap opera quality happenings, One Tree Hill returns for its fifth season. This season is a little different than the first four. Season five takes place four and a half years after the season four finale. The Tree Hill gang said goodbyes to each other, moved on to new lives, and went to chase their dreams. While some have reached their goals, all realized there is something missing.

Lucas wrote and published a book about his life and friends. Since, he has been unable to write anything else. He is now the head coach for the Tree Hill Ravens. Skills joins him as the assistant coach. Brooke went on to the big time. At twenty-two, she is the owner of a multi-million dollar company Clothes Over Bros, which she started in high school. Her mother Victoria (Daphne Zuniga, Melrose Place) helps her run the company. Peyton is not doing as well. She went after her dream in Los Angeles, leaving Lucas behind, and found nothing. She works as an assistant to an assistant at a corporate record label. Nathan and Haley have had better days. Nathan has become a wreck. He hates his life. He lost his chance at professional basketball after being paralyzed. Haley gets the brunt of his anger and does what she can to shield their son Jamie (Jackson Brundage) from it. Mouth has graduated college and is unemployed.

In the opening episode, Lucas, Brooke, Peyton, Nathan, Haley, and Mouth slowly return to Tree Hill. Peyton comes back to Tree Hill for a reason, Lucas. Unfortunately, Lucas is involved with his editor Lindsey (Michaela McManus). Brooke comes back with Peyton and decides to stay in Tree Hill. She goes against her mother's will and tries to prove that she can run the company from Tree Hill. Nathan continues to bask in his sorrow, as he lost his dream and the ability to walk. Haley tries to cope with it and starts teaching at the high school. They hire Carrie (Torrey DeVito) to be a live-in nanny. Carrie is sweet and does well with Haley and Nathan's son Jamie. However, she turns out to have ulterior motives -- Nathan.

As the season continues, there is a myriad of other dramatic storylines that keep the cast constantly going over-the-top. Some of the other key developments include Lucas, Nathan, and Skills working with young hot-head Quentin (Robbie Jones) to become the all-star of the Ravens basketball team, Dan being paroled from prison, Mouth and Brooke's assistant Millicent (Lisa Goldstein) dating, Mouth having an affair with his boss at work, Brooke dating Tric bartender Owen, Peyton starting her own record label and working with Haley to turn Mia (Kate Voegele) into a musical sensation, and more.

For the most part, season five is pretty fun. The initial episodes are not great. When I first saw them as they aired on television, I had a hard time getting into it -- despite having enjoyed the first four seasons. Eventually, I lost interest in the show and stopped watching. Having given it another try, I am much happier with the content. After getting through the first few episodes, I found that the drama picks up and there are some juicy, soapy moments that make the season solid. The elements that made the earlier seasons strong are reprised with new characters and relationships.

Overall, I was pretty happy with season five. I thought that the first season was really great. Afterwards, the over-the-top melodrama started to be a little too much. By the end of season four, I did not care much for the show. Needless to say, I was not really looking forward to season five. However, I gave it a try and stopped watching. After giving it a second try (for this review), I was happily surprised to find it a lot better than my first impression. While the show is unrealistic and has some ridiculous plotlines, they are delivered well. For those who enjoy soapy, melodramatic productions, season five will not fail to entertain.

Episode Guide

1. 4 Years, 6 Months, 2 Days: Four years after graduation, everyone has reached for dreams. Some have failed. And others have achieved their deepest desires... only to discover they may have chased after the wrong goals.
2. Racing Like a Pro:: Worst firsts: Mouth's first broadcasting job, Haley's first English class and Lucas' first day as Tree Hill's new basketball coach. Skills and Jamie go for glory in the local soapbox derby.
3. My Way Home Is Through You: While Nathan begins to fight back form despair, Peyton finds the perfect band to help launch her new label. Well, maybe not so perfect: they don't want to work with a newbie.
4. It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding): Mentoring: Nathan provides guidance to a hotheaded Tree Hill basketball star; Haley sets a new course for the band Peyton signed. Meanwhile, Brooke frantically prepares for the opening of her newest store.
5. I Forgot to Remember to Forget: A blast from three years past. Whitey helps Nathan through a tough time after a championship game. And we learn what happened between Lucas and Peyton in L.A. -- and between Lucas and Brooke in New York.
6. Don't Dream It's Over: Victoria thinks she can run Peyton's record label and Brooke's clothing company. Carrie thinks she can take Nathan away from Haley. Mouth's co-workers think he's the man who can stand up to Alice.
7. In da Club: It's a big night at Tric: The Honorary Title is headlining, Mia is opening - and relationships old and new explode in a series of confrontations and misunderstandings.
8. Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want: After Alice is fired for sleeping with an employee (not the one you think), the Mouth-and-Millicent relationship heats up. Also on a low boil: Brooke and Owen, Nathan and Carrie.
9. For Tonight You're Only Here to Know: Mouth gets his big break, an on-air gig covering the first Ravens game of the year. As the teams compete on the court, Peyton, Brooke, Haley, Lindsey and Mia have their own hard-fought battle in the school library.
10. Running to Stand Still: Nathan and Haley's marriage runs into a problem named Carrie. Brooke and Owen's New York trip runs into a problem named Rachel. Peyton's old boss tries to sign Mia, and Dan gets a parole hearing.
11. You're Gonna Need Someone on Your Side: As Lucas and Lindsey prepare for their wedding, their best man and matron of honor aren't speaking to each other, Brooke sets Peyton up with a surprise date, and old friends - and enemies - return to Tree Hill.
12. Hundred: A beautiful bride. A handsome groom. Loving friends and family. Everything seems perfect for the day Lindsey is to become Mrs. Lucas Scott.
13. Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace: Stunned by the events surrounding Lucas and Lindsey's wedding ceremony, friends and family take stock of past and future. Especially Brooke, who's hoping to adopt.
14. What Do You Go Home To?: Look who's moving in: Millicent with Mouth, a baby with Brooke. More news: Lucas returns to coaching the Ravens, hoping to end a 4-8 slump; Nathan and Haley interview nannies for Jamie.
15. Life Is Short: Two creepy guys show up at Jamie's 5th-birthday party: the clown Deb hired... and Dan. Lindsey returns to Tree Hill for the festivities, and Millicent ingratiates herself with her new roomies.
16. Cryin' Won't Help You Now: Heartbeats: As Brooke helps prepare baby Angie for her heart operation, Lucas checks out Dan's story that his cardiac condition gives him only six months to live. Also: Q quits the team; Mouth gets a surprise gig.
17. Hate Is Safer Than Love: Good news or bad news? Brooke awaits the results of Angie's surgery, Lucas gets a surprise phone call from Lindsey, Dan hears the latest from his cardiologist, and Deb learns the identity of her online flame.
18. What Comes After the Blues: Lucas wakes up from his bender with a Mohawk and a 10-game suspension. Brooke bids Angie a tear-filled farewell. Nathan and Jamie face their fears. Fate has two surprises for Dan.

The DVD

Video:
The video is given in widescreen color with an aspect ratio of 1.78:1. The quality is good and offers a fairly sharp and clean picture. There is a grain and minor compression artifacts. There are also some hints of edge enhancement, but there is nothing that should interfere with your viewing experience.

Audio:
The audio in this release is given in English 5.1 Dolby digital stereo sound. The audio track sounds very good. Dialogue comes off flat and music is rich and vibrant. There is also very little distinction between the left and right channels. The release has subtitles in English, French, and Spanish.

Extras:

• Audio Commentaries: are included for two episodes "Don't Dream It's Over" with Mark Schawahn, James Lafferty, Torrey Devitto, and Lindsay Wolfington, and "For Tonight You're Only Here To Know" with Mark Schawhn, Michaela McManus, Kate Voegele, and Joe Davola.
• Unaired Scenes: are included for episodes "4 Years, 6 Months, 2 Days", "Racing Like a Pro", "My Way Home Is Through You", "It's Alright Ma, (I'm Only Bleeding)", "Don't Dream It's Over", "In da Club", "Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want", "Running to Stand Still", and "You're Gonna Need Someone on Your Side".
• One Tree Hill Fast Forward: show creators and cast share their excitement in moving the storyline four years later in the characters' lives.
• One Tree Hill Musical Stars: guest stars Kevin Federline and Kate Voegele at work behind the scenes on set and making music.
• One Tree Hill at 100: commemorating the 100th episode milestone
• Music Video: of Kate Voegele "Only Fooling Myself"
• Gag Reel: is a standard gag reel of the cast acting goofy and messing up during filming.
• iTunes Digital Copy: permits a one-time download of digital copies (for free) of One Tree Hill season five episodes (no extras) from the Apple iTunes Music Store. Very cool!

Final Thoughts:
One Tree Hill's fifth season takes place four years after the season four finale. The Tree Hill gang have moved onto new lives and attempted to achieve their dreams. Some have made it, but none have found what they are looking for. They slowly return to Tree Hill to find what is missing from their lives. As season five progresses, the melodrama ensues as love, relationships, careers, and life clash together. The content has a similar feeling to past seasons with soapy drama at every corner. I had a pretty good time watching the season and think fans of the series will enjoy it too.