"The Desperate Kingdom of Love" is the first episode of the second season of One Tree Hill and originally aired September 21st, 2004. The episode was written by Mark Schwahn and directed by Greg Prange.
As they get settled in Charleston, Lucas and Keith receive news of Dan's heart attack and debate returning to Tree Hill. Word begins to spread about Nathan and Haley's marriage, whilst Peyton and Brooke reforge their friendship in the wake of learn Lucas' departure.
Contains examples of the following tropes:
- Burn Baby Burn: Peyton and Brooke decide to burn Lucas' letter rather than read it.
- Dramatic Irony: Peyton and Brooke decide to burn the letter Lucas left for them, reasoning that he's left Tree Hill so reading it won't change anything - only for Lucas to make the decision to return to Tree Hill in the wake of Dan's heart attack.
- Dream Intro: The episode opens on the residents of Tree Hill, and the recently departed Lucas and Keith, attending Dan's funeral following his heart attack in the previous episode. It's quickly revealed to be a dream when Deb approaches her late husband's body and he wakes up, telling her that she's going to wish she killed him, before Deb wakes up in the hospital, with Dan recovering from his heart attack.
- He's Back!: Lucas decides to return to Tree Hill, reasoning that it's the right thing to do after Dan's heart attack. Keith, on the other hand, is adamant that he's not sticking around when they get back there.
- How We Got Here: A series of flashbacks through the episode reveal how Nathan and Haley got married.
- The Scapegoat: Deb blames Dan's heart attack on Nathan getting emancipated, though it's clearly because of her guilt over Dan walking in on her post-sex with Keith.
- Shipper on Deck: Lydia James is the only one who initially supports Nathan and Haley getting married, and has to talk her husband around.
- So Proud of You: Haley's father gives a sarcastic one to Nathan, upon being told that this time he entered the James house through the front door rather than Haley's bedroom window.
- Titled After the Song: The title of the episode is taken from the song "The Desperate Kingdom of Love" by PJ Harvey.
