As it turns out, he has a slightly dislocated shoulder. The doctor says he can pop it back into place, but he wouldn't advise that he play. Smash is all Psfff, this is STATE! so they pop it in and he powerhouses back onto the field! Huzzah!
"The Smash has dislocated his knee too, just for the hell of it! We going to STATE!"
57 seconds left. It all comes down to this. OF COURSE. Matt runs a play, but he keeps the ball a little too long and gets demolished. Panthers take a time out with six seconds left! Aggh! The coaches are all confused, trying to figure out which play would be best, when Matt goes right up to Coach and describes a play to him. Mac says it'll never work, but Jason's got Matt's back, and the boys say that they can do it. "You run it," Coach barks.
The ball is snapped. Matt passes to Tim, who runs it and is tackled! But it pops right out of his hands and into the hands of Smash!! It's totally amazing. I am out of my seat (which, let's face it, I haven't really been in the entire episode) with excitement, and Smash runs, and runs, and SCORES! THE PANTHERS WIN! THE PANTHERS WIN STATE!!!
Everyone goes batshit insane, including me. There is much hugging and mirth. Jason hugs Coach, then gives a nice little black power fist pump to his parents in the crowd. Buddy Garrity is nearly keeling over with a heart attack. Coach hugs Matt, then his wife. I'm still bawling.
God approves as well.
Oh man. Let's take a breather for a moment. Copious amounts of snot are becoming a real issue for me here.
Okay. Moving on. Lyla is back in the hotel, depositing her cheerleader uniform into the trash bag part of a maid's cart in the hallway. Tyra of course catches her. "It's been a real crappy year," sniffs Lyla. You can say that again. I mean, crappy and AWESOME, but not really for you guys, only for us, the uninvolved viewers. She says she needs a change. Tyra walks away, and Lyla stops her and asks if she wants to ride home together. Tyra says yes. Aww. Together they will form Sluts R'Us and take the greater Dallas area by storm.
Coach returns to his hotel room and shows off his new Panthers Win State hat to his lovely wife, who gives him an adorable round of applause. He sits her down and says he needs to talk to her. Yay, here it comes! He says "this little one" has got him thinking. "There are more important things than football. There are more important things than TMU. But there is nothing more important to me than you. And this family." He says he's going to stay in Dillon, be a father, and coach high school football. Tami says no. Bwa? She says she doesn't want her or the baby to be responsible for taking away his dreams. Coach tries to protest, repeating that his family is his dream, but Tami is having none of it. She doesn't know how they'll do it, but the strength of their relationship means that they can. Coach looks very torn and doesn't know what to say, but luckily at that moment Julie comes in and asks what's going on. We don't know what happens next because it cuts away, but I assume they told her the whole deal.
I MUST HAVE THIS HAT. SOMEONE BRING IT TO ME.
Cut to a parade through Dillon as "Devil Town" plays on the soundtrack. The players are on a float, the cheerleaders and baton twirlers (?) are dancing alongside. Creepy Old Man is there too! Lyla watches glumly from the sides. Tyra glares too. Buddy and the Mayor are of course being ridiculous. Tami gives Coach a double thumbs up, and Julie smiles too. Billy grabs Bo and puts him on the float with Tim. Matt waves to his beloved Julie. Mama Smash is adorable. Lorraine is adorable. The whole damn town is adorable. The boys are pointing at their rings and the crowd points back. It's beautiful. I realize I throw that word around a lot, but seriously, that's what it is. I defy you to find a better one.
Radio Sports Guys are praising the hell out of Coach as he drives over to the locker room. But then they wonder aloud how he can abandon his team after a win like that. "Is he a great coach turned into an even greater opportunist, maybe?" They take a call from a guy who says, "I shook that man's hand once. I thought he had a heart. I guess I was wrong." Hey, asswipe? SHUT UP.
« Infiltration Systems | Main | Recap: Mommy and Me Modeling »
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
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
Posted on May 17, 2007 3:55 PM