"When It Isn’t Like It Should Be" is the eighteenth episode of Season 3 of One Tree Hill and originally aired April 5th, 2006. The episode was written by R Lee Fleming Jr and directed by cast member Paul Johansson.
The gang head to Rachel’s family cabin for a weekend away after the recent drama. Nathan enlists Lucas’ help to surprise Haley, while Brooke is caught in a compromising situation. Meanwhile Peyton receives an unexpected visitor, and Rachel tries to repair her relationship with Mouth.
Contains examples of the following tropes:
- As Himself: Pete Wentz as "Pete from Fall Out Boy".
- Breather Episode: After the trauma and fallout of the school shooting and several particularly heavy episodes in general, and before the season starts ramping up for the season finale, is an episode focused on the kids hanging out at a cabin for the weekend.
- Cassandra Truth: No-one believes Peyton when she says that Pete from Fall Out Boy is going to meet them at the cabin, until they find Pete in the kitchen making breakfast.
- Caught with Your Pants Down: Rachel walks in on Brooke pleasuring herself after Lucas’ latest letter winds up turning her on.
- Chekhov's Gun: As Haley looks for tools to check if her wedding ring had gone down a drain, Rachel prevents her from opening a cabinet, doubling down on her refusal when Brooke asks about it; as the gang prepare to leave the cabin, the scene cuts back inside the cabin and we see the cabinet has been broken into.
- Dramatic Irony: Karen blames Dan for Keith’s death, not realising that he’s actually the reason Keith’s dead.
- Failed a Spot Check:
- Skills and Bevin spend a day lost in the woods, not realising how close they actually are to the cabin.
- Peyton and Pete make out in a bunk bed, completely unaware that Mouth is in the other bunk until he interrupts their conversation afterwards.
- Hypocrite: Played for Laughs, as Brooke’s immediate reaction upon seeing Pete from Fall Out Boy in the kitchen is to walk up and kiss him, despite her relationship with Lucas and knowing Pete was there for Peyton.
- I Never: The gang wind up playing "I Never" but it winds up going off the rails due to Rachel and Brooke.
- Insane Troll Logic: When Lucas asks Brooke to be friendlier to Rachel for the weekend since she did invite the group to her family’s cabin, Brooke protests by claiming that if she and Rachel aren’t fighting then it’s like the terrorists have won.
- Insistent Terminology: At no point is Pete Wentz’ full name ever spoken. He’s referred to as "Pete from Fall Out Boy" throughout the episode.
- Overly Narrow Superlative: Bevin starts the game of "I Never" by declaring "I never had a gold record" - which applies to Pete, and Pete alone.
- Product Placement: The gang attend a party being thrown by Sunkist.
- Secret-Keeper:
- Lucas is recruited by Nathan in his attempt to repropose to Haley; Lucas winds up telling Brooke about it too.
- Mouth spends most of the episode mad at Rachel for releasing the time capsule, but he eventually reasons that something else would have set Jimmy off if the time capsule hadn’t, and it’s not going to do anyone any good to reveal that information as everyone starts to heal from the trauma of the shooting.
- Shout-Out:
- Peyton compares Pete to Mr. Snuffleupagus from Sesame Street.
- Pete admits to watching The Transformers as a kid.
- The Team Benefactor:
- Rachel invites the rest of the gang to spend the weekend at her family’s cabin in the woods.
- Peyton is able to score the gang invites to a club night Sunkist is throwing in a nearby town thanks her connections to the company via Tric.
- Titled After the Song: The episode title is taken from the song "When It Isn't Like It Should Be" by Saves the Day.
- Unusual Euphemism: "My turn. I never got caught Brooking myself in the bedroom yesterday."
