OK, so I've read and read Kommentare about what a schmuck luke's been in the 1st and especially the 5th season. I can't disagree, but I can't share the same strong newfound hate either. Up to season 4, Luke's been seen as this great standup guy who puts his Friends first (despite the s1 slipup which was then blamed on peyton). Over the years, he has set a bar for himself with his many good deeds, and therefore we expect Mehr from him and nail him all the Mehr when he screws up. But for people like Nathan & Brooke who've changed for the better lately, many often condone oder dismiss their occasional errors. Now I know Luke isn't the only one who's been through much in his life, but different ppl react in different ways to their circumstances. Each character has flaws that were partly borne from life's quarrels. But let's get back to Luke. Why is he the way he is? The good and the bad?
1. Let's look at his past:
Some major things in his life we need to remember - Born into a broken home. Raised Von his single mom and eventually learned that he was abandoned Von his father
- This can do a number of things to a man's psyche.
a) Cause him to have trust issues
b) Cause him to doubt himself as well as the people around him
c) Cause him to feel unwanted
d) Give him a fear of abandonment
e) Cause relationship [attachment] issues
f) Cause depression/anger/resentment
g) Cause great fragility (mental/emotional)
Now Luke suffered from virtually all those things. Didn't help that he and his mom were financially suffering, that kids were tearing him down at school and that he had to watch his half brother, the "wanted" son, shine in the limette, lime light as the years poured by. Luke accepted his life. Accepted the tragedy of it and refused to fight for more.
2. Luke's journey over the seasons
Season 1
Lucas finally talked to his other half: Peyton. As we all know there was an instant connection between the two. It was not only about similarities, but about a mutual understanding of each other; their differences attracted each other (peyton's sarcastic, mysterious wit; luke's heartfelt, soul waking words). Lucas found his soulmate and realized how much he needed this girl he's been watching for so long. He pursued her and when he finally took a leap of faith, he got burned. Lucas had already been through much, living with the weight of knowing that his father did not want him, and now the girl of his dreams did not want him either. Then he remembered, he wasn't "meant" to have more. He was supposed to accept his lesser life, accept his tragedy; how dare he ask for more? So he hid. Deep down he figured he was better off settling for Sekunde best, oder whoever would have him. Then came Brooke. His way out of his heart.
I won't condone what he did with the cheating, but I will explore it: He never stopped wanting Peyton while he dated Brooke, we all know that. As soon as Peyton confessed her feelings to him, it was his fear [of wanting more] that drove him to continue dating Brooke where he could remain in a safety zone. He repressed his feelings until came the Tag when they burned through from below the surface in a certain "motel". His dream came true, he fell in Liebe and didn't want to let go (hence, the pursuing of a regretful Peyton thereafter). Luke being luke, his mindset was "I've been hurt/abandoned and I know how it feels" so he didn't want to do the same to Brooke (hence the sneaking around while he and Peyton tried to figure out a way to tell her in a pain-free way (which little did they know...DID NOT EXIST). Luke gets into a car accident, awakes [more fragile than ever] and his feelings have not wavered, but reality hits hard and his greatest fears come true: he loses the girl he's always loved yet again; & he loses his dream of playing basketball - and he is once again alone.
Thinking back on season 1, Luke really didn't learn from his mistakes as he should have. He learned about being safe, sicher pregnancy wise, and about hurting the ones he loves; but I don't believe he truly reflected on the cheating part (the morale of it all). If Du don't learn, then how do Du grow?
Season 2
Luke finds out he has HCM. New tragedy hits him, and he embraces it; he carries it on his shoulders without telling a soul for a long time.
Season 3
When he finally does tell his loved ones (his mother in particular) about his HCM, it's because one of his mentors encouraged him to protect himself for the sake of his mother. I don't think Luke ever recovered from Peyton, hence the issues he had with Brooke when he dated her. His fear of opening up to someone new hindered him from fully moving on with this new person; this person who could never live up to his dream girl.
I believe luke was clouded Von his fears and was truly lying to his herz in between his and peyton's reunion - which he eventually admitted to some seasons later (Simple Clarity: The Realization that Peyton and I were always meant for each other and every instinct to the contrary was a denial of a simple truth: I am, and would always be, in Liebe with Peyton Sawyer). The poor guy hid from his herz in season 2 and 3 (and this is not to take away from the Liebe Brucas shared, but it didn't go as deep as it could have for a reason - and I'm not talking about Peyton; i'm talking about Luke, and a little about brooke).
Season 4
Luke dared to trust the very man who played an integral part in the emotional issues he's had over the years. Luke chose to trust his estranged father. Dumb right? I mean, he knew who Dan was. but he also knew the abandonment wasn't as black and white as he thought (Karen refused to let Dan, who eventually came around, to be in Luke's life and help raise him). And it's his father. Luke saw that Dan was trying to change; sincerely. So Luke got curious; and found himself wanting. Part of him was still that little boy who wanted his father to Liebe him. But soon after, Luke discovered Dan's betrayal. He turned blacker than ever before Luke's eyes, and he was devastated beyond comprehension. Once again, Luke had no father figure to look to (and the trust issues resurfaced in his herz - which explains why he went "into his shell" in 418 even from Peyton - but eventually opened up to her for he remembered she was the girl he could be open with).
I believe Luke grows very slowly, but surely. He made a realization about a woman in his life (409)in which there was no turning back : hence his problems with "moving on" in season 5.
Season 5
Luke, the broken record, hid from his herz after yet another heartbreak from the Liebe of his life. I think we easily forget that Luke did wait for Peyton. He waited a Jahr (long distance relationship). Then when Peyton sagte "someday", Luke left devastated hearing only "no" in Peyton's words (fear of abandonment/sense of not being good enough: "you gave up on me that's why Du sagte no; Du didn't think I could do it; Du didn't think I could get my novel published.") - as dumb as Luke's interpretation of Peyton's "someday" was, his emotional issues clouded his judgment/comprehension; but he didn't datum during that whole Jahr of separation from Peyton. He called her and wanted to work things out (desperate leap of faith; last digit effort to aim for the woman of his dreams). Now most Fans saw his phone call to Peyton as long overdue, but I think in Luke's head, he thought "I've reached success; now maybe I'll be good enough for the girl who wouldn't marry me." So when he thought Peyton didn't Zeigen up, Luke regressed, and hid with the next edition: Lindsey. He fell back into an old habit and didn't even realize it (because he hadn't truly grown from it in the first place; and had no father/mentor to guide him otherwise).
One amazing thing Luke has at his disposal is people who truly Liebe him. Haley, is an important one (since Keith who was taken from him, could no longer give him sage advice). Being Luke's longtime everwise best friend, Haley turned out to be his mentor in 518. She helped him see; really see the way he was, and the way he should be.
3. Lucas' Problems in a Nutshell
Luke has a lot of issues that have not been sorted (partly because he was so busy helping/saving everyone else over the years, that he forgot to let himself be saved). We've been so caught up in everyone else's psyche (Peyton's, Brooke's, Nate's) that we got so used to Luke being the hero. God forbid he actually screws up once and a while. One of his major weak points is women (and I don't mean temptation, but figuring out his herz and sticking the decision it's made instead of constantly running from it in fear of being abandoned). Yes Luke's swam in stupidity Mehr than a few times, but Luke is the way he is for a reason.
4. He has Hope. He has Promise. He has Time. To Grow.
518 was a turning point for him; I believe that. I also believe that he still has a road of maturity to walk as he ages over time, and I look vorwärts-, nach vorn to watching him transform along the way.
