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« Friday Night Lights
Episode Recap: "The Confession"
Well, it only took eight episodes, but the Friday Night Lights we know and love is back. What a fantastic show we had this week; between Landry's crisis of conscience, Tami and Julie getting back on good terms, Santiago and Buddy bonding, Matt and Carlotta "cooking", Jason's crazy date, and Tim's continued repentance, nearly everyone we love (with the notable exception of Smash) got a chance to shine tonight. All that, and the Panthers finally won a game. Where to even start?
Perhaps with Landry and the titular confession. After his first abortive attempt at turning himself in, he decided to ask Tyra what she thought happened. It seemed to be the push he needed to call his crime some sort of self-defense. However, that final shot of his conflicted face after telling her that he wouldn't be facing charges leaves us to wonder if this much-maligned storyline is definitively over. Jesse Plemons is still acting the hell out of what they're giving him and I think we'd all be lucky to see him continue to suffer. Much as we all love Landry, it's just too juicy a part to go away so quickly.
Also stuck in some kind of purgatory is Tim. I'm unclear as to whether he'll now be living in the Taylors' garage, but anything is a step up from creepy Meth man, who has taken to stalking Tim and waking him up with a shot gun "joking" about Tim not feeding his ferrets.
Maybe (as some of you suggested weeks ago) Tim should move in with Buddy and Santiago. All three could work on turning their lives around. On the other hand, having another person in that apartment would rob us of the beautiful scenes between Brad Leland and Benny Ciaramello. If anyone was in a position to outdo Tami tonight, it was Buddy with his, "Tonight is your night. You have an opportunity to go out there and accept the challenge. You have the opportunity to be part of a team. If you don't do it tonight, you're never going to do it the rest of your life." The fact that Santiago apparently ended up being the one who saved the game for the Panthers later that night was just icing on the cake. He still can't seem to shake that lost little puppy expression. I both hope he does (of course I want his life to improve!), and yet pray that he doesn't, because, as I was saying above regarding Landry, the tortured Santiago is just too fantastic to want to lose.
However, one person that I'm happy to see taking control of his life is Jason. Good for him for moving in with Herc, and attempting dates, however badly — or well, as the case really ended up being — they turn out. It was certainly a major turnaround from last time we saw Mr. Street, when he was giving away his possessions and seemed ready to give up in general. I do wish we could have seen the intervening days, but I'll take what I can get.
In the end, it all worked out for our season one favorites the Taylors at Matt Saracen. Matt has a new girl who genuinely adores him, while his ex, Julie, has finally made up with her mother. Tami got her great family picture, Gracie is officially loved by all, and after what seems like forever, all is well on these two storylines.
Anyone else exhausted? Well, we have at the very least a good month to recover. I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday, and we'll all drop back in to Dillon after the new year.
Can't get enough Friday Night Lights? Check out our Online Video Guide for clips, full episodes, interviews and more!
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Dec 7, 2007 10:46 PM
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Wow, this episode made me want to cheer with all of my might. I have been much more supportive of the direction of Season 2 than most people seem to be, but this was by far the best episode since State and I am glad to see the show I fell in love with back in its best form.
I am sure the ramifications of the murder will continue, but I am thrilled that the lying and hiding is over, and hope that in time Landry can move on. We all have periods in our life that torture us and then we have the periods that are fantastic. He is definately due for some fantastic at the moment, and while I'm not sure it will come just yet, I do think it will come. And I have faith that Jesse Plemons will continue to display his very fine acting skills with the lighter material, so I hope it gets here soon for the character's sake.
There is so much more to say on this episode -- and I am so tired -- that I will be back to blog some more later this weekend. As for the pending hiatus, I will really miss the show, but at least there are more new episodes for us to watch while most other shows are in repeats or preempted due to the strike. And hey, since FNL is so efficiant at production, it's possible they could complete all their 22 episodes even if the strike drags on for a while. They have a total of 15 in the can. In the meantime, I'll be taking the break as an oppertunity to rewatch Season 1 thanks to my DVDs.
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Dec 7, 2007 11:46 PM
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Landry and Santiago will break our hearts with their pain. During the last scene, the look on Landry's face was still one of total torment and despair. And poor Santiago is so sad and lonely.
The cinematography capturing Santiago's perspective on the football game was absolutely superb. Being alone on the bench, getting the daylights beat out of him during the first few plays, the bewildering pageantry of the game...first rate camera shots and editing...it told a story in itself.
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Dec 8, 2007 12:34 AM
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I liked the look coach gave when he saw how into the gymnastics practice Tim was.
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Dec 8, 2007 8:25 AM
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loved this episode! I agree, it is back in fine form- some lighter material finally back in (Street's crazy date) the series and finally some resolution after two/three months of fighting.
congrats and keep it up!
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Dec 8, 2007 10:31 AM
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Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton are just phenomenonal in their roles as the Coach and Tami. I hope they will finally get recognition for their acting chops!
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Dec 8, 2007 10:57 AM
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How could anyone still say that the quality of this show has dropped after watching last night's episode - especially after watching Santiago's performance? To see how scared he was and to watch his transformation - you can just tell that he was this type of person who was never a part of something where people had to truly rely on him - and he just desperately did not want to let them down.
He was just so scared and nervous and he wanted to give up - until Buddy Garrity knocked some sense into him and told him that failing was not an option; He basically told him that he was capable of doing it and that he could not keep quitting whenever life gets tough. There are just so many kids that are like that in real life who come from a poor upbringing and who have ran into trouble with the law. And a lot of them do want to change and want to be given a second chance but they don't really have someone who pushes them and tell them that they can do better - they don't have a person like Buddy Garrity telling them that you cannot keep running away when something gets difficult.
Those scenes with Santiago were just so moving and touching and just truly made you feel for his character and for everything that he has to go through in his life...
And my heart went out to Tim Riggins too. He doesn't really have a lot of people that he could reach out to... And Riggins is someone who doesn't know how to ask for help either; Coach Taylor asked him several times in the episode if everything was going okay with his home life and roommate and Riggins didn't say anything. Its like Tim feels that if he asks someone for help then he'll be this hinderance, so he doesn't even bother; hence him parking his car outside of Coach Taylor's house instead of just knocking on his door and asking for help.
That scene where they showed him sleeping in his car was sad but at the same time you were happy that at least Riggins does have one person that he could reach out to - and his coach will always be that person that will be there for him when he does need help...
And I love every scene with the Taylor family! They feel like this real close and loving family. And Kyle Chandler's and Connie Britton's acting ability - is just always superb. Julie is annoying sometimes but she is a teenager and her feelings towards Gracie weren't far-stretched. She has every reason to be a little jealous and uncomfortable around this new baby that arrived, especially since she spent 15+ years being the only child in her household. So I'm just glad that things are patched up for now...
I love this show and it just sucks that there are only a few episodes left. I'm going to miss it a lot and I just hope that this strike ends soon so we can continue to see more episodes from this brilliant show.
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Dec 8, 2007 1:49 PM
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Great episode. Laughed when Riggins said, he thought of Williams too. Wasn't as into the Julie-Tammy storyline, as I don't think it was clear this whole season that Julie had any right to complain about getting too much work from Tammy. She didn't really do any work from what the viewers could see. She's just been off on her own world while her mom was picking up the slack without Coach there.
Ferret man is going to be trouble down the line. Also the threat of a looming civil wrongful death suit from the rapist's brother is probably on its way. Just because the prosecutor doesn't want to press criminal charges, doesn't mean the rape victim's family is not going to do something. It's not over yet for Landry and Tyra.
Finally, Santiago and Buddy, I'm glad they didn't try to make it too maudlin, as their relationship was what I was expecting from Buddy. Not really a lot of emotional support but like living with a fan booster. He was a bit cold to Santiago being scared in the car, but he was right. It turned out that it was what Santiago needed to puill through, and I was glad that Buddy acknowledged that he could have been more emotionally supportive. HOpefully he does, and we get to see more bonding between these two outside of football and working at the car dealership. Santiago deserves it.
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Dec 8, 2007 2:26 PM
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It is very hard to write about this show because it is so amazing....
The fight between Tami and Julie brought back so many memories of my teenage years. So well done...
The Riggins and Santiago storyline make me feel grateful for those fights I had with my parents back then. I just want to hug them both. I also enjoyed Riggins summation of the gymnastic meet and every interaction he had with Coach Taylor. Funny stuff. I hope the relationship between Santiago and Buddy work out for both of their sakes. Good so hear the other players encouraging Santiago when he went into the game.
I love how Matt's girl simply ignored Matt's words about Smash and just went on doing her thing.
All in all, awesome episode. Then I found myself so depressed when I realized no more new episodes until next year.
This show is simply the best.
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Dec 8, 2007 3:13 PM
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Poor Landry feels so guilty; he couldn't cut himself any slack at all for what was mostly a self-defensive act. I loved his line to Tyra, "I feel like I'm choosing between jail and hell". Wow.
And, o.k., so Jason's date Isabella is into "pee". Um, am I the only one who didn't think that was all that bad?.... I mean it could have been worse, right? Right??? 
All right, I'm a little weird. Regardless, I'm glad Jason ended up with a good date that night. He deserved it.
I too, was totally cracking up at Tim's comments on the girl's gymnastics team. I still can't figure out how he is making through school... does he EVER study? I'm really afraid meth guy is going to be hunting him down with his shotgun. He's one scary dude.
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Dec 9, 2007 12:29 AM
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I have to admit I'm torn. But not by the show! I whole-heartedly love this show. I have to state right off that I'm a late-comer and only really started watching during the late-summer pre-season marathon, and even then I only came in in the last few episodes. Because of that I haven't been as offended by the Landry/Tyra storyline as others, because it was specifically the conclusion of that story line that made me tune in to the season premiere (and without seeing these two characters in season 1, it never seemed far-fetched to me that two teenagers would make such a devastating decision).
So what makes me torn right now is that everything I've read about the writer's strike makes me feel that a) the writers are absolutely right and soon the other guilds like SAG will be forced to follow suit, and b) to try to catch up on Friday Night Lights season 1 now via DVD---one of the hotly contested issues in the strike---will be tantamount to crossing the picket lines... and I really want to see the first season! I'm ashamed to say that I didn't watch at first, even though I knew it was a quality show, because its Wednesday time slot clashed with my previously set viewing schedule and I didn't really feel like it was "my kind" of show and anyway I'm not a Nielsen household. Now, in it's second season, I see the hypocrisy of my ways as I try (even more than I did last season, when it was an "I don't watch, but you should" campaign) to convince people that they really need to be watching this show, and I'm often met by variations on the "but I'm not a Nielson family" excuse.
Anyway, I know at this point I'm probably preaching to the choir, but I wanted to get in on record somewhere that hopefully the people who are making decisions might take notice: I hope that, given the current strike, deserving shows that might otherwise be cancelled before their time are given the benefit of the doubt in the creative vacuum that will result from prolonged work-stoppage. If that's the case I PROMISE I will be first in line next season, and with the season 1 DVDs, and hosting viewing parties to try to get others on board.
I could fill another couple of paragraphs with my response to "The Confession", but I think what I screamed at the TV as the credits started summed it up best: "'2008'?! WHEN in 2008?!"
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Dec 9, 2007 1:44 AM
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Have to admit I hadn't ever heard of a sister being a godmother, but I guess that would work. Perhaps it was a good idea as Julie has felt so left out.
This was a truly wonderful episode. I think Jessie Plemons did a masterful job of displaying the torture he must feel. He questions his own motives even more than others do. I think he had a glimpse of what brutality he is capable of and may, unfortunately, punish himself more than the law ever would.
Glad to see Julie finally "connected" with her mother, even though I would have liked to see a little deeper communication in that relationship. I was scared for Matt when he listened to doofas Smash's advice, and pleased when the nurse just stepped right over that line of thinking. Can't wait for next year!
I really hope Riggins doesn't start living with coach's family. It is entirely in his nature to hit on Julie and that would end badly!
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Dec 9, 2007 1:46 AM
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Another great episode in a great show. Landry was by far the MVP of the show for me.
I am torn on the Jason thing. I guess getting out of his parents house would be a good thing, but at the same time, I still see him as a fairly young man (was he a Jr or Sr last year...isn't he the same age as Riggins?) and am not sure he should be "on his own." Some of these kids seem a bit more mature than high-school aged kids I have known throughout life though, so I am sure he will be fine. Plus, he has had to grow up quickly in the last year. OK, circular thought process over. I guess it was a good idea for him to take the big step of moving out.
So glad Riggins is back with Coach and with the team! His roommate is nothing more than a meth-addled freak, and I truly hope he does not come back and cause any trouble for Tim. It was pretty creepy when he showed up at school. Ick.
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Dec 9, 2007 9:56 AM
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I LOL at the gymnastics competition when the coach asked Riggins how he was doing & Riggins replied how the gymnasts were doing. The look coach gave him just tickled me. My take was coach was asking about RIGGINS and Riggins totally was into the gymnastics. 
Landry broke my heart! He is being eaten by guilt. But I loved all his scenes with Tyra.
I get that Tami is under enormous pressure, but I did agree with Julie that no matter what she did it would be wrong or just not good enough. Sad. As annoying as Julie is and has been I do feel Tami is taking some of her own frustrations out on her.
Meth roomie--scary and not quite sane IMO. Have a bad feeling about this.
Enjoyed the football I just wish they had showed some of the results of the fumble/turnover.
Jason & Herc as roomies. Love it! Hopefully that means we will see a lot more of Herc.
Loved that Riggins went to sleep in front of Coach's house. I think Coach Taylor is probably the only stable thing in Riggins life. I just wasn't sure if that scene was just Coach giving Tim a sleeping bag or if Tim will be staying in the garage. Which is a good idea because it plays into my hope that Julie & Tim become friends.
Great show.
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Dec 9, 2007 9:09 PM
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Okay so Tim is moving in with the Taylor's. My hope is that
1) Tim and Julie become friends. He looks at her as a little sister and they have a healthy friendship. Some listens to Julie, someone of her own age. Makes her see that she's got it pretty good in comparison to others.
2) Tim and Julie get it on. Further pissing off Tami and Eric. Become support for one another.
Either way I think a relationship should develop between these characters as they are polar opposite of one another.
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Dec 10, 2007 3:01 AM
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