This week’s Friday Night Lights , which was entitled “The Son,” had moments of the usual terrific FNL boisterousness, but for the most part was a solemn affair with beautifully crafted details. 
The episode found Matt dealing with the aftermath of the news of his father’s death. The soldier, deployed overseas, was given a military funeral, but not before some finely emotional scenes. These ranged from Matt having to come to terms with his anger at his dad (Matt has long felt as though his father left him to take care of his grandmother, and to otherwise fend for himself), to making arrangements for the funeral.
The latter scene could have been dull and mawkish, but not when Tami was at Matt’s side at the funeral home. Recognizing a vulture when she saw one, Tami lit into the funeral director and negotiated a better deal for the Saracen family. Once again, Tami proves utterly selfless and ferocious in protecting those for whom she has strong feelings.
At the funeral itself, Matt overcame his personal anger to deliver a brief eulogy that rang true to his character: not excessively eloquent, but moving nonetheless. And who was to be spotted at the funeral? Lila Garrity! Hello, Minka Kelly, making one of your few appearances this season!
In football news, East Dillon is still fractious — lots of squabbling between Vince and Luke on the field — but they’re doing better, cohering somewhat as a team. Off the field, Luke had to put up with a paintball-shooting J.D. McCoy; boy, has this kid turned into his father’s son. That is, a complete jerk. (Sons were, after all, the theme of the night.) Luke’s nickname — “J.D. McDick” — is sure to stick.
This would have had the feeling of a mopping-up episode (that is, taking care of plot strands that had been left dangling from the previous one), were it not for one mighty man: Tim Riggins.
It was Riggins who provided the night’s non-son-related moments, and they were many ways the most refreshing things about the hour. Try as he might to avoid getting involved with Becky, he was still drawn into her drama — her quest to win the “Miss Young Texas Pageant.” This could have been the lamest of subplots, but Riggins’ priceless reactions to all the beauty-pageant excesses keeps this stuff very Friday Night Lights and not I Am A Refugee From A CW Show material.
This, plus Riggins was the one to pull Matt out of his grief, at least for a few brief moments. Nicknaming Saracin “Cobra,” Riggins put a small grin on Matt’s face.
The hour had to circle back to the son burying his father, however. Again, a dramatic risk was taken here. When Matt, Riggins, and their pals more or less broke into the funeral home, with Matt demanding to see his father’s face before the closed-casket funeral was held, this might have been a mere tearjerker. Instead, it gave Matt (and us, for this plotline) a degree of true closure.
Did you watch?
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wow!!!!!!!!! what an ep. EMMY anyone?
agree! stellar episode with superb acting. what the f is wrong with the emmy voters? give this show and its actors some love!!!!
Emmys all around! Matt really deserves one. They all do. Best. Show. On. Television. Period.
Facebook Emmy campaign. Let’s get FNL nominated this year, here’s the site:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Give-Friday-Night-Lights-some-freakin-Emmy-love-please/128704233806912
A great hour of television. A damn shame it’s not appreciated by more people.
Phenomonal episode. EMMY!
Join the facebook effort to get an overdue Emmy for this show!
On Facebook-type in “Give Friday Night Lights some freakin’ Emmy love please?
This episode was amazing. I haven’t had a TV show make me cry like this in a very long time.
The funeral was moving but what really got me was the scene at the Taylor house, after Matt saw his father’s body, and he just totally broke down…Wow.
I’m with ya cj. Has this kid got some acting chops or what. Anyone that has experienced a strained relationship with someone only to have that person die prematurely can relate to how well all of these scenes were played.
I saw this show on Directv and cried … I saw it tonight on NBC and cried. I had been biting my lips so I won’t spoil it to everyone else ….uuuff now I can say it. Matt own this esp. to me it was one of the best FNL had done in a long time.
The best part of that whole scene was when coach went after Matt. In lesser hands, the scene would have been written to have coach “hug it out” and let Matt break down his arms, which is probably what we all expected and probably what most of us would have seen ourselves doing. That would have been all sweet and precious and everything, but it would not have been in line with what either character was experiencing. I thought it was great that coach just said, “I’m gonna walk you home” and then just had his hand on Matt’s shoulder while they headed down the road. Quality writing. Superb acting.
I could see other shows feeling the need to have a scene of Coach actually walking Saracen home and having dialogue there to prove that they had some deep, important bonding moment. But with FNL and these characters, we know that maybe Coach and Saracen did have an important conversation (because that’s the relationship they have) or maybe they just had a quiet walk home (which would have been just as important…Coach being there for Saracen, because that’s the kind of relationship they have). The FNL writers have done such a great job of creating these characters that we know how they can be there for each other even when the camera isn’t on, especially in the relationships between Coach and his players. (Does anyone else expect Coach, or Luke, to help out Vince once they find out how dismal his home situation is?)
I was sobbing. And it seems to be the only time I cry is when I am watching FNL. Seriously one of the most beautiful, well-written and acted show ever.
I don’t mean to be disrespectful to my own parents, but seriously I wish the Taylors were my parents! When Tami was putting that funeral director in place – wow, Coach Taylor putting his hand on Matt’s shoulder. I love them.
he’s been amazing on this show each season. i’m glad he got an episode to shine. can someone tell me if his hands were bleeding at the end when he was shoveling dirt? i thought i saw that but didn’t have my glasses on. if it was the case, that little detail just shows how amazing FNL is.
Yes, he had shoveled so much that his hands were bleeding and it showed the blood on the shovel.
WTF why can’t I post any more?
This is weak Ken can write JD’s nick name in the article but I can’t post it. Effing Hypocrits.
Sorry everyone, what I was saying is the scene when the McPenis’s showed up with flowers was well done. It could have been out of control with lesser writer’s. But it was subtle and perfect.
That scene where Matt saw his father’s body was the best. All the emotion you could see on his face. That is a sign of a great actor. When Tami set that funeral director straight, I cheered. I just love her. I also loved the scene with J.D McCoy and Vince accepting those awards and talking to those kids was great. Vince didn’t even know what to say but he was able to bond with those kids and I love how they reacted toward him. I’m new to this season. I only know Minka Kelly from tabloids and from Parenthood. So I don’t know if she’s any good or her relationship with Riggs. Is she that one guy’s daughter? That old guy who use to be a booster?
yup,Minka plays Buddy’s daughter. shes a goodie goodie, who convinced riggins to try college. dated his best friend. go back and watch Season 1 (along with Season 4, its probably the best of the series).
Season 3 ain’t too shabby either – the final scene of Coach and Tami with steely resolve to face their new challenge is classic.
But this episode was right up there with the pilot.
I love when Coach Taylor just takes Julie in his arms and says that he’s not going anywhere – or when he walks Matt home.
I love when Tami straightens the funeral director out.
I love Vince’s eyes when he sees the kids look at him.
I love Matt’s reaction to the McCoys and his eulogy.
I love Matt clutching grandma and Julie’s hands as I shake with each of the 21-gun salute’s shots.
I love this show, this cast and this episode. Someone wake up the Emmy voters.
Yeah, Sina, you really need to watch ALL of season 1, the whole Street/Lyla/ Riggins triangle is GREAT! There is also a really sexy ‘THREESOME’ with them in Season 2 in an episode called ‘Let’s Get It On’!
oh come on .. don’t make it sound ‘dirty’ by the ‘threesome’ .. just say that there is a story with the three and it is very very good.
Quite simply, the finest hour on network TV since “Two Cathedrals.”
If Emmy does not shower FNL, Zach, Connie and Kyle with multiple noms and statues from this episode, they are batty old fools.
This episode was amazing on DirecTV and even more incredible tonight.
WOW. Thank goodness we have one more year after this for the amazing cast and series!
agreed! ps- thank you for referencing one of my other favorite shows, The West Wing!
haivng just gone through a death of a parent- the writers of this episode were spot on- if this is not nominated for an Emmy than I think the criteria for the Emmy has gone down
It’s spelled Saracen.
it should be spelled “emmy nominee”
Agreed! Well said.