Friday Night Lights continued to push our hero Vince into antihero territory this week — that’s what can happen when you start taking your cues from the long-absent father who’s suddenly showering you with attention. Eager for a big-score offer from a college football organization, Vince and his pop disobeyed Coach Taylor’s orders and made an independent visit to Oklahoma Tech. Vince also gave a braggy interview to a local TV station that got him in trouble with his teammates, who felt disrespected. (The title of this week’s episode was “Fracture.”) The biggest loser in all this (aside from Buddy’s son, who suffered a hairline fracture) may be Jess, who not only is disappointed in the way her boyfriend is acting, but still has to wear an ugly team hat and clean the team’s sweaty gear.
The other main plot was the persistence of Julie’s grabby teaching assistant, who showed up in Dillon proclaiming his love and insisting he was getting a divorce. This provoked a great moment with Coach Eric, who chased the academic horndog off his property and broke the guy’s rear taillight (on his car — that’s not a metaphor) as the teacher fled from Eric’s wrath.
The week’s off-kilter scenes involved Becky, who is apparently now under the spell of Mindy’s bad taste. Becky entered another beauty pageant, but this time took some fashion tips from her new strip-club pals, resulting in a mere second place plus a lot of embarrassingly rude catcalling from the pals jeering the judges. Does that girl needs to get out from under the Riggins roof, or is she still getting the nurturing she needs?
The episode’s biggest surprise, of course was its final scene. Julie left home to go back to college (nice visual echo of the family-hug-in-the-driveway from the first time Julie left).
We were led to think that Julie was headed for the greasy arms of Horny Teaching Assistant, but instead she knocked on a door and who was revealed but Matt Saracen — Zach Gilford making a quick, welcome return. Turns out he survived the jungle of Off The Map!
Twitter: @kentucker
Matt Saracen smiles and suddenly all is right in the world…
I am a 25 years old white girl, fascinated with blackman.
My boyfriend and i ,we met at M ixed Sin gle. C óM —
This is a serious and authentic website.If u want a interracial dating with your true love. This is the best choice for u!
M ixed Sin gle. C óM —
=-=-=-
So true…
I thought he was in Chicago?!?
Agreed. That adorable smile gets me every time. So glad to have him back on FNL!
I literally squeed when I saw Matt instead of the TA at the door. And I never squee.
What has this show done to me!?!?
I squeeled too. At first when they made it look like julie was fleeing to that sketchy TA, I thought she was soooo dumb, but Saracen is soooo much better. Also, Mindy may be a little trashy, but she’s so good too/for Becky. Love the Collettes!!! Miss you Tyra!
Love Matt coming back but Julie still isn’t in school.
That was the first thing I thought! I guess he’s better than the TA though.
I thought it was hysterical that Coach Taylor broke the TA’s car taillight with the pink and chrome handlebar of Gracie’s bicycle (or tricycle?). If only it had pink and white tassels too…
Creepy TA vs. Matt….no contest!
I need a break from the Julie storyline. She is just such a huge pain this year..more than usual. Vince’s Dad is such a scumbag…he is worse than JD’s Dad and THAT is saying something. I too loved that Coach took out the TA’s headlight with a pink bike handle…so Dad like! But then at the end of the show as he stood up to Vince’s Dad and…loved it!
Love this show. LOVE IT!
I don’t know, Ken. I kind of like the Becky/Mindy storyline; it’s a great way to keep us up with the Riggins’ (I miss Tim! Do we see him again?) and thought it was actually cute that the girls were trying to be helpful to her and she had some support (and she needed to talk to somebody about Luke and what had happened last year-I thought that scence was both sweet and funny). Also, I like the fact that Minds is not just Tyra’s stripper sister: she’s a mom, she took in Becky after she saw what a horrible situation she was in, and, again, in the only way she knows how, trying to help Becky. I thought it was nice. Vince and his dad, though? Do people not know at this point in time that you do not speak to or treat Eric Taylor the way that they are? And Vince should know to put all this trust in Coach. Yay and awww Matt! This show is terrific!
I’m with you about Mindy. I actually love her now! She said it best herself when she had to face the fact that, as bad as it is–SHE AND BILLY are role models now!! LOL! But she’s clearly caring and exactly what Becky needs right now. Mindy has become one of my favorite characters!
I love this show so much! And as Lynn said, I miss Tim too. I hope he returns.
I also thought Julie was going back to Derek because she believed he loves her….total garbage!….but was thrilled with who opened the door. She needs to be with Matt. Maybe she should go to school closer to him. He is so good for her.
I look so forward to FNL weekly, but with every show, I just keep thinking that it’s one show closer to being over and that saddens me greatly.
Why isn’t coach taking control of the team? Is he distracted by Julie? Intimidated by Vince’s thug dad? It isn’t like him to just sit and stew and let Billy Riggins take such a large role when he is new to the staff. Come on Coach, take charge!….Loved seeing Matt
What a show! Bittersweet that this is the last season. It gives weight to every line and nuance. I agree with Lynn on the Mindy/Becky storyline; seems healing for both of them, and filled with warmth and humor, too. I miss Tyra, Tim, and Smash. Praying the series end with Coach being happy again. Very hard to watch how difficult life has become for the Taylors.
Please keep this show on the air.
The best show on television, and it finds its greatness in small moments with ordinary people. Amazing. What does it say about NBC that it lets FNL and “Southland” go and is bringing back “Fear Factor”?
It says that most people are morons who wouldn’t know amazing television of it bit them in the behind! I, for one, would love another five seasons of FNL!!
I couldn’t agree more!
I cheated and watched the final season online a few months back. I distinctly remember getting all giddy at the sight of Matt Saracen and his adorable smile. I’ve been waiting for this episode to air so I can see it on TV instead of a computer screen!
I finished the season VERY QUICKLY when my DVDs arrived a month or so ago. Matt & Julie are the best thing about the second half of this season. I too had a big smile when Matt appeared; I was not expecting it at all. Julie may not realize it… but Coach Taylor is the sort of Dad that every girl really needs!