Showing posts with label Friday Night Lights. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Friday Night Lights. Show all posts
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Clear Eyes, Full Hearts...
Friday Night Lights: UnderdogsSeason 3, Episode 12
If anything could immediately improve my week, it was the news of DirecTV and NBC renewing their commitment for another TWO years for Friday Night Lights. All is right in the world. But we'll save the conversation about next season's expectations for the finale airing this coming Friday night. For now, there's a state title on the line for Dillon and a lot to live up to comparing it to season one's finale, "State." There's spoilers below the jump, where we'll see how the episode stacks up on the believability scale with the original lateral that was literally beyond belief."Last game, Seven." - Riggins
Man, 13 episodes just isn't that much time. The hurried trip through the playoffs ends here with the Dillon Panthers playing for their second state title in three years against the heavily favored South Texas. And much like last time, the first half is defined by a struggle between Coach and his QB1. It was more than a little jarring to see JD go from never wanting to see the father that was smacking him around five minutes ago to not understanding why Child Protective Services was called in. How is this even a surprise? He freaking smacked you, repeatedly, into the side of a truck!
I suppose you can write it off to the limited amount of time this year and the rather confusing ways of adolescents. But still... Tim or Matt could have played it much better. But as JD, Jeremy Sumpter falls short, since his reaction to Coach (who along with Tami reported the incident as they were legally obligated to do) and blowing up throughout the first half seems so wildly out of character. It just doesn't come off effectively, it's too grating and under-explained. But it does set up the return of the real QB1 for our improbably second half comeback.
Saracen and Tim are the stars of the hour both on and off the field. Coach and Tami bring their A-game like they do every week, but the enormity of the last three seasons bearing down on them, the departing seniors bring their best on the field and on camera. Taylor Kitsch and Zach Gilford know this is their last chance to shine on the field and they sell the hell out of it. Without a doubt the best scene in the episode is the two of them up late the night before the game, playing Frisbee on the lawn in front of the capital building in Austin. Kitsch has evolved to the point where he can make a scene with a smirk.
The two of them combined are such opposite ends of the spectrum with Matt having so many opportunities, but his perspectives so limited by always thinking about the future and Riggins having far less chances, but everything rolling off him never caring about more than the six inches in front of his face (to borrow a line from Pacino). And they are the only two remaining players from episode one giving the scene even more weight that the actors use wonderfully. And as a fan of The Wire, I love when all the pieces fit together like that.
Jeffrey Reiner, the most significant director of the series (first two episodes after the pilot, "State," the first couple of this year, "New York, New York" and next week's finale), knows how to make the football scenes crisp and exciting like nobody else. They do manage to finally make JD seem like the inexperienced freshman he really is, as opposed to the golden boy, throwing two picks and getting sacked en route to a 27-0 halftime score.
The only problem is from the writers... not knowing anyone on defense makes the second half comeback a bit less believable. Obviously the substitution of a calm and collected Matt for the volatile JD changes things on the offense, but when did Ray Lewis join at linebacker? Given how absolutely critical the defense is on the final series, its just awful we don't know any of the characters. It separates the final result (losing at the last second) from the team, almost like they watched it happen to someone else.
Regardless, I like this ending better than "State" because they fail when all is said and done. We have one more episode for them to tie up the characters as something beyond pieces caught up in the machine of Dillon football, so here its all about the game at the end. The agony of the first half, Matt's gritty comeback effort that makes us believe again and the terror of that nameless defense giving up a last second field goal... that really got to me. And how about Riggins staying behind the rest, arm in a sling, just to leave his cleats on the field - the guy who always left everything he had out on the field. Who defined themselves by being a Dillon Panther as much as he did?
"You played great football tonight. This is the game that people are going to talk about for years to come. This is the game you are going to talk about.... You be proud of yourself. Because, gentlemen, you are champions." - Coach Taylor
Matt's continued family troubles and desire for college is once again a ever-shifting subplot with Lorraine's dementia pushing her opinion back and forth on the subject. It's one of the stories I'm anxious to see come to final conclusion next week. Honestly, for a guy playing in a state championship game and with a chance to go to a prestigious art institute in Chicago, his life would be pretty shitty without Julie and his mom in his life. Both developments have really been blessings for him and an audience not anxious to see his life devolve into a Darren Aronofsky movie.
Back in the swing of things, Tyra manages to nail the most dramatic non-game related moment of the show. Her efforts early on to prepare an essay for college admittance with an assist to Landry go from a cliche filled Applebee's metaphor to unbelieving puff piece to something that sells us on the entire concept of the show leading into the big game. It's poetic that in the end it ties everything back to Street being paralyzed. As I mentioned earlier in the year, this inciting incident changed the lives of pretty much every character on this show.
Of course, no Landry moment is as funny as Coach once again calling him "Lance." That little running joke will never get old. Maybe he'll get it right next season when Landry is the only returning senior we've met thus far. And after he nails a heck of a block coming out of the half.
And if it was fun seeing Lila playing video games at the Riggins Mansion, this week the ante is upped to the point that I actually like her scenes. The hilarity of her using coffee filters on the toilet seat is nice, but the star of the sequence is Billy, walking in on her then taking his business to the kitchen sink. Good times.
I do hope that Billy's latest plan to open Riggins' Rigs isn't used as an excuse to derail Tim's plans for college. Even if the show will miss him, more than anyone else, he's grown the last few years and I've become attached enough to want good things for his life. And yes, I realize it is a fictional one, but when it's well done, you still care.
Final score: B+
Read more...
Friday, March 27, 2009
Closing In...
Friday Night Lights: A Hard Rain's Gonna FallSeason 3, Episode 11
As the strong rebound of the third season winds down, we're getting into gut check time. They can't make things too easy for the team or our favorite characters. It looks like mighty Dillon is heading for another chance at a state title, their second in three years, which means its about time for everyone to take a trip through the ringer. But after months of simmering, things finally come to a head between big, bad Joe McCoy and his golden-armed son, JD. Plus, how can you turn down an episode named after a Dylan song? Unless you're Billy and inexplicably unwilling to give one of the best shows on tv a shot.The slow burn of independence we've seen from JD the last few weeks seems to be the story that could power the show into a hypothetical fourth season. Of course, that's dependent on the show actually being picked up, so let's just leave our fingers crossed. Since the one-shot story involving the team's fullback, JaMarcus, fell pretty much on its face, it isn't just the Panthers' playoff hopes that sit on the Chosen One's shoulders. And the development of his anger has been very organic through his disapproval of a girlfriend like Madison, "She is a plague!" Joe started this year as an annoying man trying to passive-aggressively get his own way to an overly forceful influence on his son to the kind of person that would slap his boy around in a parking lot. Obviously, it's going to be a long week to see how this effects the McCoys, the team's state title game, and Eric and Tami (who witness and break up the incident). The last scene back at the Taylor's house does a great job in just two conversation contrasting the two defining families of this season and applying Eric's generally calm and collected approach to defuse a very tense situation.
It's been a great and fluid development this season of Joe McCoy pushing JD into the line-up to trying to coach from the stands to going off the hook disagreeing about the plays that (as his far calmer wife, Katie states) Eric is calling. One other note, besides state championship games, nothing rocks like a game played in a monsoon. It worked in "Mud Bowl" and it works here. And credit to Eric for having the guts to go for a two point conversion instead of risking overtime. I wish more real coaches has the stones. I suppose having the writers on your side helps.
Along with the McCoys, the big conflict that can have long-lasting results is the plan to redistrict Dillon and reopen the long defunct East Dillon. And after getting his life pretty trashed the last couple weeks, it's nice to have Buddy take over the boosters to ensure all the key current and future Panther players are on the right side of the District line. Of course, I love Buddy and how humorous his devotion to the Panthers can be, but to see him show some form of remorse over his life in contrast to Joe continuing to be a smug bastard is the type of scene I never get tired of having. Eric and Buddy arguing over the fudging of the district line is great, since we almost never see Eric take the "don't ask, don't tell" path and it usually has horrendous consequences (see the Voodoo Era). And if nothing else, he should have learned that keeping secrets from Tami is never a bad idea.
While it might not have as much an influence on future seasons, the story that shines just as impressively as that of the McCoy Family, is that of the Saracens. The further deteriorating condition for his grandmother has Matt battling himself, the doctors and his mother to accept that things will only get worse as time passes for her. Given how controlled and quiet Matt is at most times, to see him get this upset is a nice reflection on how much the woman means to him. Rather than coming off as close-minded, it seems he just needs some time to get to the point of acceptance. It all ends with a great scene where Matt tells his mom that he wants her to stay and she admits to never considering leaving.
I can say, I've never enjoyed Lyla as much as I do when she's getting drunk with Mindy and the Riggins brothers, doing battle on videogame racing. My only complaint about the funny scene is - why no MarioKart? 'Sup with that Jason Katims and Co.? But obviously, when Tim Riggins thinks you're letting yourself go too much, it's time to dial that shit back a bit. The Buddy-Tim conference on her status is both funny, poignant and shows that at times the brash fullback can drop some knowledge. For example, he rather quickly makes the jump that it isn't this one betrayal/mistake from her father, but the culminated idea that she's let her once incredibly important family fall apart around her.
And as much as I chuckle at the idea of Lyla being one of the top students in the school and getting into Vanderbilt, I always get perturbed at the idea of not being able to go to the school you want without a fund from Mom and Dad. They're called scholarships, grants and student loans, people! Hey, it worked for me... and yes, I'm putting aside the fact that I'll be paying those loans back until I'm middle-aged. But still, if Vanderbilt is such a big dream (hard to believe since I can't ever recall that institution's name ever being uttered before on the show) she'd find a freaking way. Just as the insightful Mr. Riggins points out to her.
A week later, Tyra is now back in the swing of things flirting with Landry, prepping for her sister's wedding (while not so subtly mocking it) and fretting over her future. And any excuse that gets Mindy Collette and Landry Clark in a conversation is great. Even as friends, scenes with her and Landry prepping for a bridal shower (thunderstorm included) are comedy gold my friend. Adrianne Palicki takes big steps this week to remind us she can be a terrific and subtle actress, crossing what we can call the Minka Kelly Corollary. In her final conversation with her mother, she can sell the sadness of her situation and hope in the future. It's good to have her back in Dillon and continuing her personal odyssey.
While the blow-up between Joe and his son was in itself well handled tonight and supplies a great deal of tension for the last couple episodes, it isn't enough to say I'd really be looking forward to a FNL without Saracen, Riggins, Tyra, Street and Smash and I suppose to a far lesser extend Lyla. But for now, with those two of those characters already gone and Tyra back in to her status quo, the show is at least firing on all cylinders for the rest of the way this season.
Final score: B+
Read more...
Friday, March 20, 2009
The Conversation, a.k.a. The Talk Version 2.0
Friday Night Lights: The Giving TreeSeason 3, Episode 10
For the second time this year, we get past funny Buddy to sad and regretful Buddy Garrity and it's nice to see this character stretch out. Usually just played for laughs, he makes a big mistake and of course proceeds to make it even worse. And yes, I am keeping track and there's only three episodes left. Don't remind me. And yes, I have been going crazy hoping for confirmation about rumors of a renewal... possibly one of the multi-year variety. Of course that raises the question on whether or not the show will be able to last with a significant portion of the class graduating this year.But for me and most of you I'm sure, this week the episode revolves around the Taylors and Matt and certain... discoveries. We'll talk more with some spoilers beneath the cut.
This week is another big rock bottom moment for Buddy Garrity. Worse than being caught cheating a couple years back, now he's apparently near broke and utterly alone. Considering how funny Brad Leland usually plays Buddy, it's nice to see him stretch out in these darker moments. And unlike his previous fall from grace which the show balanced out with humor in having him crash at the Taylors' place for a few days, this time the keep it more straight dramatic. Well, except for the tens of thousands of dollars he owes at The Landing Strip... that's pretty funny. He gets tossed in jail after assaulting a man who lost him a significant amount of money on a bad investment and any chance Lyla had of standing by his side went out the window when she found out her college fund was included in that big loss. Between that and his philandering, I think Lyla's all betrayed out. Of course, Minka Kelly just can't sell her anger as anything deeper than petulant... even in a justifiable situation like this.
If nothing else, it's excellent that Riggins gets to play the calm voice of reason between the two of them. For such a hot-head, he knows to dial it back here to calm and firm... I think he'll do some good work with this story in the coming episodes. And the very next scene he drops some nice relationship knowledge on JD... he's like a drunker, more sexual Buddha running back.
Her brief stop-gap enroute to the rather inevitable move-in with the Riggins brothers is a stay at the Taylors. The family dynamic takes a big hit this week when Eric... hmmp...heh... walks in on Matt and Julie. This means home runs all around for Connie Britton and Kyle Chandler as Tami and Eric. Their reactions are every bit as funny and dramatic and nuanced as you'd expect. From Eric walking into and out of Matt's house, going straight to the car and locking the doors, the fact that he hesitates to let Julie in could come off as angry, but he manages to look so utterly lost. For him it isn't some character having sex, its his daughter... and selling that without a word is part of what makes one of my favorite shows.
Tami bolting up in bed when Eric breaks the news to her is the comedy highlight of the evening. We're all set for another Talk. The Talk being the best Tami Taylor highlight ever when she explained sex to Julie in season one's "I Think We Should Have Sex." This version once again doesn't get off to the most cooperative start.
"Is there anything you'd like to say?"
"He should have knocked."
Getting to the conversation is hard because Tami isn't sure what to say and Julie is putting up an adversarial front and expecting punishment. You can tell she's handling things badly when she tells Matt to act like a man. But when Tami finally sits down, she gets right off on the right put asking if they love each other before diving into the specifics of birth control.
"Why are you crying?"
"Cause I wanted to you to wait. And not just cause I wanted to protect you, it's 'cause I love you and want to make sure nothing bad ever happens to you."
It might not be the talk, but its a great moment and great performances by both Teegarden and Britton. Matt's first trip to the Taylors after the incident is just a great scene for him and Eric. And it certainly is permiated with a different vibe than the girl's conversation and much more concerned about respect and action than feelings.
Eric's week doesn't get any better at the game. For some reason that isn't really elaborated the refs are the worst and most crooked we've ever seen... well at least the worst I've seen since the last time I watched an NBA game. Eric gets kicked out of the game for arguing against a late hit that's too egregious to believe... but I suppose it has to be since even in game mode, Eric has always been loud, but professional. This leads to Joe McCoy's old buddy, Wade Aikman, stepping out to call the plays for the winning touchdown drive. It's a nice parrallel to set Wade up to be Eric's own version of what JD was for Matt. This rather unexpected development has be very worried for Eric the rest of the way this season.
Some nice developments off the field come for JD this week. With his mom's blessing he starts spending more time with the lovely, young Madison (let's think of her as Lyla Version 2.0 complete with hot cowgirl boots). Unfortunately, Madison isn't made out of tanned brown leather and thrown to receivers, so Papa Joe doesn't approve of his son showing any interest in her ever. There'll be plenty of time for girls and fun when JD retires from the NFL in 2039 as far as his dad is concerned. Once again this solidifies the difference between Buddy loving the sympathetically loving the Panthers too much and Joe being an asshole.
Finally, as far as my good pal Landry standing tall to Tyra after being kicked to the curb for a certain we-won't-mention-his-name cowboy, I'm divided. I mean it was a story so bad, even Julie calls her best buddy to task for it. On one hand, I want to just pretend that none of that story ever happened, so it's cool to get back to the status quo. On the other side, it's tough to root for a relationship that only came about because of the season two storyline that I'll write a dissertation on Rocky V before talking about again. But with only some pushing from new friend, Devon, our man Landry makes a stand and will not roll over again. He is not a stump, ladies and gentlemen!
Of course, they will get together in the end (I think), so it's a moot point. I give Landry standing-up to Tyra a big thumbs up though because it leads her to try and earn her way back into his good graces. And that means a gig for Crucifictorious where they rock as never before! For the sake of consistency, if nothing else, let's have Tyra not get all flaky with Landy again, alright? But a strong episode, with some decent game scenes and terrific performances nearly top to bottom. I just can't give it a straight A with Minka Kelly being upset... which in her case means skreeching, not acting. It's be nice if she'd pick up some tips from the rest of the cast.
Final score: A-
Read more...
Friday, March 13, 2009
What Time is It? Game Time.
Friday Night Lights: Game of the WeekSeason 3, Episode 9
Doesn't it feel like too soon to be in the home stretch this year? Still I'll take 13 episodes of the quality we've seen this year over a full 20 episodes of Season Two quality. And now that we've wrapped up farewells for Smash and Street, the next five episodes have some high expectations to live up to. With full episodes dedicated to the current Panthers, it appears that they'll be a bit more screen time, especially with the Saracen family storyline.Prepare for some happiness below the cut, because nothing can live up to the pleasure of saying goodbye to the idiotic Cash the Cowboy storyline. Even if we have to crawl to freedom through five hundred yards of shit smelling foulness I can't even imagine, or maybe I just don't want to. Five hundred yards... the length of five football fields.
The title revolves around this week's first round playoff game, which is being broadcast nationally. And its worth it just to see Coach's pissed off face that the television crews and not the game is going to be on his players' minds. This is a guy that would rather have his team playing in the mud in a self-made field in a cow pasture than frolicking on NBC... pfff... stupid NBC.
Let's deal with Riggins as he starts his life post-Street, returning to a busted truck and a poor, drunk and Mindy-less Billy. And then he gets a visit from a San Antonio State recruiter. And thank heaven its a mid-level college and so much has been built towards him getting an offer (i.e. Street's video). But of course its perfect with all the uninvolved looks Tim has been giving for weeks that he just can't see this for himself. Why try for something impossible when you can get drunk with your brother and try to score with Lyla.
Speaking of the Queen Bee of Dillon, Lyla's traditional nagging at least is useful in pushing Riggins to a better place in his life. And she even gets some bonding time with Mindy Collette. Ah, the difficulties of loving a Riggins. Time to rock out to Katy Perry, read some Cosmo and establish anti-Riggins force fields. I promise the scene redeems itself when Billy pulls the "STELLA!" routine to get his lady back. Lyla actually has a nice moment when she drops her head, realizing she's probably about to do the same thing.
The game scenes are nice, though it seems to be lacking a real sense of excitement early on in both the team and the crowd. I mean, come on guys! This is the playoffs! Thank heavens for Coach's halftime speech. Kyle Chandler always brings it for these types of scenes. He even manages not to crack a smile when talking about the defense carrying the team. Defense??? C'mon coach! There hasn't been a significant defensive player in three years. For all we know Saracen and Riggins play linebacker.
In the story that is the biggest pain and the greatest relief simultaneously, Cash proves to be the angry hick that will drag Tyra down into a terrible story and blow up in a fit of undeserved rage. Wow, only saw that coming inside of 15 minutes. I hate Cash so much, no more so than when he breaks out the Ricky Bobby "Second place is first loser" routine. Bastard even manages to ruin Tami's birthday when they need to come get the poor girl. They were going to steal hotel robes, damn it! But it is nice to see Coach stare him down while Tami heard Tyra in a car headed back to Dillon and some resemblance of sanity. Coach puts the break on this shit right quick without hardly a word or movement.
I look forward to Adrianne Palicki getting back into the swing of things as Tyra. Her phone call with Landry is the best scene she's been involved in for weeks now. It's been an absolute shame to see her pushed into the periphery with this completely out of character story.
And Eric put so much effort into setting up a romantic evening and gets bonus points for seeing through his wife's "I don't want any birthday" routine. It's utter hilarity exemplified when he explains his plan to Julie.
Julie: I can set up the bag and watch Gracie, but Dad, I'm pretty sure Mom didn't want her birthday celebrated at all.
Coach: That's her problem.
The scenes in the Saracen household are pure acting gold. Matt being torn between what he might want for himself and that overwhelming sense of responsibility he has. It's been like a boulder wrapped around his shoulder since the second episode of the series. His mom dealing with her own regret from abandoning her son and pushing him to considering college options. Grandma lashing out in fear of losing him. And to see him coming out of halftime at wide receiver sends them running out of the house together. It's a great reminder that Matt is what matters most to both of them. But we need to ignore the idea that they weren't at his senior year playoff game in the first place!
But at least we get a great scene out of it. And in the end, that's what we're here for... it isn't utter realism in the football. Just give us some emotion, kick up that rocking theme music. To quote Coach, "There 'ya go. There 'ya go."
Final score: B+
Read more...
Friday, March 6, 2009
One Last Time... Texas Forever
Friday Night Lights: New York, New YorkSeason 3, Episode 8
Let's face it, given the lack of options, it doesn't take a lot for FNL to win me over. And so this week had me at "tearful goodbye between lifelong best friends." It kind of stinks that this third season that has saved the show is all about saying goodbye. In his fourth episode of the year, it's time for Jason Street, a.k.a. Six, the quarterback whose injury changed the lives of almost everyone in Dillon, to follow his baby and that baby's mama to New Jersey. It hasn't been that big a surprise how he'd leave and even if idea of him becoming a sports agent was pretty unbelievable and hastily thrown together. And the idea that Riggins could miss a week of practice with no problem, repeating the mistakes of sending him to Mexico last year.Despite it being the final episode for Scott Porter's Street, the star of the week is without a doubt Taylor Kitsch's Riggins. You want to talk about achieving the impossible? Kitsch actually has me excited to see him as Gambit in this summer's Wolverine movie. And I HATE Gambit. There's a near non-stop streak of jokes and fish out of water moments, seeing these boys rolling in the Big Apple.
Need a suit, "Hey this is it! Two for 125! You want dark or.. uh blue or..."
Need to get over not getting a job, "We got Gypsy tonight. Strippers."
Need to practice the speech to win over your baby mama, Erin, "Jason, I'm pregnant. I'm being your woman. What if she throws you a curveball like that?"
But the scene that makes all the complete improbability of the rest of their story this week is the finale with Jason showing up with a job and a chance for a future at the doorstep of the woman he loves and their baby. And as great as it is for them, Kitsch absolutely rules the scene and we're watching his relationship with his best friend end. I mean they say all the "I'll visit" B-S that every goodbye scene has, but if they talk every few months and visit every few years... you never get back to what you had before. I mean neither of these guys seem the type to chat daily on IM or... i don't know... start an entertainment blog together. It's over. And it's one of the many dust-in-my-eye scenes already this year to see Kitsch in this scene.
"Hey J-6.. I hope you get everything you wanted. But no matter what happens, you're always gonna be my best friend and you deserve to be happy."
Street starts to roll away and turns around, "Texas forever?"
"Texas forever."
Screw dusty, now I'm just crying a little. Shit. To go straight from that to Street holding his baby and winning over Erin and to see Riggins watch, tear up and nod his head... that's a freaking farewell scene.
The conversion of Saracen to a wide receiver is a bit more believable a storyline and leads to the single best non-Street/Riggins scene in the episode. After getting shut down on his own, Matt gets some advise from Julie on how to handle him. It's laugh out loud funny to see Julie absolutely force the conversation at dinner onto both her dad and boyfriend.
And for all the drama we normally have, to have Eric throwing passes to Matt in the street is one of the scenes that remind us how much these characters love football and how much fun they can have with it. It's refreshing to have the normally reserved Matt having a bit of fun with the one big father-figure he's had on the show, playing catch and teasing him.
And Coach continuing to be sublimely funny after throwing all those passes as he's walking in the house with Tami, "We got some aspirin in the house, right?"
This bit is even more important after the rather weak scenes for Tami and Eric throughout the episode. Coach gets dragged through the ringer after Mac's heart attack, pushed into hiring Joe McCoy's personal trainer, Wade Aikman, as a replacement. Tami is simultaneously stuck pulled into the painful Tyra-Cash the Cowboy storyline again and lets Katie McCoy sell her on the idea of getting a new house. And the scenes with Coach saying they can't afford it and Tami wanting to try... a rare average scene between the two of them. Can't hit a homer every time at bat I guess.
And yeah, I can't really talk calmly about Tyra leaving school while desperately trying to improve as the student body president and get in to college... to go on a rodeo tour! A! RODEO! TOUR! For Christ's sake people! Am I the only one who watched her character arc the last two and a half years?
But hey what a freaking soundtrack to the episode!!! The opening scene is set to "Feel Alright" by Steve Earle, a solid member of my iTunes Top 25 Most Played Songs which first rocked my world during the second season finale of The Wire. Guys, you just made my day right there.
One other note, four episodes each was probably one too many each for the farewells of Smash and Street. It's limiting to the other stories given the fact that low ratings mean there are only 13 episodes all year. Now I find myself torn between wanting the show to return for a fourth season, but worrying over the loss of Kitsch, Adrienne Palicki (Tyra) and Zach Gilford (Saracen). And they'd need to find some bad actress that looks good to replace Minka Kelly's Lyla.
Final score: B-
Read more...
Saturday, February 28, 2009
I Swear to God, Somebody Plays on Defense
Friday Night Lights: Keeping Up AppearancesSeason 3, Episode 7
Holy crap! This season is now over half over! I didn't have a problem with the strike-shortened season two, given that it was killing my love of this show. But didn't Jason Katims and crew let DirecTV and NBC know they were going to make it good again this year? I mean the show has always compressed things, massively compressing the football season to focus on the things happening off the field. But damn, doesn't Dillon play AAAAA Texas football? Shouldn't there regular season be 10 games long? How much football are we missing and are they all just 35-10 blowout victories? But more important than the games, things are just incredibly compressed this season. And with focusing four episode long arcs on the final stories for both Smash and Street... well times running down pretty quick. While still a decent episode, I personally miss Julie and Matt, but hey one less episode of Tyra and her moronic decision to date a rodeo cowboy instead of focusing on her goal of going to college... yeah, I can deal with it.The idea of keeping up the false pretenses and trying to pull one over on people or yourselves, prevails through a lot of this episode. Joe McCoy and Eric pretending they both don't pretty much loathe the other. General rule of thumb when someone with the ultimate smug smile pulls it out and cuts off your apology quickly before you make your point... he doesn't really mean it. This is one of the more engaging storylines of the year because Joe can't be forgiven because of his pure love of the Panther team and he really doesn't want to be friendly with Eric (like Buddy does) except to push JD continually to the forefront.
I have a couple problems with the introduction of JaMarcus Hall, the team's fullback, who is hiding the fact that he plays football from his parents and with Tami and Coach's help convincing them to let him play. First, that they introduce a yet another player (who we very well might never see again) and STILL don't make him a defender just bugs me. An entire new dimension could be added to the games and practices if it seemed like Eric or any of the assistants ever called a defender to task over something. And while Eric and Tami both are impressive visiting the boys parents, it's just too convenient that this character that we've never even heard of before takes the game over to such a significant degree this week.
Devin, the new bassist of Crucifitorious who can apparently pull songs out of her head, seems like an obvious set-up for a love interest for Landry, except she's doesn't want anybody to learn she's more fond of the ladies. It's not the best performance, but her attitude is at least a change of pace, seeing a couple people in school who's lives don't revolve so much around football. Although it's nice to see Landry get a confidence boost from Tami, who is just firing on all cylinders in the advice categories this week.
Buddy and his kids pretending everything is fine despite obviously growing in different directions makes us feel a bit for the character. But having the love of Panther football bring them together... well that's just a little convenient. I suppose it can be justified that the two younger children (visiting from California where they live with their mom) aren't really as different and unforgiving as they seem, but are just rebelling against their cheating father.
Jason and his crew's struggles to sell the house is the least involved storyline and I would prefer if this happened in a week when a bit more was happening in the other plots. It would probably be better if their sale didn't seemingly fall from the sky into their hands. And even the very thin developments in their story needs to be padded to fill time with Street helping best buddy Tim make a highlight video to get into college. It's tough to get too involved especially when everything (including the happenstance meeting with a New York based agent... hmm...) seems to be just getting the chess pieces in place for Street's final episode. And the finale with him out by the pool with former girlfriend Lyla (who is surprisingly stand-able this week) trying to talk himself into being a sports agent or something, but definitely not in Dillon, makes a great final set-up.
Final score: 2.5 score out of 5 (just can't get too worked up over yet another game decided on the final play)
Read more...
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Like Being Green Is Easy Either
Friday Night Lights: It's Not Easy Being JD McCoySeason 3, Episode 6
Thank heavens. I has honestly worried the writers and directors might just leave JD as some rich 2.0 version of Voodoo Tatum, the New Orleans refuge that nearly destroyed the team chemistry in season one. Tonight we see more of the boy than we have in the entire show thus far and pretty much put to bed the idea of him being a clone of Big Bad Joe. So now maybe we can start to build a cast for the Panthers in future seasons beyond just perennial bench warmer Landry. And even if the freshman superstar gets some crazy adventures with Riggins and a sweet locker next to Peter Berg... the highlight this week is the struggles of Street, who shares some time with his old coach and makes the living room pretty dusty when talking to his baby over the phone. Don't forget there's spoilers beneath the cut while we learn "It's Not Easy Being JD McCoy."Anytime you can start an episode with Riggins and the seniors organizing a running of the Naked Mile, tricking JD into running two and ending with the Coach asking, "Son, where are your pants." It's off to a good start. The main storyline of the episode is Coach forcing Riggins into a mentoring relationship with the young QB who has to keep his focus against a team that mostly seems to not relate to him, or like to him.
Of course Coach gets Riggins to help with the reminder that he won't be a Panther after this year... and honestly they need some of the younger actors to come back with Lyla, Tyra, Matt and Riggs all graduating (in at least Riggs and Lyla's case it's okay to say "at last" considering they were respectively Street's best friend and girlfriend when he was graduating two years ago).
"Get in the truck 1-2!" What can you say about the Riggs' tour of Dillon with highlights including the Landing Strip, the real Rally Girls, fans and burgers at Fran's Hamburgers 24-7 and of course, "We got Smitty's - dive bar. Know me as Toby, two time Iraq veteran." And of course the home of Lisa, a girl... you'll know. Anytime the nickname the Naked Gun is adopted, you know things will work out from that point of view.
At least we still have a villain this year in the insanely overbearing Joe McCoy, who has raised his son to have the utter singular focus of being a great quarterback. To see him immediately shoot down the idea of his boy even thinking about girls or going out with the guys after the victory makes us loath him and sympathize with his son at the same time. By the end it hurts to see him absolutely destroy the kid's confidence and all the good will Riggins had built up for JD with the team in the locker room.
I've been an unabashed Matt-Julie fan since episode one, so when they broke up for no good reason (i.e. some jerk called The Swed) in the season two premiere that season was already on my bad side. To see them get back together now as Matt and JD's lives on and off the field are heading in opposite ways. Every scene with Zach Gilford and Aimee Teegarden is great, not just with what they say, but the greatest nonverbal moves they make. From the nervous feet in the supermarket and the coy smiles, we know where this one is going.
Their trip to the lake plays perfectly with them in the place we knew they weren't ready for two years ago in "I Think We Should Have Sex." Plus, Matt perfectly shares my opinion of hot dogs... good to know. Like that first season episode, this week's reinforces the idea that both these actors should have successful careers after the show ends, which is something I don't think I'm looking forward to. And like that previous episode, which included The Talk... the single greatest Tami Taylor moment in the history of the show, Mrs. Taylor here gets to catch the look between the two in church the day after the lake trip... and you know she knows. It's always refreshing when this show remembers that some of the best moments don't need to be said aloud. The entire morning after sequence is a home run for everyone involved, especially Teegarden.
As much as we'll miss the smile of Gaius Charles, the ever-struggling optimism of Scott Porter as Street will be just as sadly missed. His child and baby mama moving to the east coast pretty much tells us where he'll end up at the conclusion of his four episode arc. This week he's got to overcome the struggles of getting some money to make a start by managing to fix up and turn Buddy's old house.
Meanwhile the idea that he has to deal with a moderately dedicated Herc and Riggs and a man like Billy Riggins that staples his own hand to the wall and buys a $1600 toilet (the Cadillac of Toilets). Against all odds, it's nice to see him get a boost at the end there with Coach Taylor, who along with Tami, don't have too many moments in this episode as the younger stars carry the work load. But Coach's wisdom continues to reinforce how great this show is and what a seemingly honest approach . It's great that Coach and Riggs both piss off their respective ladies to step up for Street and JD in place of a school dance. And they can always fall back on the fact that Eric and Tami only need about 15 seconds to shine.
The final scene with Street singing to his baby son over the phone is where the dust kicks in and things get emotional. Since he and the baby mum obviously feel a lot more for each other than they let on, it's absolutely critical these three end up back together.
Other things I loved:
Crucifictorious Returns! And even if Castor is gone, I love that he absolutely knows that Jimmy the drummer will be back next week. And of course with the arrival of Devon, we continue to learn Landry is a chick magnet... punk Christian rock bands and sitting on the Panthers bench just work for the ladies I guess.
Drunk JD... it's just plain endearing.
I think I've figured out how to turn off my mind to the Tyra-Cash storyline this week. A critical development in enjoying this otherwise terrific season. It's never fun to see a character that has come so far in danger of mixing up with someone well... he has a freakin kid! Do not believe this person.
Grandma Saracen's anger at Coach and the confrontation in the grocery store where she can't stay mad at him for more than 10 minutes... he is rather lovable.
Lyla doesn't show up for half an episode, always a bonus... especially when wearing a short dress and cowboy boots. Minka Kelly has limited uses, but tonight she's not half bad.
The idea of ending a game with a 14 point victory and taking a knee, as opposed to a last second Hail Mary or triple reverse... the most realistic ending to a game in the history of the show.
Final score: 4 stars out of 5
Read more...
Saturday, February 14, 2009
It's a Pretty Sharp Thorn
Friday Night Lights: Every Rose Has It's ThornSeason 3, Episode 5
Remember when Poison's original line-up fell apart in the mid and late 90's, times were tough and they threw out your standard Greatest Hits album to kill some time before they rediscovered themselves for the inevitable reunion era? Well, you should! This week's episode of Friday Night Lights is a lot like that as we begin to establish the next big farewell and rehash several tired plots we've seen before (Tyra rebelling against everything, Julie and Tami fighting for little reason), here in "Every Rose Has It's Thorn."
Behold the spoilers below the cut to read more.
The main storyline for the next four weeks is the end of the line for Jason Street and it's important they do it properly since his crippling injury was the most impacting event of the series, changing the lives of virtually every character on the show from his family to the team and school and all the main characters.
And it's wonderful to see him living with fellow paraplegic and laugh machine Herc, "You throwin' away my porn again?... Dude, you do not have to hide porn from babies. Babies are not freaked out by boobies. What vaginas? Babies love vaginas. Man, they just took a great trip through one. It's like looking at a postcard."
Of course, the best part of the show is Street's storyline. The fact that he's trying to spend more time and provide better for his child (one he never imagined having anymore) and the waitress that obviously turned into something a lot more important to him. The scene where he promises a better future to the baby is just a great job by Scott Porter. I'm always caught by how wonderful and realistic so many of these characters can come off every week.
In the other half of the storyline effecting Street, old buddy Riggins' idea to flip Buddy's old house, comes of as an incredible long shot, but it is humorous to hear him repeat the ideas of Mr. Garrity, himself, to Street, Herc and Billy. And the scene with the Riggins boys selling the wire is just a bad scene... just bad. It never works when any guns are involved in this show. it... just... DOESN'T. Thank god that Herc, "knows a guy."
I enjoy how Coach's swapping quarterback strategies wasn't working out for so long, since it was a rather mediocre attempt to keep Matt involved when it was obvious the better player was on the sidelines and even with him coming through in the end, Saracen really knows and sells it that his era as QB-1 is over. But him not getting mobbed after that touchdown is sacrificing the reality of the show for attempting an emotional gut punch... and it just rings false. Despite being a pretty depressing storyline for just about the nicest guy on the show everything feels authentic because life really isn't fair. And we've known that especially in Saracen's case for the last three years.
Gilford and Chandler manage to say so much in just a few moments on that porch when the decision is handed down before they are interrupted, it's a wonderful job by both and I love that Shelby (that's Saracen's mom) catches on so quick and recognizes she still hasn't been around long enough to really say anything to comfort him. And her moving to Dillon for the immediate future is really a nice win for Matt, even if he can't admit it at the time.
The second scene between Gilford and Chandler in the locker room just does not work. Like a terrible soap opera drama scene, it's the same mood as the Tyra-Tami scenes and it doesn't work. So many of these actors do quiet well that showy moments like this stand out as sub-par and inauthentic.
Unlike the tattoo and Tyra is a bad influence beats between Julie and her parents. Even Connie Britton can't sell going back to "how could you do this" and "of course, Tyra was involved" wells anymore.
The entire Tyra stuff just reeks of mistakes from a storytelling point of view. This girl was a wild-child TWO YEARS AGO. To repeat the same beats thanks to a new boy, Cash the Cowboy, as if she would forget this multi-year journey she's been on to get out of this town and into college, the idea that she would toss it all away when this close after winning the Student Council presidency, is too much. I just don't buy it. For now, this is the weakest storyline of the year. That it negatively impacts the scenes in the Taylor household just infuriates me more. That's were we go for some of the best scenes in the show. That's my happy place! Let the countdown to her affair with Cash begin! I just hope it's a short one.
Other highlights this week:
Landry and MAtt jamming to power ballads to soak their sorrows over Tyra and the new QB-1 with Skid Row's Remember Yesterday... "How cliche can you be."
Billy realizing he is a visionary. as well as him "needing to confer with my people."
Tami - Everyone is calm. Eric - What the HELL were you thinking? Don't like the storyline, but just a cute beat between those two lines. And while the last bit in this storyline isn't their very finest moment at least Tami and Julie get something good out of things at the end.
Overall, the episode had some highlights (Street's scenes mostly), but the Tyra-Cash the Cowboy storyline dragged it and everything around it down. The final scenes shows us fairly obviously where Street will end up and we know it will end with him and best friend Tim Riggins together one last time. And while that storyline might work out, the others need to all step it up a lot or these are going to be hard episodes to watch on DVD someday.
Final score: 2 stars out of 5
Read more...
Saturday, February 7, 2009
He's Still Gonna Bring the Whole World Together
Friday Night Lights: Hello, GoodbyeSeason 3, Episode 4
The big-mouthed, big-talent tailback that was going to sell Whoppers and Big Macs, hock Reebok and Nike and finally unite Pepsi and Coke, didn't get the ride he expected. Coming after one week of a less than engaging storyline, the four episode arc to wrap up Dillon's love affair with Brian "Smash" Williams concluded yesterday. And one of the many wonderful little discoveries of this show, Gaius Charles, left... and he damn well better be seen again and often Hollywood! Hear me?! Cause yeah, maybe he and Kyle Chandler made sure it was pretty damn dusty in my apartment for a minute.Check things out below the cut to read more about the final run of the Smash, Matt's ongoing struggles and Tyra's new feller.
I can't tell you how refreshing that after the consistent negative vibe that crushed some of the brightest spirits on the show last year that Smash gets his dream ending here. And if this is how we say goodbye (perhaps a cameo if they get a Season Four... please, please, please), then all the credit in the world. To see his family live their dream here was great and watching Coach charge across the A&M field, refusing to give up on this young man is the highlight scene of the year so far and I think closes the book on the pain in the butt that is season two. We're beyond it now, we're moving on to better things, just like our old tailback.
The tryout scene with Eric and Smash standing on the sideline for an hour after driving for hours only to be rescheduled. And Eric refusing to lose another battle, charging across the field with Smash in tow and demanding that someone else give a damn, steals the limelight in an already great episode.
"Remember that Rutledge game, fourth quarter you came into that game. You took over that game. Play-by-play you owned that game. I watched you that day and I said to myself, 'That kid is going to go all the way.' Right here, right now... God has placed you to do what you do best. Go all the way."
Now, that's a freaking speech baby! Eat it Al Pacino and every other actor playing a coach. And cheers to David Hudgins for directing the hell of the tryout scene and the episode all together.
Smash and his family getting the call... it's not just about football people. Smash stops by (driven my Riggins - apparently Taylor Kitch didn't quite have the week off, Landry and Matt - man I'd watch an episode just about that drive) to thank Coach for climbing a mountain for him. Ever the caring father-figure, he's still throwing tips at the kid to try and help down to the last second. Charles' delivery of that thank you just continually blew me away at the end.
Those four kids and a pile of beers goofing around and playing touch on the Dillon field one last time reminds me of one of the top scenes of season one when Street (I promise he'll show up next week) taught Matt to nail a hard route, and to see that incredibly wide smile on Smash's face as he's teasing Riggins and us one last time, great freaking ending.
And how great has decision to make Tami the principal this season? Her conflict over the JumboTron has been futile since the beginning (I mean were Buddy and the boosters ever not going to get their way?), but it's given her a chance to fight the culture of the town about what's really more important to the children of this town and their future... it really shouldn't be a high school football team. Of course, the storyline has also let Buddy explode and combine his most passive-aggressive pushing and the idea that he still wants to be pals with Eric and Tami afterward. The smile of his face when Tami pulls a relatively small win over him at the end, it's just honestly good-nature.
Almost as much as Smash, Matt really needs a win here. His grandmother's dementia is getting worse by the day and there are maybe four people in town that think he should still be the starting quarterback over JD McCoy, even Coach sees the end coming by splitting the offensive series between the two. Eric's decision here is totally true to the idea of putting the best possible team out there and he is still backing Matt more than pretty much everyone else is. I mean when the only way that he convinces himself to make the move starts with this exchange with Tami:
"I need a drink"
"Well, we have the wine at home"
"I need a scotch, I need a drink."
It's just that considering he's really the first adult that Matt felt was there for him, it's a gut shot to the kid whenever Coach isn't standing behind him. So the reunion between him and Julie is a much needed win, because this guy really deserved one. I expect her to have Matt's back roughly 100% of the time from here on out given the vibe of this season so far. And while it's tough for him now to see his mom return, in the form the acting clinic that is Deadwood-vet Kim Dickins, we all know this kid needs the help of a full-time adult in his life. She really seems like she wants to get back into Matt's life and knows she deserves the hell that he puts her through to get there.
The weakest plot of the show isn't really that bad. Seeing Tyra fall for a handsome, multi-lingual rodeo cowboy, Cash, over poor, wisdom tooth-less Landry is sad because we know how much the guy has invested emotionally in this girl and their eventual confrontation could easily be the highlight of the episode (if Chandler hadn't gone to that special place in the Smash tryout), so that's some pretty good weak stuff there.
Final score: 5 stars out of 5
Other spectacular things:
Eric and Tami in the bar, discussing the effects of the JD-Matt decision and her telling him how wonderful it is that he agonizes over the decision more than any other coach because at his heart he is "a teacher. You are a molder of men." That's a Chill scene. And to watch him do the same thing as Tami despairs the JumboTron decision later in their bedroom and his objections are completely in line with his character, a guy who cares more than just about everyone else about these kids and their future and as we saw in Mud Bowl believes in the purity of the game, "You think we need a JumboTron. We don't need a JumboTron. We need more teachers. You're right. They're wrong." And when he tells his wife that fighting this battle means she still wins, Big Chill Scene.
Matt and Smash hanging out in Landry's basement to check out that Coach has been talking to people at A&M unrelated to the running of the team about Smash... the humor that is Landry on drugs and how nice it is to get one more scene with these two kids in their full Alamo Freeze uniform glory.
Lorraine's righteous anger at having to see the mother that abandoned Matt as a baby. Louanne Stephens has had some humorous moments and lines, but never let this character become a joke or allows us to forget the utter tragedy of her condition. And to see her actually say a couple of good things about Matt's mom for only one reason: because she loves her grandson absolutely.
Matt and his mom in the restaurant towards the end, just watch two top tier acting talents ripping into the emotional weight of everything. It's an altogether very good performance from both Dickins and Zach Gilford.
Tami getting stalking tips to corner the superintendent from Katie McCoy. And the quick shoot down from the superintendent who right from the start shows he has absolutely no chance of giving that money to the school.
And how about following the incredible lack of football last year, that even in a non-game bye week we get two great practice scenes between the Matt-JD showdown and Eric showing up at the crack of dawn practice to try and learn (and finally let us learn) something about this kid. JD generally seems to be a decent guy, who just hasn't had too much in his life besides football, practicing football and playing Madden on the X-Box. He just lives with an incredibly obsessive dad.
Read more...
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Reviving the Classic
Friday Night Lights: How The Other Half LiveSeason 3 Episode 3
Despite the modern tendencies towards doing so, I try to avoid throwing around the term "classic" that much. It's a lot to ask for something to be just as enjoyable five months or five years down the road. "Enjoyable" is a much better term. Rocky Balboa was enjoyable. Rocky I, III and IV were classic. Rocky V didn't happen. Got it? The thing is there hasn't been many classic sports movies in the last 20 years. Enjoyable? Sure. Rewatchable? Throw on Varsity Blues and I'm set until I hear the Dawson scream through one of the top ten worst non-Kennedy accent attempts ever "AH DON'T WANT YOAHR LIFE!". Good times. But classic? Maybe Rounders, Jerry Maguire, parts of He Got Game. And look at television... there wasn't a classic sports tv show during the first quarter century of my life. Sorry, Hang Time doesn't rate friends. But Friday Night Lights got it... and lost it... now could it be back? Check below the cut to find out "How The Other Half Live".Forgiving the often implausible endings, the first season was about everything a sports fan could want out of a sports show and on top of that one of the better dramas on television. Second season... let's just say a season that begins with the most innocent, enjoyably flawed kid in school beating an attempted racist to death, then covering up the murder, first alone and then with his sheriff dad (played by Mr. Aaron Peirce himself, Glenn Morshower)... not so much. They tried amping up the teen drama in virtually every storyline to generally mixed to poor results.
But we're three episodes in an nobody's dead. And if this one season is all we get, it will be more than worth what they went through to get here. Four more episodes each with Smash and Street and one more year with Seven, Riggs, the lovely Lyla and the often annoying Tyra.
The arrival of the super-rich McCoys and their golden-armed QB son JD have so far been set up as the first real villains (for lack of a better word) in the history of the show. At least the first that we will see for more than a few episodes. Of course, we've hardly heard word one from the young man himself. All we know is he has a great arm, lots of potential and a super-rich dad trying to push him into the starting spot past Matt Saracen, a kid who lives with and takes care of his dementia-suffering Grandmother and has struggled to be an adequate replacement for the last next big thing, Jason Street, since day one. On that fact alone, the kid is hated... at least until we actually get to see more of him.
No the big problem is Joe McCoy, a rich beer distributor who moved his entire family to Dillon to force his son into the limelight, really standard living vicariously through your child no matter the consequences (for further example see every high school football story ever told). At the start of the episode he's taken over the field in the mornings to chat with the boosters and have his son school by a high-paid young QB specialist, Wade Aikmen, for thousands of dollars a month. All this goes over great for Matt, who has always been significantly defined by his abandonment and self-esteem issues (see his dad going to Iraq indefinitely, his recently returned mom having abandoned him as a baby, even Coach's daughter Julie dumping him in early season two... for no good reason... ah season two, ugh). Thank heavens for Coach, "That's not my quarterback. You're my quarterback."
The thing that separates this show from just about everything else is the relationship between Eric and Tami Taylor... just a couple that loves each other so freaking honestly and despite the fact it would be more dramatic to have them at odds, always love each other and their teenage daughter Julie and their baby at the end of the day. Realizing how starry-eyed this sounds coming from a child of divorce, it's the most realistic, mature and interesting relationship on television. All the credit in the world goes to Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton here. This week, Tami must go through the annual team BBQ ritual, an enormous pain in the butt that Eric absolutely never helps with.
At least she runs into her new BFF Nadine McCoy at the grocery store. Let's just say Eric does not appreciate the idea of holding HIS annual BBQ at the home of the millionaire trying to dictate the terms for the team in an manner that grows less passive-aggressive every day. At least it led to the following exchange:
"Explain somethin' to me. How can we be a host of our BBQ at their house. Isn't the definition of hosting when you have something at your house."
"Well I think it's like co-hosting."
Of course every fear Eric has is realized with Matt feeling even more pressure and Eric getting cornered by Buddy, Joe and Wade. And getting pushed to start JD within two seconds. The difference between Buddy Garrity who pushes because he loves his former team WAY too much and in the end still wants to play pool with Eric and Joe who just grins cockily, absolutely certain in his power to get his way in the end... this is why we like Buddy. At least Eric and Tami end up in a wonderful place as they compare him being pressured regarding JD to her decision as the recently named principal to reallocated Buddy and Joe's JumboTron money for badly needed school supplies at Dillon High.
Eric: "You know who I miss... I miss the coach's wife"
Tami: "You know who I can't wait to meet... principal's husband."
Eric: "Touche"
The on-going punchline of the town hick Billy Riggins and stripper Mindy Collette (the older siblings of longtime fullback Tim Riggins and former-bad girl, now college admission hopeful Tyra Collette) getting married is usually played (very effectively) for laughs. Kind of like when Mindy professes her love through a Finding Nemo quote. But this year's felony, Billy and Tim ripping off a supply of copper doesn't come off phony like the murder, but tragically believable. This really is the only way this guy can pay for his wedding and the start of his new life. And an excellent job by Taylor Kitsch (star of the upcoming Wolverine movie) as Tim, who really shows some conflict blowing off the BBQ and his girlfriend Lyla, but is hardwired to be there for the screw-up older brother, who could have but never did abandon him. A true wingman, even to the big brother that tells him he'd be a much better criminal than the guy who bailed on him.
Another of the senior players, Matt, is well on his way to a reunion with former girlfriend, Julie Taylor. Which is about the only thing this poor kid has going for him right now. Since the almost never beaten Arnett Meade coming up Friday and the entire town drinking the McCoy Kool-Aid, this guy is constantly reminded he only got a shot because Jason Street (still a no-show after three weeks, his four episode farewell storyline kicks off next week) went down.
During the game, yes contrary to season two this is actually a show about a high school football team so they show some football, Matt becomes a real hero. Getting his butt thoroughly destroyed for four quarters getting up from every hard and late hit. My one continual complaint about the games is that they feature no player on the defense, since their only thematic prupose here is to stink enough to make Matt's job harder. Really, where is the scene of Eric tearing into a linebacker? And a miracle scramble by Matt before fumbling away the game... Zach Gilford once again proves he has a future... regardless of whether he is back next year.
I haven't mentioned much about former star tailback Smash Williams, played by Gaius Charles, in his second to last episode. The thing is they probably could have skipped this bit about him considering a managerial position at the Alamo Freeze instead of hauling his rehabbed knee off to college tryouts with Eric. No way they spend two episodes getting him back to where he was physically and emotionally to being the kid that was going to wow the world and he considers not doing it at the nearly last minute to stop his mother from taking a second job. It just rings false. At least it gives his Mama, Corrina a chance to shine, "Honey, I didn't have kids to buy me no house. What is wrong with you?"
Some other highlights:
Eric refusing to let the valet park his truck at the McCoy McMansion.
After the boys rip down the fence, the rottweilers chasing down the Riggins brothers only to run past them to freedom... glorious freedom!
Matt and Julie mocking the McCoys' JD Glory Room... complete with participation trophies from when he was nine. And JD catching them and maybe making us think he doesn't like all this much attention in the first place... maybe the kid's not as bad as his dad.
Lyla Garrity telling her dear dad, Buddy, that she won't need a ride home, while at the same time denying the tragic realization Tim absolutely will let her down and no show. And on the other hand Tim utterly refusing to give up on his brother.
Matt saying, before the final drive, "I always got one more in me." Then seeing Julie after the game. The girl who dumped him a year ago for better things, waiting for him and Matt's "Let's go somewhere and talk about anything but football."
And the best part of the episode: the silent montage at the end. Any fan of this show can tell you the moments where the actor's get a chance to be quiet and just rock our world is a continuous highlight. As long as it doesn't rely too much on the weaker actors in the group like Minka "Wow Tony Romo and John Mayer Like Me, Tee-Hee" Kelly. There is a reason one of my favorite episodes ever involves a Lyla Garrity slam page. But Eric pulling the For Sale signs out of his yard... Tami standing out on the lawn with him... Tim and Billy drinking beers at an empty pool next to their purloined copper... Matt pushing Julie's shoulder while walking the empty streets of Dillon... these goosebump scenes... we in the sports fan world call that "classic."
Read more...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
