"What Are You Willing to Lose?" is the second episode of Season 7 of One Tree Hill and originally aired September 21st, 2009. The episode was written by Mark Schwahn and directed by Les Butler.
Nathan and Clay try to get a handle on the accusations against Nathan - and Clay has to worry about Nathan flying off the handle. Haley fights for the future of Red Bedroom Records, whilst the new face of Clothes Over Bro's arrives in Tree Hill and doesn’t match the image Brooke or Millicent had in mind.
Contains examples of the following tropes:
- Artistic Licence – Law: Dan and Rachel have scored book and TV deals off the back of Dan’s past crimes. In reality, this would be a violation of North Carolina’s "Son of Sam" law which prohibits criminals from directly profiting from the publicity of their crimes. Whilst the law has been argued as a violation of First Amendment rights and has been repealed or replaced in numerous states, North Carolina had done neither as of the time of this episode’s production.
- Bait-and-Switch: Dan’s introduction for his wife on "Scott Free Redemption" highlights her as being deceptive and manipulative, having a history of drug and alcohol addiction, as well as being promiscuous - each of these traits being able to be applied to ex-wife Deb if one painted a picture of her at her worst; as it turns out, Dan is actually talking about… Rachel Gattina.
- Book Ends: The episode begins and ends with Brooke watching footage from an unreleased film starring Alex Dupree.
- The Bus Came Back: Danneel Harris returns as Rachel Gattina for the first time since Season 5.
- Call-Back:
- Nathan’s anger issues resurface, as he barges in on Clay’s meeting with Renee. Clay recognises this, and tells Nathan not to get thrown through a window again.
- The photograph taken at Peyton’s baby shower is on the desk at Red Bedroom Records, and is prominently shown when Miranda picks it up to look at it.
- Brooke directly points to Julian’s conversation with Victoria after Lucas and Peyton’s wedding as a turning point in the mother and daughter’s relationship.
- The Cameo: Hilarie Burton appears as Peyton Scott, by virtue of a photograph from her baby shower.
- Character Tic: Haley’s impersonations of Peyton and Lucas recreates several of the mannerisms provided by Chad Michael Murray and Hilarie Burton.
- Comically Missing the Point: Alex doesn’t understand the That's What She Said joke, even after it’s explained to her.
- Distracted by the Sexy: Both times Brooke watches the footage of Alex’s unreleased movie, she gets distracted by Julian and leaves the film unfinished.
- Failed a Spot Check:
- After chasing after Miss Lauren’s hat, Jamie wanders off to get a snack with his Aunt Quinn, forgetting that Lauren and Skills are currently buried up to their necks in sand.
- Brooke getting Distracted by the Sexy with Julian means that she doesn’t watch Alex’s film to the end, and see that the impassioned speech she had earlier given to Brooke and Millicent was directly lifted from the movie.
- Fanservice:
- Brooke and Julian’s first scene features Brooke in a night gown showing off her cleavage, and a shirtless Julian.
- Nathan and Clay shirtless at the beach, working out. This is later accompanied by Quinn in bikini.
- From Bad to Worse: Renee isn’t just claiming she slept with Nathan; she’s three months pregnant.
- Godzilla Threshold: Realising that she doesn’t have any ground against Sire shutting down Red Bedroom, Haley calls in Mia - whose contract is exclusively with Red Bedroom.
- Horrible Judge of Character: Both Brooke and Millicent take Alex Dupree’s onscreen performances as indication of the person she is offscreen. Both are shocked when she turns out to be a self-absorbed airhead.
- Male Gaze: As a bikini clad Quinn walks away from Nathan and Clay, the camera pans down to focus on her ass and legs.
- May–December Romance: Dan Scott is now married to Rachel Gattina, who attended high school with his sons.
- My Sister Is Off-Limits: Nathan warns Clay off pursuing Quinn, his sister-in-law.
- Read the Fine Print:
- Miranda claims that "page 17, item 4" of Red Bedroom Records’ contract with Sire Records says that the parent label can acquire Red Bedroom whenever they choose to.
- Mia and Haley point out that, whilst Haley is contractually tied up with Sire Records, Mia was signed exclusively to Red Bedroom and Sire only handle distribution - so if Red Bedroom Records is shut down, Mia will just walk away and Sire lose their top selling artist.
- Ripped from the Headlines: As noted by Clay, the idea of a professional athlete being accused of cheating on their partner in the tabloids isn’t exactly uncommon.
- Second Episode Introduction: Jana Kramer as Alex Dupre.
- Spoiler Opening: Rachel’s return (albeit not the circumstances behind it) is spoiled by Danneel Harris being credited before she appears on screen.
- Tempting Fate: Whilst at the beach with Nathan, Clay states his belief that Renee’s bluffing, only for her to prove otherwise by the end of their conversation.
- That's What She Said: Said by Brooke in her first meeting with Alex, who doesn’t understand the joke.
- Titled After the Song: The episode title is taken from the song "What Are You Willing To Lose?" by Lucero.
- Unperson: Whilst the photograph from Peyton’s baby shower is seen, it’s cropped to remove Sam.
