Let's jump to the point. Last night's exciting two-hour season five premiere of One Tree Hill sure left my jaw on the floor. Set four years down the road, producers successfully kept me on my toes before and after the show ended. The 120-minute special was jam-packed with past clips, new scenarios and plenty of surprises for me, and other viewers, to feast our eyes on.

The producers chose to touch on each and every character's lives throughout the two-hour showcase. Thought provoking and entertaining, it was refreshing to finally see how each character dealt with the pressures of everyday life outside of the typical high school scene.

Brooke and Peyton learned to confront loneliness while realizing that achieving your dream wasn't everything. The two girls arrived back in Tree Hill and reunited with Haley, Nathan, Mouth and Lucas only to have felt the effects of their long separation. The producers successfully made that evident each time one of the characters storylines collided with others. Surprising to me, Lucas and Peyton's picture-perfect romance now seemed light years away. What once made the heart grow fonder, now made the situation worse for the former lovers.

In high school, Haley and Nathan found true love and encountered many obstacles along the way. Though they made it past each one, several outcomes just did not seem feasible whatsoever, fiction or not. Let's be perfectly honest, how many star athletes have you seen forfeiting his dream for a marriage and a child? Not many. Four years down the road, Nathan found himself in a wheelchair after an unfortunate restaurant brawl. The struggles and pain Nathan and his family continue to endure seems more realistic than anything shown on television currently.

Sadly, Mouth was not featured enough during the season premiere. I got a quick glimpse into Mouth's career struggles as well an introduction to a boss suffering from a lack of tact and unprofessional behavior. Hopefully future episodes involve Mouth in roles that boost his self-confidence and utilize his on-air reporting skills.

One Tree Hill - © The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

For a four-year reunion, there was not much to celebrate. As I came to see, the once familiar, happy characters from comfortable Tree Hill each struggled with their own life battles. Finally, the producers chose to place them in situations we all have been familiar with at one point in our lives. And because of that, I can relate even more. Kudos to Mark Schwahn!

My only concern lies in the hands of the writers. Because of the writer's strike, there are rumors that One Tree Hill may not produce a full 22-episode season but approximately 10 instead. How will that affect the progress of the show? What will be the outcome of this anticipated season?

On the flip side, fans do have to admit, little Jamie sure did make us all smile! Next week's episode previews Peyton's battle to understand Lucas' absent feelings for her. Wasn't it Brooke who stated in the last episode of season four that love triangles "were so high school"? Time to welcome back the Love Triangle Train!

Stay updated with One Tree Hill's newest episode every week and let me know what you think of season five!

Episode review by Kathryn Sparks
Starpulse contributing writer