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We also thought the resolution to the Peyton/Mick storyline played out really well. After Peyton discovers Mick passed out -- and still clutching that AA chip -- she confronts him about why he's there. Mick finally admits that yes, he's her dad, and he would have sucked at it. There are lots of hurt feelings, but Mick redeems himself, sort of, in the end. He tells Peyton that the AA chip was Ellie's -- she stayed sober the whole time she was pregnant with Peyton, and that probably saved Ellie's life. They gave Peyton up because they knew she'd have a better life with someone else. Peyton finally seems to realize that, too -- she calls Larry, her adoptive (and yet still "real") dad and thanks him for choosing her.

What we liked
Jamie continued his Reign of Adorable this episode, while still acting like a real kid. We loved his reaction as Dan told him that everything he'd been told about vegetables was a lie, and he was genuinely excited as he watched Slamball, and later played on the trampoline. (We could have done without "Sorry Owen -- I'm on Team Brooke." What kids says stuff like THAT?)

But the best Jamie moments came when Haley tried to talk to him about all the weird stuff that had been going on around him. Jamie said he sometimes had nightmares, and Haley admitted that she did, too. She asked if she could stay in his room that night, just to be safe. "OK, I'll protect you," he says. Then Nathan chimes in: "What if I get scared?" "I'll protect you too," Jamie says, leading to a perfect Scott-family moment.

We also have to say, we really like Dan's interactions with Jamie. He obviously loves that kid, and Jamie loves him back. The rest of the Dan plot? Well...

What we're not sure about
OK, we get that Dan wants a new shot at life, blah blah blah. But wanting to get back with Deb, who he's tormented all these years? What's worse, Deb almost looked like she was feeling bad about Dan now. Last time we saw her, she was breaking out champagne to toast his death!

Dan tries to play the redemption card with Nate, who doesn't know how to deal with it. You saved my wife and child, but you shot my uncle right where we're standing, he says. You'll be in our lives because my son loves you, he tells Dan. "My son hates me," Dan says. "Both of them." Well, yeah. That might have something to do with you being a dick to them, plus, you know, shooting your brother. Self-pitying Dan is much less fun than outright eeeeeevil Dan.

Then there's Slamball. We're with Haley -- "That sounds... physical." Yes, it looks spectacular, but we can't help thinking it looks way to dangerous for someone who injured his spine. And we have a hard time believing it's the ONLY way he's going to get back onto a regular basketball team. Surely regulation NBA teams think Slamball is some sort of sideshow at best, right?

What didn't float our boat
You had to know this was coming: Our least favorite plots involved Lucas' book tour and Mouth's inexplicable stardom. Try as we might, we just can't fathom how Omaha would make a good jumping-off-point for a book tour. (If anyone from Omaha is reading this, please tell us if we're wrong.) What's more, the idiot publishing flunky never even READ Lucas' book -- or even the cover blurbs! -- so he had no idea how to market him. That's probably the main reason Lucas' signing tanked. But no, he blames it on the book, and tells Lucas to scurry on home and write something else. Whatever, dude.

Then there's Mouth, who has been embraced by Omaha as the second coming of Howard Cosell. His picture is on buses and billboards, and people want to take his picture in the street. Even in a small, local market, this is WAY more career than a 22-year-old new sportscaster should have.

And THEN -- Mouth decides that insane success in Omaha can't measure up to time with Millie in Tree Hill. Look, we're all for young love, but did he really think they couldn't handle a long-distance relationship? Stick it out in Omaha a while longer and you can write your own ticket, Mouth! But no, he and Lucas road-trip back to Tree Hill. Is it wrong to hope for multiple flat tires and wrong turns on the way home?

Finally, there's Sam. Haley discovers Sam is a foster child, that she's sleeping in cars and her foster parents don't care, and decides to enlist Brooke into taking Sam in. After some back and forth, Brooke offers Sam a room. Ugh.

What did you think? Tell us about it in the comments!