As the main character on One Tree Hill, Lucas Scott is at the forefront of this beloved teen drama, and his storylines are sweet, emotional, tragic, and hopeful. Lucas is the kind of person who wears his heart on his sleeve, which is particularly powerful since he's responsible for many quotes and voiceovers on the series.
Whether Lucas is deciding between best friends Peyton Sawyer or Brooke Davis, or moving forward with his life by pursuing his creative dreams, this One Tree Hill character has some fascinating plotlines that help viewers understand him more.
Lucas And Nathan Go Up Against Each Other On The Basketball Team
Lucas and Nathan Scott are two of the most likable One Tree Hill characters, and right away, fans learn in the pilot episode that they're half-brothers. The drama kicks into high gear as Lucas becomes part of the high school basketball team, which has been Nathan's domain up until that point.
What would normally be friendly competition becomes much darker as Lucas resents that Nathan has grown up wealthy and while Lucas loves his mom Karen, they have definitely struggled more. Fans know that the brothers will become closer eventually, but right now, this is a powerful storyline as Lucas is sensitive to how popular and successful his sibling is.
Peyton Rejects Lucas The First Time He Shares His Love
Season 1 is a tough one for Peyton and Lucas, a fan favorite One Tree Hill couple who viewers never stop rooting for. When Lucas tells Peyton that he likes her and wants to be with her, she gets scared of being intimate and vulnerable.
Peyton's rejection is not only painful for Lucas but one of his best storylines as this shows that he's a sensitive soul who will always take risks in life and tell someone how he feels. Lucas is upset that he can't be with the person he loves just yet, but he knows that he did the right thing by being open and honest.
Lucas Saves Peyton's Life
The season 3 episode "With Tired Eyes, Tired Minds, Tired Souls, We Slept" is one of the most devastating in the show's history as it features a school shooting. A student named Jimmy brings a gun into the school, and after Peyton is shot, she fights for her life in the library.
In what has become an iconic storyline that fans will never stop thinking about, Lucas is a source of and comfort for Peyton and he makes sure that she gets out of the school, which ensures that she can stay alive. Even if the characters don't end up together, viewers can tell that they'll be bonded forever thanks to this incredibly dark and difficult moment.
Lucas Travels With Peyton To Find Her Birth Mom
Out of Peyton's One Tree Hill love interests, fans love her with Lucas the most since they share artistic talent, sensitive personalities, and the feeling that they're different from other people. In the season 3 episode "Brave New World," Lucas and Peyton travel to find her birth mother, Ellie.
Road trip episodes are always fun since they feature a new location and hopefully some banter and bonding in the car. This storyline is special since fans see the characters connecting on a deep level as Peyton lets Lucas in on this sad part of her life and he is even more devoted to being there for her.
Lucas Struggles With Keith's Death
It's hard enough for Lucas to move on after the death of his uncle Keith, but even worse to know that his father Dan is the one who murders him.
It's no wonder that this is a super memorable storyline that allows fans to understand Lucas even more. While he had a great childhood and he loves his mom, there has always been something missing, and he's always searching for the family that he feels he didn't have. Keith was like a father figure to Lucas and this loss stings a lot.
Lucas Is Now An Author Dating His Editor Lindsey
The first four seasons of One Tree Hill feature many juicy plotlines, including Peyton falling for single dad Jake Jagielski and even Fall Out Boy member Pete Wentz. When the show returns for season 5, four years have ed since high school ended, and viewers see Lucas living a brand new life.
While it's tough for fans to watch Lucas fall for someone who isn't Peyton, his romance with Lindsey starts the next part of his life, and it's very powerful for that reason. It's fun seeing Lucas become a famous author as his ion for writing has always been evident, and fans are curious to see how Lucas and Peyton will find their way back to each other as it feels totally inevitable.
Lindsey Doesn't Marry Lucas After All
Peyton and Lucas are considered a confusing One Tree Hill couple, but it's good news when Lindsey can tell that marrying Lucas will be a massive mistake and walks out of their wedding.
Fans have to love this storyline since it's ultimately what brings Lucas and Peyton back together. While it's not instant, they still realize that they can't live without each other, and it's a painful and scary reminder of how close they come to being with other people and truly moving on.
Lucas's Book Is Adapted Into A Movie
This Lucas storyline is juicy and fun since it involves a lot of feelings about the past and the future. When Julian Baker wants to make Lucas's book An Unkindness of Ravens into a movie, it turns out that Peyton and Julian used to date very seriously, and things might have worked out except Julian knew that Peyton loved Lucas.
Fans cheer Lucas on, knowing that this career move means a lot to him, even if he has to grapple with the fact that Peyton loved the person who is making his Hollywood dreams come true. Lucas ultimately learns to respect and appreciate Julian, especially when he is such a good partner for Brooke.
Lucas And Peyton Struggle Through A Hard Pregnancy
Now that Peyton and Lucas are finally back together, Peyton is thrilled to be pregnant for the first time, but when she is diagnosed with placenta previa, her life is on the line once again.
While the love triangle between Peyton, Lucas, and Brooke is always fascinating to follow, there is never a question about who Lucas is meant to be with, and it's hard to see him suffer watching Peyton go through such a painful and terrifying experience. This is a big moment as Lucas grows up and realizes that he can't stop the future but he's committed to being a good husband, father, and person.
Lucas Says Goodbye To Tree Hill Forever
While the charming town of Tree Hill has done so much for Peyton and Lucas, from bringing them together to teaching them how to grow up and find happiness, they know that it's time to leave. Fans will never forget watching them drive away with their baby Sawyer.
It's heartwarming to imagine the couple seeing the world, and it feels right for them to go, especially since fans know that they will always keep in touch with the friends who are basically their family.