Teen drama knows how to create the best scumbags on television. While Gossip Girl‘s Bart Bass and The O.C.‘s Caleb Nichol stir up devious and deranged plans, no one – and that means no one – holds a candle to One Tree Hill‘s Dan Scott.
Played by Paul Johansson, Dan experiences a redemption arc on the show as he turns his life around after years of failing to take accountability for his actions. However, the first four seasons of the show establish him as one of the most unforgettable villains in television history. If you didn’t want to throttle Dan at any point, bless your soul, because no one could stand the guy and everything he put the residents of Tree Hill through.
Nathan and Lucas deserved a better father
When the audience meets Dan, he pushes his son Nathan (James Lafferty) to become a high school basketball star. Dan doesn’t let up nor does he consider what Nathan wants for himself as he lives his failed basketball dreams vicariously through his son. Everyone notices Dan’s behavior and tells him to cool off and cut Nathan some slack, but he refuses, becoming obsessed with his son’s potential and never being afraid of pulling strings in the shadows to get Nathan ahead.
What’s even worse about this is how Dan has another son, Lucas (Chad Michael Murray), with Karen Roe (Moira Kelly). Dan abandoned Lucas at birth to shack up with and eventually marry Nathan’s mother, Deb Lee (Barbara Alyn Woods). In the beginning of the show, Dan treats Lucas like a leper, refusing to acknowledge or support him (though the show conveniently tells us later on that he had closely followed Lucas’ life from birth and Karen refused him joint custody). Not only is it irresponsible on a father’s part, but he also plays favorites and Lucas notices how he’s always in the shadow of Nathan. Dan also comes off as smug and condescending when he talks about Lucas and Karen, as if they’re somehow beneath him and his expectations.
While Dan redeems himself with his sons before kicking the bucket in One Tree Hill, his kids endure years of psychological abuse and trauma because of him. Dan plays a variety of games to pit the brothers against each other, then when both of them catch on, he love bombs them to regain their affection while telling them he only did it to help them be better. Yeah, sure.
Dan Scott destroys his marriage then torments his ex-wife
From the get-go, Deb tries to get Dan to lay off Nathan and not be so pushy; however, he doesn’t listen to her. Eventually, Dan’s obsession with Nathan’s career and the way he treats other people turn Deb against him and she wants a divorce. And oh, boy, this is where events spiral out of control. Dan does everything in his power to make Deb’s life a living hell as he taunts and provokes her to within an inch of her sanity. It has a detrimental effect on other parts of her life, too, and she reacts out of desperation, setting fire to Dan’s dealership and hoping he burns along with it.
Here’s the thing: While Deb’s behavior is deplorable, Dan has this uncanny effect on people. He makes dealing with him so unbearable that they believe the only way to rid themselves of him is to put him six feet under. He crosses every moral boundary until the other person eventually snaps and wants him gone.
Now, while it’s discovered that Dan and Deb both play a part in their marriage crumbling, no one can dispute the fact that Dan acts as the catalyst for setting the bomb off here. He can’t put anyone else’s needs before his own, as he adopts the my-way-or-the-highway approach to life. Then, if the other person decides to not go along with it, he reacts in a hostile manner and attempts to ruin them. Of course there will be fireworks at some point!
Dan’s worst sin in ‘One Tree Hill’ is murdering his brother, Keith
Dan and his brother, Keith (Craig Sheffer), hold a fractious relationship. It isn’t only a case of sibling rivalry; it’s a deep-rooted jealousy on Dan’s part. Dan loves nothing more than to mock and bully Keith for being less successful than him – he even shows off by buying Keith’s company when he goes through financial difficulties. However, this all stems from the fact that Keith is seen by others in the way in which Dan wants to be seen. Due to Keith’s kindness and desire to be a better person, everyone gravitates toward him – and this drives Dan up the wall as he tries to sabotage his brother at every turn.
Keith and Dan’s relationship hits its lowest point after Keith sleeps with Deb. From there onward, it feels like all-out war. Matters aren’t made any better after Dan suspects it was Keith who set fire to his dealership in retaliation, even though this man has a laundry list of enemies to make Batman blush. Keith denies it, but Dan doesn’t believe him. So, when Keith tries to stop the school shooter, who eventually turns the gun on himself, Dan sees it as the perfect opportunity to get revenge. In a Cain and Abel moment, Dan shoots and kills his brother, pinning the blame on the school shooter.
Surprisingly, it’s the guilt from this event that forges Dan on his path to redemption in One Tree Hill. He realizes that he’s gone a few steps too far and needs to atone for what he’s done to Keith and everyone else. It isn’t an easy road and he stumbles along the way, but he turns his life around and becomes a different person. That said, the Dan Scott from earlier seasons… Sheesh! Talk about the most reprehensible villain in teen drama.
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