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« Friday Night Lights
Episode Recap: "Jumping the Gun"
Folks, I'm really sorry, but I had a problem with my TV around minute 47 of this episode. For some reason, the screen abruptly jumped to an episode of some ridiculous soap opera. I mean, I just know that someone on my beloved Friday Night Lights didn't actually say, "My wife has three months to live," followed by a plot about two brothers who looked an awful lot like the Riggins stealing mortgage money from a Meth dealer. Tell me it was just a cable problem, and everything will be ok.
Well, if indeed FNL really did stoop to this (though I'm still in denial), let me be the first to pardon Coach Dickie of Laribee for his completely unprofessional on-field behavior. If my husband were given three months to live, I'd probably knock out Tim Riggins too. Then again, if one is getting paid a boatload of money to coach, one has probably learned to compartmentalize (just do a Google search about Andy Reid and his kids and you'll know exactly what I'm talking about). The bright side is that the Laribee Lions are out of our hair.
Meanwhile, Tim has made up with his brother Billy, made up with their mutual ex, Jackie (sort of), and moved back into his own house — a house that is apparently about to be foreclosed because Billy couldn't keep everything together after getting fired. Thank god Tim went back to Meth man's house to get his stuff, knocked over a gun and in the process found $3,000 taped to the bottom of a table. That's all perfectly plausible. I especially liked that Tim insisted on putting the gun back because Meth man would "know" otherwise. Because he's not crazy enough to come after Tim regarding a measly $3,000 or anything. Lame.
Chez Taylor, Julie confessed her wrongdoing to her father and Shelly was unceremoniously ousted after taping The Office over game footage (that crazy Michael Scott is now ruining lives in Texas! And in the middle of a writers strike too!). What a sad way for Jessalyn Gilsig to exit the show. She deserved better.
In the midst of all of this was one shining beacon of reality: Smash's recruitment. Ok, reality might take it a little too far — not that I'm an expert myself, as my entire exposure to college football recruitment comes courtesy of Two-A-Days — considering the TMU coach showed up and solicited Smash in the school lunchroom, but this I was willing to take at face value. You could feel the relief in Corinne "Mama" Williams, when Smash announced he was committing to TMU, and I also couldn't help but be glad that he'll still be somewhat local. I'm no fan of Noelle, and can't help wonder whether she'll still be such an influence on Smash now that he's made his verbal commitment. In fact, it was his moments that somewhat redeemed an otherwise lackluster episode, especially the final scene between him and his mother, and the sheer exuberance with which he pronounced, "Hey ya'll, Smash is gonna play for the U, baby!"
Next week you'll be back in the very capable hands of my colleague Casey Marsella while I'm up in Taylor Kitsch-land (that's Canada, for anyone who's unsure). I'm looking forward to hearing from all of you, especially those who disagree with me about this week's episode, and perhaps I'll have reevaluated my position by the time I get back. Hey, if season 2 can have an episode completely devoid of TyLandry (LanTyra?), anything can happen.
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Jan 11, 2008 10:58 PM
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Boy, do I hate to agree with you (but funny the way you put it ... your problem with your TV), but I do. What was up with the monumentally bad decision of stealing the money? Nothing we know about either Riggins suggests they would do that, right? Plus, Tim's scared of the guy, so why piss him off?
Smash's storyline was great, as was Coach's face during the discussion with Noelle and Smash (he heroically restrained himself from kicking her out, I think). I love Mama Smash.
And WHY did they end the Larrabe storyline in such a lame way? Three months to live for the rival coach's wife. Were we to assume the news came over the phone earlier in the episode? And then he tackles Tim on the field. WHAT?
And where the h#ll is Jason Street ... and Lyla ... and Landry ... and Tyra? And Saracen was only incidental, which he has been since breaking up with Julie.
I liked the addition of Tami's sister. She was fun. Too bad she's gone.
On the plus side, everyone's hair looked really pretty in this episode ...
It sounds like I hate this show, but I really, really don't. Come back, FNL!
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Jan 12, 2008 2:04 AM
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It wasn't this year's best episode but I didn't think it was that bad. Soap opera never did enter my mind. I do not mind the lack of Jason Street and I needed a break of the Landry/Tyra story....talk about melodramatic. I knew the moment creepy meth guy showed his true colors that this would be trouble for Tim. Taking the money solidified that in my mind.....I have a feeling one of the Riggin's boys will not make it to season 3. Meaning Tim will be back living with the Taylors in no time!!!!
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Jan 12, 2008 7:47 AM
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Leah, I'm pretty sure the TMU recruiter solicited Smash at the diner where they all hang out, not in the school lunchroom.
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Jan 12, 2008 10:26 AM
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All I could think when Riggins put the gun back is now his fingerprints are on it. I'm dreading the storyline where the gun is used in a crime and Riggins gets blamed. Haven't we already had one Dillon Panther in trouble for murder this season? Isn't that enough?
And, yeah, what has happened to Jason? He's been missing for weeks.
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Jan 12, 2008 10:42 AM
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I was really surprised at just how little is being made of how heinous Julie’s actions were. I mean one half of a sentence…really? REALLY?
She put Riggins out on the street and essentially made the Coach think he was…well…I don’t know the word for it but it’s bad. Julie has not had a good season this year and it seems to be getting worse and worse.
Speaking of bad seasons, I don’t think you can blame this episode specifically for Street being missing. He has been the incredible disappearing man all season. Honestlly, that trend in general has really taken away from the season. I mean, why did we even bother with that Santiago kid if he was going to disappear never to be seen again.
Anyway, in general the whole episode seemed a bit weak to me. It really didn’t seem like a lot of the events belonged in FNL (The wife dying, the stealing from the drug dealer, etc…). But it’s still a step up from Landry the Murderer or Landry the Football hero so at least there’s that.
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Jan 12, 2008 11:21 AM
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I really enjoyed this episode. Although not as strong as last week, FNL's been good since its return. The strength tonight was the focus on the Taylor family and Riggins and his brother. Not to mention Smash and his mother.
I had a feeling the need for cash would lead Tim to steal but stealing from Ferrat Guy was incredibly stupid. Aside from the obvious that stealing is wrong, YOU DO NOT STEAL FROM A GUY WHO OWNS GUNS! It was contrived enough that he returned to get his clothes but then he touches his gun and steals the money. I just hope it doesn't lead to another storyline in the vein of the murder subplot.
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Jan 12, 2008 3:06 PM
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FYI: The TMU recruiter who talked to Smash at the restaurant was Rick Barnes, the head basketball coach of the teasips at u texas.
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Jan 12, 2008 3:54 PM
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I didn't realize Tyra & Landry weren't in the episode until the closing credits rolled--and I really didn't miss them! (Not that I want them to disappear forever though.) The Coach Dickies storyline was indeed bizarro, but TyLa has been such an ongoing soap opera anyway.
Were Julie's action really that bad? True, she passed up the chance to defend Tim when she was laying in bed hungover, but then she apologized to Tim AND came clean to her Dad. It was actually more than I expected from her character!
I agree that Shelly's character was handled rather strangely, Just a peripheral character who was never really developed that much, and then dismissed. I think one problem with FNL is that they have a wealth of great characters to work with and obviously some get lost in the shuffle.
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Jan 12, 2008 5:49 PM
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Shelly was a PITA who needed to get out of their house, but I correctly predicted that Tami would be glad that she was gone, but upset with Eric for telling her to go.
As for Tim's fingerprints on the weapon, wasn't it just two as he gingerly picked it up and put it back? If his fingerprints aren't on the trigger, I don't see his getting nabbed for any crime (then again, Tim's got a perpetual dark cloud over him, doesn't he?) But stealing money from a meth dealer? Yeah, I don't see how that's going to end well. Especially since he took his stuff, thereby leaving evidence that he was there. I just wanted to give Tim a hug this week (no, not that way) because he looked so forlorn. Just as he was getting a positive male influence in his life--witness how it turned him into a crusader for Julie's virtue--it was snatched away from him.
I adore Landry, and I hope that Tyra comes clean with him about being warned off by his dad. On the one hand, I can understand Mr. Clark not wanting Tyra to corrupt him and break his heart, but Landry is actually good for Tyra and helps her to be a better person.
Even when this show has its missteps (I find it extremely hard to believe that any school employee, such as the Laribee coach, would be that antagonistic, surly and undermining to a fellow coach, especially while a guest in his school) I still think it's the best show on TV, hands down. I am so glad that thanks to Peter Berg and the efficient shooting schedule, we have a good 5 more episodes of this show than any other.
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Jan 12, 2008 6:13 PM
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As a college football fan, the one part of this episode that didn't ring true to me was Smash's recruitment. He was being wooed by not one, but TWO SEC schools - Alabama and UGA. UGA is THE winningest team in the SEC over the last seven years, and anyone who follows college football knows that the SEC is the top conference in college football.
So...why did Smash act like being recruited by two SEC schools wasn't as great as being recruited by fake-school TMU? Most high school kids would KILL to be recruited by the SEC.
Just a little bit of unbelievable plot added into what is generally a fantastically real program.
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Jan 12, 2008 7:55 PM
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I have one question and knowing nothing about football, Who won the game? All they said was "Coach's error" Did that void the game or what, because I think the Panthers were losing before Riggins got blindsided by the rival coach. I was just wondering. But I really liked the episode overall.
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Jan 12, 2008 8:21 PM
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Soap opera is just way too dramatic for me. I think the rapist-killing storyline was soap operatic. This episode was just melodramatic. I was so annoyed with Tim for taking the money and I pray that when Meth Man comes back with his gun (they have repeatedly mentioned that gun for a reason) its his brother who takes it and not Timmy.
I don't really miss Jason Street, to be honest, I have never been interested in his storyline, even last season. I only like Lyla with Tim and I can take or leave Tyra and Landry.
As for Matt, he's MIA b/c he's stuck in a boring, unconvincing, contrived relationship with his Granny's Nanny. The story of him being insecure and unsure dating his coach's daughter was so much more compelling, IMO, than this BS the writers have him doing now. Carlotta has no ties to anyone else on that canvas and that alone makes her pointless and expendable. I miss the Old Matty Saracen. This new guy who makes out with girlfriends in cars and loses his virginity to someone he barely knows is a stranger to me.
Julie has been pissing me off all season and I was really hoping to see her be slowly redeemed. Maybe her finally coming clean and apologizing last night was the start, I don't know.
The Larabee coach thing was ... weird. I thought HE was dying, not his wife. Somehow I would have bought it more if it had been him. Or if it hadn't been death. I dunno. Whatever. Just glad its over.
As for Smash, I just want him to get OVER himself. Ugh! The ego is too much!
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Jan 12, 2008 8:44 PM
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I did like yesterday's episode and even though FNL on its worst day is still better than 90% of what's currently on television, there's something off about this season overall. I think the reason this season has not been up to par with the amazing first season can be summed up (at least for me) with the following question:
Is the show really even about football anymore?
And this is coming from someone who's not really a football fan. But what I love about this show is that football is not merely a sport in this context. It's a representation of the community in which the pressures, fears and dreams brought on by football affect the entire town in one way or another. But lately (possibly as a ploy to gain more viewers, I don't really know), the show is sort of straying away from that concept, making it less poetic and more melodramatic.
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Jan 12, 2008 11:04 PM
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First of all I love FNL, for the most part liked the episode, but had a couple of complaints,
1: I hate the jerk of a coach from the larimie or w/e team was "let-off-the-hook" with a bs storyline twist of "my wife's croakin in 3 months" why can't he just be a jerk? and let good ol ET rough him up a little...why?
2:I hat the fake style colleges, I'm from Oklahoma and I don't recall a OK tech or w/e, thats annoying....
3: week after week there seems to be less football, I mean whats the panthers record anyways?
4: just make the show 2 hours a week and we can fit in the screen time for all the freakin characters theyve developed.
ps i love this show and like said before even at it's worst its 90% better than most shows
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Jan 13, 2008 12:11 AM
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