Well! The season premiere of Friday Night Lights sure did set off a lively debate. The murder plotline: liked by some, hated by others. Coach's hair, however: loved by all.
The Coach-hawk
We begin this week with a screaming baby Grace, a stressed out Tami, and an overall befuddled Coach, who insists over the phone that the constant crying is colic. "Julie was colic!" he offers by way of explanation. They go on to have one of those patented Adorable Taylor conversations, which this week includes Tami accusing Coach of slamming Julie's hand in the car door as a child, and Coach moping about how his bed is uncomfortable and how he's not yet part of the TMU staff's inner circle. Guess he showed up too late for the trust falls and icebreaker games.
Landry calls Tyra to inform her that he can't find his watch. They pack up and take little a trip down Memory Lane all the way to Homicide Bridge. Landry is worried because the watch is engraved with his name, Tyra gets annoyed, and they proceed to have a surprisingly entertaining dialogue. Maybe these two can spin this whole murder thing into comedy gold yet!
Coach is on the field over at TMU, where it says "Welcome to Bobcat Stadium". I misread this as "Welcome to Borat Stadium," which I think would be infinitely more entertaining. Coach is called away to deal with his first Challenge. Antoine, a hotshot asshole football player who has been accepting gifts from the Booster Club, got caught with an agent at a Justin Timberlake concert, and now Coach is to escort him to his hearing. Antoine shows no remorse, instead commenting on the fact that "that little white boy's got soul!" Well, okay, no one can argue with you there. In fact, maybe you can use J Timbo to your advantage at the hearing. Here, I'll get you started. Step One: Cut a hole in the box.
A very sweaty and hopelessly dweeby teacher visits Tami at home to drop off some files. His name is Glenn and he has apparently taken over the guidance counselor position while she's on maternity leave. He's obviously in over his head, squeaking that the kids are "coming at him like ninjas", which is so cool. I hope the Dillon Ninja Club makes an appearance at some of the halftime shows this season. Glenn and Tami go over some of the kids' files, though she obviously has no patience for the poor guy. He begs for help, and her advice is to just connect with the children. Cue Evil Daughter #1 to walk in and brat all over the place and totally undermine everything she just said. Glenn just looks like he wishes he were back in that locker someone stuffed him into earlier.
"Any advice on how to stop the daily beatings?"
Landry is over at Matt's house pestering him for some reason or another, and is it just me or does it seem like our dear Matt has seriously cranked up the accent? He pronounces messages like "meeeesages" and I also hear a solid "git" in there. They are interrupted by a delivery man at the door, who has arrived to deliver Lorraine's $2400 tiara, which, as Landry correctly points out, will "be beautiful for whenever you want to just zip over to the Rite-Aid". Oh, Landry. Good to see that manslaughter hasn't dampened your sense of humor! Matt freaks out and tells her they need to return it, but her eyes just glaze over and she runs off to practice her speech on education in the Iraq and South Africa and such as.
Miss Dementia 2007
The Middle-Aged Men Who Have Nothing In Life But High School Football Meeting is in high gear over at Applebee's, and Buddy Garrity is proud to announce that Garrity Motors is happy to sponsor the season opener Pep Rally. Coach Asshat, however, shits all over his parade by announcing that it will instead be held at Lester's ranch, making it more of a wholesome family event. Buddy insists that he's wholesome, but the other guys roll their eyes at each other and shoot spitballs at him. Asshat thanks him for the offer and says that he sure hopes he can make it. Damn. I've never been Buddy Garrity's biggest fan, but at this point you really can't feel anything but terrible for the poor guy. Surely things will progress as the episode continues!
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Comments (10)
I never got a chance to comment on the season premiere, so let me say now, Screampillr, so glad you're back to recap season 2 (didn't you lose an "a" from your name? Can we buy you a vowel?)
I also was a little concerned about the murder plot, but I can also see how teenagers can operate with blinders on and not see future consequences of their actions. After seeing this episode, I'm feeling ok that the plot line will play itself out in character with the tone of the rest of the show.
I'll second your thoughts on Julie's character: she's impulsive and self-absorbed and it ain't pretty to watch most of the time, but it's a fair portrayal of what many of us were like at that age.
Anyone else think the hot Latina nurse is going to make a man of our boy Matt?
1 of 10 | Posted by JasonR | Posted on October 16, 2007 8:01 AM
Awesome show, and equally awesome recap, SP!
Too many things to comment on, so I'll just pick one.
Grandma with the tiara scene was an absolute scream!
Keep it coming, FNL!
2 of 10 | Posted by ThisShowRocks! | Posted on October 16, 2007 8:50 AM
I am glad to hear that you loved Pierce on 24 as well. I was so excited to see him.
It was interesting to see the difference in how he carried himself in this role as opposed to the one on 24. I almost didn't recognize him for a minute, because of the drastic change in demanor!
Way to go Pierce/Landry's Dad! Way to act!
3 of 10 | Posted by fnllover | Posted on October 16, 2007 11:00 AM
Another fine recap!
I'm also getting more comfortable with the murder plot. In fact, most of the story lines felt better. I don't know if that is because the writer's are getting more comfortable, or us trusting that they do, in fact, know what they are doing. (We've all had our hearts broken by shows that lost their mojo in the off season - darn you, Remington Steel!)
4 of 10 | Posted by fire@will | Posted on October 16, 2007 12:10 PM
I'm not a big fan of the murder storyline but maybe that's the plot device the writers are using to make it believable that Tyra would fall in love with Landry. Kind of a messy way to do it.....but I wasn't really comfortable with the racism storyline last season and the way they dealt with that was beautiful. I think that's the episode that I became a full-fledged FNL fan! Whatever happened to Coach Mack anyway?
5 of 10 | Posted by volleydawg | Posted on October 17, 2007 10:14 AM
OMGoodness - I LOVE YOUR RECAPS!! Love love love them! That said - can I die of laughter again from "Community Pool of Sin and Amniotic Fluid" . hahaha.. and Miss Dementia 2007. Hahaha.
Okay, so, I'm totally not feeling the murder thing either. Actually, I kept speaking to the tv that night saying "No, they didn't do that. They didn't go there. Cmon, they didn't write that." But, they did.
I want to marry Matt Saracen. ASAP.
Thanks for such fantastic recaps. : )
6 of 10 | Posted by dainsey | Posted on October 17, 2007 2:04 PM
OMGoodness - I LOVE YOUR RECAPS!! Love love love them! That said - can I die of laughter again from "Community Pool of Sin and Amniotic Fluid" . hahaha.. and Miss Dementia 2007. Hahaha.
Okay, so, I'm totally not feeling the murder thing either. Actually, I kept speaking to the tv that night saying "No, they didn't do that. They didn't go there. Cmon, they didn't write that." But, they did.
I want to marry Matt Saracen. ASAP.
Thanks for such fantastic recaps. : )
7 of 10 | Posted by dainsey | Posted on October 17, 2007 2:06 PM
As a self diagnosed TV addict, I am a huge fan of dragging my enjoyment of a particular show out by reading recaps. In my search for the best recappers out there, you, Screampillr, are in my top two....I can't even tell you how many times I have (painfully) read a recap of some show I love only to be sorely dissapointed with the inane play by plays... "then this happened....then he said this....blah blah blah"
That being said, top notch recappers that write with just the right amount of snark, personal perspective, and obscure entertainment references are hard to come by....
So, Screampillr, I heart you and your screencaps very much.
I was feeling this episode a lot more too....
My favorite parts....
Grandma Saracens tiara and
your Lila screencap...i was howling..."Christ in my windshield wiper fluid.." indeed.
And for the record, I vote that The Swede is both B and C.... "a poor man's Adrian Grenier" AND "Ikea-like in his blandness and affordability"
Keep rocking the recap Sreampillr....looking forward to this season with you!
8 of 10 | Posted by mamabird | Posted on October 17, 2007 2:26 PM
Long time reader, first time poster, I love this show, thanks for your hilarious recaps. Just wanted to let you know someone else watched FNL!
9 of 10 | Posted by RLR123 | Posted on October 18, 2007 2:33 PM
I'm so over Julie. Her huge lips and knockers are distracting and her acting is getting worse by the ep. Someone needs to tell her to turn down the facial tics and quit trying so hard! Oh, and be a nicer daughter and girlfriend. (Wait that's the writing, but I think her acting is even killing that, which is hard to do on this show... hail to the writers!!)
10 of 10 | Posted by I.Heart.MattSaracen | Posted on October 21, 2007 8:57 PM