Hi Laurel here...This episode is a good follow up to all the crazy stuff that happened in the first episode. We learn that Jason Street is paralyzed, and his doctors don't expect him to walk again. Of course there is always the chance of a miracle but it doesn't look good. Jason seems to willing to start coming to terms with this but Lyla is completely in denial and just keeps saying stuff like "everything is going to work out exactly like we have planned".
The episode also focuses on poor Matt Saracen, formerly backup quarterback, now suddenly QB1. Here's this nice quiet boy who works real hard at his fast food job, is taking care of his grandma while his Dad is in Iraq, and is good at drawing, who until now just showed up to practice and sat on the bench. All of a sudden he is in the spotlight and all of the pressure is on him. Like, A LOT of pressure (see last entry). For most of the episode he seems in Mark's words like "sort of a dweeb", and we don't really have any faith that he is going to step up, but towards the end of the episode after a pep talk from Coach Taylor you see a glimmer in his eye and a change in his demeanor that suggest maybe...just maybe..he might be up for this.
The other thing we learn this episode is that Tami Taylor has accepted a job as a guidance counselor at Dillon High School. When Coach Taylor learns this during their date at Applebees, he is not exactly over the moon that they will be in the same workplace.
Mark here...I agree with what Laurel has said. When we find out about Jason's injury, it's a heartbreaking scene, as his whole life's future has been based around his football playing. As Laurel said, Lyla is totally in denial about his options. Of course there's always a chance for a miracle, but he also needs to be realistic about his future (as does she). She begins to pray for a miracle. The show also shows us the religious aspect of small town life. Of course, there's only one option for religion though. You don't get the impression that these characters know too many jewish, muslim or (gasp!) atheist people.
Tami Taylor, Coach Taylor's wife, decides to join a town book club, in the interest of being social. She unfortunately finds out that not only did no one read the book, but all the other wives want to talk about is football. Clearly, she supports her husband but doesn't want her life to be solely about football. Wisely, she opts to go back to work and as Laurel mentioned, ends up at the high school. How depressing is it that the place the adults need to go out to on a date is Applebee's?! Yet strangely realistic for a small town...
One interesting point I hadn't picked up on was that Coach Taylor became head coach because Jason Street wanted him. Now that Jason is out, the coach is in an odd place and everyone feels like its ok to tell him how to do his job. Which brings me to car dealer (and Lyla's dad) Buddy Garrity. This guy defines sleazy with his giant class ring and car dealership. Why is he giving Coach advice? Or feel like he has a place to? Yet that's exactly what he does, basically telling him that football is all the town has and so coach better win. I'm not questioning the truth of this but it's so obvious what a bubble the town is in that no one questions a town with nothing else to get excited about...
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