"Asleep at Heaven’s Gate" is the first episode of Season 8 of One Tree Hill and originally aired on September 14th, 2010. The episode was directed and written by Mark Schwahn.
As everyone returns to reality after returning from Utah. News of Haley’s pregnancy starts to spread, whilst Julian and Brooke’s happiness is interrupted by the police. Meanwhile, Nathan prepares to head out to join the Bobcats pre-season training camp, whilst Quinn and Clay spend the day at the beach.
Contains examples of the following tropes:
- But Now I Must Go: Nathan prepares to head out to join the Charlotte Bobcats pre-season training camp.
- Cliffhanger Cop Out: Played with - the episode largely ignores the previous seasons cliffhanger of Katie shooting Clay and Quinn in their home, with the couple spending their day at the beach. The final shot of the episode reveals this to have been some sort of purgatory, and the two are currently bleeding out on the floor of the beach house after Katie’s attack.
- Downer Ending: The final shot of the episode is of Clay and Quinn’s unconscious bodies, bleeding out after they were shot in the previous episode.
- Foreshadowing: The reality of Clay and Quinn’s situation is hinted at throughout the episode.
- It’s stated at multiple points that Clay and Quinn aren’t answering their phones. Meanwhile, Clay sporadically hears a vibration, but doesn’t have his cellphone with him.
- Clay and Quinn are the only ones at the normally busy beach.
- Internal Reveal: Haley tells Jamie, Brooke and Julian about her pregnancy.
- Interrupted Intimacy: Haley walks in on Brooke and Julian in the midst of some Grease 2 themed role play.
- Not Me This Time: After Mia takes a shot at Alex for constantly going after other women’s boyfriends, Alex reminds her that Mia is the one who broke up with Chase.
- Shout-Out: Haley walks in on Brooke and Julian in the midst of Grease 2 themed role play.
- The Talk: Haley’s pregnancy prompts Jamie to start asking where babies come from.
- Title Sequence: The opening title sequence is reinstated for the first time since the end of Season 4, complete with Gavin DeGraw's "I Don’t Want To Be" as the theme song.
- Titled After the Song: The episode title is taken from the song "Asleep at Heaven’s Gate" by Rogue Wave.
