(S02E11) This week we had a pretty big episode where various plots are concerned. With Smash picking a college, the Riggins boys being reunited, and some order being restored to the Taylor household, there are a few different ongoing plots getting wrapped up. That came at the expense of some of the other characters, as many of them didn't get more than a passing glance. That's not all bad though. I did find it somewhat refreshing to get a break from the Tyra/Landry story.
Let's start with the shenanigans over at the Taylor house. As much as I like having Jessalyn Gilsig on my TV, I'm happy to see Shelley packing up and heading for Dallas. I was getting as unnerved by her character as Eric and Tami were. I wouldn't be against her popping up again for a visit, but I think her leaving is the for the best, both for the well being of the Taylors, and for the show.
The other big story for team Taylor this week, daughter Julie and the Riggins incident, actually worked out very well. I was all ready to not like it, because the conflict between Eric and Riggins was built on such an easily dealt with misunderstanding. The fact that Julie owned up to Tim that she couldn't bring herself to tell Eric what really happened helped to make that work. And it led to some nice Eric/Julie interaction. "Damn, Julie...Damn." I really liked their little chat where Eric laid it all out for her. As good as it was though, it was topped by Eric's apology to Riggins, which was my favorite scene of the night. The look from Tim when Eric tells him how honorable his actions were was perfect.
Speaking of our old pal Tim, it was good to see some follow-up on the Billy/Jackie story. It did seem to fall victim to the warped sense of time the show sometimes has. How long has it really been since Tim moved out? Long enough for Billy to lose his job, get behind on the mortgage, break up with Jackie, and have her packed up and moving? The logistics of it do seem a little rough, but the resolution works.
I'm not as convinced about their little heist over at methlab central. It all felt a little too convenient, but this story does fit with the show a whole lot better than the murder plot did. It's not a big stretch to imagine that Tim and Billy would get themselves mixed up in something like that. And I'm sure that at some point Guy will come knocking. Tweaked out on meth or not, at some point he's going to notice that three thousand dollars has gone missing.
And then there is Smash. This one came up a little faster than I thought it would. I was expecting a couple more instances of recruiting drama before he finally came to a decision. As part of that, I thought we might see some more questionable motives out of Noelle. I haven't really figured out what her angle is. Her excitement over his decision to go to TMU didn't fit with my initial suspicions. While that part of the Noelle story may still be up in the air, I like the character for the reactions she inspires. The looks she garnered from Mrs. Williams and Eric were great. As was the fact that she seems oblivious to the fact that she is causing those reactions.
Finally, the Panthers were back on the field for the big game against the Lions. I liked how this played out, with the game coming down to the two coaches. Given the animosity between the two of them, it worked really well. My only complaint goes back to the NBC promotions department. I really would have preferred not to have known that Coach Dickie was going to take out Riggins. But try as I might, I couldn't avoid it, because every FNL commercial for the last week featured that scene.
So, there we have it. This was my favorite episode of season two so far. That does, of course, have more than a little to do with the fact that the murder was completely off the radar. With just four episodes to go, I think the show has found its stride.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-12-2008 @ 12:35PM
Michael said...
Do we know if this will get picked up for next season (If there is a next season) in the fall? This was also my favorite episode of the season.
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1-12-2008 @ 12:44PM
Brett said...
Michael, I haven't seen any official word. The best news has been an article in Variety that talked about how FNL is doing well in the 18-34 demo, DVR viewing, and has a higher concentration of viewers that make more than $100K.
Variety on FNL
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1-12-2008 @ 1:26PM
RightOnPeachtree said...
Great recap and insights, Brett. Man, I love this show. It's the best show on TV in my book.
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1-12-2008 @ 2:34PM
Jeff N. said...
I was so worried Julie was not going to tell her father Eric the truth about how Riggins helped her out and that he was not trying to make out with her. I was very reliefed that she came through and told her father the truth.
I loved her father reaction, Damn Julie Damn. Very true to life. This is a very good show.
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1-12-2008 @ 3:51PM
Bash said...
"make out" is a nice description of what Coach thought he saw...
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1-12-2008 @ 4:57PM
Amy Gregson said...
This episode was one of my favorites so far. Especially considering I missed last weeks. I love watching Coach Taylor interact with everyone. He really makes this show. I love it when he uses as little words as possible because his face shows it all.
Also, living in Canada I don't get the preview for the next week, So the other Coach bringing Riggins down was totally unexpected and awesome..
Love, Love, Love this show. I hope the writers strike ends soon so we get more episodes..
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1-12-2008 @ 6:25PM
Randall said...
I have a feeling there is going to be more about Smash's recruitment. People renege on on verbal commitments all the time and I hope its just an excuse to get other schools to try even harder and possibly break some rules in the process.
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1-12-2008 @ 7:06PM
Charlotte said...
Is anyone else cringing at the possibility of Riggins and Julie getting together?
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1-12-2008 @ 10:33PM
sam said...
i definitely agree this is the best show on tv right now. even at age 27, there isn't one aspect of the show that i don't feel i can relate to.
in regards to a possible next season, i have to wonder if there will actually be one. with most of the main characters being seniors this year, they will all move on to college, so will we have to be introduced to an entire new cast? something tells me this may be the final season, as much as i don't want to believe it.
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1-13-2008 @ 3:40AM
Vito said...
FNL is the best show out there.
Riggins has got to be my new favorite character although Landry is a close 2nd. I am a little disppointed that ferret-meth guy will be back...I thought we were done with him.
I might be in the minority on this, but I actually like Landry & Tyra scenes, although I am SOOO glad that the "I killed a Rapist" storyline is over.
I've just got my wife started watching season 1 (on DVD) and she likes it. I told her to enjoy Julie now as it is only downhill from here.
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1-13-2008 @ 1:15PM
John said...
Can the 2 best shows be on Friday nights? I'd put FNL and Moonlight on the sked for next season and redo the entire rest of the slate, most tv s*cks nowadays.
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1-13-2008 @ 8:21PM
Lisa said...
Seems to me like they're setting something up with Tim handling the gun in the drug dealer's house. Fingerprints, maybe?
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1-14-2008 @ 10:13AM
Michael said...
Maybe it's the football fan in me, but was the question of who won the game addressed?
Are we to assume to the other team won the game?
Wouldn't the rules of the game give the Panthers a free, untimed down?
I'm not sure about that since the other coach is technically not part of the defensive squad.
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1-14-2008 @ 11:56AM
khamel said...
im like 99% sure they won the game. wasn't he in the open field? isn't that the reason the coach went abe-shit? when taylor said "coach's interference" or something like that i assumed there was some arcane rule that when something like this happens the team who is interfered with wins automatically. it'll likely be explained but i think it can be inferred when the coach realizes he will be fired and apologizes and everyone leaves.
1-14-2008 @ 11:54AM
khamel said...
im sure most of the people commenting here aren't huge college football fans but TMU? Wasn't he recruited by Michigan and USC and a bunch of great schools? I guess if he can start at TMU thats great (and obviously he needs to stay in the state if he can still be part of the show) but couldn't they have used a real school? Texas, Texas A&M, Tech?? I guess now that i think about it, he could only have gone to TMU because no other show would have signed off. good thing for me i didnt think about it because i was actually anxious how it was going to work out.
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1-14-2008 @ 4:54PM
Jeff said...
Yes the Panthers won the game. The rules of football allow the officals to award a touchdown and end the game if something bizzare like that happens. As a side note, the game would not have ended if Dillon had still been trailing after the awarded score.
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1-15-2008 @ 5:21PM
awrr said...
Just a little Friday Night Lights Texas trivia. Mack Brown (head coach, UT football) made an appearance last season. This episode featured Rick Barnes (head coach, UT basketball) as the TMU recruiter.
Also, the weatherman is/was an Austin-area network weatherman. I can't remember the name/network.
As a UT alum, I almost fainted when Rick Barnes waltzed in and shook Smash's hand. This great show only gets better with UT cameos.
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1-16-2008 @ 3:15PM
khamel said...
i knew he looked familiar. i thought he was just on the show before and i remembered him. i certainly remembered mack brown.