3.18: When It Isn’t Like It Should Be

CW: Brief mention of suicide at the 17:20 mark.

It’s a weekend full of riding ATMs, hot tubs, Brooking ourselves, marriage proposals, and making out with Pete from Fall Out Boy in One Tree Hill S3E18, When It Isn't Like It Should Be. Rachel (Danneel Ackles) brings the gang to her parents’ cabin in the woods and we finally get some fun moments with these characters after several episodes of trauma. Haley (Bethany Joy Lenz) repeatedly loses her wedding ring but little does she know that Nathan (James Lafferty) has a surprise up his sleeve. Peyton (Hilarie Burton Morgan) receives validation when her Snuffleupagus (Pete Wentz) finally shows up to the cabin. Brooke (Sophia Bush) and Lucas (Chad Michael Murray) have their share of tender moments, and some moments are so “tender” that Brooke gets caught by Rachel in a compromising position. Skills (Antwon Tanner) and Bevin (Bevin Prince) also have sweet moments of their own…even when they get lost in the woods. Meanwhile, Mouth (Lee Norris) is still upset with Rachel for unleashing the time capsule and Karen (Moira Kelly) takes out her frustrations on Dan (Paul Johannson).

We chat about the highs and lows of this episode, including:

• The episode’s namesake, “When It Isn't Like It Should Be,” by Saves the Day.
• Was the quote from Lucas’ voiceover (“Be not afraid of life. Believe that life is worth living, and your belief will help create the fact.”) from Henry James or William James? 
• Nathan and Karen’s respective grief and how the characters are addressing it
• The joys of riding ATMs with the boys
• Original leaks from this episode claiming that Mouth and Rachel would have sex and that Rachel would reveal she was a virgin during the game of “I Never.”
• Rachel getting some moments of humanity
• The brilliant talent of OTH writer Anna Lotto for coming up with the term, “Brooking yourself.”
• Tender Brucas moments and Jeremy’s shocking hot take
• The awkwardness of Pete Wentz, his acting, and the overall cringe of his relationship with Peyton.
• Was Dave Grohl from the Foo Fighters originally supposed to date Peyton?
• Double-sided parasocial relationships (Dan Levy, Jack Quaid, and Tom Holland, go give Jeremy a call if you just happen to be an Always and Forever listener)
• The epic Naley proposal and the upcoming Tree Hill wedding! 
• John Steinbeck’s quote: “Change comes like a little wind that ruffles the curtains at dawn, and it comes like the stealthy perfume of wildflowers hidden in the grass.”

Be sure to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts! That’s the easiest way to support us and to help One Tree Hill fans, new and old, find us! We’re Kaitlyn Ilinitch (@MissIReads) and Jeremy Rodriguez (@RodriguezJeremy) and you can find Always and Forever on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @alwaysothpod or email us at alwaysothpod@gmail.com.

Check out our One Tree Hill season 3 Spotify playlist here: https://spoti.fi/3aRKgx2. 

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