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Friday Night Lights Rundown: Episode 13, "Tomorrow Blues"

BuzzSugar — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 09:30:55 -0700

This season's final episode of Friday Night Lights is all about the seniors. It's five months after the football season, and college decisions are in, setting many of our Panthers and Panther faithful on new paths. Meanwhile, Coach's contract comes up for renewal, which means he's once again staring down Joe McCoy and his merry band of moneyed followers. To talk about the end of this season - and what it means for seasons four and five - just read more.

Eric Taylor, coach of the East Dillon ~~Giraffes~~ Lions? With no boosters, no money, no JumboTron, no players, no Buddy Garrity, no state ring? Especially knowing that there are two more seasons coming our way, I think it's brilliant. Coach and Buddy have apparently spent the off-season convincing them to come to Dillon High; little did Coach know he was digging himself a hole. Without the assurance that Wade calls all the plays and JD throws all the balls, Joe's not interested in keeping Eric around. And politics has never been Eric's strong suit; it takes Tami's urging for him to even come to the board meeting, and while his defense of his job is heartfelt, any fan of the show could have done better. I love that final image of Coach and Tami looking out on the run-down East Dillon field, full of dreams dashed and potential yet to be explored.

Eric isn't the only character taking on some scary new territory in this episode: Lyla finds a way to Vanderbilt after all, which doesn't shock me, especially once we learn there's a rich uncle involved. Lyla's hesitant at first - she doesn't want to leave Tim - but Tim's decided college isn't for him anyway. He doesn't want to read those big books; he likes the idea of life at Riggins' Rigs, drinking some beers and fixing some cars and taking care of a steer he and Billy bought at auction. I appreciate that it's Billy - who's really been the one pushing for Tim to play college ball from the start - who tells Tim that's ridiculous; like it or not, a Riggins needs to go to college so future generations know there's something more out there.

If there's a moment of true joy in this episode, it's Tyra opening her letter from UT, squealing and crying and throwing herself into Landry's arms. Just before she got that envelope, things were looking bleak; she'd driven all the way to UT with Landry only to find out her chances were even worse than she'd suspected, and it took one of Landry's patented pep talks just to make her believe she's worthy of a chance. And if there's a moment of sorrow, it's Matt going to the assisted living facility and telling Grandma he's taking her home for good. I wanted Matt in Chicago, and even Julie had accepted that he would probably be gone (even if he did reject her attempt at a breakup). But it's a realistic move: the guy who fears everyone leaves him isn't going to leave someone he loves.

Some other thoughts:

I smiled when Buddy said Smash was doing good things over at A&M. Glad to know he's doing well over there.
I guess the show's partnership with Chevy means Julie never gets that Celica.
I loved seeing Mindy's wedding, complete with the dress with wings that shows a tasteful amount of crack.
Buddy dancing with Tyra's mom at the wedding was a nice touch.

So! Season four! Eric coaching the Bad News Bears of Texas high school football, Matt sticking around, Julie and Landry as seniors . . . I have a feeling we have some good things coming our way. What about you?

Photos courtesy of NBC

Friday Night Lights Rundown: Episode 11, "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall"

BuzzSugar — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 09:30:20 -0700

On this week's Friday Night Lights, the Panthers face their toughest football challenge of the season. That puts even more pressure on JD, who's continuing to defy his father by seeing (or at least texting) Madison. Meanwhile, Lyla remains in her funk over her magical disappearing college money, and Matt's forced to take a hard look at how much he can really do as his grandma's caretaker. There's so much to talk about when you read more.

Way to kill a buzz, Joe McCoy. The Panthers are going to State, and yet there's no victory lap. There's just Joe and JD, screaming and shoving each other in the Applebee's parking lot. JD isn't following orders: He's still seeing Madison (who's even showing up at practices now), and - maybe even worse - he's going against Joe's game strategy. The game wasn't pretty, but he got the team to State; what more could Joe want? A lot, actually: To Joe, that was a travesty and a sign of how JD is going off the rails. And when JD fights back with a "screw you," he finds himself up against the back of the car, his father slapping him - presumably for the first time, given Katie's horrified reaction when Tami tries to comfort her. But that doesn't mean there hasn't been all kinds of psychological abuse going on in the McCoy house. Nothing JD does is ever good enough, and now he doesn't want to see his father again.

There's a little of that going around: Lyla's still on the run from her dad, drinking herself into a good-girl version of a stupor with the Rigginses . When she finally does go home, she finds her acceptance letter from Vanderbilt, the school that Buddy's Landing Strip antics might prevent her from attending. How amazing is it to see Riggins be the good guy? He could take advantage of having his hot girlfriend drunk and in his bed 24/7, but instead, he takes her to church and convinces her that college isn't off the table - and oh yeah, by the way, he loves her. He loves her! Matt, too, finds himself wishing away a parent: Grandma falls out of the car on Shelby's watch, and when the doctor suggests again that Matt consider assisted living, Matt turns it on his mom: Isn't it just like her to shirk responsibility? But oh, Matt's finally realizing he's in over his head. The scene with the slippers gave me chills; this is more than he knows how to handle.

Tyra, meanwhile, runs smack up against her vision of her future at Mindy's "classy" tea shower. She's gotten her SAT scores back, and they're better but not enough better. Even Landry can't even manage to seem overjoyed, but he does tell her that he's proud of her for not coasting by on her beauty. And yet, we see Tyra wondering why she's not just coasting on her beauty. I wouldn't have expected Angela Collette to be the parent in this episode who steps up, but there we have it: She says Tyra has surprised her from day one, and if she just keeps working, eventually she'll surprise herself, too.

Some other thoughts:

I have a feeling this whole redistricting debate is setting up some interesting stuff for the potential fourth and fifth seasons - a new cross-town rival, the loss of a ton of Panther players, the gain of several new prospects. And there's also Coach's lie to Tami about the boosters redrawing the district border. Lying to Tami never ends well.
Something I never thought I'd see: Billy Riggins wearing lingerie.
I have to chuckle at some of JD's George Michael Bluth-ish comments, like telling Madison it's pretty warm on the field when she comments on how hot he looks at practice. He doesn't have much of a personality, but he's never been allowed to.

Are you excited for the upcoming trip to State? Or do you, too, feel a sort of ominous cloud hanging over the Panthers' season?

Photos courtesy of NBC

Friday Night Lights Rundown: Episode 10, "The Giving Tree"

BuzzSugar — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 12:30:45 -0700

Have you ever read The Giving Tree? This week's Friday Night Lights made me want to go dig out my old copy, as Landry delivers one of the sweetest/saddest monologues I've ever heard on the topic. OK, it's one of the only Giving Tree-related monologues I've heard, but still! Meanwhile, the rest of the episode focuses a lot on fathers and children, both in the actual and metaphorical senses. Ready to talk about it? Just read more.

Let's talk about sex (baby). Specifically, let's talk about sex and dating in the universe of FNL. Because there's a lot of that in this episode, and none more painfully than what happens with Julie and Matt. First of all: Close the door! (Which is what Matt says when Landry asks him what he's learned; Landry's hoping for "don't have sex with the coach's daughter.") But second, I love the way the show plays that scene and the aftermath, with the actual discovery revealed only by Julie's squeal and Coach's hasty exit. He wisely doesn't try to talk to her about what happened, leaving that to Tami, who calls the conversation they have about sex Julie's only punishment. And oh, it's so sweet, with Tami trying to be so tough - like, my daughter is 17, and she's having sex, and really, I'm fine with that, really - and Julie acting aloof until she realizes Tami is crying. Once again, FNL gets it right.

It's an interesting reflection of the two other father/child stories in this episode. Taking Buddy first, he's done a very bad thing, and it's become several very bad things: He's gotten himself arrested, and he's lost a big investment, which also happened to be Lyla's college fund. And that's the last straw for Lyla; she's stuck by Buddy through a lot, but this is too much. How tough must it have been for Buddy - not that he didn't deserve it - to hear from Riggins that Lyla would not be speaking to him right now? Meanwhile, JD actually has a girl interested in him, but as soon as Joe gets wind of it, he decides the relationship has to end. Girls will be lining up for him, Joe says, as soon as he wins State. But once again, Riggins tells JD what he needs to hear: If he can't even make dating decisions without daddy's help, how can he lead a football team? So JD and Madison sneak out, much to Katie's delight - but that look on Joe's face scares me.

On the football field, Coach gets ejected from a big game, leaving behind his struggling team. That puts Wade in charge, and with Coach's attempts to guide him foiled by cell phones and crowd noise, he leads the team to victory. Coach must feel a little of what Matt felt about JD earlier in the season, with the TV broadcast showing a winning Wade lit in an almost heavenly glow, but he doesn't look too upset. He even smiles a little, like he's managed to teach his young protege well.

In other news:

The Giving Tree! Landry finally tells Tyra - who just pops up "at the most random times" - that he's done letting her use him. And Julie tells Tyra that Landry's right: He does her all kinds of favors, and in return, he's merely allowed to be seen with her. So Tyra tries to set things right in her own sweet but twisted way, getting Crucifictorious a gig. And you know what? They're actually not so bad - better than season one, anyway.
Love Madison pouring JD milk in a wine glass: "You're like this young, wholesome, milk-drinking quarterback."
Apparently the Sopranos aren't the only ones who have business meetings at strip clubs!
As real as Tami and Julie's sex-talk moment is, so is Coach and Matt's own exchange, with Coach spitting out serious words about respecting women in between taking out some massive aggression on the grill.

So: One more game, then State. Then what? Oh, this show. Only three episodes left - help me deal in the comments!

Photos courtesy of NBC

Friday Night Lights Rundown: Episode 9, "Game of the Week"

BuzzSugar — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 16:30:38 -0700

On this week's Friday Night Lights, the Panthers move into the playoffs and face the pressures of winning or having the season end right then. Lyla does some bonding with an unlikely character, and Matt's grandma and mom continue their standoff. And things really come to a head with Tyra and Cash, culminating in a late-night trip to Dallas. Ready to talk about it? Just read more.

Time and again, FNL has argued that the Panthers are the only thing bringing Dillon together. We see that happen on a small scale in this episode, and it's my favorite moment of the whole hour: Grandma Saracen and Shelby dropping their territorial feud the second they hear Matt's going to play. Now granted, I'm not convinced that Grandma would skip a game - much less a playoff game on national television - even if Matt did say he'd just be on the bench. But it doesn't matter, because it's a fine scene as they rush around gathering up their coats, babbling about how they'll get tickets, and finally treating each other with some civility. No, they still don't like each other, but they do love Matt, and for a few moments, that's enough.

Another story of love in this episode comes courtesy of the Riggins boys, or rather, courtesy of their disgruntled women. Billy's apparently done some unspecified jerky things, leading Mindy to call off their wedding. Meanwhile, Tim's being hotly pursued by a college recruiter who's in town and wants to talk. Lyla loads him up with research, but Tim's not interested in her college blather. And when Lyla realizes she's not being taken seriously, she dumps him by the side of the road. That leads to one of my favorite FNL moments ever: Mindy Collette and Lyla Garrity getting drunk and dancing to Mama Collette's "all men suck" music mix and talking about how they're going to form a no-Riggins force-field. For whatever reason, though, they both end up back with their respective Rigginses by the end of the episode - after both men have finally learned to apologize. So Tim's going to college? I can't imagine he has the grades for it, but I'm sure he's not the first football player to get in despite subpar scores. Love him telling Lyla she was right while she stands there intoxicating him with her morning-after-bender breath.

Meanwhile, we all knew things with Tyra and Cash would get ugly, eventually, and, sure enough, Tyra finds out that Cash is in a bunch of debt. She sees the darker side of him, storming around and leaving her alone in that seedy bar while he goes out - supposedly - for money. Tyra's a strong girl, so things must have been really freaky for her to be terrified. She's had enough daring cowboy adventure; on the phone with Landry, we can hear the relief in her voice. And I'm glad Tami comes to get her, even if it means spoiling her birthday celebration; Coach would have done the same for one of his players.

Some other thoughts:

I love how determined Tami was to continue enjoying her birthday spoils, going so far as to take the champagne with her in the car.
I wish we could have seen more of Landry Clarke: Scholar-Athlete.
Speaking of Landry, how perfect is the look on his face when he realizes Tyra's now used her sick aunt excuse on Julie?
All of these characters have burdens to bear, but Matt's is huge even by those standards. I hope he finds some path to college, even if it means staying near Dillon to keep caring for Grandma.
Favorite part of Tami's delight at Coach's surprise: the look of sheer joy on her face when she found the hotel robes.

Are you amazed that Riggins is college bound? Happy that the Panthers are continuing their playoff march? Rooting for Tyra and Landry to get back together now that her cowboy days are over?

Photos courtesy of NBC

Friday Night Lights Rundown: Episode Seven, "Keeping Up Appearances"

BuzzSugar — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 11:32:00 -0800

On this week's Friday Night Lights, Landry starts to fear that he repels all of womankind, Tami and Coach fight over how to deal with a player whose parents didn't know he was a Panther, and Jason and Herc get into a no-holds-barred fight at their open house that just shows me you don't ever want to mess with a quad rugby player. Put on some Flaming Lips tunes and chat about this episode with me - just read more.

This was one of the episodes I saw earlier this season during the DirecTV run, and it was my least-favorite of the batch. In a season with only 13 episodes to tell a story, "Keeping Up Appearances" sure focuses a lot on characters we've either never seen before or may never see again. That said: Poor Landry. Devin really gets him; she's sweet and awkward and not afraid to embarrass herself singing a Flaming Lips song at the top of her lungs. And when he kisses her in the car, yeah, she kisses back - but then she confesses that she likes girls (and - ouch - kissing Landry was the thing that made her sure of her sexuality). Don't you just want to hug him when he tells Tami he's afraid he's repelling women? Tami's response is fantastic: She tells him that, unlike so many of the people she sees every day, Landry's life is just beginning.

Tami has a few good moments in this episode, actually, another coming when she convinces JaMarcus's parents to let him stay on the Panthers long enough for them see him play. Coach can't help but get confrontational with them (granted, he was dealing with people who were saying his life's work was just a silly game), but Tami takes the right tone, praising Coach and the work he does to make his players be men. Love Coach holding the door for Tami on their way out, a little "thank you for saving my butt" gesture. The JaMarcus story doesn't work for me overall, though, especially because I don't think we've ever seen this kid before. It reminded me more than anything of the Bobby Reyes episode from season one, ultimately just a blip on the radar. I have the same problem with the Garrity kids' story, mostly because I'd nearly forgotten the Garrity kids existed. Sure, it's nice to see Panther football help bring them together, and there's a touching moment with Lyla and Buddy in the car, but it's much more simplistic than what I expect from FNL.

On the other hand, I buy into the Street story completely - even though it also has a few moments of easy resolution. His fight with Herc comes from a very raw place: Of course he wants the money for his family. But more interesting is the hint that Jason might have some hope as a sports agent down the line. Time and again, we've seen him be a great salesman - and putting together the Riggins highlight reel is proof that he might be great at promoting athletes. It's the first time we've seen Jason have anything to hold onto since quad rugby, and it's a relief to see him believing in his future again.

A couple of other thoughts:

Joe McCoy is turning into such a villain. Really, he couldn't find it in himself to ride home from the game with his son - who still won the game? Jerk.
Could anything be more offensive to Buddy than having his son like soccer?
I was surprised to hear Street flat-out tell Billy that Riggins isn't college material. I mean, he's your best friend!

Anyone else less than in love with this episode - or think I'm crazy? Do you think Street has a future as a sports agent? And is Joe McCoy evil, or is he trying to do right by his son?

Photos courtesy of NBC

Friday Night Lights Rundown: Episode Six, "It Ain't Easy Being JD McCoy"

BuzzSugar — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 10:36:34 -0800

In this week's Friday Night Lights, JD McCoy officially takes over the Panthers and gets a little christening, Tim Riggins-style, in his new leadership role. Tyra (finally) starts to doubt Cash after a woman shows up at her house with some disturbing information, and Matt and Julie share a moment at the grocery store that becomes an even bigger moment by the lake. Vague enough for you? I've got all the details when you read more.

OK, I kind of love JD McCoy now. The writers have done such a careful job constructing him - is he a snob? or just sheltered? - and now we have our answer: Dude is awkward. He handles himself OK with adults (his line to his mom about having already proposed to a couple of cheerleaders was funny), but with his peers, he doesn't fit in - and he knows it. He knows that Riggins was put up to taking him on a tour of Dillon (or, more specifically, Dillon's shadiest scenes: "Lisa lives down this road. You'll know"). But when he gets to the party, still in his suit from the school dance, he decides to live like a Panther, and that means drinking his first (and second, and third) beers and babbling to Riggins that he's "like, the last American dude." I wish we could have seen Joe McCoy discover JD either drunk or hung over, but nonetheless, his forced apology to Coach made me both laugh and really feel for the kid.

Meanwhile, with JD in the spotlight, Matt's adjusting to riding the bench. Grandma's not having any of it, though, and so when she and Coach meet in the grocery store, Lorraine gives him a talking-to. That gives Matt and Julie a chance to sneak away and be cute, which leads to Matt proposing a trip to the lake. They're so sweet there, splashing around and debating veggie hot dogs vs. the real deal, and Matt finally works out some of his feelings about his demotion: It sucks to be fired, but it also is nice to be able to wake up on a Saturday and not worry about what he did wrong. And just when it feels like they're going to head home, something else happens, and it's nothing like the awkward deer incident from season one. I love Julie coming home and looking at herself in the mirror, wondering if she's changed in any obvious ways.

Julie also has some great moments with Tyra, who's finally realizing Cash might be bad news. If the "cowboy candy" wasn't hint enough, how about the woman who shows up at Tyra's demanding Cash come out and pay child support? Tyra decides that's it - money for college applications or not - and breaks up with him . . . but then totally takes him back when he promises he'll never lie to her. Suuuure.

Some other thoughts:

There's not a ton of Jason in this episode, but he gets the sweetest moment, singing to his son - both the boy and the girl verses! - while Erin's headed east. Jason freaks out that he'll end up being unable to support his little family, but Coach settles him down: Jason Street is never going to be a deadbeat dad.
The whole subplot with Landry's band tryouts made me giggle, and Devin is a cutie!
Of all the awkward JD moments in this episode, this one might be my favorite: Someone asks JD if he's ready for another midnight run, and JD responds, sincerely, "No, I did my workout earlier this morning."
Tyra's mom in the wedding shop: "Doesn't she look like an angel?" Tyra: "Mindy, I love you, but I can see your crack."

On a scale of one to 10, how naive is Tyra being? Are you happy at the turn things are taking with Julie and Matt? And is JD growing on anyone else?

Photos courtesy of NBC

Friday Night Lights Rundown: Episode Five, "Every Rose Has Its Thorn"

BuzzSugar — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 10:30:48 -0800

On this week's Friday Night Lights, Jason Street returns! He has a son now - even by TV standards, one of the cutest babies I've ever seen - and he's struggling to find ways to support his new little family. Meanwhile, Julie pushes Tami one step too far and Matt gets some bad news about his future with the Panthers. Ready to chat about it? Just read more.

Oh, it's so good to see Jason Street again. It's odd to see him not as an athlete but just as a guy struggling to provide for his child. He clearly wants more of a relationship with Erin, but this life isn't working out for her: She wants to take Noah and go live with her parents on the East Coast. But Jason is determined to change her mind. Armed with a little copper wire cash, he and the Riggins brothers and Herc go in together to buy Buddy Garrity's house. Naturally, that doesn't thrill Buddy, who already has Riggins taking his daughter from him and certainly doesn't want that kid snatching away his house, too. But in the end, Jason does what Jason now does best: He sells it. He tells Buddy that he's not giving the house to the Riggins brothers; he's giving it to the kid who used to throw perfect spirals for the Dillon Panthers. And that's enough. Not for Erin yet, but there's time.

Back on the field, the Panthers attempt the quarterback compromise, and it's nearly a disaster: The team wins, but barely, and while it's technically Matt who goes in for the winning score, JD sets it up and gets all the glory. So Matt's benched - and in the worst possible moment, when Coach has to both meet Matt's mom and get lauded by Grandma. He's angry at first (and it's so weird to see docile Matt throwing helmets around in the locker room), and he wants to quit, but he and Coach both know that will never happen. Instead, he tells Coach he'll stay on the team - but he'll hate it every minute.

Meanwhile, Julie gets a tattoo! A teeny one ("you're acting as if I have like giant dancing Popeye on my bicep") but a tattoo nonetheless, something that - as Tami points out in a melodramatic mom kind of way - will forever be on her body. They call a Taylor family meeting to talk about it - where Tami asks to know Julie's reasoning while Coach just barks, "What the hell were you thinking?" - and Julie doesn't help her case by saying it doesn't mean anything, because that's the fast track to getting the thing removed. I loved the moment when Tami points out that until Julie's 18, that ankle belongs to Tami. But that blowup turns into something touching, when Tami tells Julie she nearly dropped out of high school. Eric saved her, and they've gotten through their trials together, but Tami worries that a tattoo is the first sign Julie's going down that road. There's a continuity issue there - I would think that Julie ending up in jail would have been the real first sign - but it's a sweet moment nonetheless.

Some other thoughts:

Tyra's being naive about Cash, right? I feel like he's just playing the "sensitive cowboy" card, taking her to see the baby horse and promising he's not some wild man.
You know why I missed Herc? Because of lines like "You don't have to hide porn from a baby."
I hope I never see Tim's creeptastic ferret guy roommate again. Also, doesn't surprise me at all that Herc "knows a guy" for the wire.
Was that picture on Tami's desk really young Aimee Teegarden?

Will Matt ever truly let his mom in? Is the house-flipping plan a disaster in the making? And how do you think JD will handle being in charge of the Panthers?

Photos courtesy of NBC

Friday Night Lights Rundown: Episode Four, "Hello, Goodbye"

BuzzSugar — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 12:30:47 -0800

On this week's Friday Night Lights, Smash prepares for his Texas A&M tryout while still doubting that college is in his future. Tami and Coach continue to be the awesomest couple of all time while advising each other on matters of quarterbacks and jumbotrons. And bad news rides into town on a bucking bronco, sweeping Tyra up in its wake. Ready to talk about one of my favorite FNL episodes of all time? Just read more.

This episode is FNL's farewell to Smash, and I'm so happy he got a story that did right by him. After his elation a couple of weeks back at getting a tryout, he's started to sour on the idea of college as a real possibility - especially once he finds out that the man who OK'd his tryout is a front office guy, not a coach. But what follows once Coach and Smash arrive at A&M is FNL at its finest: Mitch tries to reschedule the tryout, but Coach marches onto the field and tells the head coach that he won't want to be the man who passed on Smash Williams. "He's got more heart and guts than any kid I ever coached," he says, then spins right around and tells Smash that he's always known he could go all the way. What happens next is that Smash totally owns that field (or at least that's what it looked like through the veil of my tears). But oh, the heartwrenching moments don't stop there. We see Smash get the phone call that he's in, smiling at his mama, embracing his whole family. We see him thanking Coach, who yells at him not to skip any classes. And we see the guys one more time on the Panthers' field, Riggins cracking a beer, Smash going in for a score.

Meanwhile, after Tami's little dig last week that she couldn't wait to meet the principal's husband, we finally do - but not before a hearty dose of the Coach's wife. Eric's torn up about what to do at quarterback and pours it all out to Tami over "a scotch-flavored drink." Then Tami - who's already failed to chat up a board member - gets the same treatment, as Eric reassures her that of course the jumbotron battle was worth fighting. In the end, television's most perfect marriage leads to two awesome compromises: Eric will use both Matt and JD, and Tami dedicates the jumbotron while volunteering Buddy's services for the annual PTA auction.

Over in the Department of Bad Decisions, we have Tyra, who ditches poor wisdom-tooth-less Landry in favor of hanging out with Cash, the rodeo star with his "cowboy candy." And maybe it would have been better if she'd just been honest with Landry, but instead they have a massive, public blowout, where he points out that nothing's changed since they broke up ("you still hold my hand") and she finally snaps, "I'm choosing him!" Cash, with his pickup truck and his cowboy hat and all the things Landry thinks are beneath him - that's what she wants right now, for better or worse.

In other news:

Shelby tries acting like part of Matt's family, which Matt points out in no uncertain terms that she's not. But she also does seem like she genuinely wants to help.
Drugged and sleepy Landry confessing his love for Tyra made me chuckle - as did his mom hanging up the phone for him.
A little moment that broke my heart: Grandma Saracen wondering who that JD McCoy is that everyone's talking about on TV.
Tami is quite the aggressive power-walker.

Anyone still crying about Smash's goodbye? Angry at Tyra for choosing the easiest path? Ready to see Jason again?

Photos courtesy of NBC

Friday Night Lights Rundown: Episode Three, "How the Other Half Lives"

BuzzSugar — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 12:30:58 -0800

In this week's episode of Friday Night Lights, JD McCoy finally speaks! And boy, is it awkward. It's just one of many uncomfortable things in this episode, which sees Tami stumbling into a possibly ill-advised friendship with JD's mom and Tim making his weekly batch of bad decisions. To talk about it, just read more.

Oh, poor JD McCoy. Yeah, I probably shouldn't pity the kid too much yet; after all, he's after Saracen's job, and I do love me some Saracen - especially in this episode, where he plays as hard as we've ever seen and still comes up short. But JD is interesting because, unlike Matt, he's been bred from birth to play quarterback. Matt and Julie stumbling into the shrine to JD is a great moment, because we get to see 1) just how hard JD has been pushed, and 2) how uncomfortable JD is with the whole situation. He only speaks one line - that awkward little mumbling about his parents bronzing his first diaper - but he clearly knows enough to be embarrassed. He may be a great football player, but everything else (say, social skills) is a little lacking.

Meanwhile, Katie McCoy is all social skills, ingratiating herself with Tami instantly in the supermarket and convincing her that having the team barbecue at the McCoys' house is the best solution. Tami's never liked hosting those big team events (remember at her yelling at Coach from underneath the table in season one?); she thinks Katie seems like a good friend. But Coach sees it differently: In his mind, it's just a small step from the McCoys providing food and margaritas to the McCoys running the Panthers. Plus, the McCoys are rich in a way the Taylors will never be: Look at that house (the one Coach says looks like a sanitarium), the private quarterback coach, the valet parking . . .

But that's not the only class conflict going on this week. Tim also gets himself into hot water with Lyla and with the Collettes after Lyla makes fun of Mindy's wedding vows. Accidentally. I mean, if someone quoted Finding Nemo to you in that context, would you think it was a joke? (I love Lyla's apologetic babbling about how Nemo has good messages.) Tim's got to feel like he can't win: Lyla's uncomfortable with the Collettes and Tim isn't exactly "throwing the block," and the Collettes mad at him for bringing prissy Lyla around to judge them. So what does Riggins do? He . . . stands Lyla up to steal copper wire with Billy. Yup, that's guaranteed to end well.

Some other thoughts:

There's no way Smash is going to take that job at the Alamo Freeze - not after the way we heard him celebrate when he got his tryout last week. But I'm never going to complain about the chance to see Mama Smash be awesome. Her lines after Smash says he'll pay her back for college: "Bet you will. When you graduate. And I wouldn't mind seeing you play football again, either."
Speaking of great lines, I loved this exchange: "You know who I miss? I miss the coach's wife." "You know who I can't wait to meet? The principal's husband." "Touche."
How sweet is Tami silently comforting Coach after they've come home to For Sale signs on the lawn?
Have we ever heard Matt say as much as he did during that football outburst in the cafeteria?

Are you feeling any sympathy for JD - or are you just sad for Matt? Is Tim going to make a fool of Lyla? And is Katie McCoy anything but trouble?

Photos courtesy of NBC

Friday Night Lights Rundown: Episode Two, "Tami Knows Best"

BuzzSugar — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 09:30:25 -0800

On this week's Friday Night Lights, Tami and Tyra both make some questionable leadership decisions, Lyla tries to make Riggins seem legit, and Matt takes some big steps to help his grandma. And that's really just the beginning, so to talk about this episode, just read more.

First of all: Lyla and Tim, sitting in a . . . bed, k-i-s-s-i-n-g - until Billy tells them Tim's gotten a letter of interest from a college. Lyla immediately springs into action, leaving shirtless Riggs behind (I know!) to type up a response. The two of them are as different as can be, but it's maybe over the college issue that their paths diverge the most. So it's a shame that, just when Riggins is starting to realize that maybe college can happen, Buddy shoots him down, thus a.) proving Buddy's point and b.) embarrassing him in front of Joe McCoy. Riggins actually took their dinner date seriously; he's even got questions prepared (Lyla: "I didn't know you Googled!"). But one nasty comment from Buddy, and he's back to his inarticulate, underachieving self, making a mess of his opportunity and ordering raw pigeon.

Matt, meanwhile, is back in his familiar position of being part adult, part child: Grandma isn't taking her pills, but Matt can't legally be in charge of her because she's legally in charge of him. The list of options is entirely bad (put Grandma in a home, etc.), but Matt has to choose one. So he borrows Landry's car and drives off to find his mom for the first time in years. It's amazing to watch the two of them together; the look of utter disgust on Matt's face when his mom asks where his dad is gave me chills. But she signs the papers, and so Matt's now an emancipated minor, though it's not a free pass to smoke and rent cars like Julie joked; it's just another big responsibility for him to take on.

Tyra and Tami are basically bad decision central this week, as Tami naively talks to a reporter about the jumbotron and Tyra bares her belly to win class president ("Nobody here is getting laid if you let Jenny here have our prom in the gym"). Both moves backfire: Tami gets a nasty article in the paper, and Tyra loses Tami's respect. Of the two, it seems like Tami's got a bigger hole to climb out of: She's got Buddy on her case, calling meetings and muttering about how sorry he is that it's come to this. I do think Tami's going about this all wrong, but does she deserve to face the wrath of Buddy?

Some other thoughts:

If anyone ever doubted that Coach Eric Taylor is a miracle worker, witness this: He manages to get the entire team - including Tim Riggins - to practice on a Saturday night, all for the sake of Smash. And it looks like it's going to pay off: Smash feels like a Panther again, and now he's got a real shot at college ball. (That look on Eric's face when he closes the door and the Williams family breaks down into ecstatic screams? Yeah, tears.)
I love the use of "jumbotron" as a unit of measure, as in Eric's "There's a difference between teeny-tiny and jumbotron."
Also, Landry's suggested slogan for Tyra's campaign: "Vote Tyra and Get Action."
I'm glad the writers didn't make Lyla freak out over Tim watching TV pantsless with Tyra. We all know Riggins better than that by now.

Is there any way for Tami to win a battle of wills against Buddy Garrity? Could Tim actually end up in college? How much is your heart breaking for Matt? Discuss!

Photos courtesy of NBC