Despite ending over a decade ago, One Tree Hill remains among the best teen drama series and its incredible popularity is unlikely to ever change. The characters’ relationships were a core part of the show and came in the form of endearing friendships and romantic entanglements, but some of the greatest relationships stemmed from family.
Tree Hill was a small town, and, thanks to the likes of Dan Scott, family members stood at every corner. While several of these family members had relationships that were solid from day one, others didn’t blossom until much later. All of them remain at the heart of the show.
Dan And Jamie
After Dan murdered Keith, it seemed he had nothing left in Tree Hill, but his release from prison allowed him to forge a relationship with his grandson, Jamie. As Jamie was unaware of Dan’s history, he was the only person that viewed him without judgment, simply adoring his Grandpa.
As Dan was a poor father, it’s clear that he felt Jamie was his second chance, and the two formed an adorable friendship. Although Dan was one of the evilest One Tree Hill villains, it was hard not to admire the touching relationship he shared with Jamie.
Lucas And Haley
Two best friends falling in love is one of the most common tropes in a teen drama series, but that’s what makes Lucas and Haley’s relationship so special – they were simply best friends. Although Haley’s relationship with Nathan tested hers with Lucas, they overcame it and their platonic friendship only got better over time.
Their friendship often resembled that of siblings, and after Haley married Nathan, that’s exactly what they became. The love that they held for each other beamed through every season, but particularly in season 9 when Lucas returned to support Haley after Nathan went missing.
Clay And Logan
Clay was introduced as Nathan’s agent and someone who had no interest in settling down. However, his tragic backstory revealed that his wife tragically died several years prior. Because Clay was so devastated by Sara’s passing, he blocked out the memory of his son, Logan.
In season 9, Clay begins therapy and meets Logan. Bonding over their love for planes, the foundations of their relationship are built on the sweetest friendship. After Clay realizes that Logan is his son, they reconnect and Logan returns to live with his father and adoptive mother, Quinn.
Haley And Quinn
As first impressions of sisters go, Quinn gave off a much better one than Taylor did. Like any normal sibling relationship, Haley and Quinn had their arguments, but both of them supported each other when they needed it, most notably when Quinn’s marriage broke down and when Haley was dealing with Nathan’s abduction.
Many believe that Quinn served as Peyton’s replacement, but she proved to be a great addition after season 1 and depicted a relationship with Haley that was completely unique. They were instrumental in each other’s lives, with Haley choosing Quinn to be Lydia’s godmother.
Nathan And Lucas
The sibling relationship between the Scott brothers was probably the most complex in Tree Hill. Lucas and Nathan began the series as estranged half-brothers who held mutual hate for each other, and things only got worse when Lucas showed interest in basketball. However, after Nathan married Haley, the two slowly began to bond, realizing they were more alike than they once thought.
In the later seasons, Nathan and Lucas became best friends, standing as best men at each other’s wedding and becoming the other one’s confidants. Their friendship will forever remain a fan favorite, but they will always be remembered as true brothers.
Brooke And Sam
As Sam tried to shoplift from Clothes Over Bros, she and Brooke didn’t get off to the greatest start, but Brooke soon realized that Sam needed a loving home and agreed to foster her. Their relationship was an immediate hit with fans and demonstrated how Brooke was born to be a mom.
After both being held captive by Xavier, their bond became stronger than ever, but later in season 6, Sam decided to go and live with her birth mother. It was a truly heartbreaking moment watching the two say goodbye to each other, but Sam noted that Brooke would always be her “first mom.”
Lucas And Keith
Out of all the relationships in Tree Hill, it was hard to find one that matched up to Lucas and his Uncle Keith. After Dan abandoned Karen and Lucas, Keith stepped up and became the father that Lucas never had. Lucas adored Keith and was overjoyed when he asked to adopt him in season 3.
Their relationship was tragically cut short when Dan murdered Keith, robbing Lucas of the closest thing he had to a father. Although Keith was a character that was taken far too soon, his memory lived on through Lucas, and the relationship he shared with Jamie in later seasons bared a striking resemblance to his and Keith’s.
Haley And Lydia
Although Haley and her mom only appeared together a handful of times, it was evident that their mother-daughter bond was unparalleled. While everyone judged Haley and Nathan for getting married so young, Lydia was one of the few people who fully supported them because Haley’s happiness is what mattered most to her.
In season 7, Lydia was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and died shortly after, leaving Haley devastated. Haley fell into a deep depression, but her second pregnancy slowly helped her overcome it. In season 8, Haley gave birth to a baby girl and called her Lydia, in memory of her mother.
Brooke And Jamie
At the end of season 4, Haley asks Brooke to be Jamie’s godmother, but due to the four-year jump, Brooke returns to Tree Hill and the two are practically strangers. As they start spending more time together, they quickly form an adorable bond that is a complete joy to watch.
Brooke and Jamie have many hilarious scenes together and they bounce off each other perfectly. While it’s clear that Jamie idolizes his Aunt Brooke, Brooke also has an unfathomable love for Jamie, demonstrated when she comes inches away from death to save his life.
Lucas And Karen
In terms of a parent-child relationship, Lucas and Karen’s was as strong as they come. Although people judged her, Karen was never ashamed of her role as a single mother because it meant that she and Lucas were incredibly close.
They always supported each other in following their dreams, like when Karen told Lucas to go after basketball and Lucas made sure that Karen attended cooking school in Italy. After Karen’s departure, the interactions between the two were sorely missed, but when she did occasionally return, it made those moments that little bit more special.