Smash chases after Waverly, asking how her tuba is. Smash can really be a jerk sometimes. Is it so hard to remember what instrument she plays? It's like the only thing she does. She reminds him that it's a trumpet and refuses to apologize for leaving the table the other day because no one was talking to her. He retorts that hey, he was sitting right next to her! Ah, good one, Smash. I love how this show's writers speak fluent Teenager. Smash then lays down the rules. "Number one, don't nobody walk out on The Smash." Oh, Smash. You're a DELIGHT. She's none too thrilled about the return of the third person, and admits that she doesn't think they have anything in common. Smash insists that there's more to him than football (by claiming that he and Matt are friends who regularly discuss stem cell research and global warming) and eventually invites her to the rodeo on a double date with Matt and Julie. Waverly agrees to give "The Waverlash" another try. She's so cute. She deserves better.
"Smash. I'm standing RIGHT HERE."
Julie is angrily banging on Matt's door because she had been waiting for him at the library for an hour and he never showed. Matt finally answers and spews forth a string of apologies amidst a muttering grandma and a whistling tea kettle and a slew of chaos. So he's stressed. Got it. Julie looks slightly freaked but offers to help out, and Matt informs her of the double date and that they have to pretend that Smash is a real person and cares about things other than football. Well, I know one thing he cares about. STEROIDS. Yeah, I went there.
Julie doubles as a mime in the off-season.
All is not well in Tyraville. Her mother and Bob start a fight that escalates rather quickly and ends in a smack from Bob. WELL. Tyra morphs into The Hulk, grabs a fireplace weapon of some kind, and mercilessly starts beating Bob with it, screaming at the top of her lungs for him to get out. And let me tell you something. This fight is SO TERRIFYING I very nearly picked up the phone to dial 911. It genuinely gave me goosebumps. Anyway, Bob glares at Tyra, and she literally just bares her teeth at him for a good five seconds until he leaves. BADASS. I immediately become a giant Tyra fan. She now has my approval to start a future romance with Jason. See, she just had to earn my respect.
But we're not done yet. In what is maybe one of the best scene transitions I've ever seen, Julie walks into the living room where her parents are watching TV and whispers, "I love you guys. And you guys are the best parents in the world." Now, there have been a lot of moving moments on this show but this one definitely lands firmly in the top three. It was perfectly delivered and simply beautiful. Naturally, Tami wigs out (do people still use that phrase?) because she thinks something is wrong and yells at Coach, who is just sitting there smirking at his wonderful parenting skills.
"I'm a great father!"
"OH HELL NO."
Over in the kitchen, Julie explains that she's upset at how much Matt has to deal with and is worried that it's all just going to crush him. Coach amusingly reassures her that "he's like a stinkbug, nothing can crush him." Ha. You would know, Coach. We've seen the murderous look in your eyes. Tami offers to guide him, as a guidance counselor is wont to do.
Tyra consoles her mother, who refuses to get out of bed. She's upset that Bob may be gone for good, which Tyra tries to convince her is not such a bad thing. But then she notices an empty pill bottle and loses the will to fight. She's been through all this before and nothing changes. These poor kids. It's nice that Julie realizes how lucky she is, because all the other Dillon kids really got the short end of the stick when it comes to awesome parents.
Buddy Garrity watches as Henry fails to close a deal. He drags him into his office and gives him a small American flag pin to wear to "remind" customers of his 20 years of service. Henry understandably doesn't want to use the flag to sell cars, but eventually caves under Buddy's, well, salesmanship. Of course if it were me I'd probably do whatever Buddy asked me to for fear of him sitting on me.
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Comments (7)
Great recap!
Dillion is the saddest town on earth.
This epi made me like Tyra too.
I was thinking that you would be happy to see Smash this time, but boy was he a jerk. Ugh.
Matt and Julie....cute cute cute, and I could look at Riggens all day long, he's got that bad boy thing all working for him.
I wish Street would just tell coach about the whole "you didn't teach me how to tackle" thing, see what coach has to say about that!
1 of 7 | Posted by sweetleaf
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Posted on January 12, 2007 6:06 PM
I'm starting to like Tyra more and more as well. I love how she attacked her mom's loser boyfriend! You go girl. The Smash, while thoroughly annoying, is still pretty funny. Waverly needs to dump his egotistical ass. Matt continues to be the sweetest thing on TV and I hated his dad less this epi. At least he was trying to be a good dad.
It's true that the football scenes are almost non-existant now. I like seeing the (obviously foreseen) win at the end! Anyway, I still love this show. Please keep it on NBC! Great recap!!
2 of 7 | Posted by Jojobear
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Posted on January 13, 2007 6:45 AM
Great recap! How cute is Matt Saracen?
3 of 7 | Posted by sluggerbun
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Posted on January 13, 2007 8:46 AM
I agree this episode was not as gripping as previous ones, but your recap made it totally worth it! Love the commentary as always!
Out of all the drama and despair in the town of Dillon, I have to say that Coach and Matt are little pieces of heaven. Love them both! I've also really liked Tim from the start. He has this quiet sensitivity mixed with badass stubbornness that makes him a character to watch.
And as much as "the Smash" kills me with his egotistical ways, Lyla needs a life! Something needs to happen to her storyline besides making cupcakes and picking up paraplegic porn for Jason.
Oh my, I can't wait for next week. It looks like the wrath of mamma Smash is about to hail down!
4 of 7 | Posted by y2kcsc
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Posted on January 14, 2007 8:49 AM
Ugh Smash irritates the hell outta me. I was so thrilled when Waverly ditched him not once - but twice during this episode. She is way too cute to fall for all his ego and preening.
I want to adopt Matt Seracin - what a cutie.
As for rodeo stories - I took a friend and her two daughters to the rodeo a few years back when it came through Chicago. I was in it for the hot cowboys in the too tight wranglers. The opening event was calf roping and the rope got caught in the horses feet - he kicked back to break free hitting the calf in the head, the calf fell to the ground twitching in an awful way. My friend turned to me horrified - looking at me like I had made her pay to watch baby animals die. She grabbed her two daughters and left.
That sad feeling is the same sad feeling I felt when I saw Jason turn and wheel away from the Coach.
:(
5 of 7 | Posted by TinkerbellAPixie
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Posted on January 14, 2007 2:07 PM
Yah, good show, poor attendance. It may not make it past this season. Too bad, really, because it does ring true for the most part. Teens are so complex these days, I recently told my grandson (19) and granddaughter (17) I wouldn't trade my childhood for theirs. Too many issues, too frenetic, too much in a hurry to grow up. "Lights" encapsulates a lot of those feelings and emotions in a way no other show does, all mixed in with the West Texas small town football culture.
Excellent recap, Scream, if a bit too heavy on the Texas boys' cuteness. Down, girl!
6 of 7 | Posted by Tony A.
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Posted on January 16, 2007 9:53 AM
Finally watched this last night, so I'm a little late to the board. Not much to add, just thanks to Screampillar on another great recap and to shore up our small club of 'Gasm FNL watchers.
7 of 7 | Posted by JasonR
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Posted on January 16, 2007 11:36 AM