Friday Night Lights was all about separations this week. Let us list ’em, shall we?
• Tami and Eric (Connie Britton and Kyle Chandler) had a difficult time putting baby Gracie in daycare.
• Matt’s live-in nurse/love, Carlotta (Daniella Alonso), said she had to scram back to Guatemala: “My family needs me,” she said. No explanation.
• Smash (Gaius Charles) and his family had dinner with his girlfriend, Noelle (Jana Kramer) and her family. Racial tension arose when her parents said they wished Smash would stop dating their daughter, and those tensions further separated the couple after Smash got into a fight with a racist white boy while on a movie date.
• Ex-con Santiago (Benny Ciaramello), who’s been living with Buddy Garrity (Brad Leland), felt an emotional pull away from his new middle-class, football-dominated existence when a pal fresh out of the slammer tried to pull him back into his old life.
• And Lyla (Minka Kelly) has found a new hobby — hosting a Christian call-in radio show with a new character (Gilmore Girls’ Matt Czuchry), a charmer who looks as though he’s going to keep her from dealing with any lingering affection she has for our man of constant sorrow, Tim Riggins (Taylor Kitsch), just as Tim was about to pledge his sincere love to her.
This episode was all over the place, quality-wise, and you know I’m writing this from the place of Friday Night Lights Is The Show We Love To Love, right?
To begin with my last item: That radio show is called, “I Was A TeenageChristian”? Really? Okay, maybe that’s actually a clever writer’s ideaof what an Evangelical radio show aimed at adolescents would be calledif its producers themselveswere trying to be clever. And I’ll try to put aside my personal loathing ofCzuchry’s repulsively arrogant Logan Huntzberger character on Gilmore Girls, the rich twit who led Rory Gilmore into more bad subplots than any other Gilmore character. I’m putting that aside, I say. But did the Friday Night Lightsfolks have to have Lyla and Whatever They’re Calling Logan On This Showkiss in the very first episode in which we see them together? EvenKitsch’s terrific acting as Riggins couldn’t save the cornballinevitability of having his character walk in, flowers in hand, just asLyla and her new, pious beau were sharing their first kiss.
Next subplot: As for Santiago, well, all I can say is, that characterwasn’t really developing into anyone we cared about, was he? So seeinghim torn between his old and new friends was a dramatic cliché thatcouldn’t be avoided, I suppose.
Now then: Smash and his interracial romance? I thought this wasactually pretty interesting. Smash’s mom, Corinna (Liz Mikel), actuallyagreed with the racist parents about her son not dating their daughterfor two reasons — she never liked that girl in the first place, and nowshe was so outraged by their blatant racism, that agreeing with thecreeps that Smash and Noelle just weren’t meant to be together feltinevitable and right. It was a subtle reaction to what could have beenanother dramatic cliché.
When it came to Matt (Zach Gilford) and Carlotta, this is where theepisode really let me down. It didn’t add up: Carlotta is obviouslyvery fond of Matt, so why did we get no explanation beyond “my familyneeds me” regarding her abrupt departure? And why was no one worried aboutwho was going to take care of his mentally fragile grandmother? The bestMatt-moment wasn’t with those women, anyway — it was that brief butgolden scene with his ol’ buddy Landry (Jesse Plemons), when Landrybusted Matt’s chops over him falling for “the hot maid.” “She’s anurse!” Matt spluttered. Well-played, Sir Landry!
Finally, Britton and Chandler managed to make the stress and squabbleover Gracie’s daycare dilemma touching, funny, and sexy, as usual.Loved all their glances, their solemn chats, and their final, throwawaylines about fumbling with the gate at the daycare center. These twocan make the most ordinary situations immensely enjoyable.
And I’ll give the show the benefit of the doubt: Riggins was allowed tomake prank calls to Lyla’s radio show (hey, there was long-lost JasonStreet in the background — welcome back, dude!) and go after her withflowers because I assume next week he’ll have to deal with his biggerproblem, remember? Oh, yeah: he and his brother stole thousands of dollars last week from a violent meth dealer! Hey,maybe Tim can help out Matt with his grandma-care problem — just have hermove in with him and teach her to sit behind the front door with ashotgun when he’s off at football practice.
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My favorite moment of the episode was the argument at dinner between Coach & Tami with Julie in the middle. Just excellent back & forth. The Emmy people need to take note of those 2 b/c they are fried gold.
I really like the Santiago/Buddy stuff. They are not overplaying Santiago’s struggles — just giving hints of the problems he has under the surface. These are subtleties I love about this show. And it’s interesting to watch Buddy struggle for redemption. Kyle/Connie = brilliant as always. I loved the dinner “we’re not fighting” scene as well.
LOVED this ep! i thought it was up to season one standards!!!! did they purposely give ‘logan’ from ‘gilmore girls’ hair like saracen to fake us out in the preview last week? it’s not his best look. buddy and santiago always tug at my heart…
loved coach – ’stick together; it’ll all work out’…
words to live by!!!
a glimpse of street was better than nothing. Riggins with the flowers..OMG – what a sight! what girl could resist that???
i give this ep an A!
JUST CURIOUS: what other shows do people who love FNL enjoy? i was digging ‘californication’; love ‘30rock’ and ‘the office’; did love 1st 2 seasons of ‘weeds’; was sort of liking ‘lost’; and now i’m watching ‘how i met your mother’ on dvd and it’s pretty funny. also watching ‘brother and sisters’ on dvd and trying to like it. love ‘project runway’ and i have to admit i ‘love to hate’ ‘real housewives of the OC’, and ‘top model’. i started liking ‘nip/tuck’ again last season.
and i was a fan of ‘the OC’ and ‘gilmore girls’
‘the wire’ was too depressing last season but i did appreciate it’s depth.
but if i had to pick one show, it’d be FNL of course.
Atrociously-corny episode with an atrociously-corny ending, to match the equally atrociously-corny ending when Coach thought Riggins was trying to bed Julie.
Guess who’s coming to dinner again? Sorry writers, you won’t do it better than Poitier and Spencer Tracy, so please don’t try. It’s almost as if FNL decided to use the Las Vegas writers to cover both shows. Actually, I am going to give the Las Vegas writers more credit than that.
FNL is supposed to be all about subtle drama, not barely-sitcom-worthy cliches. All we’ve been given in most instances this season are excuses of plots that are easily ignored and deflect no attention from the fact that the actors and actresses playing high-school students are ridiculously old.
How about some football again?!?!?! And please, not the same old games that end on the last play.
Bring back the dialogue, and cut out the soap opera.
This recap is the reason I get up on Saturdays.
Ken, thanks for getting up early on Saturday to write these recaps. I can’t believe that The Sarah Connors Chronicles (what a pos!) has an official TV Watch while FNL has to settle for a mini. I agree that this ep was mixed in quality, but it’s still better than 90% of other shows. In answer to Beachmom, my other favorites are Lost, The Shield, My Name is Earl and 30 Rock. I liked Jericho last season and look forward to its return.
Probably my least favorite episode of FNL. My favorite scenes were where Riggins was hanging out with Street and Herc and when Saracen was talking with Landry. More of that, please. I think I actually groaned when I realized Lyla was working with Logan from Gilmore Girls. I find him to be so smarmy. This week Smash’s story line was again the most interesting. Glad Carlotta is gone (how convenient). Time for Matt to get back together with Julie!
I think casting Logan from Gilmore Girls is perfect because it seems like this character is supposed to be smarmy. My guess is that he is going to end up doing something really un-Christian to/with Lyla, sending her running into the arms of Tim Riggins.
I loved it when Street asked Tim after he prank-called Lyla, “Is that how you tell her you like her?” His face dropped. Priceless. I also loved it when Eric told Tammy, “If daycare screws her up, she’s always got you to counsel her.” Very true–she should practice on Julie. And it was adorably insecure of Tammy to notice Gracey didn’t look back at her and say, “I think she’s totally over me.” The scenes with Santiago & Buddy are great cause they’re both trying to be better ppl for one another. Next week, Landry is going to have 2 hot girls fighting over him and that teenage racist is going to press charges against Smash for assault. But above all I’m excited to see Riggins tell Lyla “I love you”–boy is that going to be painful to watch.
Forget Logan from Gilmore Girls. What about Weevil from Veronica Mars making an appearance?
Great episode – I enjoyed it more than the reviewer.
Only complaint is about the Lyla storyline. It’s unrealistic to see her taking these roles on. She’s a new Christian who just committed her life to the Lord. Yet the writers keep putting her in leadership situations and spots where she supposedly is advising others on faith and life from an informed perspective. It doesn’t ring true and a respectable church or ministry would not put her in that situation.
FNL seems to have gone to the Cliche Well one too many times this season, foregoing some of the more powerful and subtle story-telling of last season. I liked the Smash plot and the baby Gracie plot, but the Matt/Carlotta thing was handled poorly. Same with Lyla/Riggins. At least we got a Jason Street sighting. Poor kid, went from a High school stud/Notre Dame-bound QB to 30 seconds of screen time in the past six or so episodes. What gives?
all I can say is THANK GOD CARLOTTA IS GONE!!! She was SUCH a bore and she was taking all of Matt’s screen time away from other people on the canvas, people we actually CARE about. I miss Mat and Landry. I miss Matt and the Coach. I miss Matt and JULIE! I just miss Season 1 Matt. This season’s Matt is a stranger.
FNL at its worst is 10 times better than most tv out there.
I actually thought this was one of the best this season. I smiled the whole way through.
I did like this episode. What is it with everybody and their “cliche” complaining? There were plenty of cliches last season as well,but you didn’t seem to mind it then. Such as: all the hardships the team went through to win a state championship(Remember the Titans),the coach’s daughter who hates footbal…but ends up dating the QB,the boy no one respects as a player ends up being the QB(Varsity Blues),and grows some nuts in the process,The hard as nails Head Coach actually has a heart of gold,the Geeky(sidekick)gets the hot popular girl who doesn’t have it as easy as everyone thinks(Landry and Tyler),the player with no talent ends up being the hero of a big game(all the games are BIG on this show),the couple from to different worlds(or races)shouldn’t be together but love conquers all(Romeo & Juliet,done to death)…I could go on. My point is this:Did ya like the ep otherwise? Was the acting good? Did ya feel for the characters? Then get over it. Ther’ll be plenty more to come.
My apologies for my “Romeo & Juliet” point, I was thinking of Smash and the white girl, but I guess it works for Landry and Tyra as well, especially with Landry’s dad telling her to stay away from him. I’ll substitute it with the Tim Riggins character, who is basically just a big walking cliche of a stereotypical “jock”(womanizer, drunken party animal), except for the one girl he can’t have in which he’ll turn his life around to be with(Lyla).
I agree with your point, TDag- FNL, since it started, is a show that takes “classic” plot points and infuses them with subtle details and relationship dynamics that further them. The difference between a mediocre show and a great show is not always the originality of the plot, but the way in which the plot gets there. That’s not to say that FNL doesn’t have missteps (I’m not sad to see Carlotta go, and how she’s leaving definitely not original), but along the way we got to see a Quinceanera and some great interactions with Matt’s grandma. Those all felt authentic, which is what sets this show apart. And for those of you from Austin, wasn’t it great to see the Crestview grocery store and the classic upside-down sign laundromat? Also, it’s been said before, but Santiago has the saddest eyes I’ve ever seen, except for Tim Riggins.
the thing about FNL is that I don’t really care about the plot – I watch for those little moments of real feeling – like the Matt/Landry scene, which was brief, but heartfelt. Also loved the coach and Tami storyline – although she considers leaving, and he knows it would be easier, he mans up and supports her into doing the right thing for everybody. Loved that last talk about sticking together. Are there any men left out there like Eric Taylor??? Hope so!
Bye bye Carlotta!
REALLY good article in today’s (1/20) NY times about FNL. it’s in the magazine section and can be found on nytimes.com
search: art in the age of franchising
it’s an opinion piece by virginia heffernan, a big fan of the show. it tries to explain why such an amazing show is floundering in the ratings.
People need to remember a sub par FNL is 100% better than most of the crap that is on. Last two weeks have not been my favorite but it is those ‘little’ things that make a not a very good show worth it. It is a total joy to watch Coach and Tami….fighting or kissing it is pure joy. I like the Sanitago character and how much Buddy needs him more then the other way around. More than anyone, Buddy has developed and changed the most…for the better!! The Smash dealing with racism…haven’t we been here before? And Carlita…..never really did get that…hope she is gone for good. I have high hopes for next week…Tami coaching should be hilarious!!!!!!
I did feel like this was an episode FILLED with stereotypes. The former gang banger who has to deal with his former friends — and, of course it’s an Hispanic gang! The racist small town in Texas — I live in Chicago, so I don’t know what Texas is like, but would every white person at the movie theater really do that? Really?! The dirty looks and harassing of Smash’s sister? And of course, we have the stereotype of the white boy going to the Hispanic dance. I’m not going to miss Carlotta. I did like the way Buddy busted in on Coach’s dinner, ranting about “thugs”. And the Landry/Matt scene was pure gold. More please! I’m waiting to see where they take the Lyla story. So far, it’s been ok.
Still, like other people have said, FNL is better than most TV shows!
Love this show and loved this episode. As someone else wrote, I don’t watch this show for the story lines or plots, I watch for the incredible acting and the small moments of everyday life. I would watch an entire episode of Coach, Mrs. Coach and Riggins playing Scrabble and I’d be disappointed when it was over!
Okay, I hope I’m way off here, but did anyone get the hunch that Carlotta was skipping town because she was pregnant? We never got a genuine explanation as to why she was leaving. And I wish Lyla would do something that would make me understand Tim loving her. It seems sudden, though he could have been harboring feelings for her for a long time.
Beachmom, I enjoy Lost, Amazing Race, Nip/Tuck, Dexter, and Veronica Mars.
I love ANY episode of FNL! No complaints here.
Beachmom, I also watch Survivor, Amazing Race, Top Model, American Idol, Dancing with the Stars, LOST, Grey’s,Desp Houswives, Brothers & Sisters, Paranormal States and ER(I can’t give it up)
I just started watching this show about 3 weeks ago, and I’m hooked! (And harboring a totally inappropriate crush on Riggins.)
I’d like to say this…I like the fact that we actually see Gracie. Most shows, you know they have a baby, but you never see it. And there she is! The daycare scenes hit totally close to home for me.
Beachmom, I forgot Project Runway . . .I really watch ALOT of T.V., but FNL is my favorite!
My problem with the Carlotta running beck home because my “family needs me” storyline is that, if anything, her family “needs her” to stay working in America (especially as a live-in nurse)and sending the money back home.