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« Friday Night Lights
Episode Recap: "Seeing Other People"
The image of Smash "Cabo in my pants" Williams running in his boxers from a big hulk of a man just happened to make my week. He may be the ladies' man of Dillon, but he apparently has a few things to learn about the social scenes at Division 1 football schools. It's disconcerting to know that Matt Saracen, despite knowing this whole story, still relied on Smash for idiotic girl advice. Lesson for all you guys out there: If you want to break up with a girl, don't take the George Costanza route (Matt's suggestion of an open relationship was just an update of George's prenup). Hopefully his relationship with Carlotta will be more successful than those he had with Julie and Lauren, but forgive me if I remain a skeptic.
It was not a good week for the women of FNL, between Matt breaking hearts, Tyra's sudden crisis of conscience, Tami getting told off by just about everyone in her family for various perceived slights, and Julie being humiliated in front of the entire school (how did that happen, by the way? Didn't Tami pull Noah out of the hallway specifically so that no one else would see?). Tyra's reaction to possibly meeting her attacker's brother was completely understandable ("What if they're twins? […] What kind of freak wants to meet their brother's rape victim anyway? What does he want?"), though her allowing a fragile Landry to rescue her yet again was not. A few weeks back she kept expressing how awful she'd feel if it was discovered what Landry did for her, and yet when presented with the opportunity to take control, she doesn't. I feel horrible judging her actions, as I've thankfully never experienced the kind of trauma she has, and someone recovering from two terrible events is allowed a decent amount of leeway, but I can't help feel for Landry — especially now that he's confessed.
I also feel for Tim. If Tyra (what is it about this girl?) hadn't kicked him out of her house, he wouldn't have ended up living with Jack Black's balder, fatter, drunker twin. I'm sure I wasn't alone in figuring out that this guy's ferrets would end up being the least of Tim's problems. The guy has a meth lab, and has now "jokingly" threatened to kill Tim if he tells. On the plus side, Tim managed to get back in Coach Taylor's good graces, and back on the team (standout apologies: Smash, Matt and "Firecrotch").
All in all, this episode left me majorly depressed. The minuses were many: The best television couple are undergoing serious marriage problems, Landry's probably going to jail and Matt's… well, he's just being a jerk. Tim's redemption and Smash's comeuppance, as heartwarming and guffaw-inducing as they were, respectively, didn't exactly balance out the gravitas. Also, I'm beginning to see that not only are my Eagles coughing up a season, but my Panthers are, too. Taylor is going to be lucky if he keeps his job next season (next football season that is — the show's renewal chances have never been murkier. The ratings aren't great but the demos are). I still love this show, but would it kill them to lighten up a bit?
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Nov 30, 2007 10:41 PM
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While I always find the recap interesting (and posted so quickly!), I didn't actually find the show that depressing. Landry's confessing is a big weight off everyone's shoulders, including the audience. While not the least bit religious, I do have faith (in the writers) that his post-confession experience, while difficult, will not be the end of his life.
I also thought the humor with Smash and Riggins was a nice return to form. Who cannot be happy Riggins is back on the team??
I wonder when they will revisit Jason Street--or has that storyline been abandoned like Waverly's? On one hand I admire the fact that the show doesn't feel compelled to check in on each character in each episode, but it can also be frustrating. Santiago, one of the standouts of the previous episode, had all of abut 15 seconds here!
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Nov 30, 2007 11:06 PM
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Landry confessing was a weight lifted off our shoulders. If you're going to randomly, or unrandomly in this case, insert Lyla into an episode, that's the way to do it.
Yes, Matt shouldn't have asked Smash for relationship advice, but I don't think he was a jerk. He wanted to end things with Lauren. He's never broken up with anyone before; it was Julie who broke up with him. That's totally played with his head.
My commentary for Smash's scene: "Run Smash run!" "Don't get injured jumping over the fence" "Okay you're good!" "Run Smash run!" The most funny entertaining scene of the show until ...
Riggins wouldn't leave the football field -- why I love this show -- amazing!
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Nov 30, 2007 11:24 PM
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How can Tami not get that if the situation was reversed, with Eric chatting and laughing with another woman behind closed doors, she would be livid? And, to a certain extent (with fewer and less serious connotations) she's doing with Glen exactly what she accused Noah of doing with Julie.
I get that Coach is angry about Tim leaving the team for a week, but doesn't the fact that he went with Jason and eventually kept him from having the crazy surgery buy him any goodwill? My husband and I discussed tonight the inconsistencies that Eric and Tami display as parents, and here Eric as coach is showing another. Any football coach that I know will bench a player, or kick them off the team entirely, for underage drinking. Maybe this is "the straw that broke the camel's back", I don't know.
I'm worried over what will happen to Landry. I'm sure that he feels better now that his conscience is clear, but now what?
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Nov 30, 2007 11:28 PM
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Are the writers already on strike or something? This surely was NOT the Friday Night Lights that I love and chomp at the bit waiting for each week. At least not the first half hour, anyway. Every single character was acting stupid and not being anything true to who they've been for 1 1/2 seasons. Suddenly Eric and Tami are sniping at each other? Suddenly there's a pedophile chasing Julie? Suddenly Smash is ignoring his Mom's smart advice and acting stupid? Suddenly Tami Taylor is an over-reacting shrew? Suddenly Matt has a pair of balls? It just seemed like they wrote a half-episode of sheer lunacy just so they could bring it back around again and have everything resolved in a neat package. Well that has never been what FNL has been all about - so why now?
OK, maybe I'm being too hard on this episode, but it really felt out of place. There were a few good moments though - Matt's line to Smash "Does it still feel like Cabo in your pants" made me howl out loud. And I'm glad that Matt and Carlotta are doing the deed. I think he needs someone more muture - and every high school guy has that "older woman" phase that helps them become a man. This is Matt's time, and that scene felt as real as anything on this show so far.
But come on. The writers have painted themselves into some corners that will be hard to get out of. Looks like next week is a Landry-centric-Oh-My-Will-He-Go-To-Prison drama fest. Leave that kinda crap for lesser shows with lesser caliber actors. FNL doesn't need melodrama. this is the best cast on TV and they can pull off nuanced, deep, thoughtful and REAL storylines as well as any cast on TV.
If only the writers would come on camera and give us all a Riggins-style apology. "Hey fans, I let you all down. But we're back on the team now and we're gonna get this right before the network chickens out and replaces us with another lame game show."
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Dec 1, 2007 4:10 AM
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Wow, I really agree with Keefer on his post. What happened to the characters we know and love??? Yes, there were funny moments, with Smash, but that was about it!
Eww, that ferret guy walking around in his undies, and were they grayish dirty too?
When did Matt get all sex crazy too? Wasn't he the shy one worried about puting his arm around Julie last year? Now they have him ripping clothes off! Please bring back our characters and MORE FOOTBALL!!!
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Dec 1, 2007 7:55 AM
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Halfway through this week's show I thought I didn't like it much, but by the time I got to the end I was laughing out loud about "Underwear Meth Guy" and Smash running a 3.8 to get away from the noseguard. And I think it's great they way the writers have shown Matt's growth. He may have become much less shy too quickly, but if Carlotta showed up at my door I might lose some shyness pretty quickly too. I don't like the problems Coach Taylor and Tami are having, but it was nice to see that they let Coach be right for a change. My biggest complaint about this episode--no Buddy!
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Dec 1, 2007 12:12 PM
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I LOVED this episode. It made me cry twice (Landry/Lyla's "faith" conversation, and Eric and Tami admitting that they missed each other). Any show that makes me cry is a winner.
And I laughed so loud when Smash jumped the fence that my dog got scared and ran out of the room. That's what he gets for not listening to his mama. And it kept him from making a poor choice of colleges.
I like Matt and Carlota, so I'm glad he followed his heart, even if it was a tacky breakup.
Tami took Noah into a classroom to talk, but didn't close the door. That was her mistake. If the conversation had been private, the outcome would have been better. But, she also was rude in the way she talked to Noah, and there was a better way to say what was on her mind.
Riggins' roommate was a hot mess even before he told Riggins to buy cold medicine. Now I'm worried. Riggins needs to get out of that house.
Tyra relies way too much on Landry, who, being a stand-up guy, will always take on the responsibility, even if it is to his detriment. I really like him as a person.
I'm looking forward to the next episode!
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Dec 1, 2007 12:29 PM
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I loved this episode. I think that this cast should be nominated for the SAG award for best cast. Each actor just has the delivery of the lines down pat! The tone and inflection in their voices just always seem to fit.
I think part of Tami's issue with yelling at that teacher is that subconcsiously she knew that she was doing the same thing with Glenn. She knew how she was feeling, and did not want the thought that the teacher was having the same feelings. And while it does appear that the writers are setting up our happy couple for a fall, I think that it will all end up ok. Tami just went through having to take care of Grace by herself while her husband was out of town, while her other daughter continually was a brat to her... She is just kind of having a freakout.
I love my Tim Riggens. That dude is funny. And too cute with his "lost little boy" look. Glad he is back on the team and has a reason to be away from crazy only wearing dirty underwear meth man.
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Dec 1, 2007 2:48 PM
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are you kidding me?? "hopefully matt's relationship with carlotta will be more successful"??? They're such a snooozefest. Carlotta still doesn't have much of a personality. Hopefully this is another fling that obviously won't end well, seeing as she's his grandma's nurse and they live together.
And I might literally have killed my mother if she had done what Tami did. First time all season long I was rooting for Julie.
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Dec 1, 2007 5:25 PM
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I enjoyed the episode, although it had a few character flaws. Tami was doing exactly what Julie was doing; enjoying the company of another man and receiving all the flattery that came with it. I hated how Tami went off on Noah in a classroom that was meant to give them privacy but with the door unlocked?! I understand and get that Noah might have overstepped his boundaries by looking like he escorted Julie to the game but Tami was wrong at not listening to him as he tried to explain himself. This might all go wrong because now Julie to him will seem like some forbidden fruit which always seems more appealing.
I loved when Tim apologised personally to his teammates whom Coach Taylor said that he had let down (funny when he did not know some of the newbies names and called them by their numbers). I feel sad for Tim because if he is back on the team, that only solves one of his many problems like now where is he going to live. Maybe he should move in with Buddy and Santiago.
Hated that there was no Santiago in this episode after the last one had that very sad look at the end with him. I also am not liking how when Jason Street came back, his story seemed to have been thrown out the window. I mean, did his parents worry about his whereabouts?! What about his other quad team? Are they preparing for the international team of their sport?
I am also not liking how they made Matt, who in the first season could not really talk to girls, end up being like some "playa". I mean he had the convinience of having a girl in the house and a girl in school both who are into him. I wonder if he will have to face some consequences of his actions. I want to see more Matt with Landry and them just having that male bonding. Not many of the guys on the show have close friends like that. This would have been a nice season to have Landry and Matt do things together now that both are on the same team.
I love this show and canot wait to see what comes next week. They should try to have new episodes everyday because, I sure would watch them.
Go Panthers.
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Dec 1, 2007 6:24 PM
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The first thing I noticed when Tami pulled Noah into that classroom was that she didn't close the door behind her. I knew immediately that some student would overhear them and that the whole school would then find out about it. Guess they had to leave the door open to help the storyline along. Now the tension between Tami and Julie can continue to grow and the Noah/Julie dynamic can change completely. In real life that poor girl would be too mortified to even look at her teacher again. I'm curious to see where they're going with this.
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Dec 1, 2007 9:39 PM
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I LOVE this show. Smash running & Matt's reaction had me rolling. Tami annoyed me, how could she not see her behavior with Glen was the same as Noah's was with Julie? Riggins had me rolling again & Landry...Landry just broke my heart. His scenes with Tyra & Lyla and then turning himself in...just broke my heart. Everything has to turn out ok for him. HAS TO. Nothing else is acceptable. I so love this character.
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Dec 1, 2007 10:52 PM
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I miss Matt and Landry scenes -- i think thats the real consequence of this murder McGuffin. I just want this murder thing resolved so they can get back to the old banter...
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Dec 1, 2007 11:18 PM
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Alright, I'm sort of in the middle with this episode. People already have brought up some of the problems. My main problem is Matt's actions. I'd label him as my favorite character but WTF? He basically did EXACTLY what Julie did to him earlier. Matt had someone but is interested in another girl. They got to kissing and now he wants to end things with Lauren?? Come on now, what is that about. I'm surprised they didn't have Matt flat out lying to Lauren. Well, it didn't help that he completely broke her heart with the lame 'open relationship' suggestion. I didn't agree with Julie's actions then, and I definitely won't change for Matt.
Also, is Landry still on the team? I don't remember seeing him in the locker room in the beginning of the episode. They never show him at practice anymore either. I know he has other things going on but I thought football helped him escape form that.
The last half was great but there were still some things that didn't feel the same.
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Dec 2, 2007 1:41 AM
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