The episode received generally positive reviews from critics , and was one of the season 's highest-rated . Jenny Hollander of '' Bustle '' called it " acclaimed . " '' TV Guide '' stated that it " proved '' One Tree Hill '' to be smarter — and gutsier — than your average teen drama . " Daniel Fienberg of Zap2it said that the episode was a " surprisingly earnest and reflective depiction of a school shooting with Colin Fickes as a troubled teen with a gun that avoided the ' Very Special Episode ' syndrome by also advancing the season 's plot " . Some reviewers referred to it as " the Columbine episode , " in reference to the Columbine High School massacre , and said it added new depth to the series . Cynthia Boris of DVD Verdict said that " through all the fluff , implausible storylines , and pretty smiles from pretty people , " the episode " sets itself apart from the rest " and " the pretty and popular heroes of the show take a backseat to a chubby , bullied young man who has been humiliated for the last time . " She stated , " When you see the realness of Jimmy ( Colin Fickes ) balanced against this cast of plastic , perfect people , it 's pretty easy to see why kids kill kids . " Although Boris felt the episode would " b low right past the core audience " and that viewers would likely find Chad Michael Murray dressing up as Jack Sparrow as the more memorable moment from the season , it ranked highest in a 2009 pick of the " 12 most essential episodes " of '' One Tree Hill '' by fans at website starnewsonline.com . " That episode , featuring the shooting of Uncle Keith , is a clear favorite among fans and really was a turning point for the series , " stated Jeff Hidek of the website . " This episode proved that the show could reach beyond hookups and hook shots and tap into its audience 's hearts . " The episode is considered one of the series ' most pivotal , and the storyline is frequently named among fans as one of the best . Maggie Fremont of Vulture.com categorized it as " the pinnacle of season three " and credited it with addressing the topic of school shootings before television was " inundated with shows tackling the same subject matter in exploitative ways . " Both she and Hollander appreciated the lasting effect the episode had on the series . TheCinemaSource.com called the episode the highlight of Season 3 , stating , " This episode is a must-see and should have been the season finale because of its dreadful ending . This was a powerful episode that writers took a risk with because it was a topical issue to tackle that tried to send a message to those who seek hope . " Conversely , Amy Kane of Film.com said the episode made her quit watching the show temporarily , because '' One Tree Hill '' is a show that is " so campy and tongue-in-cheek that it seemed like bad taste for it to address such a serious subject " . Alan Prendergast of '' Westword '' also referred to the show as campy and opined that it " decided to get serious " by creating " With Tired Eyes , Tired Minds , Tired Souls , We Slept . " He listed it as one of " the five most convoluted school shooting episodes . "
Columbine High School massacre
Columbine High School massacre
With Tired Eyes, Tired Minds, Tired Souls, We Slept