Netflix’s One Tree Hill Sequel Show Is In A No-Win Situation With 1 Important Character

Netflix’s upcoming One Tree Hill show is dealing with a no-win situation with one important character who likely won’t be returning. There isn’t much known yet about the One Tree Hill sequel show. The only two confirmed returning original cast members are also the show’s producers, Hilarie Burton, who played Peyton Sawyer, and Sophia Bush, who played Brooke Davis. The lack of confirmation about other One Tree Hill characters in the sequel show has caused some viewers to worry, and it seems their worries won’t be unfounded.

The One Tree Hill sequel series is set to follow Peyton and Brooke as they parent their teenage children and help guide them through the ups and downs they once faced. Though One Tree Hill was a teen drama show, the adults played important roles in the story as well. It seems as though the One Tree Hill sequel series will be as if the original show focused more on Karen than Lucas. While this makes for a good premise, the One Tree Hill sequel series is fighting an uphill battle when it comes to returning characters and resolving storylines.

Netflix’s One Tree Hill Sequel Show Has A Major Lucas Scott Problem

Lucas Scott Likely Won’t Be Appearing In The One Tree Hill Sequel

For six seasons of One Tree Hill, Chad Michael Murray played Lucas Scott, the illegitimate son of Karen Roe and Dan Scott and the unwanted half-brother of Nathan Scott. One Tree Hill’s story mainly centered around Lucas in the earlier seasons, as he found his way and made a name for himself outside his father. Deadline reported that Murray “has no plans to return” for the sequel series, creating a major Lucas Scott problem for the show before it even begins.

Lucas is one of the most important One Tree Hill characters, and while the series did move forward without him once before, it would be harder to do so in the sequel. This is especially because it’s been hinted that James Lafferty, who played Nathan Scott, and Bethany Joy Lenz, who played Haley James Scott, won’t be returning. A version of One Tree Hill without the Scotts could be a hard sell.

Writing Off Lucas Scott Means Undoing His & Peyton’s Happy Ending

One Tree Hill Ended With Lucas & Peyton Happily Married

When Lucas first left One Tree Hill in the season 6 finale, it was with his wife Peyton and their newborn daughter Sawyer. So, while he was no longer a part of the series, viewers could be content knowing he and Peyton were living a happy life off-screen. Lucas’ character even confirmed this when he returned for some scenes with his best friend Haley in One Tree Hill’s final season. However, with Peyton and Sawyer set to be main characters in Netflix’s One Tree Hill sequel show, the series will need to come up with an excuse for Lucas’ absence.

The two most obvious explanations would be Lucas having died or him and Peyton having gotten divorced sometime between the end of One Tree Hill and the start of the sequel series. Neither of these choices would be great for his character or the series. Whether they are parted by death or divorce, the One Tree Hill sequel will have to undo Peyton and Lucas’ happy ending to explain Lucas’ absence. Lucas and Peyton had a complicated on-and-off relationship, with viewers put through seasons of will-they/won’t-they with the couple.

Thus, even though their One Tree Hill exit could have been seen as premature, it was satisfying Lucas and Peyton drove off into the distance with baby Sawyer to have their happy ending. While there could be interesting storylines in the One Tree Hill sequel series about Peyton trying to move on as a single mother of a teenager, it would be at the expense of Lucas’ character and their relationship. Killing Lucas off could help preserve Lucas and Peyton’s love, but it would also mean One Tree Hill viewers would never see Lucas Scott again.

Retconnning The Original One Tree Hill Will Set Netflix’s Sequel Up For Failure

The Netflix Sequel Risks Making A Major Mistake

Whatever the One Tree Hill sequel series does with Lucas’ character, they will have to retcon the original show to make it work. This automatically sets the show up for failure, as it will likely alienate viewers who loved the original show, Lucas, and Lucas and Peyton’s relationship. Not having Lucas return is already a challenge for the One Tree Hill sequel show’s success, but having to write him off makes it nearly impossible.

If a sequel series has to retcon an original show to make the sequel series work, it makes viewers question whether it should be happening at all. While One Tree Hill’s popularity has made the sequel series confirmation feel as though it was only a matter of time, the return could hurt the original show’s legacy. For the One Tree Hill sequel series to do well, it must properly honor the original characters, even those who won’t be making appearances.

Source: Deadline