What made One Tree Hill just as deserving of the accolades placed upon shows such as Beverly Hills 90210 and Dawson's Creek, was the ability to focus on a certain crowd and never waver. Although One Tree Hill would go through a much-needed time jump, it fell right in line with the progression of the show. Much like the teen dramas of the past, OTH had its fair share of issues.
Viewers watched as enemies became brothers, best friends took other routes, and the adults, well, they just stood in the way of their own success. Did viewers understand why Haley left Nathan? Did they agree with the love triangle between Lucas, Brooke, and Peyton? OTH was about relationships. Not just within the cast but with its viewers. Did the writers do a great job of making everyone likable?
Dan Scott
Dan Scott was the first official villain of One Tree Hill. The father of two sons, Dan held no secrets regarding which one meant the most to him. Instead of embracing Lucas, he found a way to turn Nathan against his own brother. Dan didn't care who he alienated along the way either.
However, there was one person Dan would sacrifice his life for. With all the bad deeds he's done, it was Jamie who turned Dan. Still not the best father, Dan did his best to make a 180. But it was still too late.
Deb Scott
Karen and Deb began the show as different as night and day. Deb put up with Dan's nonsense for her own reasons but even she was taken to a point where enough was enough. Deb fought her own demons and in that time, separated herself from her own son Nathan.
Where Karen was more to the point of letting stuff go, Deb took matters into her own hands and even tried to kill her estranged husband. Deb was not an evil character, she just did things a bit extreme.
Karen Roe
Karen made her mistakes but her one goal was to provide a good life for Lucas and to shield him away from the pitfalls that were to come because of his last name. Unfortunately for Karen, Lucas went searching for the truth on his own. Karen, often quiet, was forced to deal with the issues of her past but managed to find happiness with the man who was always there.
Karen just wanted to make sure, not only Lucas but the rest of the kids in Tree Hill did not fall victim to the same pitfalls she faced as a teenager. Choices had to be made and when things got murky for them, Karen was there to offer advice.
Keith Scott
Keith was the opposite of his younger brother Dan. Keith was more responsible in terms of family while Dan held wealth and success over Keith. What drove Keith mad was his inability to come clean to Karen regarding his true feelings for her even though he knew he was the perfect man for her. Keith was the more well-liked brother and for that, he paid the ultimate price.
Keith's death was the first real tragic event on One Tree Hill. He made his mistakes but his character was a hard one to judge in terms of evil doings. Keith gave his life to save others in more ways than that hallway scene portrayed.
Haley James-Scott
For Haley, she fell for the one person she was not supposed to. Nathan and Lucas were at odds, but Haley got caught it in the moment, she nearly caused one heck of a train wreck. "Tutor Girl" is what they called her but Haley proved to be much more than that. she had the heats of the central male characters and that alone, made her important.
But she wasn't without her faults. Haley's likability took a major hit when she left Nathan to pursue her music career. Not only was it Nathan she left, but Lucas, her best friend as well.
Mouth Mcfadden
Nathan's friends and Lucas's friends were entirely different. Mouth was weird but he was loyal. He was the voice of Raenv's Basketball and from there, he sort of made his own lane. Even the popular kids began to look at Mouth differently but it was his loyalty to Lucas that ever wavered.
Mouth has always been a standup guy. He's been cheated on, talked about, and left out of the inner-circle and yet, he always found his own path.
Peyton Sawyer
Besides Dan, Peyton was the other obstacle standing in the way of Lucas and Nathan. Peyton and Nathan were opposites while Peyton and Lucas were meant to be. Of all the characters on the show, Peyton was more shut-off from the world despite raising herself.
Peyton has gone through plenty and that includes a deceased mother, an absent father, and then one of the strangest storylines involving a stalker posing as her brother. Peyton connected to fans because she was relatable to the female viewers.
Nathan Scott
In the early stages of One Tree Hill, there was not a more hated character than Nathan Scott. His sole purpose in life was to embarrass his brother Lucas as much as he could. It didn't matter how it happened, it just had to happen. Things got so bad, that Nathan, never one to be confused with being a genius, used Haley as a pawn in his childish games.
But he changed. Possibly the character who changed the most. Viewers just waited for the moment where Nathan accepted Lucas and when he did, he won their hearts over.
Brooke Davis
Brooke Davis was introduced as the wild child of Tree Hill. With her parents hardly present, Brooke was given a long leash to roam free and do as she pleased whenever she pleased. What Brooke searched for was a true relationship. However, in her early stages, Brooke didn't understand the meaning of two becoming one.
A head cheerleader, Brooke was the unofficial leader of the in-crowd. Over the course of the show, Brooke grew as she began to take things more seriously in her life.
Lucas Scott
Lucas was the central character of One Tre Hill. During his time on the show, a huge portion of the storylines were basically centered around his becoming a man, accepting who he was, and also trying to change that narrative. Lucas acted as if he never wanted to belong, but deep down, he wanted to be involved.
Lucas was bright but still had moments where he lacked proper judgment. He hated Dan so much that he often missed the blessings that were right in front of him. Often torn between two women, it took Lucas a while to realize what love really meant.