Friday Night Lights wrapped up its fourth season a big winner: It succeeded in turning the East Dillon Lions into a team to root for, tying story lines for some fan-favorite characters, and introducing key personalities that will carry the series into its next season. And, oh yeah: Somebody kicked a 46-yard field goal to win the big game!
The Riggins brothers’ car stripping scheme played out as I feared it would. At the start of the hour, we saw Tim and Billy meeting with a lawyer who thought he could cut them a deal that would result in a “one-to-five year” sentence for each. By the end of the night, you knew that Tim was going to take the fall for this, solo — he couldn’t bear for his newborn nephew to have a jailbird dad. I sorta hated this, but on the level that one “hates” anything about FNL, which is to say, the characters are so vivid and authentic, you get angry with them for making bad decisions. As drama, however, it played out beautifully, almost tragically: Tim, who had finally bought that parcel of land that would let him roam free, will leave to do time in the pen (and presumably, Taylor Kitsch will leave the series).
The hour had a lot to get through: subplots to resolve and an extended-family Thanksgiving dinner at the Taylors’ house, the highlight was which was (to Tami’s chagrin) Buddy Garrity’s deep-fried turkey. It says a huge amount about Brad Leland’s presence on this series that, while he was pushed to the show’s edges this season, Buddy still looms like a big, goofy, lovable presence. Next season, I’d like him and Steve Harris to team up somehow — I can’t see Harris’ taciturn character co-hosting Buddy’s radio show, but I could see Buddy as a BBQ cook, couldn’t you?
Speaking of Tami’s chagrin, she couldn’t muster enough of it to make an apology to that chicken-livered school board and the witch-hunting parents, so she volunteered to become a guidance counselor again… but at East Dillon. This reunites her with Eric at work, always a good arena for these characters to play in, but, once again, I wish FNL hadn’t taken on an abortion subplot: for a series produced for network television, it’s a vexed subject that telegraphed to us that Tami would inevitably be punished in some way. Nonetheless: Start the “Connie Britton Deserves An Emmy” campaign once again!
Onward: How about that very cunningly staged scene in which Julie knocks on the door of Matt’s grandmother only to see Matt? (It was, in fact, a big night for people showing up on other people’s doorsteps to emote: Tim did it with Becky and later with Billy; Jess did it with Vince and his mom). Matt is such a lunkhead, he thought Julie would be happy to see him unexpectedly home from Chicago. The very nice parallel work here was to have Landry also irritated with Matt for never calling, never “texting.”
In fact, this turned out to be the surprise Great Landry Episode: Jesse Plemons played terrific scenes breaking up with Jess, speaking bitterly to Vince, squabbling with Matt, and struggling as the team’s place-kicker. In a more just world Plemons would be a best-supporting-actor award-winner.
As for the climactic Panthers-Lions showdown, I was happy it turned into a fairy tale win for the Lions. I know it strained credulity, I know it was all too obvious that Coach would let poor ol’ wounded Luke play at a key moment, and I know that Landry’s kick was well-neigh impossible for a kid of his abilities. Bottom line: the Lions and the show needed a rousing, enthusiastic ending, and it worked.
And so we come to the end of the season (but the beginning for those of you who’ll be watching on NBC on April 30), with a fade-out on Matt’s face as he flies home to Chicago. Seeing that close-up of Zach Gilford gave me pause: If there’s one thing this hour didn’t do, it was to raise the stakes for new characters such as Vince or Jess or anyone else on the Lions team. But I’m sure the producers will remedy this as soon as the fifth season commences. If there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that when we speak of Friday Night Lights and its ratings-cursed, quality-blessed existence, all things come to those who wait.
Random notes:
• Best emotional moment Vince telling Coach Eric, referring to victory, “I don’t think I’m the one who can give it to you.” Believe me, Michael B. Jordan, you were victorious as an actor in that scene.
• Best line of the night Matt to Julie: “The area I live in is called Greektown. There’s a lotta, like Greek people there.”
• Best exchange of the night Matt to Julie: “This is a special spot.” Julie to Matt: “Why? Because you deflowered me here?” Bonus points for using the word “deflowered.” Wouldn’t it be great if, instead of TV shows trying to sneak in racier and racier words like “douche,” they started using old-fashioned words like “bounder” and “gadzooks”?
Friday Night Lights airs on DIRECTV’s 101 Network.
Will you be watching when the season shifts to NBC? What did you think of this season overall? What do you think about the fact, as mighty Michael Ausiello reported exclusively, that next season will be FNL‘s last?
Follow @kentucker
I have to watch as it shifts to NBC…I don’t get Direct TV, and your ep reviews, while nourishing, are not the banquet of a full episode.
Bwana, you are in for a feast. This was an outstanding season.
I’m with you. Although I have kept up with the show on this website… I can’t wait to see for myself. I have watched this show from the beginning and when it went to Direct… well I thought I was out of luck. Thanks to NBC for the pick up!!! This show ROCKS>
Loved the season, but I wish they could have included Tyra somehow. I know they couldn’t get her b/c of scheduling conflicts, but they should have at least mentioned her at Thanksgiving dinner! Her mom, sister and new nephew (that she’s never even seen!) were all there, so a mention of her would’ve been nice.
And it sure would’ve been nice to see Landry’s dad at the game, maybe that means he’ll be turning up on 24 again soon.
I am so invested in this show, I forget that these people are not real. I don’t know how FNL continues to find new talent like the actors that play Jess and Vince. I can’t wait for the final season. I don’t know what I’m going to do without these people!
I don’t think I could have said it any better myself – “I forget that these people are not real”. I think that is precisely what sets FNL apart from all other TV shows. They feel like real people with real families, real relationships .. even Dillon seems real! I am heartbroken that Taylor Kitsch is no longer on the show. It will be hard to look forward to next season without him, but luckily we’ve still got quality people hanging around. Even though this season was a bit of a downer (I can’t remember many ‘happy’ storylines), I still loved every single second of it.
Once again Friday Night Lights did not disappoint. I am glad to see Matt and Landry interacting with one another again. Landy got a chance to shine. Go Lions!
Stupid NBC if they cancal this amazing show!! I love it since my friend told me about it and I have not stop watching since. Thank you Directv!! … hhmm maybe TNT can pick it up??
I think I am emotionally tied to these characters. Closure on some items and seeing the Panthers breakdown while the Lions pulled together was a moral vistory with or without the kick. I agree with your assessment above.
Good analogy. Talent without coaching leadership gets a team beat!
This was such a great ending to a great season. I so wanted to punch the smirk off of JD’s dad’s face this whole season and the Lions victory did that for me. The whole Tim situation was done so beautifully although I hate the thought of only seeing him a couple of times next season. The actors on this show are so incredibly amazing. And did you notice that Coach actually called him Landry instead of Lance for the first time. That’s when you knew he had the confidence in him to make that kick. Gosh, I love this show. Gave season 1 to my massage therapist and she’s devouring the episodes. Will be giving her season 2 next week.
Best series on TV bar none!
Here, here!
NBC is a foolish network. (However, I do thank them for giving us 5 seasons.)
I was moving in Sep 2008 and knew about the FNL situation, so I changed my cable to DirecTV and am so very glad I did.
I say bravo the writers for giving the win to the Lions, I would not have been able to stand Landry not making that field goal, after being rejected by Jess.
Ken, do you watch ANY football at all? It may have stretched your credulity for the “fairy tale” game between the two teams…but isn’t there another “fairy tale” team called the New Orleans Saints? Anyhow, I LOVED this ep!! While it may seem that ends were tied up neatly, I’m interested to see where the fictional plotline will pick up in the new season. After Christmas, when the new semester begins? Will Tami start her counselor job at East Dillon in the middle of the school year, always a dicey situation for any educator? It’ll be interesting to see how she handles a totally different student population from what she’s already known. But mostly, my heart broke and I unashamedly wept when Tim told his brother he was taking the fall for him! Taylor Kitsch was AWESOME in that scene! I’ve recorded every episode and I plan to watch each one and relish my fave moments of the whole season. AND probably watch it again on NBC! GO EAST DILLON LIONS!!
I would assume that next season will start in August with a new football season. The Lions are established, and Vince and Luke will be Seniors (I think, anyways).
I love the show, but was not a fan of the Tami/abortion storyline. How could they continue to ignore the fact that the girl’s mother obviously supported her decision and actually took her for the abortion? Since the girl and her mother still lived in the area, I’m pretty sure someone would have gotten their opinions about what Tami did or didn’t do. Otherwise I loved this season and the big win!
Ken, I’d like to add the name of Kyle Chandler to your Emmy campaign list. This man can emote more emotion in a scene with little to no dialogue than anyone on television. Like Connie Britton, he plays drama and comedy equally well.
Coach Taylor was put in one hellish position this season, and Chandler did a phenomenal job with the scripts this season.
Zach Gilford is also on that list for his performance in “The Son” … goes without saying.
I agree with Lynn. The Tami/abortion storyline was clumsily handled. I also don’t see how allegedly counseling a student inappropriately disqualifies Tami from being a principal but qualifies her to be a counselor.
Otherwise, the season had several strong storylines and performances. All of the young actors have grown with every episode. I’ll miss Tim, Matt, Landry and Julie, but I look forward to seeing what happens with Vince, Luke, and Jess next season.
great season although its gonna suck with out riggins next season. lasting images of him as a jail bird you only hope they let him out next season so we can root for him one last time as he tries to right the wrong and somehow gain his dignity back. im so not into the new characters therefore im glad next season will be the last no sense and ruining a good thing by over doing it. it would be nice to see all of the old cast one last time next season with there own individual episode but i doubt that will happen. this show will live in my heart forever and go down as my all time favorite. knowing next season is the last each episode will be very sobering to watch either way friday night lights will go out on top and be the finest show ever. all brilliant right down to the music FNL 4 EVER clear eyes,full hearts,can’t lose!
I agree with you. It was really something special watching the Tim Riggins character grow over the course of this series. It reminded me of how the Andy Sipowicz character from NYPD Blue developed over the life of that series. Hopefully if season five is the last season the writers will find a creative way for Tim Riggins to end up in a better position than season four ended for him. It would be great if an episode could be used to show how all of the original cast members are doing, but that is probably too much to ask for. Great great show. It is ashame it looks like it will be coming to an end.
Can I just say that airline tickets don’t transfer? I just had to deal with that recently. My best friend Lyla’s (Yes, FNL fans, thats really her name) sister backed out of a July trip to California. The airline would not let her transfer the ticket for me to go. they cancelled it for a 100 dollar fee and I had to buy my own for over 300 bucks. So Landry ‘getting Julie’s ticket’ doesn’t make any sense in the post 9-11 world. I couldn’t even get the same seat that got cancelled! I’m lucky I’m on the same flight.