Not since The 24 Seasons 1-4 Bauer Power Marathon of Spring '05 That Almost Caused Me To Lose All Touch With Reality has one television show consistently made me vomit in joy and utter happiness, but I'm happy to say that the dry spell has now ended. That illustrious award is now firmly lodged in the supple, skilled hands of Friday Night Lights. This week's episode further annihilated my soul to the point of extinction, while at the same time nearly caused a laughter-related choking catastrophe. Seriously, what else can do that, other than perhaps any given episode of The Joy of Painting starring the irrepressible Bob Ross?
But enough about my total lack of a life. We've got some pretty kids with problems to discuss! When we last left our favorite Texans, Matt and Julie proved to be the cutest kids on the planet, the Taylors proved to be utterly hilarious, Lyla proved to be the single weepiest girl in North America, Smash proved to be full of steroids and bitterness, and Tim proved that he can brood his way through an entire episode without uttering one word.
We begin this week with a very aged-looking Lyla wetting a paper towel...in order to wash off the "slut" and "whore" that a mysterious someone has written in lipstick all over her locker (hint: it was me!). She runs out to the field for cheerleading practice, where she is reprimanded for being late by her perky but stern coach because there is a big competition this weekend. The other girls lift Lyla up (this is called a liberty, I think she says? I don't know cheerleading) but she soon falls, amidst evil remarks and cackles of glee. Coach Not-Taylor asks what the hell is wrong with her, but seriously lady, do you have ears? These girls aren't exactly using echolocation to communicate, they're saying all this mean stuff right under your nose. Pay attention.
Over in the school, Matt and Julie are talking about how to deal with her father. She calls him a "sick, twisted individual", which I don't entirely disagree with. She schemes her way into another date, despite Matt's stuttering protests, which have started to border on Rainman-like. He manages to sputter out an apology for the awkward kiss he gave her at the end of the Gatling game, since he was just so swept up in the emotion and the moment and the suppressed horniness that it just popped out. She allays his fears by quickly pecking him on the lips and walking away. Aaand instant cavities all around.
Is that mid-nineties Pizza Hut mascot Pizza Head in Julie's locker?
Let's wash out all this sweetness with some crushing misery, shall we? Jason finally gets released from the rehab hospital and returns home. And it's all there: the handicapped symbol on the license plate, the van complete with motorized ramp, the pained expressions everywhere, the lump in my throat. And hey! He has parents! I assume they just took a quick trip to Florida or something for the past few episodes. Can't let that timeshare go to waste! After some chitchat, they leave to let him get settled into his new office-turned-bedroom. (Side note: his mom says they "have some barbeque in the fridge", but I hear this as "have Sparky in the fridge", leading me to momentarily believe that the show has taken a cruel, pet-eating turn.) Jason glooms around and slams yet another picture of happier times with Lyla into a drawer with a satisfying thud. Jason LOVES destroying memories. And there are a lot of them to destroy, which makes me wonder if these two had maybe hired a photographer to follow them around and document their undying love just in case they would one day need to emphatically demolish the evidence.
I don't like how in the credits the names don't sync up with the pictures we see. We get a "Scott Porter" with Lyla pictured cheering, and an "Aimee Teegarden" with a brooding Tim Riggins. It's just weird, is all.
Fancy a crumpet, Miss Teagarden?
Moving on. To the obligatory sports radio exposition! This time we're listening with the Taylors in the car, and I for one wouldn't want to be anywhere else. Julie informs them that she's going out with Matt on Saturday, which Coach immediately shoots down, as he and Matt and the whole team will be at the "cheerleading...thing...I don't know, I didn't read the whole email." I LOVE this man. Julie calls both her parents insane and demands her own car, which causes the Taylor 'Rental Units to explode into uproarious laughter. I swear, someone should bottle this family up and sell it as a scented candle called "Awesomeberry".
« Daily Digest: December 15, 2006 | Main | Recap: The Duel: Fat Guy In A Little Duel! »
Comments (14)
Loved your recap, especially your picture captions (I'm still giggling about the possibly-infected-with-smallpox blanket and the deer heads). The part about the kid with the teeth was pretty great, too. I feel bad for laughing, but Mr. Ed and a box of teeth is spot-on.
I'm really enjoying Friday Night Lights. I love the Taylors and, unlike most people here, I have a soft spot for greasy-haired loner Tim Riggins. How can you not like the small flickers of actual emotional depth whenever he's talking to Lyla?
I don't get why everyone is treating Lyla like a leper yet no one seems to care about Tyra gettin' it on with half the men in town. Maybe if Lyla stopped acting like a chipper goody-goody they'd leave her alone.
I care too much about this show, clearly.
1 of 14 | Posted by gatsby
|
Posted on December 15, 2006 7:19 PM
"He looks like the love child of Mr. Ed and...I don't know, a box of giant teeth."
Ha! I almost peed.
2 of 14 | Posted by JDub
|
Posted on December 15, 2006 7:43 PM
Your recaps are filling a much-needed FNL void in my life. My kids and I watch it (with my husband only viewing key scenes that I've recorded), but no one else I know seems to be. As you said, it is amazing how this show manages to make unconditional hatred of any character impossible. I even bonded with Lyla at the end, when she said "That's right, the whore with the website." But Minka Kelly remains the weak link among the females.
And like you, I find that after each episode - or most of them, anyway - my heart feels like it's been torn out and stomped on by a high-school-football-team's worth of cleats. I cried a river over you, Matt/Jason.
Landry rocks.
3 of 14 | Posted by HarshBench
|
Posted on December 15, 2006 8:45 PM
doesnt landry look like matt damon with downs syndrome? i think so.
4 of 14 | Posted by Niecy
|
Posted on December 16, 2006 12:52 AM
Hey Niecy- good call on Landry. That is exactly what he looks like!!
I also agree that all these parents are too young. Lyla's mom should be her sister.
And I now also heart Tim.I dont know how this happened, but he is suddenly hot and sweet. These writers are doing a fabulous job with character development. Jason Katims is the producer. He also produced Roswell and My- so-called-life so he seems to know how to flesh out monosyllabic high schoolers.
5 of 14 | Posted by dent
|
Posted on December 16, 2006 12:33 PM
I love this show, but I find that people are going a little over the top with their persecution of Lyla! Like gatsby said, no one says anything about Trampy Tyra's slutty ways. I guess maybe because Jason was so worshipped they feel like they have to stick up for him. I don't know....
Julie and Matt are adorable! I don't get why the Coach doesn't want her to see him. He is sweet, she could do alot worse. Jeez, it's not like she's hooking up with Tim or playboy Smash.
Lyla's stalking of Jason IS kinda creepy. I feel for the girl, though, I think she is truly sorry.
Great recap!
6 of 14 | Posted by Jojobear
|
Posted on December 16, 2006 12:37 PM
and just to add, i dont usually like talkin bout kids' unfortunate characteristics...but damn. that seriously is the most hurt child i have seen in a long time. when he asked street can he walk, he shoulda asked that boy "can you close your mouth? damn, you shole is ugly!"
7 of 14 | Posted by Niecy
|
Posted on December 17, 2006 10:46 AM
Great show and recap.
But some of the storylines are getting a little boring and others they are just pushing over the top.
The guy taking steroids is boring and I don't think the writers are going to do anything different with it than what everyone expects.
The protective parents and shunned lover thing is just too much.
Where's the football?
8 of 14 | Posted by soflat
|
Posted on December 18, 2006 8:45 AM
Screampillar, another fantastic recap. It can't be easy to take a show that is mostly so damn serious and make it so funny in recap. Keep up the good work. I only hope enough people are watching this show to keep it alive. I think it's the best drama on the big networks (my faves are still the FX shows "The Shield" and "Rescue Me").
While some of the parents are young looking, this is supposed to be rural Texas, where I imagine by their early 20s many people are already married and having kids. Several kids I knew in high school had parents in their 30s who were young enough looking to pass for older siblings.
9 of 14 | Posted by JasonR
|
Posted on December 18, 2006 9:33 AM
Screampillar, another fantastic recap. It can't be easy to take a show that is mostly so damn serious and make it so funny in recap. Keep up the good work. I only hope enough people are watching this show to keep it alive. I think it's the best drama on the big networks (my faves are still the FX shows "The Shield" and "Rescue Me").
While some of the parents are young looking, this is supposed to be rural Texas, where I imagine by their early 20s many people are already married and having kids. Several kids I knew in high school had parents in their 30s who were young enough looking to pass for older siblings.
10 of 14 | Posted by JasonR
|
Posted on December 18, 2006 9:34 AM
The pep rally brought back memories of Powderpuff football at my high school. One week of the year was set up to raise money for medical help to someone who really needed it. Each day was something different like pajama day. It all ended with a Powderpuff football game. The cheerleaders dressed in jerseys and played a football game. The football team dressed as cheerleaders and did a cheer.
I too really like this show, but besides the commentors here, I don't know anyone else who watches.
11 of 14 | Posted by dahrache
|
Posted on December 19, 2006 4:44 PM
Screampillar, this is the first time that I have read one of your recaps- you are hysterical! I could not agree more with your first paragraph. I also watched seasons 1-4 of 24 on DVD- and for three days, the real world ceased to exist. Friday Night Lights is the first show since 24 that has caused me to lose touch with reality- I love it!
12 of 14 | Posted by GA_girl
|
Posted on December 20, 2006 9:00 AM
Love this Show. Love your screen captions. Hopefully this show will pick up steam in the ratings, tell your friends!
Coach Taylor is Hot.
13 of 14 | Posted by noodle
|
Posted on December 21, 2006 10:14 AM
" I assume he's not talking about a scorching case of herpes, which she decidedly does not need right now. They hug and he walks away into the dripping rain as she stares. EMO."
made me laugh for 10 minutes straight.
Screampillar, I don't know where you came from, but please PLEASE recap the other 9 episodes.
I have no life.
14 of 14 | Posted by eightyschica
|
Posted on January 5, 2007 6:49 PM