"Hanging By A Moment" is the thirteenth episode of One Tree Hill and aired February 10th, 2004. The episode was written by Mark Schwahn and directed by John Behring.
Lucas and Peyton try to hide what happened between them in their motel room from Brooke, whilst Nathan helps Haley as she struggles in gym. Meanwhile, Keith and Deb prepare for Karen's return, Dan tries to salvage his marriage and Whitey considers his future as Ravens coach.
Contains examples of the following tropes:
- The Bus Came Back: Karen returns from Italy.
- Downer Ending: Keith and Lucas are involved in a car accident on their way to pick Karen up from the airport. Whilst Dan witnesses the accident and wastes no time in getting them to the hospital, Lucas ultimately took the brunt of the impact and requires surgery - during which he flatlines. The episode ultimately ends with the surgeons trying to resuscitate him.
- Everyone Has Standards: Despite Dan's ongoing rivalry with Keith, he's horrified when he witnesses his brother's car accident. Taken even further when, after 17 years denying that Lucas is his son, Dan finally admits to it so that the hospital has parental consent to take him into surgery.
- Good Adultery, Bad Adultery: Lucas and Peyton aren't portrayed as being in the wrong for wanting to be together, but rather that their starting an affair behind the back of Brooke - Lucas' girlfriend and Peyton's best friend - is a really bad thing to do, especially as Brooke freely admits to Peyton that she's falling for Lucas whilst they're planning to tell Brooke about their affair.
- Hypocrite: After Haley accuses Lucas of changing after seeing him kissing Peyton behind Brooke's back, Lucas responds by accusing Haley of being a hypocrite due to her relationship with Nathan.
- Internal Reveal:
- Haley learns about Lucas and Peyton's affair when she sees them kissing in the school library.
- Haley tells Nathan about Lucas and Peyton.
- Haley finds out that the reason Nathan asked for her to be his tutor - and ultimately, their relationship as a whole - was to screw with Lucas.
- Jerkass Has a Point: Whilst Lucas is unquestionably in the wrong for starting an affair with Peyton behind Brooke's back, he's correct when he argues that Haley is clearly dating Nathan because she wants to rather than out of any sense of loyalty to him as she has repeatedly claimed.
- Oblivious Guilt Slinging: Brooke tells Peyton that she's falling for Lucas, completely unaware that Peyton and Lucas have begun an affair behind her back and are planning to tell her this together.
- Outside-Context Problem: All of the personal drama is pushed to one side in the final act, as Keith and Lucas' car accident ultimately takes precedence.
- Titled After the Song: The episode title is taken from the song "Hanging By A Moment" by Lifehouse.
- Wham Episode: Lucas and Peyton start seeing each other behind Brooke's back, whilst Haley learns the real reason Nathan wanted her to be his tutor. On top of that Lucas and Keith are involved in a car accident, leading to Lucas requiring - and flatlining during - surgery.
- Wham Line: Dan finally acknowledging Lucas as his son.
