Mark here...Laurel and I are watching the next episode of Friday Night Lights. This one is called, "It's Different For Girls". I've made us some sausages with sauteed peppers and onions and a potato salad (keeping with the Texas football theme). Laurel made us some cocktails (called "the Derby") to go along with.
The episode title is fitting for what happens. Lyla is facing the fallout from her affair with Tim Riggins. Sure, Tim got his car bashed in last episode but Lyla bears the brunt of things. She's marked a la "Scarlet Letter" as a school slut and another girl even creates a website dedicated to calling her out as a whore. I mean who but a teenager has that much time on their hands? Lyla really gets beat up on this episode, but it gives us a chance to see a deeper side of her personality. It also shows us a softer side of her father, Bud Garrity, which is nice. We saw a bit of his sensitive side last episode, but it's nice to see the writers following through with it. Lyla's two men also show a bit of sympathy...Jason is tortured and a bit of a jerk, but definitely shows a bit of heart towards her. Tim shows he may have stronger feelings for her (called out by Tyra).
The second plotline is Matt Saracen trying to work out dating Julie, Coach Taylor's son. It plays out a bit comically as Coach tries to impede things wherever he can. Tami Taylor is awesome once again in calling out Coach's ideas "worst idea ever" and such. Tami's not thrilled about her daughter dating either but clearly knows to stay out of it as much as she can, to avoid fanning the flames. The coach however can't resist attempts to break them up, unsuccessfully.
We also see a bit more of Smash as he tries to date the Reverend's daughter. She has been away in Africa supposedly. We later gets hints that that may not have been the case. She also clues in that Smash didn't use his money from church for SAT classes. Also, Smash's steroid use is catching up with him, in the form of nose bleeds...
Hi Laurel here...this is such a good episode! This is one of those where the amazing writing on this show really comes into play. All of there characters are so complete...we see the good side of all the "villains" and some of the flaws int he saintly characters. Until now there has been no reason at all to like Buddy Garrity. The father of the girl who starts the website comes to the dealership to apologize to Buddy and let him know about what's on the internet. Buddy really takes it to heart..it really effects him and he is so supportive of Lyla after. Who knew? Buddy actually is a good guy, it's just that his methods are usually all wrong. We see a new side of Lyla too. She seems like kind of a bitchy priss with a silver spoon in her mouth, but with the fallout from the cheating thing we see her really taking her medicine, and do so with grace.
On the flip side we see more of the chinks in Coach Taylor's armor. Since he's such a good Coach we ususally see him making the right choices all the time (the Voodoo incident being an exception), but in this episode we see him succumb to his emotions and do all of the wrong things. All of his silly dad attempts to squelch Matt and Julie just backfire and bring them closer together. He sends Matt home for the weekend with a bunch of game tapes to study so that Julie and him wont have time to hang out, but Julie ends up spending even more time with Matt because she decides to help him study the tapes. In your face Coach!
It's also interesting to see Smash take a real interest in a girl that's not just about putting another notch in his bedpost.
I can't wait for the next episode! I really want to see if his girl is in fact laying about going to Africa, and if so what did she REALLY go away for?
Saturday, June 15, 2013
Sunday, June 2, 2013
Full Hearts
Mark here...another great episode! This one deals with the blowback from the Lyla-Tim affair being found out. Tim and Lyla each pay a price. Tim has several members of the team take baseball bats to his car. Lyla has to deal with Jason breaking up with her and being the subject of high school gossip. It ends up being an opportunity to see the better side of Lyla's dad for a change. When Lyla has to leave the field (during cheerleading), Bud goes to comfort his daughter. It's a rare bit of humanity from Bud, who up to this point had been nothing but smarmy. When Lyla confesses being unfaithful, he hugs his daughter and shows his love for her. At the time of the game we also get to see Tyra and Jason...not getting romantic! Tyra shows up to Jason's room with a bottle of liquor to mutually drown their sorrows. It's a nice scene. At first I was worried Tyra was just showing up to try and hook up with Jason to get back at Tim, but it turned out she just wanted to commiserate.
We also get to see more of Smash as they head back to his former hometown for a game. He's still taking steroids and under pressure. He has some heart/anxiety issues and confesses to his sister that he's taken steroids. Nothing more really comes of that. We also learn that his father died and that there are some issues there. His mother shows some depth as well. Previously she had sort of been the "sassy black mom", but in this episode we get a bit of background and learn that Smash's dad may have had issues. The mother makes a point of avoiding talking about him, but finally confesses she really loved him but clearly still has a complex relationship with him, even with his death.
There's also a subplot with Saracen taking Julie Taylor on a date. The date goes awry when Matt has to go back home to take care of his grandmother. He thinks this makes the date a disaster but ironically it makes Julie see a more sensitive side of Matt, so maybe there's a future there?
Hey Laurel here. Again I agree with Mark on all counts. I hope in the end that Jason, Lyla, and Riggins all become friends again. I know Lyla and Tim did this terrible thing and Jason has every right to be mad at them, and should be, but I hope that with time they can all get over it and be friends again. You don't find good friends every day, and even though they totally fucked up I think at the end of the day all 3 of them really have a chemistry with each other.
Also regarding Matt and Julie, after the game Matt kisses her! She freaks out and says she has to go but that could mean anything?
Also at this point one of the things that Mark and I really both like about the show is that all of the characters are whole characters. They all have their good and bad sides, and when the characters do bad things you can sort of see why they do them, even if you don't agree. Until now Buddy has really been nothing but smarmy but this episode with the way he treats his daughter and the way he works with Tammy Taylor we sort of see another side of him. (side note, with Tammy he has to negotiate with the opposing team and realizes that they would be an effective "good cop bad cop" team, where he is the bad cop). There are lots are multi-dimensional characters - Tim and his brother are bad boys with a heart of gold, Tyra is the bad girl who tells it like it is but she is also kind of a genius, Lyla is the goody good girl but she does a really bad thing, etc. It makes for a really interesting show and you can't really predict what happens next.
We also get to see more of Smash as they head back to his former hometown for a game. He's still taking steroids and under pressure. He has some heart/anxiety issues and confesses to his sister that he's taken steroids. Nothing more really comes of that. We also learn that his father died and that there are some issues there. His mother shows some depth as well. Previously she had sort of been the "sassy black mom", but in this episode we get a bit of background and learn that Smash's dad may have had issues. The mother makes a point of avoiding talking about him, but finally confesses she really loved him but clearly still has a complex relationship with him, even with his death.
There's also a subplot with Saracen taking Julie Taylor on a date. The date goes awry when Matt has to go back home to take care of his grandmother. He thinks this makes the date a disaster but ironically it makes Julie see a more sensitive side of Matt, so maybe there's a future there?
Hey Laurel here. Again I agree with Mark on all counts. I hope in the end that Jason, Lyla, and Riggins all become friends again. I know Lyla and Tim did this terrible thing and Jason has every right to be mad at them, and should be, but I hope that with time they can all get over it and be friends again. You don't find good friends every day, and even though they totally fucked up I think at the end of the day all 3 of them really have a chemistry with each other.
Also regarding Matt and Julie, after the game Matt kisses her! She freaks out and says she has to go but that could mean anything?
Also at this point one of the things that Mark and I really both like about the show is that all of the characters are whole characters. They all have their good and bad sides, and when the characters do bad things you can sort of see why they do them, even if you don't agree. Until now Buddy has really been nothing but smarmy but this episode with the way he treats his daughter and the way he works with Tammy Taylor we sort of see another side of him. (side note, with Tammy he has to negotiate with the opposing team and realizes that they would be an effective "good cop bad cop" team, where he is the bad cop). There are lots are multi-dimensional characters - Tim and his brother are bad boys with a heart of gold, Tyra is the bad girl who tells it like it is but she is also kind of a genius, Lyla is the goody good girl but she does a really bad thing, etc. It makes for a really interesting show and you can't really predict what happens next.
Crossing the Line
Hi Laurel here...pretty good episode!
We find out a little more about Tim and his brother. Apparently their parents are still alive but have run off someplace. Tim and Billy get into a huge fight because they can't see eye to eye about their relationship...Billy seems to feel unappreciated because he is trying to fill in for Tim's parents...looking out for him, going to his games, paying the bills, etc. Tim seems to feel that Billy is being overbearing and trying to be his father when that's not his place, and doing a shitty job of it at that. I feel like it's one of those things when they get older they will both see that both of them are a little wring and a little right. Tim will see that Billy really was trying to make a huge effort on his behalf, and Billy will see that he was just too young and dumb at the time to do a good job of it no matter how good his intentions.
Also this episode there is a lot of progress with Jason's situation. Against his physician's advice (because his spinal fusion is still healing) he participates in his first game if murderball and does pretty well. I have to say it even though it was clearly a bad idea it was good to see him playing sports again, since it has been a super important part of his life. He really looks alive and shines while he is playing. On the flip side Tim and Lyla both come to his game, and he confronts them at he end about having an affair while he was in the hospital...he ends up clocking Tim which obviously he deserves. Part of me wishes Jason had never found out about the affair and could just go on being friends with both of them like normal, but part of me is glad that he knows and that he stood up for himself. Like his friend in rehab (whose name escapes me, update to follow) told him "Just because we are cripples doesn't mean we have to take the crumbs"
Mark here...I agree with what Laurel said. I'm glad that the situation with Lyla-Tim-Jason is on the table. Earlier in the episode we see Tammi Taylor giving Lyla advice not to tell Jason what has happened. This is actually good advice, despite the instinct to tell the truth. Given Jason's condition, the truth would only serve to make Lyla and Tim feel better. That said, It's good to see Jason unwilling to let himself be the victim. He suspects something and is not going to just be silent because he feels sorry for himself. On a side note, Tim hooks up with his ex, Tyra in this episode and coincidentally Lyla stops by the next morning. Tyra is on to them both instantly, though only with a passing glance.
We also get to see a bit of Smash's descent into steroids. He clearly is desperate for money to support his habit and goes to his mother, pretending he needs money for SAT prep classes. When this doesn't work he asks Saracen to get him a job where Saracen works. He is not exactly the best employee and at one point Saracen catches him about to steal money and calls him out on it. Next, we see him at church where his mom has asked for donations to help with his "SAT classes". I sort of thought this would be the point he realizes what he's doing is wrong, but no! He takes the money and goes straight to his steroid dealer (who happens to be a buff looking lady, going against stereotypes!)
We find out a little more about Tim and his brother. Apparently their parents are still alive but have run off someplace. Tim and Billy get into a huge fight because they can't see eye to eye about their relationship...Billy seems to feel unappreciated because he is trying to fill in for Tim's parents...looking out for him, going to his games, paying the bills, etc. Tim seems to feel that Billy is being overbearing and trying to be his father when that's not his place, and doing a shitty job of it at that. I feel like it's one of those things when they get older they will both see that both of them are a little wring and a little right. Tim will see that Billy really was trying to make a huge effort on his behalf, and Billy will see that he was just too young and dumb at the time to do a good job of it no matter how good his intentions.
Also this episode there is a lot of progress with Jason's situation. Against his physician's advice (because his spinal fusion is still healing) he participates in his first game if murderball and does pretty well. I have to say it even though it was clearly a bad idea it was good to see him playing sports again, since it has been a super important part of his life. He really looks alive and shines while he is playing. On the flip side Tim and Lyla both come to his game, and he confronts them at he end about having an affair while he was in the hospital...he ends up clocking Tim which obviously he deserves. Part of me wishes Jason had never found out about the affair and could just go on being friends with both of them like normal, but part of me is glad that he knows and that he stood up for himself. Like his friend in rehab (whose name escapes me, update to follow) told him "Just because we are cripples doesn't mean we have to take the crumbs"
Mark here...I agree with what Laurel said. I'm glad that the situation with Lyla-Tim-Jason is on the table. Earlier in the episode we see Tammi Taylor giving Lyla advice not to tell Jason what has happened. This is actually good advice, despite the instinct to tell the truth. Given Jason's condition, the truth would only serve to make Lyla and Tim feel better. That said, It's good to see Jason unwilling to let himself be the victim. He suspects something and is not going to just be silent because he feels sorry for himself. On a side note, Tim hooks up with his ex, Tyra in this episode and coincidentally Lyla stops by the next morning. Tyra is on to them both instantly, though only with a passing glance.
We also get to see a bit of Smash's descent into steroids. He clearly is desperate for money to support his habit and goes to his mother, pretending he needs money for SAT prep classes. When this doesn't work he asks Saracen to get him a job where Saracen works. He is not exactly the best employee and at one point Saracen catches him about to steal money and calls him out on it. Next, we see him at church where his mom has asked for donations to help with his "SAT classes". I sort of thought this would be the point he realizes what he's doing is wrong, but no! He takes the money and goes straight to his steroid dealer (who happens to be a buff looking lady, going against stereotypes!)
Homecoming
Mark here... We're on to the next episode, called "Homecoming". This episode has several dramatic plotlines going. First we see Jason Street making his first public appearance at the homecoming. It's a bit awkward because he is suspicious of Tim and Lyla. It's made even more awkward when Tim proves to be the star of the game and gives the winning football to Jason after the game, proclaiming him the heart of the team. You can see the apprehension in Jason's face when looking at Tim.
Separately, Smash is being scouted by a guy from I think the University of Austin. This causes him to freak out and blow his chances. Its tense, because prior to the game Smash is convinced this is his ticket out of town, and then he flips out during the game...causing Tim to end up being the star. Tim, coincidentally has quit drinking, so he really shines. While the coach is supportive of Smash and tells him to focus on the game because there will be many scouts, Smash can't let it go. After the game we can tell he is freaking out - which leads him to steroids! We see him injecting at the end of the episode after the scout is unwilling to tell him whether he's made his recruiting list (most likely not, given his performance during the game).
The last major plotline has Tyra teaming up with Tim's older brother as party planners. They host a party out in the middle of nowhere and it turns out a great success financially. The partnership seems awkward and Tyra's older sister is skeptical of the brother. It seems to go well, though I can't help thinking there's something wrong here. At the very least, it's weird Tyra is so quick to team up with her ex's brother...
Hi Laurel here I agree on all counts. I feel pretty bad for Jason (again). It must be so hard to show up at a game in which normally you would be the star but now you are stuck in a chair. Although the crowd gives him a very warm welcome which is nice at least...
Also call me crazy but Julie Taylor, who has been kind of a bitch to Matt Saracen so far the whole series, seems to now have a little crush on him? Anyway Matt finally asks her out on a date this episode but there is a cut away before we hear her answer. Will they or won't they?
Also this episode a former player of Coach Taylor's (who only played with him 1 season) comes back to town and asks him for a job as an assistant Coach. The Coach looks into it but after not finding any money in the budget for another position, has to tell they guy there is no room for him right now. The guy gets pissed with the Coach, as if he should be entitled to a position. I feel like it just adds a little context so that we really understand the kind of pressure Coach Taylor is under from all sides. Not only does the whole town expect him to deliver a championship, but there's plenty of people looking for favors from him too. So stressful!
El Accidente
Hi Laurel here...Mark and I are sitting down to a delicious brunch and more FNL. Mark made Mark Bittman's huevos rancheros with tequila sunrise cocktails. The huevos are so good! Mark even made the salsa from scratch.
So this episode there's more trouble with Voodoo. The football players are all waiting to hear if they are going to be stripped of their victory over Arnett Mead. There's accusations of illegally recruiting Voodoo, and he played a bit that game. If he's deemed ineligible they will lose the win. To add insult to injury as you may recall he played terrible that game, was totally insubordinate to Coach Taylor. Now they might forfeit because of him?
Also Voodoo stirs up a bunch of trouble this episode. He runs into the team at their hangout and calls Reyes a wetback, but Riggins steps in and stops the fight that was about to go down. However Reyes is still riled up and ends up taking it out on this kid Castor (friends with Landry and Saracen) in the parking lot, and puts him in the hospital. Reyes is then arrested for assault, and resorts to lying about the incident saying (on television) that Castor called him racist names. Matt is in a tough position because he doesn't want to get Reyes in trouble but he knows that Reyes is lying about his friend. In the end he decides (with some pushing from Landry) to tell Coach Taylor what he knows and Reyes is kicked off the team. I think more for lying than for beating the Castor up, if he had admitted his mistake in the first place I think he would have been punished but could have kept his spot. In the end it's all for nothing, Voodoo ends up telling a reporter that he had been illegally recruited and they are stripped of their victory over Arnett Mead anyhow. On the plus side Voodoo has left to go back to Louisiana so he won't be around to screw things up anymore.
Also this episode Riggins breaks Jason out of the rehab center for a field trip, Lila runs into them in the parking lot and ends up coming along. Awkward! They have agreed they don't ever want Jason to know that they hooked up while he was in the hospital but the truth has a way of coming out...
Mark here...I agree with what Laurel said. The clincher at the end of the episode is that after Jason gets dropped off at the rehab center he watches his friends (Lyla and Riggs) hug from the window. We get the impression that he sees something more between the two of them.
The plotline with Reyes and Castor is interesting in how other characters respond to it. Tammi Taylor doesn't buy Reyes accusation from the beginning. The coach wants to believe that Reyes wouldn't lie to him, though you get the impression that he knows the truth. Saracen hems and haws over telling the truth but in the end he comes clean.
We also get a brief scene between Tyra and Tammi Taylor in the guidance office. Tammi tries to identify with Tyra saying, "I was once like you..." to inspire her to keep up with her algebra. Tyra of course says "I don't want to be you!". Its interesting because Tammi Taylor doesn't flinch and still feels sympathy for Tyra. At the same time, you can see Tyra growing up to be Tammi.
So this episode there's more trouble with Voodoo. The football players are all waiting to hear if they are going to be stripped of their victory over Arnett Mead. There's accusations of illegally recruiting Voodoo, and he played a bit that game. If he's deemed ineligible they will lose the win. To add insult to injury as you may recall he played terrible that game, was totally insubordinate to Coach Taylor. Now they might forfeit because of him?
Also Voodoo stirs up a bunch of trouble this episode. He runs into the team at their hangout and calls Reyes a wetback, but Riggins steps in and stops the fight that was about to go down. However Reyes is still riled up and ends up taking it out on this kid Castor (friends with Landry and Saracen) in the parking lot, and puts him in the hospital. Reyes is then arrested for assault, and resorts to lying about the incident saying (on television) that Castor called him racist names. Matt is in a tough position because he doesn't want to get Reyes in trouble but he knows that Reyes is lying about his friend. In the end he decides (with some pushing from Landry) to tell Coach Taylor what he knows and Reyes is kicked off the team. I think more for lying than for beating the Castor up, if he had admitted his mistake in the first place I think he would have been punished but could have kept his spot. In the end it's all for nothing, Voodoo ends up telling a reporter that he had been illegally recruited and they are stripped of their victory over Arnett Mead anyhow. On the plus side Voodoo has left to go back to Louisiana so he won't be around to screw things up anymore.
Also this episode Riggins breaks Jason out of the rehab center for a field trip, Lila runs into them in the parking lot and ends up coming along. Awkward! They have agreed they don't ever want Jason to know that they hooked up while he was in the hospital but the truth has a way of coming out...
Mark here...I agree with what Laurel said. The clincher at the end of the episode is that after Jason gets dropped off at the rehab center he watches his friends (Lyla and Riggs) hug from the window. We get the impression that he sees something more between the two of them.
The plotline with Reyes and Castor is interesting in how other characters respond to it. Tammi Taylor doesn't buy Reyes accusation from the beginning. The coach wants to believe that Reyes wouldn't lie to him, though you get the impression that he knows the truth. Saracen hems and haws over telling the truth but in the end he comes clean.
We also get a brief scene between Tyra and Tammi Taylor in the guidance office. Tammi tries to identify with Tyra saying, "I was once like you..." to inspire her to keep up with her algebra. Tyra of course says "I don't want to be you!". Its interesting because Tammi Taylor doesn't flinch and still feels sympathy for Tyra. At the same time, you can see Tyra growing up to be Tammi.
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