So much is happening already in the new fourth season of Friday Night Lights, I’m going to organize this recap by bullet points. The usual SPOILER ALERT pertains.
• Coach Eric may be struggling to tame his East Dillon Lions, but through some dubiously ethic’d redistricting loophole, he secured the services of a primo West Dillon Panther player Luke Cafferty. I thought it was terrific to have Luke be a humble kid who cried when Tami told him about his unavoidable move, and then a polite go-getter once he arrived at East Dillon: A lesser TV series would have made that character a sullen, bitter, angry lunkhead.
• How much pressure can Tami bear in this school redistricting mess? It was great the way she pulled the rug out from under Joe McCoy (I swear, D.W. Moffett is becoming one of my favorite TV actors) in front of the West Dillon football poobahs. But how can Tami possibly win over the rest of the angry, booing school? For once, it seemed as though Eric was so busy worrying about himself that he wasn’t gasping the enormity of Tami’s troubles when they cuddled on the home sofa. A glass of white wine and a hug from Eric is not gonna comfort her for much longer.
• I like the way Coach went to Vince’s literal home court — his neighborhood basketball court — to cajole him back to football. But how did Vince round up so many guys (including Landry), after all that first-game-forfeit bitterness? Kids today, with their texting and their Twittering!
• Was Landry accidentally hitting that girl’s bike a shameless meet-cute on the part of the writers, or what? No matter: She’s cute, seems interesting, and Landry needs a girlfriend.
• Matt’s new art mentor: Okay, it was brilliant that the guy should prove to be not an airy aesthete daubing at a canvas, but instead a John Chamberlain-type sculptor wrenching art from rusting car fenders. But how much guff is Matt going to put up with (he’s such a sensitive lad), and how is he going to respond to this anti-tutelage? I don’t see Matt picking up a welder’s arc and leaving his art charcoals, do you?
• “Hey, Tim-Riggins-Who-Used-To-Be-A-Panther”: That Becky, she’s a keeper, Tim. Keep a light on in your new (old) trailer!
In general, I’m really happy with the way the series is starting to juggle the two schools’ subplots: Nothing seemed rushed or choppy this week. Well, one thing. Explain the chronology to me: Tami was booed during a pep rally, which would be held before a game, right? But it was Saturday, not Friday (game night), which turned into the same evening Eric had scheduled his 10 p.m. And wouldn’t Tim, who’d agreed to help Coach with his team, have showed up for that crucial practice? Didn’t this seem edited out of sequence?
Beyond this small cavil, I thought this was a highly satisfying entry. Give me a little more Joe McCoy and a dollop more Buddy Garrity, and we’ll have ourselves a helluva season.
Did you watch FNL? It’s airing Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on DIRECTV’s The 101 Network. What did you think?
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Another great episode. I agree about D.W. Moffett–Joe McCoy is a great character I love to hate. It was nice that Tammy finally wiped that smirk off his face, at least for a minute. And you’re right about the chronology. And why does East Dillon already have a week off after playing just one game? Other than that, it was another solid episode in what promised to be an exceptional season.
I wondered why Riggins wasn’t there either…but we’re talking Riggins here, I figured he’d probably just prioritized finding a place to live. I love how he’s living in what seemed to be a primo Airstream trailer!
Trouble with Tami and Eric seems to be on the horizon, and since they are my favorite TV couple I’d love to see how they work out all this conflict.
SO happy to see Jurnee Smollett and Steve Harris love that they have a BBQ place! I hope they write some good stuff for Jurnee, I think she’s an amazing actress. Looks like my boy from lipstick jungle is pretty versatile guy since he played a gay dude there and is a high school athlete here. I would love to see michael b. jordan get more of a full character arc. I hope he won’t stay sullen all year….
i love the risks peter berg is taking including adding more diversity to the cast. that was always one knock on FNL to me, given where they are and the fact that hey, this is football….
Glad to see I wasn’t the only one who wondered where Riggins went to – I was thinking he was gonna to show up with the team when they arrived but hence no Tim. I am glad to see them giving him something more to do then be drunk and work on cars – He is by far one of the hottest men on TV – now give him so personality! I also have to say that Coach’s storyline is the most compelling to me – it’s nice to see him face this adversity – rather than just dealing with the juggernaut of the Panthers – this will really stretch his character and the impacts of that will be the drama to really watch.
Was really concerned when I read over the summer that the landscape of my precious Dillon would be changing with new characters coming in and old characters leaving (which I understand they must) But last night when Matt Lauria broke down and cried on the field after Tami gave him the news he’d be moving, then subsequently apologized for lying, I was sold.
Loving this season so far. Love that Tami isn’t taking any **it from Joe. I felt so bad for Luke when Tami told him he had to go to East Dillon. He was trying to be strong, but then just started crying. Then went back to practice. Too good this season.
Glad to see Jurnee Smollett(The Great Debaters)along with Steve Harris(The Practice) added to the show. Jurnee is one of the most talented young black actresses coming up through the ranks.
I haven’t decided on this. Admittedly, I am not familiar with Jurnee, but the second I recognized Steve Harris’ lips (which are mezmoring, no?) it was like a jolt to my system. My first thought was it’s Eugene, running a BBQ in Dillon…and then I started thinking…FNL is typically made up of unknowns (exceptions: Kyle Chandler, Connie Britton, etc..)so, did Harris have a soft spot for the show and want a role, or did he need a job…? And that is why I can’t decide if I love this casting choice.
I see a great oppotunity for Coach Taylor to being in Smash Williams for some couseling or talking with the guys. I could see Smash helping Vince get straight and it would be great to see Smash back for a cameo or two.
Smash is a little busy on Trauma these days…
That’s Herc on Trauma. Gaius Charles, who played Smash, just finished up Othello in New York.
I am waiting for this program to get on a network that we all have. I have plenty but don’t know where this channel is.
I don’t have Direct TV can the series be put on NBC or CBS
it will be on nbc in the spring
The only thing I didn’t like was the lack of a reaction from Coach Taylor when Riggins basically announced that he’d dropped out of college. Look at how he acted last season w/ the Smash Williams character. There’s no way this character would just accept one of his top talents dropping a full football scholarship just so Riggins can help him rebuild a crappy high school team. And how old is Alicia Witt’s bartender character supposed to be? Especially when she’s messing around and serving liquor to a 19-year-old boy basically.
Riggins was never gonna be successful at college and the coach knew it. Smash has the drive an ambition to do it. Riggins always coasted on his natural talent. So I though the coach’s reaction was fine.
This episode was wonderful. LOVE FNL!!
This is BY FAR the best show on TV. What do we have to do to get it the recognization it deserves…I can’t believe it only got one nomination for the Emmys and that wasn’t even for an episode or character!
I think Coach Taylor’s reaction to Riggins dropping out of college was realistic based on who Riggins is. Smash was a different character that required different advice and coaching. This show just has moments of greatness. First, Tammy being offered a brib in the high school parking lot and turning that right away at the all boys meeting. The introduction of Jurnee and Steve Harris’ characters. Vincent’s mother and his subsequent talk with Coach Taylor and Luke throwing his panthers t-shirt into the fire and that is just a few. I love it.
I’ve got a good feeling about this season! I am loving the conflict between Tami and Coach because I think the real, husband-wife moments between those two are some of the best moments on TV. They play a married couple so incredibly well. Also kudos to the writers for Luke’s character – he is quickly becoming my favourite. The scene between him and Tami was so endearing and his sweet innocence when showing up for practice was great. HOWEVER I sincerely hope they do something better with the storyline they’re giving Riggins. Taylor Kitsch has got way too much talent to make him some drunken kid again – he was coming so far in the past 2 seasons, really growing up and I’d be sad to see them go back to what he once was. That being said, the writers of FNL are so good that I’d be crazy to worry about much of anything on this show.
Can’t wait for next week!
I agree. I loved Luke. And I really hope Matt’s story works out. And really, I really, really hope Tim’s story doesn’t slide into the same old, same old. I have hope; I really do.
Loved coach’s last line — now I have to figure out how to get new uniforms!
Love this show. I’ve been a fan from the beginning and have joined all the write-in campaigns to keep it on the air. I have great respect to DirecTV for making it possible to continue the great show. I was concerned about how this year would look without our familiar high schoolers, but I think keeping Tim, Matt and Julie and adding in new players and adding in new students and the new high school are brilliant. I can’t wait until next week!!!
Why doesn’t FNL show on CABLE???
A better show that’s even better this year. It’s great that so many of us are watching it on DirectTV, but this season is going to be KILLED on NBC. The first two episodes are well written, character deep, and much more emotional. Do you really think this is going to play with great success on NBC; the network of Jay Leno at 9pm?
I miss this TV series so much. I don’t have DirectTV and really hate it that NBC couldn’t/wouldn’t find a slot for this great show on their line-up.
Go, Tami!! I loved how she turned up at the good ole boys’ meeting, acting all flustered and feminine, and basically stuck it to Joe McCoy. I wonder whether she will wind up at East Dillon high along with her husband and daughter. It’s also interesting how all the pep rally scenes at Dillon—which we’re used to seeing—suddenly seemed excessive and privileged compared to the poverty at East Dillon. Aren’t there any businessmen in the East Dillon district who can get behind the team and throw them some money?
I noticed that too – the big difference between the two high schools. Wow.
Best show on TV.
I hope NBC realizes the loss it has taken by no airing the best show on tv first. DirectTV’s gain though, and NBC will show it eventually. Meanwhile, did I mention that FNL IS the best tv there is? Cause it beats everything else when it comes to writing, characters, acting, and heart.
I’m making sure to keep up with this season — by any means necessary.
I’d love to see Buddy bolt from a Panther hierarchy that no longer includes him and don the red of ED.
I also can’t see season 4 concluding with anything but the Dillon-East Dillon game.
I am absolutely loving the new season. I love the new edge it has with the more ‘ghetto’ East Dillon high school and the way we see the Taylors deal with the discord in their home and professional lives.
Great stories coming out of this.
I had tears welling in my eyes when Luke broke down before Tami.
But I was aghast at Vince’s mom asking Coach for $20. That scene really hit hard.
Is FNL the new The Wire?
I would think its doing a pretty good job of keeping things as realistic and genuine as that classic HBO show did.
My favorite show and I don’t have frigg’in Direct tv.Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!
how can anybody wait until next year to watch these great episodes on nbc oh mrs coach and jules are going to be fliming a scene at harvard yard tonight hope to go over there and see it
can anyone confirm if nbc is definitely going to show ALL of season 4? i am really, really, really hoping the direcTV contract obligates them no matter the ratings (which, lets face it, have always been low, for whatever reason) are.
I miss the longer episodes that DirectTV aired last season…
I had forgotten that the actor who plays Luke was on Lipstick Jungle, coincidentally w/a southern/Texan accent there too.
I cannot believe one must subscribe to Direct to watch a series that began on commercial TV. Oh well so much for this series. How long can 20 and 30 something actors play high school students anyway or is that the normal age for high school kids in Texass!! L8er
You folks who aren’t watching the show, do a little research and you’ll find out where you can watch the show on the internet right now.
Well, Andy, I did do a little research and came up with NO SHOWS AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. So where does one look for the episodes on the internet.
I hate that FNL is just on DirectTV, especially for those of us who love the show and don’t subscribe to DirectTV. So you bloggers, keep up the good work on reporting back on each episode because it looks like that is the only way I am going to know what this season is all about