The Greatest Romantic Relationships in One Tree Hill, Ranked (2024)

One Tree Hill is one of the longest-running teen dramas, with an impressive nine seasons to its name. The series dove into the highs and lows of basketball, family drama, and, of course, romantic relationships. As is the standard for teen dramas, the series explored several relationships between its core characters, from their teen years into adulthood.

From the iconic Brooke-Lucas-Peyton love triangle to the fan-favorite Nathan and Haley love story, One Tree Hill delivered some of the best romantic relationships in the teen soap genre. Some of these love stories stood out among the others, cementing themselves as the best relationships in the show.

Updated on June 23rd, 2024, by Fawzia Khan: One Tree Hill was the ultimate teen show. Teen show territory brings with it lots of romance, and OTH was full of iconic couples that fans loved to ship. This list has been updated with even more OTH couples that fans loved.

14 Nathan Scott & Peyton Sawyer's Relationship Started It All

While Nathan and Peyton's relationship was not an ideal one, it was the one that got the ball rolling on many events in One Tree Hill. The two teenagers hardly get along, with no matching thoughts, values, or respect. Nathan is especially mean to Peyton, who is clearly more well-suited to Lucas.

It is Lucas' concern for Peyton that causes trouble in Peyton and Nathan's terrible relationship, which draws Nathan to Hayley. This change in coupling also creates a friendship between the brothers who hated each other. Therefore, the very first relationship of the iconic CW show deserves a mention, even if it wasn't the healthiest.

13 Lucas Scott & Lindsey Strauss Almost Got Married

A big time jump happened after Peyton turned down Lucas' proposal, and Season 5 saw Lucas paired off with Lindsey, the editor of his book. They have a romance in New York and the couple even travel to keep their relationship alive. Lucas manages to convince Lindsey that he's over Peyton, and they even end up walking down the aisle, but not quite.

It was obvious that Lucas couldn't forget Peyton. However, Lindsey did give him the love and support he needed at the time. She even edited his love letters to Tree Hill and Peyton, taking all of it in good stride. Had Lucas invested himself in the relationship instead of dreaming about Peyton, it may have been a good one.

12 Antwon "Skills" Taylor & Bevin Mirskey Had A Sudden Connection

All part of a fantasy boy draft, Bevin, a cheerleader in the Ravens and Brooke's friend, ends up with Skills, who was part of the team. They understood each other's best and worst parts equally and had a typical high school relationship with each other. Unable to keep the momentum after school, they drifted apart.

However, the chemistry between Skills and Bevin was unforgettable. The series finale hinted that the two may have gotten back together once they grew older and learned how to handle relationships more maturely.

11 Chase Adams & Alex Dupre Could Have Been Perfect

Alex was a bit of an outrageous character, but the bond she formed with Chase was true. Initially involved with Julian (much to Brooke's chagrin), Alex's feelings for Chase turned out to be stronger. Yet again, Alex came in between Mia and Chase's relationship, but he chose Alex every time over his ex.

Cute dates and a lot of respect for each other made Alex and Chase's romance memorable. They were perfect for each other, but Alex's career got in the way of their bond. There was plenty of chemistry between the actress and Chase, but they couldn't sustain it for too long. It was good while it lasted.

10 Brooke Davis & Chase Adams Were Total Opposites

Brooke Davis definitely had her fair share of romances in One Tree Hill. While Lucas Scott was her first love in high school, Season 4 introduced a relationship between her and Chase Adams. These two were far from perfect, breaking up twice by the season 5 time jump, but theirs was a beloved relationship in the show.

These two followed the classic opposites attract trope, since Chase Adams was part of the school abstinence club, while Brooke Davis was very open about her sexuality. Despite their differences, they developed a beautiful romantic relationship and learned a lot from each other. Their romance even helped fan-favorite Brooke realize she could fall in love again after her big breakup with Lucas Scott.

9 Antwon "Skills" Taylor & Deb Lee Had a Big Age Gap

Antwon "Skills" Taylor and Deb Lee were certainly one of the more controversial pairings of One Tree Hill since Skills was Nathan Scott's friend and Deb was Nathan's mother. Skills and Deb began their relationship by talking anonymously online, developing genuine feelings for each other before discovering each other's identities.

Despite the weird and even taboo nature of the relationship, fans found Antwon Taylor and Deb Lee endearing. Awkwardly sweet, Deb and Skills had one of the most mature relationships on One Tree Hill. Even when the two decide to break up due to their different plans for marriage and children, it was one of the more healthy breakups of the series.

8 Clay Evans & Quinn James Had One of The Healthiest Relationships

Nathan's former agent, Clay Evans, and Haley's sister, Quinn James, were introduced in the later seasons. Many One Tree Hill fans saw these two as a carbon-copy replacement for Lucas and Peyton, existing primarily as Nathan and Haley's respective confidants. However, Clay and Quinn's healthy relationship was refreshing, and their characters became some of the best in One Tree Hill.

Since Clay Evans and Quinn James met as adults, their romance was much deeper. Similarly, the problems these two faced were more mature than the other relationships in One Tree Hill. Fans loved watching Clay find love again after losing his wife. He and Quinn worked through their drama and emotional baggage, from a coma to a secret son, and always supported each other. From the moment their relationship began, Clay and Quinn knew they were meant to be.

7 Mouth McFadden & Millie Huxtable Got Married

During the high school seasons of One Tree Hill, Mouth McFadden was mostly the nerdy sidekick. While his friends had many love interests, he had fewer serious relationships during the show's first 4 seasons. When the series followed the core characters as adults in season 5, Mouth met Millie Huxtable, who he eventually married.

Like all One Tree Hill couples, the two had their problems. However, Mouth McFadden and Millie Huxtable always worked through their issues, reuniting stronger than before. Fans were happy to see the lovable nerd finally find love. They also enjoyed seeing how good he was to Millie, especially during their rough patches, such as her struggle with drug addiction. These plotlines made OTH one of the most loved 2000s teen shows.

6 Peyton Sawyer & Jake Jagielski Were a Special Couple Even If They Didn't Last

While Peyton Sawyer ended up with Lucas Scott, there was something special about her relationship with Jake Jagielski. This relationship took place during the high school seasons of One Tree Hill, and while these seasons focused heavily on Peyton and Lucas, her relationship with the humble teen father, Jake, was certainly a fan-favorite.

For a lot of fans, Jake Jagielski was Peyton Sawyer's one that got away. Their relationship was special because Jake was one of the few people in Tree Hill who saw Peyton for who she was outside of her high school cheerleader image. Jake was a big supporter of Peyton's passion for art, and Peyton was supportive of Jake taking care of his daughter. Peyton even became something of a mother to the baby girl.

5 Lucas Scott & Brooke Davis Were Each Other's First Love

One of the biggest draws of the early seasons of One Tree Hill was the infamous love triangle between Peyton Sawyer, Lucas Scott, and Brooke Davis. While Peyton and Lucas ended up together, Lucas and Brooke certainly had a whirlwind romance. Brooke was interested in Lucas from the beginning, and when these two eventually got together, the chemistry was undeniable.

Lucas Scott and Brooke Davis were each other's first loves, and the relationship gave both of them a lot of character development, especially Brooke, who was initially characterized as simply a shallow, flirty party girl. Through her relationship with Lucas, viewers saw that there was much more to Brooke than that, revealing a much deeper and mature side than she first expressed.

4 Karen Roe & Keith Scott Had a Slow Burn Romance

By far, one of the most romantic relationships in One Tree Hill is that of Karen Roe and Keith Scott. Viewers tend to watch teen dramas for the teenage characters, so it is especially notable how invested fans were in these two adults and their will-they-won't-they relationship.

Friends since high school, Keith Scott always loved Karen Roe. Keith stood by her side, helping raise Lucas more than his birth father ever did. They were each other's support system throughout their time together, and apart. While this relationship was tragically cut short by Keith's death in season 3, their love lived on in their daughter, Lily.

3 Brooke Davis & Julian Baker Were Endgame

With all the complications Brooke Davis faced in her love life during high school, Julian Baker was everything she had ever wanted. The two met in season 6 of One Tree Hill, and while they initially didn't get along, the romantic sparks between these two flew and became Brooke's long-awaited endgame relationship.

What made Julian Baker and Brooke Davis' relationship special was how dedicated they were to each other. Julian and Brooke faced several challenges and obstacles in their time together, such as Brooke finding out she couldn't have children. However, they always pushed through, coming out stronger than before. Julian gave Brooke the real, passionate, honest love she had been craving in her previous relationships, and the two got their perfect ending.

2 Art Brought Lucas Scott & Peyton Sawyer Together

When fans think of One Tree Hill, Lucas Scott and Peyton Sawyer are the romantic couple that come to mind. These two were the central couple of the show, and for six seasons, fans watched their complicated love story unfold. This romance was established from the very first episode, and while they went through various complications, other partners, and distance, they always found their way back to each other.

While Lucas Scott was the outcast and Peyton Sawyer was the popular cheerleader, the two found common ground in their art, becoming each other's muses. Even when apart, they never stopped loving each other. After six seasons of One Tree Hill, Lucas and Peyton finally got their happy ending, complete with a wedding and eventually a daughter.

1 Nathan Scott & Haley James Persevered Through Their Hardships

Nathan Scott was the basketball star, and Haley James was the brainy tutor. He was the bad boy, and she was the good girl of One Tree Hill. These two represented the classic teenage tale. Through all the drama and chaos that surrounded the series, Nathan and Haley stayed together the longest out of the show's couples.

Besides the incredible romantic chemistry, Nathan Scott and Haley James' relationship was special because they changed each other for the better. Nathan became a better man by being with Haley, and she learned to come out of her shell and pursue her dreams. They had their problems, like a teen marriage, an unplanned pregnancy, and a lot of trauma, but they were definitely soulmates.

One Tree Hill

TV-14

Half-brothers Lucas and Nathan Scott trade between kinship and rivalry both on the basketball court and in the hearts of their friends in the small, but not so quiet town of Tree Hill, North Carolina.

Release Date

September 23, 2003

Cast

Chad Michael Murray , James Lafferty , Hilarie Burton , Bethany Joy Lenz

Main Genre

Drama

Creator

Mark Schwahn

Streaming Service(s)

Max , Hulu