"The Worst Day Since Yesterday" is the eighth episode of Season 3 of One Tree Hill and originally aired November 30th, 2005. The episode was written by David Strauss and Mike Herro, and directed by John Asher.
The Ravens’ first game of the season has arrived. Nathan accuses Lucas of being the team’s weak link as he deals with a broken heart, both literally and figuratively. Peyton and Haley come together to pull Brooke out of her funk, whilst the race for Tree Hill’s next mayor heats up as Karen and Dan make local media appearances.
Contains examples of the following tropes:
- Actually Pretty Funny: Whilst it costs the Ravens possession, Nathan sees the funny side when Lucas calls for a pass and promptly moves out of the way so the ball flies straight into Chris Keller’s face.
- Anti-Advice: Karen recounts to Lucas some advice a customer once gave her - the best way to get over someone is by getting under someone else - before realising both what the phrase means and that it’s terrible advice to give your teenaged son.
- Call-Back:
- Peyton teases Lucas over his repainting his door to spite Brooke, with Lucas responding by teasing her over her cutting her hair out of anger over the summer.
- After Rachel decorates Lucas’ locker in a particularly over the top show of homosexual pride, Peyton notes that it could be worse since at least it doesn’t say "Dyke."
- Chekhov's Gunman: Mouth’s presence in the Ravens’ locker room allows him to capture footage of Dan assaulting Nathan after the game, which he promptly gives to Karen to help her campaign.
- Defrosting Ice Queen: Peyton finally stops being snippy with Haley, and starts acting like her friend again.
- Dress Code: Whitey has instituted one for the new season, making the Ravens wear suits on game days.
- Evil Is Petty: Dan calls into the radio station during Karen’s time and tries to use her status as a single working mother against her; it doesn’t take much effort for her to turn it to her favor.
- Freudian Excuse: Peyton admits to Haley that the reason for her attitude was because she’s sick of people walking in and out of her life, and Haley just happened to be in the firing line because she was the only one who’s stuck around.
- Good Adultery, Bad Adultery: Whilst it’s debatable as to whether Brooke having sex with Chris Keller actually counts as her cheating on Lucas as they weren’t dating exclusively, the behaviour of both Lucas and Brooke through the episode is in line with a spouse being cheated on by their partner. Pointedly, the episode portrays both Lucas and Brooke sympathetically and puts most of the blame on Keller taking advantage of Brooke’s emotional state.
- Heartbreak and Ice Cream: Peyton and Haley find Brooke eating a chocolate cake to console herself for screwing up everything with Lucas.
- Idiot Savant: Dumb Blonde Bevin suggests a viable strategy for the Ravens to run in a game to Whitey.
- Kick the Dog:
- In an attempt to cheer herself up, Brooke heads to Suburban Filth to find out when she’ll be paid for the store using her designs, but is quickly told that she’ll receive nothing, as stated within her contract of employment.
- When Brooke approaches Lucas after the game, he bitterly rejects her and asks Rachel for a ride home.
- Kleptomaniac Hero: After the Ravens lose, Brooke and Peyton head to Suburban Filth and steal all of the clothes made from Brooke’s designs.
- Laser-Guided Karma: Despite going along with Lucas after he asks for a ride home from to get back at Brooke, Rachel makes it clear that she won’t be used as a pawn for Lucas to get back at Brooke and dumps him in the middle of nowhere.
- Loophole Abuse: Brooke finds out her contract of employment at Suburban Filth means that she doesn’t see any sort of compensation for any designs she creates for the company.
- My God, What Have I Done?: Brooke is distraught over Lucas finding her in bed with Chris Keller, to the point of skipping school.
- Stripperiffic: The Ravens cheerleaders’ pre-game routine is notably raunchier than their standard; it goes unmentioned, but it’s likely down to Rachel’s influence in Brooke’s absence.
- Titled After the Song: The episode title is taken from the song "The Worst Day Since Yesterday" by Flogging Molly.
- You Remind Me of X: Dan says that Chris Keller reminds him of himself.
