Coach returns to his room and his wonderful family. Tami apologizes for not coming to the dinner, she just couldn't handle Buddy and everything. He sighs and shrugs it off, then heads to the balcony. COACH DON'T DO IT! Oh, he's just sulking. Tami joins him and tries to reassure him, saying that he is a good man. And now...it's time to tell him the big news. I'm so excited I'm practically doing the pee-pee dance around my television. She says that she's pregnant, and the suppressed smile on Coach's face damn near melts my heart right out of existence. "Pregnant, like you're going to have a baby pregnant?" he clarifies. He still doesn't believe it and tells her to look him in the eye and say it. Hehe. "We're gonna have a baby, honey. You look a little peaked." Suddenly he starts laughing and cries, "I love you!" and they kiss and laugh and cry and I am reduced to a PUDDLE OF MUSH. That was just about the lovliest thing I've ever seen.
"Honey, you've got something in your teeth."
"Is it a BABY?!"
IT'S GAME DAY! The Panthers burst onto the field as the radio sports announcer guys ramble on about how Coach's big announcement might affect the players. Landry brings food to his harem up in the nosebleed section, which is almost totally empty. I thought Coach said every seat would be filled? Maybe they're protesting his departure. Anyway, the game starts...and the Panthers choke. Missed passes, Matt keeps getting tackled, and there is just overall incompetence. Meanwhile, the Vikings are on fire, shooting ahead to a 26-0 (!) lead at the half. Radio sports announcers narrate that the players have lost the fire, you can see it in their eyes, they just can't get past the whole Coach controversy. "The once-great season just may end right here." But nooo, they wouldn't do that to us would they? Huh? I mean, if the Panthers lose, then I, who have not really in my life ever cared about a sports team, might just have some sort of breakdown. For heaven's sake, my March Madness brackets had the Panthers winning it all.
Locker room at the half. It is silent and uncomfortable. The boys are just sitting there, stewing in their sweat and frustration. So it's time for Coach's big motivational speech. Prepare the Kleenex! "When Jason Street went down the first game of the season, everybody wrote us off. Everybody. And yet here we are at the championship game. Forty thousand people out there have also written us off. There are a few out there who still believe in you." Cut to shots of the Streets, Billy Riggins, Lorraine Saracen, Bo and MILF, Mama Smash, Tami and Julie. "A few will never give up on you. You go back out on the field, those are the people I want in your minds. Those are the people I want in your hearts." Update: I am quite literally sobbing at this point. "Every man at some point in his life is going to lose a battle. He's going to fight and he's going to lose. But what makes him a man is that in the midst of that battle he does not lose himself. This game is not over. This battle is not over." The boys look up with steely resolve. I cannot breathe. "So let's hear it one more time. Together. Clear eyes, full hearts --" "CAN'T LOSE!" the team cries. And I am a total and utter emotional wreck.
(Fun Fact: There was another version of this speech that didn't make it to air. It's slightly different, doesn't acknowledge the people of Dillon but rather goes into the definition of clear eyes and full hearts. It's lovely as well, but I for one like the aired one better - I loved the part about the families, that's what totally got me. But if you would like to see it, check it out here - but hurry, it's only going to be up for like another week.)
Second half, and - it's a whole new team! Smash scores almost immediately, putting the Panthers on the board for the first time. And then the Vikings fumble and Panthers score again! I'm still crying, by the way. Jason is coaching his little tortured heart out. Smash scores yet another touchdown, bringing the score up to 21-26 but oh no! Something is wrong with Smashy!
"Saracen! What do you think of my Sanscrit tattoo?"
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Comments (16)
Screampillar, thank God this show is at least tangentially about sports, which makes it ok for a guy to cry, just like it's ok for a guy to cry at the end of "Rocky", "The Rookie", "Remember the Titans", "Brian's Song", etc. (at least that's what I'm telling myself).
I rewound and replayed that winning touchdown at least 3 times, just like I did when Saracen scored in the game before.
This show is about as close as one can come to perfection. I thought the same thing about how the Slow Clap is such a cliche, but on this show, like everything else, it rang true.
Screampillar, let me be the first to thank you for an amazing job recapping FNL. I especially appreciated it since I don't know many people who watched, so I enjoyed being able to share my enthusiasm for the show here.
Let's all pray that the NBC suits are as addicted to this show as we are, and will be willing to give it time to develop an audience. If there is any justice, awared nominations will rain upon the writers, directors and cast and its profile will be raised. Hopefully, NBC will promote the reruns hard over the summer and people will get on the bandwagon.
1 of 16 | Posted by JasonR
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Posted on April 16, 2007 9:19 AM
Ditto JasonR.
2 of 16 | Posted by OzoneDude | Posted on April 16, 2007 9:57 AM
FNL is hands down my fave show on TV right now. They must renew.
And I totally sobbed from the moment they walked into the locker rooms and saw their names on the lockers until the end of the episode. Definite snot issues at my house as well.
3 of 16 | Posted by kmills
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Posted on April 16, 2007 10:57 AM
WOO-HOO!! WE WON STATE, BABY!! PANTHERS RUUUUULE!!
just had to say it one more time.
i loved the finale. there has been some criticism about the resolution of the football game, and some suggestion that the producers decided to let the Panthers win in case the show didn't get renewed (as most folks know, the real-life Permian Panthers team on which the original 'FNL' book and movie are based did NOT win their championship final). Normally, I'm not one for the improbable come-from-behind victories, but I'll take this one. We all deserved the opportunity to stand up and cheer for Dillon, Coach and Tami, and, of course, the kids. It's also fitting that Dillon win on the hook-and-ladder play, which was used by Boise State in this year's Fiesta Bowl to upset Oklahoma (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=270010201). If it can happen in real life, why not on TV?
Thanks for the funny and generous recaps, screampillar. I am from Virginia (went to the same HS as Connie B., the actress who plays Tami!!), and am currently coping with the shock of what has happened at VA Tech, where my cousin is an engineering grad student (he's o.k., but it just makes it much more real and present for me). This re-cap has lifted my spirits somewhat.
4 of 16 | Posted by jack | Posted on April 16, 2007 11:53 AM
I LOVE the show as well!!
Some might argue that it is also cliche to have the team win, but who the hell cares?!
They played that song Devil Town (is that the title?) at the end of another episode before this one, and yet I liked it just as much (if not more!) on this finale.
I wasn't expecting the team to actually win. I think the writers had to end things on a positive note so all the viewers would feel happy and satisfied and then look forward to the next season (as if we needed any convincing!) Maybe it was directed at the small percentage of viewers who couldn't make up their minds??
just a thought but I can't wait for the next season to start
(maybe the seniors, whoever they are, will be staying on for a "post graduate year!")
5 of 16 | Posted by lovedoctor
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Posted on April 16, 2007 12:55 PM
Screampillar, thanks so much for helping me relive the glory (again) and for a season of amazing recaps. Even if I do think you're a little too easy on Coach (IMO he was a bit of an ass this episode), I love your enthusiasm and you always crack me up. What will we all do over the Summer without this show to love? Because we WILL be back next season!
6 of 16 | Posted by alex | Posted on April 16, 2007 1:30 PM
Hang in there Jack (#4). Glad your cousin is ok. Everytime we get a reminder of the kind of pure evil/depravity that human beings are capable of, whether it's shooting up a college or an Amish schoolhouse, or flying planes into buildings, it really shakes us all to the core. If we're lucky, some good (or bad) TV, or a really good website about TV can provide some temporary escape.
7 of 16 | Posted by JasonR
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Posted on April 16, 2007 3:24 PM
thank you for the amazing recap!! this episode was wonderful, although, no i didnt cry!!! i WILL cry if they cancel such a perfectly produced/written/acted show!!! i am so glad the panthers won, i was worried that they would loose like in the book/movie, but i need a feel good ending especially when you feel like your favorite show might be ripped away from you at any moment. come on NBC!!!! give us another season of FNL!!!
8 of 16 | Posted by sunshine858619
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Posted on April 16, 2007 3:50 PM
Yes, the the tears flowed for me too! Freakin' awesome episode!!!! We were actually cheering out loud when the Panthers scored their touchdowns like it was real life or something! LMBO...
If this show is cancelled , I will be sooooo disappointed! It is perfection, and Tami and Coach are so adorably believable as a couple! I LOVE FNL! I'm sad to see it end...my Wednesday nights are gonna suck now....
Thank you Screampillar for all the great recaps. They were so fun to read!
Jack...glad to hear that your cousin is ok. I have been watching the coverage of this senseless tragedy all day, and it is just unbelievable....
9 of 16 | Posted by Jojobear
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Posted on April 16, 2007 5:47 PM
Picture it - the seniors graduate and go on to play for Coach at TMU while the kids still in Dillon get schooled by Tami (and Young Coach Jason thanks to Eric's commute). Seems like a recipe for the perfect Season Two.
10 of 16 | Posted by MTS19805
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Posted on April 16, 2007 6:48 PM
I guess I am in the minority. I would have prefered if they lost the game. It just feels weird for everything to go right for once. Dillon is supposed to be full of heartbreak dammmmit!
11 of 16 | Posted by kevintheomanharris
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Posted on April 16, 2007 7:02 PM
Screampillar - thanks so much for your recaps all season. FNL is my favorite and your shared love for the show has made it even better! (so, tell us, exactly how many e-mails have your written to NBC requesting a Crucifictorious t-shirt and Panthers hat?? haha.)
When the boys got to Texas Stadium I could not control the tears. I think there are so many more stories and the plot lines are wide open. I can already feel my heart melting when I see Coach holding his baby (i'm guessing a boy) for the first time!!
Long live FNL!!
12 of 16 | Posted by y2kcsc
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Posted on April 16, 2007 7:09 PM
Screampillar, you almost had me crying at my desk again when you talked about the halftime speech. Beautiful episode.
I have been giving some thought to next season because I refuse to believe there won't be one. Football ends at the beginning of December so to keep the seniors (I think maybe just Tim and Lyla?) they can make next season all about the spring- spring workouts coached by Jason, two-a-days, and of course prom!!!
13 of 16 | Posted by dent
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Posted on April 17, 2007 5:57 AM
Bahaha @ the "I'm 35." thing. Seriously, you have done such a wonderful job with these recaps - you never disappoint!! Thanks for the link to the alternate speech -- I really liked that one too. Can't say it enough though - have loved, loved, loved these recaps. Thanks for the laughs!
14 of 16 | Posted by dainsey
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Posted on April 17, 2007 8:23 AM
Great recap to a great episode!! This was an awesome finale that gave us some closure, but still leaves us guessing about next season (yes, there just HAS to be a next season) and whether coach will stay in Dillon. I was a little surprised, but happy that the panthers ended up winning because with all the difficulties and hardships they faced, they deserved to win.
I loved your screencaps, haha especially the one about Jason's tattoo and voodoo's oddly old appearance for an 18 year old kid.
I also laughed about your reference to the slow clap being cliche, because it reminded me of my economics class during sophomore year and my teacher telling us how he hates slow claps because they only happen in movies and on tv, but really never happen in real life. It became a joke that whole semester and a couple funny guys would randomly start the slow cap, which took off. haha
Again, thanks for recapping such an amazing show and it's always awesome to read about your enthusiasm for FNL!! WoHOO, we won STATE!!!
15 of 16 | Posted by Triks
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Posted on April 17, 2007 7:32 PM
Yay! Friday Night Lights is officially back next season.....although they gave in and put it on friday night.
16 of 16 | Posted by CandiceMarie
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Posted on May 17, 2007 3:55 PM