Mark here...on to the next episode, "Wind Sprints" and its a heavy one. Laurel and I were saying how the show is a good balance of the ups and downs (emotionally) of sports life. We see how excited the characters get after a win, but also the emotions they are all going through. This episode picks up right where the last left off, with a friday night game. Unfortunately the panthers lose this game, so suddenly the whole town is calling Coach Taylor's leadership "disasterous". Essentially, they say the first game was luck, but without Jason Street the team is in trouble. With that in mind, Buddy Garrity recruits a QB who has been displaced because of Hurricane Katrina. From the get go Coach Taylor is not down with this move but agrees to go through the motions. When we meet this new kid, it's clear he has a giant chip on his shoulder and that this won't end well. We don't find out yet though as the episode ends with him getting on the team.
We also get to see a bit more depth from Tammi Taylor and Lyla Garrity. In the former, we just see how she hasn't bought into the whole small town football-focus and is emerging as a voice of reason on the show. With Lyla, Jason blows up at her for her being in denial. She is leaving the hospital and runs into Riggs (who has yet to visit Jason in the hospital, out of guilt and fear). Jason has broken up with Tyra. Anyway, the two end up kissing...a bad decision for both but clearly they both have been emotionally messed up by Jason's injury. For me, even though it shows bad judgement, it gives Lyla more depth. She's not just the good christian girl standing by her man. She's confused and scared and hurt by what's happened and doesn't know what to do.
We also briefly see Tyra. In the last episode she hooked up with Smash, although nothing came of it as his mother came home and kicked her out. Basically the mom calls her out as a slut and makes her walk herself home. Understandably, Tyra is cold to Smash when he runs into her. He allowed his mom to diss her and throw her out last episode. Anyway, when she and Riggs see each other next and he brings up her hooking up with Smash, she brings up his previous cheating without blinking. Not that either is good, but she's not willing to let herself be the only bad one. She also recognizes Riggs' guilt about Jason's injury right away.
Laurel here...I agree with Mark on all counts. I think Buddy actually has good intentions but he is just so smarmy, manipulative and controlling it's hard to see it. I also agree that the writing is on the wall with this new QB, it doesn't look good. This kid seems to have a real chip on his shoulder. But I'm wondering if having some competition around might be good for Matt Saracen? Maybe having a competing QB around will help motivate him to step up?
As much as I am disappointed with both Lyla and Tim for hooking up, I sort of get it why they would feel especially close right now. As Jason's girlfriend and best friend I think they are both hit especially hard by his injury . Like maybe now they have this intense thing in common that they never have shared before. That being said I hope they can both get it together to support Jason, who clearly needs all the support he can get right now. We also learn this episode that Tim feels responsible somehow for Jason's injury, which helps to explain his bad behavior (walking out on practice, heavy drinking, etc.)
The other possibly noteworthy thing that happens this episode is that Smash goes on TV and disses coach Taylor. Mark made the point that these guys are kids and don't necessarily know the right thing to say at the right time, which I think is true...but I feel like one thing they should know is that you don't break rank and talk trash about anyone who is part of your team in public. Coach Taylor responds by making the whole team do a spontaneous, gruelling workout at midnight in the rain. The workout serves it's purpose, the team seems to bond and at the next practice his assistant coach remarks "never underestimate the power of a good spanking"
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