"Locked Hearts and Hand Grenades" is the sixth episode of Season 3 of One Tree Hill and originally aired November 9th, 2005. The episode was written by James Stoteraux and Chad Fiveash, and directed by Marita Grabiak.
After Whitey threatens to ban the cheerleaders from the basketball season if they keep fighting with each other, Brooke devises a "Fantasy Boy Draft" to keep everyone in line - and get one over Rachel. Lucas has trouble keeping pace with the rest of the basketball team, whilst Peyton continues to challenge Haley. Meanwhile, as the election nears, mayoral candidate Dan clashes with his new opponent… Karen.
Contains examples of the following tropes:
- Ascended Extra: This marks the first time that Skills is used as more than just one of Lucas’ friends from the River Court, as Bevin develops a crush on him whilst trying to figure out who she intends to pick in the Fantasy Boy Draft.
- Chekhov's Gun: Lucas’ fantasy basketball league serves as the inspiration for Brooke’s fantasy boy draft.
- Continuity Nod: Whitey specifically points to the cheer squad’s brawl from the previous episode when he threatens to ban them from basketball.
- Fantasy Sports: Lucas is shown putting up flyers for a Fantasy Basketball league, and has to explain the concept of fantasy sports to Brooke.
- Freeze-Frame Bonus:
- Brooke makes a list of potential draft picks in the Fantasy Boy Draft she had organized amongst the cheerleaders. Pausing the episode when Peyton looks at the list actually gives full names for several of the Tree Hill Ravens.
- When Brooke is typing up the finalized draft roster in the closing moments of the episode, the viewer is also able to learn the first names of the members of the cheerleaders who hadn't been named previously. The majority of the names are otherwise never mentioned anywhere else in the series.
- Hoist by His Own Petard: Brooke’s attempts to humiliate Rachel by stopping her from drafting Lucas or Chris Keller backfires because her plan ultimately depends on too many variablesnote to succeed. In the end, Rachel and Bevin swap picks, which was the one move she had to outwit Brooke and draft Lucas.
- Insane Troll Logic: Rachel convinces Bevin to trade her third pick for Rachel’s fifth by pointing out that 5 is more than 3.
- Old-School Chivalry: Brooke demonstrates the power Peyton’s number one draft pick has by knocking her books onto the floor, which prompts every guy in the vicinity rushing to Peyton’s aid.
- Out-Gambitted: Brooke rigs the Draft order in her favor, and comes up with a scheme to stop Rachel drafting Lucas or her stated interest of Chris Keller, but Rachel still manages to draft Lucas from under Brooke.
- Pet the Dog: Peyton’s draft pick is a double handed version - she picks Mouth out of pity for the other cheerleaders making it clear they wouldn’t be drafting him, simultaneously leaving Nathan free to drafted by Haley now that she’s demonstrated that she’s willing to fight for her marriage instead of expecting Nathan to instantly forgive her.
- Shout-Out: Peyton is wearing a Ramones top during cheer practice.
- Small Name, Big Ego: Mouth has to be told multiple times that the cheerleaders aren’t interested in picking him in the Fantasy Boy Draft over more eligible candidates. Ultimately subverted as Peyton chooses him with the first pick, but it’s clear that she only does so out of pity.
- Stalker with a Crush: Played for Laughs as Bevin develops a crush on Skills as she "scouts" him before the Fantasy Boy Draft, but Skills gets weirded out as to why Bevin is following him around.
- Titled After the Song: The episode title is taken from the song "Locked Hearts and Hand Grenades" by Plan A Project.
