It’s a new season of Friday Night Lights… for anyone who uses DirecTV’s 101 Network. Because EW readers — and this EW critic — love this series, I’m going to write weekly recaps of the show. I’ll put a dutiful SPOILER ALERT at the top of every post. So if you can’t wait until next year, when NBC airs these episodes, feel free to come here, read, and join in with comments and questions. OK? You are now officially SPOILER ALERTED. Here we go:
Oh, man, what a dust bowl that new East Dillon football field is. You can almost feel the grit getting into the eyes of Kyle Chandler’s Coach Eric Taylor, and that red cap sits heavily upon his head. Since the re-districting of Dillon and his loss of the lead-coach position at (west) Dillon, Eric has his work cut out for him. Dusty, tedious work: building a new team.
That team will include Vince (Michael B. Jordan), a new-character tough kid whom the police brought to Eric at the start of the hour, hoping he’d take the kid on as part of the “Cops ‘N’ Jocks,” second-chance program for minor-offenders. It’s impossible to tell what Victor is like from the premiere, which required him to limit his reactions to sullen and wary (as who would not be, in his position — a black youth handed over to a white coach who doesn’t even understand him when he tells Coach the only football he’s played is the Madden videogame).
For FNL fans, the most rewarding scenes, as directed with crisp briskness by Peter Berg, were those that caught us up with key characters:
• Tim Riggins has had it with college — great moment when he tossed his textbooks out the window of his roaring pick-up truck, yes?
• Matt is having his dreams of being an artist dashed by a provincial art teacher who couldn’t care less that he’d been accepted to the Chicago Institute of Art. Plus, he’s delivering “Panther Pizza” door-to-door. Plus:
• J.D. McCoy, the callow wuss last season, has become a grade-A d— who condescends to Matt and comes on to Matt’s girl, Julie. Good fight material here. Or as Landry (the always-terrific Jesse Plemons) referred to it, Matt’s “Get thee behind me, Satan” even-temper has to blow up.
• Tami is feeling the heat as the school official who’s the public face of the unpopular Dillon re-districting. (And is it me, or is that face of Connie Britton’s more glowingly radiant with every new season?) But Tami is also wily, tough Tami: It was clever the way she turned the Panthers coin-toss into a small act of revenge against Joe McCoy (hello, D.W. Moffett, king of the witty smirk!). And speaking Joe McCoy, did you catch how depressed and dismayed Joe’s former champion, the great Buddy Garrity (welcome back, Brad Leland!) looked sitting in the coach’s locker room. Trouble’s a-brewin’ there…
• Do you think Tim Riggins’ new girlfriend will end up being the daughter of the bartender he bedded last night? Actress Madison Burge certainly seems to be set up to become the new Adrianne Palicki, who’ll have only minimal involvement in the show this season.
So, bottom line: Are you already engaged by Coach Taylor’s challenge to turn the East Dillon stragglers into guys who can complete the phrase, “Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose”? Did you think the Dillon Lions’ forfeited first game was an exciting bit of realism, or a dramatic cop-out?
Or are you leery about having to follow two different teams plus all the FNL subplots? Is that going to stretch our favorite sports show too thin?
Comment away, please.
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Change your “Landy” to “Landry” and your “Victor” to “Vince,” and you’ll have yourself a great recap. I am too excited for this season, and you’re exactly right. Connie Britton is stunning!
I love this show! Im so happy its back Tim Riggins throwing the books out the window was great and I liked the scene where he is trying to fix his truck it reminds us that somethings never change.
I cried!! because I was happy to have the show back … and to see how hard Coach Taylor will have it this year .. but I am sure he will come out on top!
Welcome back FNL!!!
This episode felt like a new pilot for a spinoff series more than a continuation of the show we have been watching for three years. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing; the new series seems top-notch. Great dramatic set-up with the underdog story, plenty of room for developing new characters, a lot of interesting and uncomfortable dilemmas for the characters we already know, and that familiar Dillon feeling still thick in the air.
My only criticism of this episode is its plot threads seemed a little less groundbreaking and more predictable than we’ve come to expect from this show. There were clear-cut “good guys” and “bad guys,” which is a tv trap this show has often avoided. Seemed a little more OC than classic Dillon. But I love the good guys so much that I am willing to put up with a little bit of triteness. Can’t wait to see how Coach Taylor leads us out of this mess.
I understand what you’re saying about the spinoff feel of the show. But sometimes when shows are based around high schools, they’re constantly reinventing the show because the kids naturally have to leave. I love FNL, and I’m looking forward to Coach T. and those East Dillon Lions!
Yeah, I agree. The spinoff comment wasn’t really a criticism, just an observation. So far, I’m loving the new season.
Not that I care this time because I have DirecTV and I watched the episode (top notch, as always), but ew.com continues to spoil shows with the headlines. I feel bad for anyone that doesn’t want to know what happened, then has to see things like “CAN lose” in the title. Nice attempt at writing spoiler alert in the column, Ken, but that doesn’t change the fact that EW.com headline writers / editors are the scum of the earth and will do anything for attention. Even if it means ruining episodes for people. One more big F U from me to EW. I’m sure Ausiello is to blame somehow, as well.
I totally agree. I am on the West coast, so I saw the “CAN” lose line before I watched the episode. Grr. Of course, the loss wasn’t much of a twist or anything, but still, if you are gonna bother with the spoiler alerts, keep the spoilers BELOW it.
Hey Ken,
Big big fan, and I’m sure you wrote this way under the gun (I’ve been there), but Joe McCoy isn’t the coach, Wade Aikman is. People mentioned the other stuff Landy and Victor and what not. Just helping you out, buddy.
Thanks! Sorry for the too-fast typing.
It’s okay, Ken. We know you were just super pumped from watching the FIRST EPISODE OF FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS’ NEW SEASON!!!!!!!!!!! Okay, now that’s off my chest, the only thing I want to say about the episode is that I thought it was terrific, Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton are God, and I really like the new character, Vince. I think he shows a lot of potential to be a great mix of Saracen and, forgive me if I weep a little after mentioning his name, Smash. P.S. Wouldn’t it be great to see Smash come back, just for an episode?
Wow.. what an episode!! When Coach T was yelling at those players to get out.. it sent chills up and down my spine. Will someone please hand this guy and Emmy already!! And Tami’s little coin toss.. so funny! I am so glad this show is back on the air and I”m even more happy that I got DirectTV just to watch it! Looking forward to another great season! OH yeah, both the McCoy’s were major D***S
Agreed. I actually yelled at the screen when I saw Joe McCoy smirking at Tami losing control of the meeting.
GO COACH TAYLOR!!!
I love this show more than is probably healthy and was so happy to have it back in my life finally. However, my main criticsm is the continuity in the ages/grades of the characters. It was really bad between seasons 1 and 2. (Riggins, Lyla and Tyra) But because season 2 was so disappointing, I was willing to forgive it and stretch my imagination. But last night I was SO distracted by Landry still being in high school (which I thought was always clear that he was the same age as Matt) that I could barely put it aside and enjoy my favorite show. Sad.
No, it wasn’t. It was always clear that he was one year younger. He’s always been in the same grade as Julie. Wasn’t that also one of the reasons that Tyra didn’t want to date him, since he was younger than her?
Loved the new directions of the show, and Eric and Tami are the most wonderful couple on TV. Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton should get Emmy after Emmy for their portraits.
I thought Matt and Landry were the same age until last year when the
Landry was driving Matt around in the 1st season. His dad is a cop, so why would he be driving illegally like that? Because it wasn’t always clear what ages they were.
And Ken, Thank you Thank You Thank You for taking on this show, loving it and sharing your recaps with us! Been waiting a long time for this…now if we could get Connie and Kyle on a cover…
True that!!!!!!
BEST SHOW ON TV!!! Unfortunately, don’t have Dish so have to wait until NBC runs it. Must force myself NOT to read the recaps – don’t want to “spoil it” for my future viewing pleasure. That said, Ken will you be repeating your recaps when it’s on NBC? And yes, Coach Taylor and Tami – best TV couple ever!
I have tried for 3 seasons to try and figure out why more people are not watching this show. It has had a hold on me since the first show. The actors are amazing and the chemistry between the Taylors is phenomenal. Glad to see you reviewing something worth reviewing other than the trash called Jon and Kate plus 8.
It’s true. I have never, ever seen a tv couple with more chemistry than those two, including couples who are together in real life. They seem like an actual married couple. I love it.
Gonna be a great winter…..looking forward to Friday Night LIghts….
Best show on TV holds everyone in family in the same room from opening credits.
I love the love between Coach and Tami. When she said she’d never missed a game in all their relationship, my heart just broke. Wonderful to see such a partnership.
Loved the premiere last night. Friends have DirecTV so they are graciously hosting the Wednesday-night Panther — er, I mean Lion — party. I am curious to know more about the way this episode was filmed. It’s definitely different from previous seasons, as though a filter has been removed from the camera’s lens. It feels more intimate, to be sure, and I’m curious if Peter Berg did that just for the premiere episode, perhaps to indicate that things have changed in Dillon TX, or if this particular style is going to be employed throughout the season?
My friends and I were pretty surprised that Coach forfeited the game. Initially I thought that it was because he has a small roster and many of them were injured. But now it seems like it was because perhaps he was embarrassed. Based on previews for next week’s episode, it looks like Coach is in hot water for his decision.
Is it next Wednesday yet?
Oh, and Connie Britton? Absolute perfection.
This episode was filmed the same as it’s always been. Peter Berg just adds a little more grit and intimacy, but it’s still the same camera work.
Awesome 4th season premiere. It’s funny how they managed to make the Dillon Panthers a team you hope loses the game instead of wins! I don’t see them following both teams, however, but with a focus on the new East Dillon Lions with the Panthers as the evil team. Sad that J.D. has lost that sweetness he had last season.
I agree about J.D., but I don’t think they’re done with that. Remember what a better father figure Coach Taylor was for him than his own dad? I could almost see them transferring him to East Dillon, only I guess his dad would just up and move out of the district. I still think they’re going to show some vulnerability in J.D. I think his new attitude is an act.
Wow, an FNL recap! This show deserves headliner treatment, but it puts those of us dedicated fans who don’t have DirecTV in a tough spot – do we read the spoilers or not?? The temptation is so great! And thank goodness for DirecTV and all, but someone answer me this: why did FNL need to be “saved” in such a way? How did NBC give a prime slot to ER all those years, even when it was way past its expiration date, and not treat FNL with even half the reverence? I know it’s too late, but come on, put the show in a good slot, pimp it with some marketing dollars, and the viewers will come – it’s a fabulous show. Love love love all the actors, but Kyle Chandler is absolutely wonderful. And hot.
Because, as much as I hate to say it, ER has always gotten way more viewers. I think we should all feel blessed to be watching the show at all, because it’s ratings are terrible. I’m almost worried they’re not going to show it on NBC when it’s time, seeing as how they got rid of 5 of their slots. I just don’t see how they’re going to find space for it in their mad scramble for viewers.
Best show ever. All heart.
Two words…Loved it!
Love the show, but have a feeling I may not like this season. I’m sensing too much poetic license being taken. If the district was re-drawn shouldn’t roughly half of the Panthers team now be Lions. And if the whole point of the redistricting was for more money for the district why is East Dillon such a 2nd rate school?
They gerrymandered the redistricting lines in Season 3 so that all the good and potentially good players would remain Panthers. As for the money, it’s not uncommon for the money to get divided unevenly. I think one of the reasons everyone went along with the redistricting was that it was supposed to get West Dillon more money as well.
But it doesn’t even look like any 2nd or 3rd string players went to E Dillon. I’d be able to accept that they may not be as good as Dillon, but having the whole team not know anything about football is too much of a stretch.
It’s not a stretch. If you’re from a small town (like me) then this portrayal is right on time. We had this EXACT situation happen during our high school years. The people in power redrew the district lines specifically to keep certain kids at the school in order to keep the team in tact. However, there were some that they lost…just as in the next eppy, Dillon will lose their star running back. Unfortunately, not unrealistic at all. And the kids not knowing about football…hello, they hadn’t had a program in YEARS. I love this show because it’s so small town real. Reminds me of home!
Wouldn’t all the football players at east Dillon have gone to Dillon last year so wouldn’t they know something about football? They just reopened east dillon this year
Yes, MS. that was the point i was trying to make everybody at East Dillon now, should have been at Dillon last year, including the football players & all the “scary” students at E dillon now
I do agree with these comments – - East Dillon was not open last year so half of West Dillon would be there now (unless they took kids from other areas too?) So while they might not have the Panther players (bc of gerrymandering) those E Dillon kids would understand football – this is TEXAS people, it is the only game in town. That was my one real gripe with the show.
As a reporter, I covered several redistricting battles, and trust me, what results is “separated and not equal.” The teachers with the most seniority usually get a choice; high-end programs that are established (e.g., AP classes) continue at the better school(s); and so on. And gerrymandering happens all the time, one neighborhood, street, apt. complex or house at a time.
Please don’t have Tim Riggins hook up with the young girl who he gave a ride to school. She seemed really young, and that thought kinda icks me out. I’d like the show to depict him having an unlikely female friendship.
Honestly, I know the actor is older, but Riggins is only 18. That girl looked like she was 15 or 16, which would be totally acceptable.
SOOOOOOOOOO happy I switched from Time Warner to DirecTV! FNL has to be one of the best shows on the tube. The scene where Coach Taylor blows up in the locker room, telling people to get out of his house….one of the greatest scenes in the show’s history. Only a matter of a couple of weeks until we see Landry as the captain of the team, I suspect. And Aimee Teegarden’s character deciding to go to East Dillon….I trust a great story line will come from that. Connie Britton is a goddess!
WELCOME BACK FNL!
I am loving the set-up for this season – especially seeing the preview of next week’s episode, looks like there’s going to be a lot of good stuff coming up. I found myself squealing with delight throughout the whole episode .. when RIGGINS appeared on screen (what would FNL be without him?), when Tim and Billy throwdown in the nursery haha, when Coach is yelling at the players, when Landry starts the ‘can’t lose’ chant, Tami screwing with McCoy on the cointoss, Matt defending Julie … apparently I really loved the episode! haha
And thanks to Ken for the recap – you’ll be my first stop after each episode!
Great episode. The closing moment was one of the best from Friday Night Lights.
agreed.
Absolutely loved the premiere! Thought the new characters were cast well, I am already on their side. I dont see the daughter hooking up with Tim, maybe with Vince? I didnt like how Julie was mad at Matt for wanting to fight JD, sure it was immature, but she’s in high school and you would think she would just be flattered. JD is an idiot, after all.
The preview next week was great too, I like seeing Buddy trying to help out Coach.
and I love Tim Riggins, he’s the best.
this is the best show on TV, along with Mad Men, in my opinion.
My top three: FNL, Lost, Mad Men.
I love this show. When it is on my nerves are on fire. I find it funny, sad and endearing. There is no better couple on TV then Coach Taylor and Tami. Please give them their emmy’s thanks. Thank you for recapping it!
I am so disappointed that I can’t find this on TV this season. I don’t have Direct TV and wouldn’t exchange my Dish Network for it in a million years. I will be glad when it is back on NBC unless someone knows another way I can watch it now.
PS. I have Dish because I can watch every game of the Houston Astros. With Direct TV I get the Ranger Games and only a few of the Astros. That is why I love Dish so much. Just wanted you to know so I didn’t get any grief for not changing to Direct.
Hmm….where did my first comment go? Did I say something?
I LOVE LOVE LOVE FNL! Unfortunately I do not have DirectTV, nor am I interested in having it. With that said, I will follow the story lines through your recap and the comments of your readers. The way NBC is going (pulling the plug on Southland before a single episode airs!), there’s no promise that FNL will ever appear. Besides, I enjoy the recap, and if FNL should show up on NBC’s schedule, whose to say you’ll provide the commentary. If FNL shows up on NBC, I’ll watch it; if it doesn’t, I won’t feel that I’ve missed the entire season.