“Friday Night Lights” — The Confession
I’ve gotta say, it’s a hell of a relief to know that Friday Night Lights will be off the air for a good month or so. It’s going to need the time to let the bad taste from these past nine episodes dissipate from our collective mouth. Still, I gotta say as far as a “let’s do everything in our power to wipe the slate clean” sort of episode, there was some good stuff in there. There was some god-awful stuff as well, but it certainly wasn’t the soul-crushing hour I was expecting (part of the reason I put off watching it as long as I did). More after the jump…
Let’s divide this up Leone style. First the bad: I still hate the Seracen/latin health worker storyline. I also hate the Santiago/Buddy Garrity storyline, though I find myself more forgiving of the latter because Brad Leland is so fun to watch and sadly it seems to be the only arch that has anything to do with football in this show that is suppose to be, ostensibly, centered around the game. I will give the show credit, however, for playing “After the Laughter” by the very fitting …And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead during Santiago’s “magical” defensive attack.
Now the good: While it had very little to do with anything, I kind of loved Street’s adventures in cyber-dating — specifically his fear that Herc was going to show him the “Screech Porn” again and his reaction to the “pee” girl was brilliant. I also have to say that while the Riggins as Mr. Underwear-Meth-Dealer’s roommate seems utterly random, I’m thrilled that it allowed him to spend more time helping out Coach Taylor and even more thrilled that it allowed us to see him at the gymnastics meet talking about how “Stacey has been her own worst enemy all day” which made me laugh out loud. Taylor Kitsch has brilliant comic timing. He needs to be used for more of this, and less as the mopey-drunk. Technically I hate all of the Julie stuff because she’s such a little brat, but the fact of the matter is that’s exactly what teenage girls are like (which, by extension, is why I find them terrifying), so if anything the scenes between her and Tammi should be commended because they aren’t glossed up. Still, watching another crying-screaming match between the two might cause me to stick my head in the oven.
And… the ugly: What more is there to say about the Landry/Tyra/Murder plot aside from THANK CHRIST THIS IS ALL OVER. There is a long lineage of series tampering too much with a good thing during their second seasons (and yes, I’m looking at you Lost), but this one was so far over the line the show will probably never completely win me back. I’m going to keep watching, especially because it appears the last six or so episodes that were completed (pre-strike) could be heading in a completely new direction. But man, talk about burning bridges.
Tags: Friday Night Lights, NBC
