Ep 1. Asleep At Heaven's Gate

In the season 8 premiere of One Tree Hill, titled "Asleep At Heaven's Gate," we find our beloved characters in a state of transition. It has been 14 months since we last saw them, and a lot has changed in that time.

Nathan, who is now a full-time player for the NBA, is dealing with a crisis of confidence on the court. He's also struggling with the fact that his wife, Haley, has chosen to go on tour with her music instead of staying with him and their two children, Jamie and Lydia.

Meanwhile, Brooke is dealing with the fallout of her romantic relationships. She's still pining for Julian, who is now a successful movie producer in Hollywood, but he seems to have moved on. Brooke is also grappling with the fact that her mother is dying of cancer.

Mouth and Skills, who are now living together, are trying to figure out where their lives are headed. They both lost their jobs at the end of the last season, and have been struggling to find their footing ever since.

As the episode progresses, we see how each of these storylines intertwine. Nathan's troubles on the court lead him to seek advice from Haley, who is still supporting him from afar. Brooke reaches out to Julian for comfort when she can't cope with her mother's illness. And Mouth and Skills band together to try to figure out their next move.

One of the most interesting aspects of this episode is how it deals with the passage of time. We're used to seeing the characters deal with drama in real-time, but this episode jumps ahead over a year. It's a bold move, but it pays off. It feels like we've missed out on a lot, but in a good way – the characters have been living their lives off-screen, and we're just now catching up with them.

The episode also features some gorgeous cinematography. There are several scenes that take place at sunset, and the colors are so beautiful that you could almost watch the episode with the sound off and still enjoy it.

Overall, "Asleep At Heaven's Gate" is a strong start to the season. It sets up several interesting storylines, and gives us a chance to catch up with our favorite characters after a long time away. It also has a few surprises up its sleeve that will keep fans hooked for the rest of the season.