"Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will" is the tenth episode of Season 9 of One Tree Hill and originally aired March 14th, 2012. The episode was written and directed by Mark Schwahn.
Dan, Julian and Chris Keller make one last attempt to rescue Nathan. Brooke and Xavier’s conflict escalates before reaching a surprising conclusion. Quinn and Clay revisit the past.
Contains examples of the following tropes:
- Bad Guys Do the Dirty Work:
- Dan, the long serving villain of the series, guns down the vast majority of Nathan’s abductors in a suicidal attempt to save his son.
- After spending the season antagonising Brooke over their rival cafes, Tara is ultimately the one who stops Xavier from assaulting Brooke.
- The Cavalry:
- After Nathan shoots the last of his kidnappers, the Dirty Cop who had been working with them walks in just as Nathan lowers his gun and holds him at gun point before going on a Motive Rant that gives Julian enough time to knock him unconscious with a pipe.
- Tara shocks Xavier with her taser when she finds him attacking Brooke.
- Honor Before Reason: Dan locks Julian out of the car before they drive to the abandoned warehouse Nathan is held in, despite this meaning he only has Chris Keller as back-up, not willing to put Julian in a position where his family could lose him.
- Hypocrisy Nod: Dan notes that he can’t put Julian in a position where Brooke and the boys could lose him in an attempt to bring Nathan home to his family.
- Roaring Rampage of Revenge: Dan, armed with a shotgun, shoots his way through Nathan’s kidnappers.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here:
- Chris Keller runs as soon as his part in Dan’s plan is complete.
- Tara decides to sell her cafe, reasoning that running it is making her into a bitch.
- Tempting Fate: Xavier tells Brooke that no-one’s going to save her, literally seconds before Tara intervenes with her taser.
- Wham Episode: Xavier tries to attack Brooke again; Dan saves Nathan, but takes a bullet in the back in the process.
