What a humdinger of a finale we got for a superlative season of Friday Night Lights. Could things have been more tense, emotional, or funny? Coming on the heels of the announcement that we’ll get two more seasons of FNL thanks to the agreement between DirecTV and NBC, that rarest of things has occurred: a relatively low-rated but unusually high-quality show has been saved from cancellation.
That said, here’s the obligatory SPOILER ALERT: DON’T READ FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED IN THE FINALE.
So Tyra got into college after all these months of hard work, tears, and smiling sweetly for tips at Applebees. So Matt committed his grandmother to a care facility after being accepted to art school in Chicago… but then pulled her out and promised to stay put in their home in Dillon. And Coach Taylor lost his job, only to get an offer from newly-redistricted East Dillon High.
Change, change, change, and more changes I haven’t mentioned. My favorite scene: Tim and Billy Riggins arguing over their stalled truck, with Tim whining about his upcoming college schedule (“Where’s my me time?”). No, scratch that: my favorite scene was the one in which Coach made a quiet, plainspoken, ultimately failed plea for the job he loves most, as the magnificently smug Joe McCoy looked on. Kyle Chandler as Eric Taylor says more with his wounded eyes than most actors do with the most eloquent speeches. And, later on, that certainly was one masterfully-filmed wedding scene, with almost every major character getting a bit of choice screen-time.
Here are my worries moving forward: this episode was written by Jason Katims and directed by Jeffrey Reiner, men who’ve guided this series to greatness, and who are also attached to other new shows that may make the fall schedule. I’m a bit alarmed that these guys might not be around to lead the team next season. (When I went to Austin to write my FNL feature for EW in 2007, Reiner was clearly one of the series’ mighty quarterbacks, literally all over the field setting up shots and giving quick, decisive, last-minute acting advice.)
Also, what happens if the series loses both Lyla and Tyra to their colleges? I’ll feel as bereft as Landry: where are the great girls? This being FNL, I’m sure there’ll be worthy replacements, but still…
But, but: What a great set-up for next season. I am so looking forward to watching Coach Taylor take that little dust-bowl of a football field at East Dillon and turn it into a field of dreams, a place where McCoy will, if there’s a god of football, get his nose rubbed in that dusty dirt.
Did you watch? What were your favorite moments?
So Tyra got into college after all these months of hard work, tears, and smiling sweetly for tips at Applebees. So Matt committed his grandmother to a care facility after being accepted to art school in Chicago… but then pulled her out and promised to stay put in their home in Dillon. And Coach Taylor lost his job, only to get an offer from newly-redistricted East Dillon High.
Change, change, change, and more changes I haven’t mentioned. My favorite scene: Tim and Billy Riggins arguing over their stalled truck, with Tim whining about his upcoming college schedule ("Where’s my me time?"). No, scratch that: my favorite scene was the one in which Coach made a quiet, plainspoken, ultimately failed plea for the job he loves most, as the magnificently smug Joe McCoy looked on. Kyle Chandler as Eric Taylor says more with his wounded eyes than most actors do with the most eloquent speeches. And, later on, that certainly was one masterfully-filmed wedding scene, with almost every major character getting a bit of choice screen-time.
Here are my worries moving forward: this episode was written by Jason Katims anddirected by Jeffrey Reiner, men who’ve guided this series to greatness,and who are also attached to other new shows that may make the fallschedule. I’m a bit alarmed that these guys might not be around to leadthe team next season. (When I went to Austin to write my FNL feature for EW in 2007, Reinerwas clearly one of the series’ mighty quarterbacks, literally all over the fieldsetting up shots and giving quick, decisive, last-minute acting advice.)
Also, what happens if the series loses both Lyla and Tyra to theircolleges? I’ll feel as bereft as Landry: where are the great girls?This being FNL, I’m sure there’ll be worthy replacements, but still…
But, but: What a great set-up for next season. I am so looking forward towatching Coach Taylor take that little dust-bowl of a football field atEast Dillon and turn it into a field of dreams, a place where McCoy will, if there’s a god of football, get his nose rubbed in that dusty dirt.
Did you watch? What were your favorite moments?
Billy Riggin’s speech to Tim at the end of the episode was my favorite part. I was so sure that Billy was going to screw up Tim’s chance to go to college somehow, and when he finally acted like the big brother and set his little brother straight, I almost started crying. That and Tyra getting into college, and the first person she shared the news with was Landry. Loved it. I’m so happy this wonderful show is coming back for two more seasons.
television does not get any better than this. score one for the panther’s renewal, score 100 for we,
the viewers.
My favorite scene started with the opening credits and ended with that final shot of Coach and Mrs. Coach silently contemplating their future on the run-down football field as the sun was setting–saying so much without saying anything at all. Beautiful! God, I LOVE this show!
Riggins’ line to Lyla. “Don’t make me “that” guy”. My heart melted.
I’m pretty emotional after that finale – and I’m gonna miss these characters – but I am SO HAPPY to hear the show has been given more life!!
Yay for all the scenes you’ve mentioned – loved them all, from Matt outside his grandma’s “new” room after leaving her to Tyra sprinting to Landry to give him the good news – I am so happy with the character development Tyra has been given in these 3 seasons. Love her & Landry – great balance – them swooning at the end while dancing was awesome. ‘Bout time Landry’s the stud! I was thinking, “why are all these folks at Billy’s wedding?” and then Coach winked at us by bringing it up to Tami.
This show is brilliant all around and I am proud to call myself a fan.
Way too many great moments to pick just one. Watching this show is like reliving life: when my kids got their college acceptances, when my mom was ill, when my sisters got married, when I was disappointed in my career…These people are real people, which makes the show. It was a lovely surprise to see tonight that it was not THE finale, but the season finale. How blessed, to have two more to look forward too. Somewhere in TV Land there IS a brain with a sense of taste and quality.
Fictional college San Antonio State can’t be too far from fictional town Dillon, so I’m crossing my fingers that this won’t be the last of Tim Riggins.
It would also be nice to see one of Smash’s younger sisters get a more prominent role, for the sake of familial continuity. And maybe “Little Buddy” can make a triumphant return from the northwest to become East Dillon’s star running back. The possibilities are endless. I’m just glad this was only a season, and not series, finale.
I saw the the whole thing a while back from Directv and cried!
I saw the whole thing on NBC …. and cried!
I love this show. I all love everyone on that show … they are truely talented and wish everyone the very best!
I had so many favorite scenes that I won’t be able to name one because I am scare to leave one out .. so I will say I LOVE THE WHOLE SHOW!
BUT I must say about this scene … Tara finding out she got in .. and running after Landry was soooooooooooooooo moving I cried and cried and cried for how much work it had cost Tara to FINALLY have something GREAT happen to her and share it with Landry!!!
This show is the bomb. The characters, the plot, the writing, the filming. Why isn’t everyone watching this show? They are MISSING OUT. I really hope the writing and directing stay on point. And I’m with Ken Tucker… what are we going to do without Tyra and Lyla? At least we’ll have Julie.
I’m so sad the season is over, but thrilled we have 2 more seasons lined up. MANOMAN, I cannot get enough of this show. This is quality television.
Favorite scene of the night: Tyra running to catch Landry as he was driving away to open up the letter together.
Can’t wait for next season.
This show is ACHINGLY good. How many other series can induce literal, physical pain as you cheer or weep for its characters? As others have said, there are too many great moments to choose from, but I love the idea of bringing back Smash’s sisters, because they were fantastic in their own right, but also because we’d get more Mama Smash. I also hope Matt is given a prominent storyline. Season 4 and 5 – it’s almost too good to be true!
One of the best finales I have ever seen! The writing was superb and I loved seeing all the senior’s stories get wrapped up. While I am still furious that everyone appears to be graduating, I have such a bias towards Seven I’m glad the way things worked out, but still sad to see he isn’t getting the F out of Dillion. Great writers, excellent cast, great tv! CLEAR EYES! FULL HEARTS! CAN’T LOSE!!!
AMAZING! Can’t wait til next year already. My favorite scenes was Tyra running after Landry and Tami looking at coach while sitting at the church, and he replies “Are you freaking kidding me?” They get each other, and they are so good at conveying it to us. I love this show so much
Though the Coach Taylor firing subplot held my interest the most, my favorite scene was by far the one between the Riggins bros after the wedding when Tim tried to join the garage and his brother wouldn’t let him. It was moving, heartfelt, and real – it was everything that FNL does best. Can’t wait for next season.
i watched the season on direct tv so i cant quite remember everything that happened but i just remember being so happy that the quality of this show managed to return to the near perfection level of season 1 (not to say that I did not enjoy season 2). However, i thought that this season was so good I was basically okay with the show being canceled, and that feeling has only grown since hearing about the show runners imminent departure. For me, I am a little nervous to see what next season will be like with so many of the major characters now gone. BUT i will still watch regardless, if only to see eric and tammy. seriously, give this show some emmys people!
NBC has it’s priorities WRONG!!!
Marishka Hargaty and Chris Meloni are worth more than the entire cast of this show. Cancel it, and pay the SVU cast!