I didn't have the time to catch the tv spots when by any reason a finished watching the first episode just a few weeks after the beginning of The O.C., but there's a great difference between both, even when they have a great cast, good scripts, One tree hill feels like something fresh and at the same time more emotional. Some episodes have incredible and beautiful stories, that reminds movies like "stand by me" or the first episodes of dawson's creek, it's that kind of innocence and at the same time deep drama where the whole cast make a terrific(unforgettable) work. It's the kind of show who you wanna watch for more than two hours a day feeling every episode just like a minute of the day. A real pure jewel for TV.
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Freemheart26 March 2004
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taracran43027 August 2017I didn't watch OTH when it was originally on the air. I got Netflix about a year ago and have binge watched several series so far. Friday Night Lights, Gilmore Girls, Parenthood, and most recently OTH. I knew about 15 minutes into the first episode that it was going to be great and it was for seasons 1-6. There are many episode that I was laughing so hard or crying so hard that my tummy hurt. Things just didn't feel the same once "Lucas and Peyton" left. Season 7 was OK but then came season 8 and it was the worst. Really no great story lines and it was all over the place. I would watch the series again and stop with season 6.
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gprgawncw18 January 2022It's a bit difficult to accurately rate this show.
At its best it's several steps above most, if not all similar shows. At its worst it's nearly unwatchable.
The high school years in particular are generally much better than the standard high school series. The fall off that happens in season 5 and beyond is quite severe.
All in all, definitely give the first 4 seasons a watch and see if you like what happens afterwards. -
jameslamont23 February 2005One Tree Hill is Warner Brothers latest effort to emulate the success of its popular 90's teenage show Dawsons Creek and it a very good job overall. This show really will appeal to the teenage audience, and young adults and it is very plot driven to this age range. The show deals with a lot of sensitive issues that teenagers face such as: sex, drugs,marriage, adoption, affairs, conflicts etc.
The show is set in the fictional town of One Tree Hill and it stars: Chad Michael Murray as honest, likable Lucas Scott, James Laferty as spoilt rich child Nathan Scott, Hillarie Burton as the lonely but good hearted Peyton and Sophia Bush as the feisty but popular Brooke. The actors and actresses cast in these young roles really are the eye candy of the show. They all put in good performances and are totally believable in their roles.
Backing up the cast are a set of adult actors and actresses and these really add another depth to the show. Paul Johansson (Dan Scott) and Moira Kelly (Karen Scott) deserve mentions as they put in great performances as the respective struggling single mother and evil father of the boys. Craig Sheffer (Keith Scott) does a strong performance as Lucas step father and Dan Scotts bother, Barbara Alyn Woods (Deb Scott) makes a good long suffering wife and mother to Dan and Nathan look believable and Barry Cobin does a sturdy performance as Coach Whitey. The adult actors really shine in this show and they help to make the characters interact as well as the children on the show.
Underneath the shows skin is the running pulse of the conflict between long-lost brothers Nathan and Lucas Scott and that is what the whole show is built on. This show works so well is because it allows the adults as much air time as the teenagers and this lets the viewers care much more about all the characters, not just the teenage ones.
The characters are nearly all beautiful, teenage girls will droll over the eye candy of Lucas and Nathan and the teenage boys will droll over Brooke and Peyton. But the fact is that these characters are all very well written and it means that the audience identifies and likes each of the characters in their own unique way. They are certainly not two dimensional characters and as the actors and actresses can act means they are believable.
One Tree Hill is one of the most underrated shows on Television, and this is due to the fact that most people dismiss this show at first hand because they compare it with other teenage shows such as The OC and thats not really fair. This show has some human like quality that makes the show seem down-to-earth and relevant to many people. It does not have the fan base popularity that other teenage shows have, but it nevertheless has a very loyal set of viewers who tune in every week to watch the latest comings and goings on in Tree Hill.
There are some very good episodes of this show, but some others that aren't so good. But the show always churns out consistently good episodes and this means it is much harder to judge how good the show really is in its genre. If you want to see a good solid teenage drama that deals with real issues, in a human way, this is the show for you. Don't miss it 10/10 -
Angelus221 July 2009"Stepping up. It's a simple concept. It basically means to rise above yourself; to do a little more, to show you something special. Something like this...."
This show definitely 'step-up' the game for future 'teen-shows' in my honest opinion. There are real characters, who have real problems; not the weekly obstacle of 'Romantic pursuit'.
I was hanging around the house, during the summer of 08, when I caught the re-run of the pilot and was captivated by the 'Scott Brothers'. Since then I have been hooked, I feel ashamed to say I ignored it, and bad-mouthed it to so many people, mainly because I was more interested with the residents of Newport...
But when you watch Tree Hill, you find a group of characters who could truly be one of your friends, or even you..The scripts are just...A+ grade material, and the writers should be congratulated; as well the incorporation of Basketball was brilliantly done... The dialogue is witty and I love the 'Voice-Overs'....
The acting is a little weak from certain actors (Not gonna name them, because I love 'em all) But, it works.
I especially found myself falling for Peyton, a beautiful girl who is all alone...A familiar theme, when you're a teenager. I found the Lucas character especially interesting, he has a girlfriend, but the temptation to be with Peyton proves too much...LOL...Brilliant.
Haley James is just lovable as the dorky girl, while Nathan Scott battles to be a good man. Brooke goes from the stereotypical, high-school cheerleader to a responsible young woman. And Skills and Mouth provide the much needed comedy, the supporting cast is amazing, providing the stability.
But the real gem is Dan Scott...He is pure evil, but when he is nice...It's almost too good to be true..LOL.
I especially loved the five year skip into the future...But this show is supposed to be realistic...Surely we don't get everything we want by 22?
I could go on and on..But I'll stop. I will leave by saying, this is the pinnacle of 'Teen-Shows'.... -
yevonwm2 September 2005Once you've seen dawsons creek, saved by the bell and the OC - it becomes pretty obvious what producers of these shows are thinking. Take a set of issues provided by someone high up in the network, add some attractive 20-something actors who pretend to be teenagers and come up with a thin way to link the two. Except, this show is the best written teen drama I've ever seen. It's a laugh a minute, it doesn't try to ride the charisma or the attractiveness of the actors/actresses, it has genuinely funny short-term plots and climaxes to long-term plots. Not having American TV, I have to watch this type of teen show specifically from buying the DVD and this one is really engaging show-to-show, not jus a weekly dose to shut up fans. The slightly over-played basketball references about 'the game' are a bit tedious and so's the obscene over-emphasis on Dan Scott being an ass but this type of scene is usually followed by a funny pick-me-up scene. Definitely worth a watch.
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emma-craig6 July 2007When the show was first going to air, four years ago, I wasn't too excited about it. I started watching the show and completely fell in love with the characters ans the actors themselves. They storyline is great, they deal with real issues and have very lovable people. I have seen every episode now and love them all, though for a short time in the second season I thought it got a little dull with the Felix/Anna characters. The show has been compared to the o.c. but I think that it is different just by one major detail, the setting. They are in a relatively small town with not too many money issues and not too many problems with people being fake and using each other too be famous. It's truly about their relationships as people whether it's a boyfriend/girlfriend, father/son, friend/friend relationship, it shows how they all interact and feel. There have been many comments about the fact that they are sort-of stereotyped characters, but I feel they did that on purpose, that as time went on, they showed that there is more to them, more to anyone, than just what your first impression is. It's showing that people all act and react certain and very different ways to the many situations they are faced with on the show. Ever since (and including) the episode dealing with a school shooting mid-third season, they show that everyone is unifying and that they all are becoming closer. I can't wait to see the fifth season, which will be set four years after high-school when you will see them with careers and families!
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MsSmeagol16 April 2006One Tree Hill came on about the same time as The O.C came on, but the two shows couldn't be more different, and besides the fact that O.C attracts a larger audience, One Tree Hill is the better show. First of all, it has better actors. All the young leads are confident and convincing in their roles, and there is seldom a "false" moment on the show (as compared to The O.C, whose cast includes both the horrible mumblings of Mischa Barton and the horrible wooden acting of Benjamin McKenzie). The cast of One Tree Hill is of course helped immensely by the fact that their characters are so well written; they are people the audience really cares for, and takes an active interest in (as demonstrated on the multiple fan sites and message boards dedicated to the "Naley"-relationship and the "Lucas-Peyton-Brooke"-triangle.
One Tree Hill also has excellent writers, who are not afraid to deal with heavy topics like teen pregnancy, date rape, drug abuse and school shootings. The dialogue has a true ring to it, and the story lines are believable and engaging. It is hard not to get caught up in the lives of the Tree Hill teens.
Lastly, and most importantly, One Tree Hill has heart. A lot of it. Love and friendship are the main themes of the show, and the writers, directors and cast have a way of making themes old as time feel new, fresh and interesting.
Rumour has it that the WB won't renew the show for a fourth season. Hopefully, this is not true. One Tree Hill has so much potential, so much talent, heart and soul, and it would be a true shame if the WB decided not to renew it. -
wannasurf225 February 2004Normally, I just scoff at shows of this nature, but I happened to watch the pilot episode while working on a project because the TV was already on the WB channel from the previous show. Next thing you know I was wrapped up in this show, which seems to be the best of the genre. For once, this is one that doesn't borrow from 90210 or My So Called Life, yet seems to make its own direction. Sure, it is still has the cliches...28 year old, socially evolved high school students with attractive 32 year old parents, but once you get over this, the show really shines! I hope it has a future, although I doubt it will last very long since the OC is getting all of the buzz simultaneously.
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AnonymousFilmLover2611 April 2018Sure, at first glance, you might think it's 'only' for teens, but OTH is so, so much more than surface-level. The early seasons (1 and 2) are not quite as strong when compared to middle or later seasons; but for all its shifts in quality over the years, OTH remains solid. This was actually one of the first shows my family watched, back when we were new subscribers to Netflix, and it remains one of my very favorite shows today. We plowed our way through this show on disc (that's right, NOT streaming!) and I will probably have fond memories of it for a long time.
OTH is a TV-14, young adult show so it does have a few typical teen aspects like rivalry, brooding and angsty 20-somethings, and seemingly-absent parents, but all in all, if you continue through the series, you will find a show that is wonderfully balanced. For a show that aims to target a young demographic, OTH is actually pretty genuine and mature, particularly in the later seasons. From the themes to the cast, to the story lines, I really think that it transcends its 'teen drama' status. It might not have the same appeal to adults, but it handles all of its main plots with a sense of sincerity that other shows (catering to the same young adult audience) just don't convey. For that reason, I believe it is suitable for audiences both younger (but not too young!) and older. Still, once you come to know these stories, you will feel a sense of warmth and familiarity for these characters...and you might even cherish Tree Hill as a place you can call home.
I know that sounds a little corny, so I will end this review on a more practical note. The one criticism I have for this show is that it does skew melodramatic at times, with an emphasis on violent and/or disturbing events (ie: stalking, assault) to drive the larger story. This tendency/ choice of style is evident especially in seasons 3 and 4; and may strike you as over-the-top, but I believe it's never done with malicious intent. For dramatic effect, of course, but never 'just because.' Season 5 onward tones down the damsel-in-distress act a great deal.
May One Tree Hill live on! -
xjo_eyx9 March 2007There are 4 seasons now. I have watched almost every episode. Compared to The O.c., One tree hill is kind of a very low quality production. Before you read all of this please keep in mind I'm just being critical and realistic.
About the characters. All the main characters like Lucas, Haley, Brooke etc are said to be in high school. They are about 17-18. But if you look closer they sure aren't 17-18 years old. Most of them if you check their profile here they are 25-27 years old pretending to be 17. As if we wouldn't notice. You can also really notice that the characters really improve (and that they are all like eye candy). Let's compare season with season 4. The acting is very different. They went from, below average to very good. But the story didn't change much and is still predictable.
The music. The show really spends a lot time introducing new upcoming artists. I personally think the music in the show was great. And a lot of variety. They put a lot of effort in it.
The plot. You can read that on that on the homepage. But in my opinion the plot is very predictable. Im not from the USA but Its exactly the image that foreigners have of the USA. Highschool students who sleep with everyone, crazy teenagers, depressed students, parent's who don't care at all, sex, drugs and so on. And in the show there sure happen a lot of car accidents! I believe every season has a car accident. Lucas-Keith, Rachel-Cooper, Haley-Daunte.
I don't know why watched the show. Something about it made me keep watching. If you plan to watch it then I would advise you just to follow your heart. -
Easily a show you can fall in love with again and again. Beautiful story of love and friendships and betrayal. It all ends the way it was meant to after 9 wonderful years of stealing it's audiences hearts.
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itsnemra31 March 2021In the first season we get a long introduction into both the teenage world of the main cast but also their parents, the fictional location Tree Hill gets established and as any teenager drama, the life is here and now, inmature behaviour etc but it really good production, the script is easy to follow and things get overcomplicated all the time as it tend to be in that age.
The following five seasons we see the characters grow up, form stronger bonds, more local characters get introduced, more creativeness are put into the show, lots of populare music from that time, so far the show is a 9/10, I'd say its amoung the best drama shows out there.
Season 7 and onwards really loses the feel of what the show was all about, we get new characters that are just dull and they take up way to much of the screen time, no matter where we are the director just feeds us with american big city drama. The script fill rushed and lack of a second.opinion.
Due to this the overall show goes down from a 9/10 to a 7/10. It stays at 7 because the original cast still put up a good job. -
m-4782626 April 2021It was as if Dawson's Creek was written with Melrose Place in mind. It has DC's heartfelt declarations and MP's taste for tacky drama. The soundtrack was heaven to any alternative music fan. And music lovers in general. It has a very artistic approach, which I love. And the fact that producers stopped making CDS, was the really disappointing thing about this show for me. I also think it should've ended sooner. The series dragged on for too long, near the end of its run. Some of the actors are weaker than others, but it goes with the territory. It's also the last good teen drama in my book, so it's not one you should skip either. Perfect for some binge watching sessions.
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ggdollzfanatic8 November 2003I am in love with this show. I absolutely adore Chad Michael Murray, and am so glad I made the time to sit down and watch this show on its' premiere night. I haven't missed an episode since. This show is full of lessons for teens with a crappy attitude towards life, and it doesn't hurt that Chad is one of the characters teaching us these lessons. Yes, the story line is a little crazy and hectic, but deep down, there is a lot of love between characters. Hilarie and Chad look wonderful together on screen and have an undeniably great chemistry. James and Chad have a good chemistry as well, and I can't wait to see how their relationship evolves. I am hoping that they will become better friends. I wouldn't miss an episode for any reason. I am obsessed, and I'm perfectly alright with that.
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First time watching oth was somewhere in 2010, when I was a teenager, at that time I was in love with the show. Rewatching it in 2022, I realize is such a great show, maybe I like better this format, but nowadays there are not made like this. This show has soul and maybe is just me, but is just an awesome series.
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whitemanwalking10 November 2007I didn't actually watch this when it first came out, i only started watching it about 6 weeks ago when I bought season one at a video store. All i can say is, this show is awesome. I have not been able to turn the DVD off, I am now finished with seasons 1-4 in less than 2 months.
I love everything about this show, the plot lines, the characters, the conflict. Its all freaking great. i have grown to know all the characters and respect them in their own way. Lucas, Nathan, Haley, Peyton, Brooke, Karen, whitey, Kieth, mouth, rachel, bevin skills, deb, and Dan i suppose are all cool in their own way.
I think that i will probably start watching them all again. -
sandra_wismeier20 May 2006I'm a big fan of the O.C and never for a second believed that One tree hill could be as good as it. But I was wrong. One tree hill is better than the O.C. At least in my opinion. Sure, O.C is a good teen show with the usual "teen drama" problems and also with a lot of humor. But what is it the that makes One tree hill better? I think that One tree hill basically has a better story to tell than the one in O.C. Although One tree hill may lack some of the humor that's in the O.C, it's a much more interesting show to watch. The characters are so much more intriguing and has much more depth than the characters in O.C. And then One tree hill doesn't have this obsession with DRAMA... The events unfold in a realistic way and the show just have a slower pace. Although I may add that I've just seen about half of the first season... So I might be taking all of this back in a while... But for now I'll just say that I love this show and everyone ought to give it a chance.
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stacismith28 July 2007I have to say, from the first episode I watched I fell in love with this show. You feel so happy at one moment and then you cry on another. This show has things that every teenager can relate to. People think it's stupid because of the whole basketball-cheerleader thing, but I think one reason the show is good is because of that. People can relate to this show because these people don't have a ton of money and live in mansions like on The O.C. I really recommend you watch this show because it has one of the best plots for a show that you could ever have and I believe it really has meaning. I really hope they keep making more seasons. Watch this show. If you think it looks stupid give it a chance and you will see that this has to be the one of the best shows ever made. Not to mention, this show has the best quotes a show could have too. =]
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rwl-9543014 December 2018I just started watching this show based on seeing several of the characters in Hallmark movies. I would check IMDB to see other shows they had appeared in. Found out that several had starred in One Tree Hill. Therefore, I started watching to see what the show was like. I probably would have rated the show an 8 or higher if I was only rating seasons 1-6. Actually, it seemed to me that Season 6 was expected to be the final year. With Lucas and Peyton both leaving the series at the end of season 6 with no explanation the episodes seemed to be winding down the characters and then they found out the series would be renewed. So they had to throw some crap together to start Season 7. Because of that, I tried to continue watching but the episodes became too bizarre for me. So I have not watched Seasons 8 & 9 completely. Even though 50+ years removed from high school it did bring back some fond memories and some realities of the things I did. It was fun to watch. For me though, I enjoyed the episodes after high school the most. I think all of the actors did a great job portraying their characters. I was disappointed about the changes from Season 6 to 7. I have seen similar situations that also had a big impact on the show Army Wives comes to mind. It is always difficult to replace primary characters that far into the series. Not sure what could have been done to make me want to continue watching. I was looking forward to the series continuing with Lucas and Peyton raising their family along with Nathan and Haley. To me that would have been the ideal continuation of the episodes. Having said that, the producers/directors can't control the actors that want to move on to enhance their careers. One Tree Hill was running 20+ episodes a season. That limits their other opportunities.
One last comment, be prepared for a lot of sexual innuendo, etc. Parents might want to view a few of the episodes before allowing younger children to watch the show. -
Melissa_198219 January 2012This show started out really well, and got better with each season. It was one of my favorite shows. Until season 8. From season 8 and on, I've been embarrassed to admit that I still watch this show.
The characters Chase, Quinn, Clay and Alice are pointless. I have no interest in any of their stories. I miss the core OTH group and the relationships between them. That group of friends gave the show its heart and soul. There are so many new characters on this show that it lost its intimacy and charming nature. The show now seems shallow and dull.
Also, to the writers - please stop using the phrases "you know that" and "you goof," as in "I love you, you know that" and boyfriends/girlfriends referring to each other as "you goof". It's no longer cute, and it is bordering somewhere between extremely annoying and downright obnoxious. I cringe every single time I hear these phrases.
I gave this show a 7, which would have been a 10 if it had ended with season 7... and would have been a 2 if it had started with season 8.
UPDATE: Season 9 makes up for the crappiness of season 8. Stick it out. You wont regret it. I'm raising my rating to an 8. -
SnoopyStyle17 August 2015Nathan Scott (James Lafferty) is the arrogant star basketball player of the Ravens in Tree Hill, North Carolina. His father Dan Scott (Paul Johansson) is overbearing and a crooked car lot owner. His lead cheerleader girlfriend Peyton Sawyer (Hilarie Burton) is artistic. Her best friend is shallow fellow cheerleader Brooke Davis (Sophia Bush). When Nathan takes a joy ride with the bus, most of the team is suspended and the wise basketball coach Whitey (Barry Corbin) recruits Lucas Scott (Chad Michael Murray) to the team. Lucas is the bastard child of Dan. He and his mother Karen Roe (Moira Kelly) are barely acknowledged by Dan. His friends are Mouth McFadden (Lee Norris), Skills Taylor (Antwon Tanner) and Haley Jams (Bethany Joy Lenz). He works in Dan's brother Keith (Craig Sheffer)'s garage.
This is more than beautiful people watching. No doubt, these are beautiful people. The characters are archetypes. It's a sibling rivalry. It's several Romeo and Juliet. It's rich and poor. The first few seasons are great teen melodrama. It does go on way too long. The show is able to keep a few of the original characters but that doesn't stop the slow slide especially in the last few seasons. While I don't mind jumping ahead 4 years in season 5, the reunion feels forced. The fact is the show starts off with great characters and a photogenic cast. By the last few years, the show has fewer characters that I care about and too many new characters that I don't care about. -
bruhbrah26 November 2016One Tree is an overall extreme success, especially among the teenage community. It teaches life lessons on-screen that can be applied to real life. In addition, this show has deeply impacted me as well. The characters are easy to relate to and you'll instantly know which character is most like you. First of all, let's get one thing straight, this show is about way more than just basketball, so anyone who told you they hated it because it's only about basketball, they're wrong, and an idiot. By the first episode, I was already hooked. Once you start One Tree Hill you won't be able to stop because it is so addicting. This show is probably the one I binge watch the most. The plot, setting, and characters are what make the show so enjoyable. However, I would not give this show a perfect score because in the later seasons, the story shifts very far from the original plot that everybody loved. Seasons 7-9 are still very amusing, but not as exciting and interesting as 1-6. You don't get the same vibe in the later seasons as you do in the earlier seasons and that is because two, very important main characters that played a huge role in the plot of the story leave the show. Everybody loved these two characters and the show is not the same without them. I literally got emotionally attached to these two characters and their story is so inspiring and shows the ability that if two people love each other, they can overcome as many obstacles as possible and still be together. It is amazing to see these individuals grow from reckless teens, into responsible, mature adults and all the drama that comes along with it. This is the one show where I can say EVERY EPISODE IS RELEVANT TO THE ACTUAL STORY. There are no filler episode at all and every single one is enjoyable. There was not one episode that I thought was bad or "oh, they could've done better." This is one of my favorite shows and has deeply moved me. Whether it's Nathan Scott becoming a better person, Brooke Davis opening her heart, Peyton Sawyer finding who she is, Haley James living her dream, or Lucas Scott defying all odds as the underdog and proving himself to be destined for greatness. I highly recommend this show to everyone. It is amazing and I can 95% guarantee that you'll be hooked by the end of the first episode.
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JJace9920 October 2020It was truly one of the better "teen drama" shows. Sadly they decided to get rid of the main character after 6 seasons due to contract negotiations/budget. They had some amazing storylines, comedy, drama, etc.
Season 1,3 and 4 (the first 9 episodes) are 10/10, the rest up until season 7 is also great and would be a 8/10. Season 7 is okay, but lacks the 2 characters you love and have seen for 6 seasons in Lucas & Peyton, definitely Lucas who's been there from the start. Season 8 is probably one of the worst seasons in history of "teen drama/young adult" shows in my opinion. Season 9 is the better season from the last 3 in many points (gladly Lucas returns for a small cameo), but some things just still don't feel right. The whole Dan redemption story seems off, a man who killed his brother should never get redemption. -
Abir-Xtreme12 August 2013Well the show starts off fairly decent , a decent story line and above average character development. Then it just went haywire, the plot made no sense, logic was thrown out of the window, most hilarious coincidence and TV gimmick, even the acting became downright terrible. The fan base of this show are all a bunch of kids either physically or mentally who have 0 idea about reality and how the world works. It does not deal with anything real and you probably wont learn anything worth while from it. Even the love stories are downright horrible, it's almost hard for me to believe that i use to like it , but then again in the first season it wasn't this horrible. It's disappointing how highly this is rated , what even more sad is that most retarded fans will just read the summary of my review and click 'NOT HELPFUL' because that's just how they are, this may as well be the show that ruined a lot of teen age lives in fact, because they see this and expect these , totally illogical stuff and then they face reality and blame life ! Do yourself a favor don't watch this anymore , it will do nothing but waste your time.