'One Tree Hill' Aftergasm: It's a Dog-Eat-Heart World

The metaphor of Dan Scott’s heart on One Tree Hill reached its apex in last night’s episode. After waiting for more than a year to get a donor heart, a search stalled by Nanny Carrie kidnaping him, Dan finally got a heart,. Only to have it snatched away at the last minute.

In a scene that straddled the line between comedy and tragedy, a stoned dog ate Dan’s donor heart. My initial reaction was laughter, but the more I think about it, the more I realize it was the perfect move in this storyline.
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Ever since he was released from prison, Dan Scott has been on a road to redemption. He’s tried to atone for his past mistakes, but it hasn’t been easy, nor should it. If he had simply gotten a new heart, it would’ve cheated fans. The new heart could be used as a metaphor for the changed man Dan has become.

But One Tree Hill wasn’t interested in an easy fix. Instead, the show left him with the rotten, blackened heart he’s had all along and forced him to change. Through all the lies and deceit Dan has used over the years, that chance to prove himself came when Jamie asked him who killed Keith.

The old Dan would’ve lied or sugar-coated the truth to make himself look better. The new Dan simply told Jamie the truth, even though his grandson is the only person on the show who doesn’t completely hate him. It was a difficult decision, but one that allowed him to turn the corner and proved that even though his physical heart is dying, his emotional heart is capable of healing.

That newfound strength allowed him to confront his two sons on the basketball court and deliver an amazingly heartfelt speech about how terrible he was, how sorry he is, and how great Lucas and Nathan are. It proved that Dan does have a new heart, even if it’s strictly metaphorical.