I just wanna convey that One Tree Hill did not do the "She changed him" Trope like any show and I mean that as a compliment.
There's a difference between a guy who is only nice to the girl and acts like trash around everyone else in his life... and someone like Nathan who changed in every area of his life. His relationship with his friends changed, his relationship with his coach changed, his relationship with his brother changed, the relationship with his parents changed. And it all changed for the better.
There's a difference between a girl who allows herself to be mistreated by the dude in most respects or has no issues with the horrible way he treats the others around him... and someone like Haley James who did not put up with his shit and made it abundantly clear to him that if he didn't get his act together then she wouldn't associate with him.
Another way that One Tree Hill did this trope differently is that Nathan was not simply changed by Haley. Nathan was changed by everyone in his life. He was changed by the tough love of Mr Whitey Durham. He was changed by the protection and love of his mother. He was changed by the challenge of having to work with his brother Lucas Scott. And yes he was changed by the love and patience of one Miss Haley James but she was by no means the only good influence that came into his life. Also unlike so many others in this trope Nathan put in the work to change. He had to eat crow. He had to learn patience and curb his anger. He had to admit when he was wrong. He had to admit he had been an asshole.
In fact, the way that OTH did this trope I don't even like to call it a "She changed him" trope because I feel like it doesn't entirely fit into that and it's far too limiting for what this show did.
