(S01E03) They kind of telegraphed that the team was going to lose, but I think the show needed it to happen to really get into just what a crazy town Dillon is. It was a really good opening to the episode. The way the game footage was cut in with Coach Taylor in the locker room was very good. I was glad that they didn't just go with Saracen costing the Panthers the game. It would have been too much after he won the big game last time. Plus, having Saracen performing well sets us up for what promises to be an interesting quarterback battle.Yeah, how about Voodoo Tatum? Didn't see that one coming. It's an interesting angle grounded in some realism. For those that don't know, recruiting for high school sports is a real thing, and not just for football. There was recently a story here about a girls basketball team that was forced to forfeit all of their games from 2002 to 2006 because of it.
We should start getting into the quarterback battle next week. Although, I think there is plenty of room for recruiting violations, or possibly even some interference from the guidance counselor. Either way, at the end of the day I'm betting on Saracen being QB1.
Of course, the pressure put on the coach and the team is the focus of the episode. Lots of good stuff here to show just what Coach Taylor is up against. From the uncomfortable scene at the diner with Julie to the pancake breakfast. With a side order of the crazy mayor thrown in for kicks. "The last school counselor killed herself." An interesting little aside when they are watching the tape of Voodoo. Mac had already seen the tape when he was at Buddy's for a barbecue. Angling for the head coaching gig I take it. Clearly there is going to have to be a showdown between Eric and Buddy at some point.
There was a pretty good balance of story for some of the other characters tonight too. The crack in Lyla's facade that we all saw coming was finally brought on when Street lost it on her. I'm curious to see how far they go with that. Is there going to be more to what we saw with her and Riggins? Was that the two of them finally coming to grips with what happened, or is it the start of a love triangle? Or with Tyra still somewhat in the picture, a love quadrangle?
The Tyra/Riggins breakup did feel a little One Tree Hill, but it helped flesh out the Riggins storyline. I really liked the little scene with Mrs. Street. She seems to be something of a mother figure to Riggins, and it's interesting how her presence completely changes him to a well mannered southern boy. Yes Ma'am.
Little scenes like that are something this show gets right. They convey a lot more information about the people involved than just what is on screen. Another example is the scene at the Taylor's when Eric starts to lose it. Julie gets up and sweetly says "Goodbye Daddy" before turning to Tami and mouthing "Good luck." Just that little interaction tells us a lot about how the Taylor family dynamic works. That's good writing. And speaking of Julie, were there some sparks between her and Saracen at the pancake breakfast?
The field trip to run wind sprints up the hill in the rain in the middle of the night was a bit Hollywood. I'll roll with that one though. When the team finally comes around chanting "Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose." it's a very powerful scene. Things look to be on track for rivalry week.
Overall, another good episode. It will be interesting to see where the ratings come in tomorrow. NBC did order two more scripts, but the show has been hovering around the bottom three of shows for the network, which can't be good. I'm hoping the show can hang around long enough for an audience to find it. It's deserving of one.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-18-2006 @ 9:52AM
japetrick said...
in my humble opinion, one of the most well writen casts and storylines, in an hour episode, i almost feel like i am part of the Dillon community. rooting for the team and the coach. the people who are not watching this show are missing out on a great series and it will be a shame if it goes away. even if you don't like football, you can still follow the story of the passion of this small Texas town!
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10-18-2006 @ 10:02AM
Larry said...
I really enjoyed the show. My 13 yr old football player also enjoyed it. The good thing was he talked about it this morning at breakfast. Finally a TV show with some benefits to life, I was pleased that my son said being good requires a lot of dedication. That is what he saw last night in this series. Looking forward to the next hour I get to spend with my son and see what comes from it.
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10-18-2006 @ 10:09AM
jason said...
As someone who grew up playing football in a small East Texas town (pop. 4415), a lot of things about this show ring true.
The most unrealistic part of the show has nothing to do with football. It's the fact that this kid with a devestating spinal cord injury is being treated at Dillon hospital. In reality, Jason would have been transported to Fort Worth for treatment.
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10-18-2006 @ 2:12PM
Forrest said...
I've enjoyed the show so far. They have definitely
intertwined a few of the themes from the original FNL book (racial tension, prima dona players, recruiting) that were very much a part of the Odessa Permian community. Yes there have been some things that are "Hollywood" but overall the show does a good job of getting its message across. One thing that I think would have been beneficial is for them to do more research into the way life is in a modern Texas town today. The themes that they are using are somewhat antiquated and some don't are non-existent in a 5A town (50k+) which is what they portray Dillon as.
For Jason, one odd thing I noticed last night was that in one scene Street was at the hospital next to the stadium but the next afternoon the view out of his windowis downtown Austin. Nothing major but something that I noticed as rather odd.
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10-18-2006 @ 3:45PM
Brian said...
If I could just have one new show get picked up for another season it'd be this one. I like Heroes too; these two shows are the only new ones to interest me personally. But if push came to shove, I'd take FNL over Heroes.
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10-18-2006 @ 6:17PM
Al Mendelsohn said...
I am very scared this show may not make it past Christmas. It is too bad - this show is real quality television, maybe the best new drama this year. Excellent acting and scripts, and some cool cinematography (teletography?) thrown in.
Unfortunately this show is just getting lost in the shuffle of new shows and returning shows. Had they introduced it at a different time of year it would have found it's audience. Now I fear it may be too late.
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10-19-2006 @ 12:36AM
Comer said...
Overrated. It's cute, but I feel like it's just the same thing over and over, and not realistic. Saracin would have been better prepared rather than having never taken a snap. There won't be a lot of place to go...I think one season will be enjoyable, but won't need anymore.
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10-19-2006 @ 6:08AM
FNL= #1 said...
WOW! This show just gets better every week. Best show I have ever seen. While its not the book, the plot is great. If you have missed the first three shows then you might be a little lost if you are just now tuning in. This show will grab you in a way nothing I have ever watched before has. We all knew that someone was going to have an injury, but not like this at all. A player hurting his knee happens all the time in all levels of football, but a spinal injury is not that common. I personally had my left ACL torn in a game(damn astro turf). But this injury has flipped the script. The hick accents are over acted alittle by some of the characters. The pull and tear on all the characters emotions is what makes the show great. The team is not living up to the towns expectations and not even the players own expectations, hence this whole town seems to be in a downward spiral, all having to look at themselves as a failure in their own eyes. The question is can this town lean on eachother long enough to turn the season around, but not lean so hard it all comes crashing down. Hott ladies help the story also (haha).
Why does winning in Texas mean so much?
Yes, its your towns pride, yes the parties are better after a win. But the real reason is that this is the only way out of their small town. When you cant pay for college, and know you cant make strait A's, it means even more. Trust me, being from the town in Texas where the most winningest high school coach in Texas record stands to this day.
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10-19-2006 @ 12:19PM
dave said...
I like this show but I think it's doomed unless it hooks the young male/ female demo but it's a bit too good/ dark for them
So you take 1 part Remember the Titans (the middle of the night run to Gettysburg) and a little Miracle (winds sprints through the doctor’s warnings till Eruzione chimes in with his USA bit) and you have the formula for the wind sprint scene. Not very original but I still like the show
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