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« Friday Night Lights
Episode Recap: "Leave No One Behind"
I declare Friedman’s First Law of FNL to be that for every person whose life starts going well, another must suffer. How else to explain the improving lives of Tyra and Landry versus the declining fortunes of Smash and Saracen?
Tyra and Landry had a pretty rough couple of months between the murder and their non-breakup. But in a swift moving series of events, Landry confessed his crime with no ill effects and Tyra realized that he’s the one who sets her heart aflutter. I can’t help it. I like them together, if only to see them happy for the first time in seemingly forever.
Also generally happy this week were the Taylors. For once, Julie had a just reason to be her sullen teenage self for once, when Tami didn’t show up for her driving test (instead bringing the now 2-7 girls volleyball team home for dancing and sundaes). But once Tami finessed the DMV worker and Julie was able to take her test, all was forgiven. It was lovely to see Gracie, Julie, Tami and Eric all living together in some sort of harmony à la season 1. Plus, at the DMV, we had one of the best exchanges of dialogue from the whole show, when Tami asked the tester, “Hey are you a Panthers fan?” and he responded with, “No, I hate football.” As if working at the DMV didn’t make him enough of a pariah!
On the other end of the emotional spectrum was the perennially abandoned Saracen. I can’t imagine I was the only one shocked that our QB1 called his art teacher a bitch (to her face, no less). After skipping school and joining the Riggins School of Life (Lesson One: “I always skip [school] Wednesdays.” Lesson Two: Learning to tell strippers, “I’m almost done with high school.”), Matt found himself unprepared to lead a Smash-less team, both emotionally and physically. Showing up to practice drunk will do that to you. The scene where he broke down in the shower, screaming at Coach, “You left me for a better job […] Everybody leaves me! What is wrong with me?” managed to remind us both how much we love Matt Saracen, and how much we hate the Emmy, Golden Globes and SAG voters for ignoring this show. Pure perfection.
And Smash. Oh, Smash. As though being suspended for three games wasn’t enough, TMU has revoked his scholarship (“They say I’ve got questionable character. That’s the mark of death, Coach.”), casting a pall over his senior year. It’s hardly the end of the world: as my father, whom I was lucky enough to watch this episode with, pointed out, other schools are not going to pass up a chance to grab this talent. Just look at Randy Moss after his Notre Dame scholarship got revoked. He’s certainly feeling no pain now (and let’s face it, probably won’t be for quite some time). But I can certainly understand the degree of panic that Smash must be dealing with right now. His speech to his teammates showed immense character (if only TMU could have seen it), and for once, he’s realized that there is a Panther team beyond the force that is Smash Williams. That didn’t make watching him in sob in frustration, anger and sadness any easier. (And as always, brava to Liz Mikel, who does a beautiful, understated job as Smash’s mother. It never goes unnoticed.)
Peter Berg will join the cast of the show next week, which will probably cause the universe to explode somehow. If it doesn’t, I’ll see you then for one last episode (that hopefully won’t serve as the de facto series finale) before a strike-imposed hiatus. Clear eyes! Full hearts! Can’t cancel!
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Feb 1, 2008 10:51 PM
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Thanks Leah for the recap. What a perfect,perfect episode. It was almost like someone woke up and started writing 1st season FNL. There wasn't a false moment all evening. EVERYONE was on their game tonight.
I found myself tear up more than once tonight. And to see that moment at the end with Tyra and Landry was the icing on the cake. A+
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Feb 1, 2008 11:31 PM
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I watch this show every week and think how lucky we are to watch such amazing television. This week everyone was on their A game. This show is special. Thank goodness for FNL! Also, my husband said the same thing about Smash being snapped up by another school.
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Feb 2, 2008 1:17 AM
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I'm not ok with how the Saracen scene was set up. Did no one with the show realize that they were having Coach Taylor commit child abuse?
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Feb 2, 2008 2:42 AM
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I disagree with you chloracle, well I was surprised to see Coach grab Matt (did you see Matt's expression!) he desperately needed a wake up call, and that's what he got.
I suppose to each their own, it's the same with the whole spanking argument. Coach did exactly what I think most of us wanted to do: shake Matt out of his downward spiral and knock some sense into him. Also keep in mind, Matt was drunk so he was stumbling and exaggerating his movements.
I LOVED this episode. All the performances were perfect and understated. TV and subtle...almost an oxymoron nowadays.
I have to say, if this show gets cancelled NBC will be hearing from me in lots of letters.
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Feb 2, 2008 3:03 AM
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Anyone else notice the nod to Peter Berg's film "The Kingdom" on the marquee where Landry had his date?
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Feb 2, 2008 5:53 AM
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Smash's mom has to rank right up there with the best TV moms of all time. She's tough when she needs to be (it's not easy being a single mother), but soft when her children need it. When Smash says bring it on, instead of saying I told you so, she says with tears in her eyes, "I love you, and I believe in you." Wow, that scene really made me tear up.
My heart broke for Jane (name? you know, the physics partner). It's so tough being the plain one, being brushed aside for the hottie. Yes, I realize that for Landry there's a lot more to Tyra than hottie factor, but come on, sex appeal is a lot of it.
The 2nd time I teared up was the shower scene between Matt and Coach Taylor. By the way, child abuse? How I long for the days before the Cult of Victimhood took over this country. Anyway, Matt's situation broke my heart. There are a lot of kids out there who are saddled with way too much responsibility way too young. The guy does all he can to keep it together, and does a helluva job, until the one thing that really lights up his life up and leaves. Oh, and Tim Riggins never stops cracking me up. Approaching Lyla and Hair Boy and inviting them to share a pitcher? Classic!!
Totally agree, this episode was Vintage FNL. Superb writing, pitch-perfect acting, heartache and joy. If this show ever gets canceled, I'll be more heartbroken than Physics Partner Girl.
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Feb 2, 2008 6:53 AM
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Pretty prefect episode and many great performances. Once again, this could have been the one that others "find" FNL if NBC would have done there jobs and promoted it.I thought Coach really shined this week. He did not have a lot of screen time, but what he had I thought was very subtle but powerful. When he dealt with Matt's grandma....when he was all up in Matt's face over his drinking...and when Matt broke down in the shower...it was beautiful scene. Great job!!
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Feb 2, 2008 7:28 AM
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Great Show. This show makes me laugh and cry all at the same time. I agree with Leah and everyone's husband that the right school will not pass on the Smash Baby. I love his mother she is perfect in every scene. Also, I thought the Coach's scene with Matt was perfect. Matt needed to be thrown into the bath tub. There is nothing wrong with physical discipline when done with a loving hand and respect. I do feel bad for the physics girl especially since she thought she cleared the air with Tyra but some people are made for each other and Landry and Tyra are it. Also, I hope she is not right about Landry regretting breaking up with her I have had enought of Landry in turmoil. Also, love the scenes from next week there is nothing sexier then a jealous Coach Taylor and his wife absoulutly loving it!
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Feb 2, 2008 9:58 AM
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Child abuse? Puhlease! There are a lot of kids who could benefit from that kind of tough love and come away all the better for it. I knew that Matt had a lot on him, but I never dreamed it was the abandonment that took the toll on him most. Beautifully executed scene between Matty and Coach T. Emmy! Emmy! Emmy!
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Feb 2, 2008 10:09 AM
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Agree with everyone else; simply fantastic episode! The Smash storyline very closely resembles Randy Moss' and Smash's mom is always spot on. Sometimes she's hardcore and other times she portrays the fear & uncertainty of being a single mother. I'm glad others are noticing her performance. And that shot of Smash in the empty locker room...heartbreaking.
On a lighter note; is it me or did Coach Taylor refer to Landry as "Lance" a coupla times?
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Feb 2, 2008 12:06 PM
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Agree with everyone else; simply fantastic episode! The Smash storyline very closely resembles Randy Moss' and Smash's mom is always spot on. Sometimes she's hardcore and other times she portrays the fear & uncertainty of being a single mother. I'm glad others are noticing her performance. And that shot of Smash in the empty locker room...heartbreaking.
On a lighter note; is it me or did Coach Taylor refer to Landry as "Lance" a coupla times?
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Feb 2, 2008 12:06 PM
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OMG...I FRIKN LOVE THIS SHOW!!!! It really is soooo good and something I look forward to every week and the hour goes by WAYYYYY 2 fast!!! Im so glad Tyra and Landry finally got together..I had to do a fist pump on that. I just hope nothing happens and more drama comes out of it.....can't anyone be happy?! And Smash crying in the locker room....very sad....especially considering for once it wasn't his ego that got him into trouble....and he was defending his litte sister...I mean COME ON. To suspend him for the final 3 games and possibly ruin his college career seems extreme. And poor Matt, him and Julie should just get back together so we can live in a happy wonderland...LOL
LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT
I will be VERY upset should this show not come back!!
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Feb 2, 2008 12:48 PM
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Has anyone noticed that for the last two weeks we have seen volleyball action and no football. I disturbed at the soap opera direction the show seems to be taking.
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Feb 2, 2008 12:50 PM
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Congratulations hotboudain, on the first quintuple post I have ever seen!
I want to say that Landry has been called Lance since the beginning. I may be mis-remembering. But I think Coach has called him Lance since season 1. Maybe? Am I totally making up the show in my own head?
And I also don't agree with the child abuse scenario. Coach guided him to the shower. Was it forcefully? Yes. But that doesn't equal child abuse. He was just trying to give the kid a wake-up call (before Coach got his own about how Matt is feeling).
ETA: I'm really sick of hearing the complaints about FNL being a "soap opera" as if this makes a show unworthy to watch.
That's not an argument. It does have elements of the soap opera to it. EVERY show does, otherwise nothing good or bad would ever happen on a show. That doesn't sound very interesting to me. Does it really to you?
I don't get why it is so bothersome to people about this show specifically. I have seen that exact phrase ("soap opera") used a handful of times about the show. Uh, duh. TV must not be very interesting to watch for these people if that bothers them so, especially on a show with realistic portrayals of humans. Do these characters have more issues than I did/do? Yes. But I'm also not a character on a TV show where drama has to occur.
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Feb 2, 2008 12:52 PM
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