In a Word: Two half brothers, one bad daddy, and a basketball court. "One Tree Hill" may be about the game, but it's really just a metaphor for life -- competition, teamwork, stealing each others' girlfriends ... OK, that's where the metaphor sort of breaks down.

The Action: In the small town of Tree Hill, North Carolina, basketball is a religion, and Nathan Scott is a kind of demigod. He's cute, smart, and the star player for his high school team, the Ravens. On the other side of town is another b-ball star -- but he plays in a public park, away from the lights and the crowd. It's Nathan's half brother, Lucas, the illegitimate son their father, Dan, doesn't acknowledge and wishes he didn't have.

But Dan's brother, Keith, has always been like a father to Lucas, and a good friend to Lucas's mom, Karen. He sees the boy's talent and wants to get him on the Ravens team, with all the glory, girls, and scholarships that could bring. While Lucas is getting a glimpse into the world that could be his, he meets Nathan's girlfriend, Peyton. He likes her, but she's taken. So he starts dating her best friend, Brooke -- until Peyton leaves Nathan and hooks up with Lucas.

That's OK. Nathan hits it off with Lucas's friend Haley. She's a virgin, and they spend a few episodes on the will-they-or-won't-they storyline. But Brooke's not wasting any time; she announces she's pregnant. Except she's not, and she lied, but the whole drama makes Lucas realize he doesn't want to be like his father, so he and Nathan form an uneasy bond.

Uncle Keith has his own problems, mostly with alcohol and money. He nearly kills Lucas in a car accident, proposes to Karen and gets turned down, and sleeps with Nathan's mom, Deb. Then Dan catches them and has a massive heart attack. Keith decides to leave town, and Lucas decides to go with him. (Guess he got over that whole your-drunk-driving-almost-killed-me thing.) Before they leave, Lucas goes to say goodbye to Haley and finds her with her new hubby ... Nathan. She didn't even give anyone time to throw a really awkward bridal shower. Bummer.

Our Take: The kids seem like they're gonna be all right, but the adults need an intervention.

Your Take: Whose behavior will come back to bite them you-know-where next season?