Ugh. That is all I have to say about this week's episode of Friday Night Lights. Just ugh.
I'm not sure what happened, but all of a sudden everything sucked. Except the Taylors, who were delightful as always. Everyone else - dead to me. I'm looking at you, writers. I know you wrote this episode long before the strike began, so there's no excuse. Lay off the late night Red Bull.
And apologies for the lateness. I got way behind this week and almost decided not to write this recap, but then caved anyway, if for no other reason that to loudly complain about how awful it was. Join me, won't you?
We begin with Lyla traversing the streets of Mexico in a taxi. She arrives at the hotel and attempts to check in, but the guy doesn't speak English. Hey, dude. Speak American when you're in Amer- Oh. Never mind. Jason shows up, still wearing that damn hat, the one that was charming last week but is now painfully stupid. He gets pissed at her, then gets pissed at Tim, then I get pissed at him because where has my precious adorable Jason gone? He's been replaced by a cranky old man. That would explain the hat.
Oh, but nothing slaps a smile on my face like a little Taylor fun. Coach sets up some candles in the bedroom and makes some fuck me eyes at his darling wife. He asks how it went at the doctor's, then not-so-subtly starts begging for sex. Though flattered by the gesture, Tami says she's not ready yet, and instead instructs him to go spend some time with his baby daughter so she can get some sleep. This woman must have nerves of steel. How could she refuse The Eyebrow??
"Oh hello, I...didn't hear you come in."
Jason and Tim are once again gallivanting through the streets in Mexico, regaling Lyla with stories of their their drunken adventures. Meanwhile, at their former high school (seriously, do truant officers exist in Dillon?), Julie runs into Matt in the cafeteria. They flirt awkwardly for a moment, and when Matt returns to the table Landry just repeats the word "No" about seventeen times. Haha. I miss goofy Landry.
Over at practice, no one calls attention to the fact that both a star player and a coach are missing and presumed dead. Maybe the plan is for the entire team to slowly leak across the border until we get enough to start a new show, Luces De Viernes Por La Noche. Coach makes everyone switch jerseys so that offense is playing defense and vice versa. They make it seem like a big deal, but since it has to do with football, I don't get it. Coach takes special notice of Landry, though he still thinks his name is Lance, in a nice throwback to last season. Matt and Smash start fighting again, and Coach punishes them with 100 up-downs, which sound sexy, but in fact are not.
Following practice, Mac McGill corners Coach in the office and starts drilling him about his sex life. "Back in the saddle with Tami yet?" he asks. I promptly vomit. Coach looks not far behind. Mac continues to dispense advice that Coach did not ask for, suggesting that he make Tami go to a book club so she can get all liquored up with the ladies, so that when she comes home she'll be ready to go. Coach deadpans perfectly: "Not now, or ever again. I don't want to hear about you and Susan riiiding in the saddle." If I had been drinking milk, that line would have sprayed it all over the screen.
Unfortunately, it's all downhill from here. Tyra recaps for Landry her trip to the police station. More of we're in this together and I'd do anything for you and kissy faces. Moving on. Over at the actual police station, Daddy Clarke listens in on a conversation about the dead rapist and how Tyra is definitely a person of interest. He looks Concerned, though this is probably more due to the fact that he's stuck in the Plotline From Hell.
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Comments (10)
I actually thought the same thing when he threw himself off the boat and hoped they weren't killing him off. I like that Matt told Julie off but I don't like the previews of him kissing another girl.
1 of 10 | Posted by RLR123 | Posted on November 9, 2007 8:20 AM
Let me start by saying SP that I love your recaps they are witty and insightful.
If you could add paragraphs to break it up a little bit it would be much easier to read.
I don't want to be one of those people that just complains about the recap, but it was a tough read this week.
2 of 10 | Posted by PaulieWalnutz | Posted on November 9, 2007 8:48 AM
Thanks for the recap, SP.
I agree...Overall, sucky episode.
There were a few highlights though.
I also loved everything Taylor, as always.
And anything Lance/Landry related is OK in my book too...Coach calling him Lance made me laugh every time.
Tyra broke my heart when she dumped Landry in such an awful way. I understand WHY she did it that way, but damn! :(
I was also glad Matt finally stood up for himself.
But the Jason, Lyla, Riggins storyline left a bad taste in my mouth..Seriously, what was that little menage a trois in the making there? Ummm...FAMILY TV!
I think I'm just over the ~ wait, are you sitting down, SP? ~ I think I'm over the whole Jason storyline. For me, he could leave the show, and I wouldn't miss him. Eh...but I feel that way about Smash too, so...
Oh well...new episode tonight. BRING.IT.ON!
3 of 10 | Posted by ThisShowRocks! | Posted on November 9, 2007 8:54 AM
Geez, SP, I didn't think the episode was THAT bad.
If you ever played high school sports, you'd know that those types of cliches are said, and believed in, by the coaches and players, so I bought that scene, and the fact that the team did get pumped up by the little inspirational speech from their own "Rudy", Landry. When you're 16 you don't know that these are cliches yet. When the music swelled and Coach did his "clear eyes, pure hearts, can't lose" I'll admit as an ex jock who was short on natural talent but had some success based on sheer will and work ethic I got a lump in my throat.
Loved Saracen remembering he actually has a pair, and loved watching Tami try not to completely sell out Julie even though you know she wanted to tell Matt he was being a doormat.
Was it me or was the scene with Jason jumping off the boat either consciously or unconsciouly an homage to "Forest Gump", when Lt. Dan jumped off the shrimp boat and realized he wanted to live?
I kind of get Tyra feeling she had to be extra cruel to Landry for his own good. If she had told Landry the truth (that she couldn't see him anymore because of his father), Landry would never have accepted that.
Anyway, looking forward to tonight.
-JR
4 of 10 | Posted by JasonR | Posted on November 9, 2007 9:00 AM
Hey! Sorry about the original formatting. My bad. We were having some trouble with the publishing platform last night. Should be all good now.
Flip
5 of 10 | Posted by flipit | Posted on November 9, 2007 9:08 AM
Everything JasonR said...
The 3-way bit at the end was just plain creepy.
Loved all things Taylor, especially "Lance".
Maybe the jumping overboard would have been better as a cliff hanger... to be resolved the next week?
As ever, a good recap, especially when you didn't like so much of the episode.
6 of 10 | Posted by fire@will | Posted on November 9, 2007 9:47 AM
Plus, how weird was it for Tim and Lyla to be on the booze cruise and then all of a sudden pull up in that truck on the beach. I was like WTF.
The kissing at the end was ridiculous, as everyone else has stated. I guess being dunked in the river didn't quite wash all of the WHORE out of her hair.
Love the magic chili and OBEY THE CHILI screencap!
7 of 10 | Posted by DP Hooker | Posted on November 9, 2007 10:03 AM
Loved the recap, SP. Especially you suggesting that Matt get "doormat" tattooed on him in Sanskrit. The screencaps were great, too (T-Rex Grandma and OBEY THE CHILI).
I, too, hated the dive into the ocean. I actually would have liked it more if they had killed Jason off---at least then the scene would have made sense. I have no idea what it was about diving into the ocean that suddenly changed his mind, and it was way too easy of a solution to the surgery issue. So now Jason is A-OK with never walking again?
I also didn't like the threeway kiss at the end. I could buy Lyla kissing Tim (since, despite what she says, I think she's still really attracted to him), but I don't buy her kissing Jason. Their relationship seems totally done. Is this just a way for the writers to drag out some long love triangle storyline? I hope not.
I loved the scenes with Coach and Tami and Coach and Landry. I usually hate sports, but I even liked Landry's locker room speech. If we could just get Landry and Tyra back together without this murder storyline, I'd be a happy viewer.
I hope the writers give Smash something to do this season. Shouldn't he be getting into some trouble over a girl? Seems like he's due for that again.
8 of 10 | Posted by domino | Posted on November 9, 2007 4:29 PM
Screampillar - I can't believe you didn't make mention of the first "clear eyes - full hearts" chant of the season. I thought it was pretty neat that they held that out 'til Coach Taylor came back.
About the boat scene - yes, it was a little campy. I took it as Jason giving up - he knew his friends would not let him go through with the surgery - and attempting suicide. Then, he realized how much he loved life, and came back with screw the surgery. I think it was actually a good idea of a story line out of the surgery, but they had horrible execution. And, Lyla and Tim arriving on the beach in a jeep in three seconds - come on! The sad part is, they could have played the story for so much more dramatic pay off.
All in all, though, if the Taylors are in the episode for 30 seconds, it's the best show on TV!
9 of 10 | Posted by lawyergal | Posted on November 9, 2007 6:27 PM
"I'm not sure what happened, but all of a sudden everything sucked. Except the Taylors, who were delightful as always."
Word. Vomit in the mouth. Throwing himself off the boat? Really?
Christ In My Chin Donut Lila makes me want to smack her. I grew up with the holy rollers and they are soooo tired. And that crazy menage a kiss....read earlier in the year in Ask Ausiello in TV Guide about some "crazy threesome in Mexico with T,J, & L....I totally dismissed it and lookie here....what have we got?
And the Taylors...that whole 6 week thing was hysterical....LOVED IT. And as a mom, I can totally relate. Best marriage on TV....
Please please please, even if you are pissed, you have to recap. If nothing else, we need you to say it too. This season is confusing and doesn't feel nearly as good...from the premiere on. The questionable story lines are, at this point, still digestible with a dollop of the good stuff.
I am keeping the faith, at least as long as they are airing new episodes. Hopefully where they leave off won't be a bad place.
10 of 10 | Posted by mamabird | Posted on November 9, 2007 8:57 PM