Last week, I mentioned that one of the defining qualities that makes Friday Night Lights so solid on every level is its ability to make me feel a sudden rush of emotions all at once.
Well, that statement still stands. But there’s so much more that makes this show one of the best shows on television (if not the very best, period).
It doesn’t cheat. More than any other show on network TV, the actions and decisions of the characters have real, impactful consequences. I was as shocked as anyone that Coach Taylor waved the white flag last week, and it would have been something of a cop-out if the team had just gone about business as usual after he completely threw them under the bus.
We saw quickly that Coach was going to after work his way back into the Lions’ good graces. They weren’t showing up for film sessions, they weren’t showing up for practice and all in all, things were looking pretty grim on the East side of Dillon. You know the sky is falling when the always loyal Landry gives you the brush-off right in the middle of the cafeteria.
And thus began the long, strange journey of Eric Taylor. One that took him into the seedy underbelly of Dillon, imploring his lone star, Vince, to help him round up the boys for one last go-around. I am hard-pressed to remember a more gut-punching, uncomfortably compelling scene than the one between Coach and Vince’s…um…let’s go with “distracted” mother. My God.
Also, I love how easily hate-able the Panthers have become. Didn’t you just want to throw something at the TV when they’re all obnoxiously chanting “State! State! State!” during their film session? What a bunch of douches.
They got something of a come-uppance fairly early on, as prized RB Luke Cafferty was exposed for submitting a fraudulent address, forcing him to transfer to East Dillon. The scene between he and Tami when she breaks the news to him was my second-favorite of the night. Connie Britton just brings it so hard every time, and the actor portraying Luke (anyone got a name on that kid?) totally sold the whole concept of the kid who gets completely swept up in adult politics. He clearly knew what was going on, but also acknowledged that he was just so sorry. Solid work all around.
This seemed pretty open-and-shut until some shrewd maneuvering by Joe McCoy showed that Eric may not have been the innocent babe in the woods when it came to the issue of this mailbox, threatening Tami with a damning investigation into past state titles unless this mess with Luke was swept under the rug. This created tension in the Taylor house, until the equally shrewd Tami made Joe’s intentions known in front of the boosters. Tami again seemed to have the upper hand until she was showered with jeers at the ensuing pep rally, as though she didn’t have enough on her plate with the whole redistricting issue. All of this happened within 40 minutes. How does one story have this many twists and turns in it and not seem contrived or rushed? More than that, It wasn’t even the primary storyline of the episode! Do you realize what a clinic this show is putting on week in and week out? It’s taking scripted drama to otherworldly heights. The sky is the limit with this show.
And we haven’t even touched on the how-low-can-they-sink adventures of former Panther greats Tim Riggins and Matt Saracen. Riggins was sleeping in cornfields in the back of his pickup, working for peanuts at his Billy’s car shop and eventually shacked up in a trailer behind the house of a ginger barmaid. But, at least he’s got a coaching gig with Taylor on the rise and some potentially dangerous jailbiat living across the yard.
So, yes, the gold medal for “How the Mighty Have Fallen” award is Matty Saracen. Or as he’s better known now, indentured servant for a half-naked, wacked-out scrap heap artist. I’ll admit this arc was a bit silly, but frankly, it was the only levity we really had in the episode, so I welcomed the absurdity. Also, i get the feeling we’re in for a solid payoff here.
But the episode crested when Vince came through for Coach, rallying the troops for a special night practice. Coach made a point to remind Vince that if he’s not playing football, he’s ticketed for the slammer, so here again we’re not cheated by this kid just blindly rounding up the team because it’s convenient to the plot. It really is in his best interest to keep this team together. Taylor’s “Finish that Fight” speech was immediately vaulted into the stratosphere of inspiring coach speeches in all of TV/movie history. Cue the chills when the team torched their jerseys as a way of truly ridding themselves of their hideous past and forge ahead.
I actually thought that the jersey-torching was somewhat stupid, given that the school is so dirt poor. But, of course, the show brilliantly validated this when Eric mentioned needing to buy new uniforms in the beautiful denouement on the sofa with Tami. Yet again, no cheating.
Three and out (see, more puns)
- This Landry/Jess storyline got all of two scenes, and we already have such a great picture of who they are, how they’re dealing with each other and I’m pretty much already rooting for him to ask her out so she can cheer him on from the stands on Friday night. This is the perfect storm of brilliant direction, writing and acting.
- How excited are we for coach Tim Riggins? How long till he shows up hung over to practice? One week? Two? An hour?
- There’s not much wrong with this show. At all.
