For those of you who are enjoying ‘Friday night Lights’ on Direct TV (and for those who just can’t wait until ‘FNL’ airs on NBC in January), we’ve decided to help satisfy your craving. If you’re perfectly happy waiting, don’t follow the jump.
Week two of Friday Night Lights on Direct TV 101, and (once again, I warn you: Spoiler Alert!)…
My big question is: What was Tyra — or the show’s writing staff — thinking? One remark from her blowsy mom and a nod of encouragement from herloose sister, and our thoughtful, college-minded girl was suddenlygetting female pals to shake their barely covered groove things onschool property in an attempt to drum up school-election votes? Andthen she acted surprised when Principal Tami was angry with her? Is thischaracter losing the level-headed intelligence that has made her sointriguing in past seasons? I know, I know — even smart teens act alittle crazy sometimes. So I’ll shrug and ascribe it to silliness…fornow. Besides, Tyra redeemed herself in the brief but extremely funny scenenear the end of the hour, when she was so brilliantly sarcastic while lollingaround the Riggins household, waiting for her sister to finish (as sheso tartly put it) “humping” Tim’s brother in a nearby bedroom.
As for the episode’s other subplots:
• It was great to see Deadwood’sKim Dickens as Matt’s long-gone mom; his quest to attain “emancipatedteen” legal status is setting up an emotional storyline about the careof his grandmother, and Friday Night Lights knows how to deal with subjects like this with minimal sentimentality and maximum effectiveness.
• “Suck it up — that’s what being a man is.” Thus spake Coach Eric to agrimacing Smash, struggling to overcome the fear that his knee mightblow out again. I like the acting in all these Coach-Smash scenes, butknowing that they’re just setups leading to Gaius Charles’ exit fromthe show lessen their intensity. I keep thinking, “This guy’s off to domovies and other TV shows; best of luck to him.”
• Tami Vs. The Jumbotron: Well, this storyline is barreling alongnicely, don’t you think? Connie Britton excels at playing stressed-outyet tuned-in — her Tami is never more focused than when under attack. Thefact that this Jumbotron boondoggle is being forced upon her by a veryaggressive, devious Buddy Garrity (let’s hear it for Buddy getting hiswily business-mojo back again this season!) only makes this showdownmore impressive. And if I was a betting man, I’d say Tami is going tolose this fight, and maybe even get busted back down to guidancecounselor. What do you think?
More on Friday Night Lights:
‘Friday Night Lights’ recap: A solid season 3 premiere on Direct TV
The ‘Friday Night Lights’ season 2 finale recap
Friday Night Lights season 3 preview
Austin City Limits report: FNL’s Gaius Charles blogs about Erykah Badu
Austin City Limits report: FNL’s Connie Britton blogs about Beck, the Raconteurs, and chaos
Austin City Limits report: FNL’s Jesse Plemons blogs about the Black Keys
Austin City Limits report: FNL’s Adrianne Palicki blogs about Blues Traveler
Austin City Limits report: FNL’s Scott Porter blogs about N.E.R.D and the Swell Season
Comments (1-20) of 20 Add your comment
Great episode – again! The old Buddy is back…the one you hate. Loved all of Tim and Lyla’s scenes together..I hope they’re strong enough to leap over all of their many hurdles.
Every time FNL recaps come out, I go home and take some DAMITOL, the new headache medicine for people who don’t have access to this awesome show.
You dish owners not only get more HD options than us folks who get sucked dry by the cable monopoly, but you pay half what I do! Curse my condo association for the satelite dish ban!
In regards to Tyra, she tends to revert to what she knows best when stressed. (didn’t she climb in Landry’s window when stressed about the murder?) So, seeing her do this is right in character. As she grows, she would do that less and less. (hopefully!)
I thought the Coach “Suck it up!” scene was incredibly intense. Both actors nailed that with their facial expressions. I don’t mind that Smash is leaving. It’s what is right for the character.
EP Sato: it’s been illegal for your condo association to ban dishes since 1996. Check the FCC’s explanation:
http://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html
Back on topic: I agree that Tyra reverts to form when stressed. The challenge for her going forward will be to avoid that. I’d like to see Street and Herc actually on the show instead of just introducing the deleted scenes too.
Thanks for the recaps.. they’re keeping me going until January. I wish my friends with DirectTv liked me enough to invite me to their houses to watch the show. Sigh.
Thanks Ken.
I loved how Julie has ‘mature’ and how Matt is with her now. They are now good friends and I can’t wait for them to get back together … they are right? They have sure grown … so so sweet.
Tim and Lyla are perfect together. He needs her in his life .. hate Buddy for making Tim feel unwanted at that lunch thing … Tim had dress up and even google the guy to impress him
Jumbotron vs. Tami ………. sorry Tami but Jumbotron will win. IT is not fair but hey that is what happens in small towns …. like mine. We have a Jumbotron and believe me NO ONE question where it came from ….
Loved every moment of Tim/Lyla and Matt/Julie. SOOOO good.
It wasn’t out-of-character that Tyra did the thing in the first place, but it was when she was surprised that Tami was mad about it. Of course she would be. Loved the Tim/Tyra scene.
Still don’t buy Tim/Lyla. I can see their entire relationship play out and I really think she’ll just keep trying to change him. That’s fine if he’s OK with it, but I don’t think he is.
All the Matt/Julie scenes were cute.
I’m happy for Smash. Loved all his scenes with Coach Taylor.
This is still my favorite show.. was so excited to get home and see it again!
Tyra is scared that she will end up like her mom and sister and did what she thought she had to do to win that election, which will look good when she applies for college. I cried for her after she left Tami’s office.
Oh, Tyra. I think she just didn’t know what else to do, and decided to do what most politicians do and play to her audience. Hopefully it was only an “ends justifying the means’ kind of thing and not a backslide in her personal growth.
Loved the scenes with Matt and Landry. Those two are fantastic together, and I hope we get to keep seeing more of them!
Loved this, it brings me back to Season 1. Loved everything with Matt this week and Smash. And of course pantless Tim.
Great episode, if only I could watch it in a legit way
oh well I guess I shall go to Applebees to make up for my transgressions. Still one of the best shows on TV without a doubt.
Does anyone know the name of the song that was playing during the scene when Matt goes to visit his mom?
Can anybody please explain how Matt goes to Landry at what was presumably night(considering it was dark)& says he wants to borrow his car to which he will bring it back in the morning. We then see him driving during daylight. The next scene we see him in,is yet again night time on the football field(Supposedly after 8pm on saturday due to what Coach Taylor told Smash the day before).We then see Tim & Lyla go to dinner after that,in which it is daylight again. It then becomes night again & we see Matt driving Landry’s car (wearing the same clothes) to which he tells Julie he has borrowed Landry’s car because he went to see his mum to get the papers signed.So basically,Matt borrowed the car on friday night,went to see his mum on saturday morning,played football with smash on saturday night and then still managed to be driving back in the same clothes on sunday night from visiting his mum.The life of a emancipated minor.Hopefully his nan is being well looked after whilst this is happening
The scene when Coach Taylor goes to see Smash at night and tells him about the tryout and then they all cheer when he leaves … I just lost it. So touching. I swear, Gauis Charles just lights up every scene he is in. It’s a shame that the FNL helmers don’t see what a talented actor he is and how much his character and character’s family adds to the show. Not to mention they’re losing the only minority character. Shame.
Nicole–the song you were looking for is “This Is The Thing” by Fink. Beautiful song.
So now what? This show had always deserved a TV Watch, now we don’t even get a PopWatch Blog? EW claims to love this show. What’s going on?
No write up anymore????
She will lose the fight for a Jombotron because football is king in small towns across America. Especially in Texas. This show is so good and entertaining to watch. Thank you Direct TV..
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