Friday Night Lights: Git 'Er Done

(S01E05) They sure picked a good episode to have the big Monday night showcase of the series. So many things going on this week. Rather than try and go through it all in chronological order, let's do it by character/storyline. First off, Tyra and Connor. That was a little disturbing. It did serve to show us how much Tyra wants to get away from Dillon and everything it represents to her, but dang, how old is that guy? You figure to be in that job he must have graduated college and worked his way up for a few years. So, he's 25? Picking up high school girls. Creepy, man, creepy. Tyra's no angel, but she doesn't need that.

Julie didn't get a lot to do, but for the little bit that they did use her, it was effective. She's an interesting kid. Was she reading Doonesbury? The scene where she mentioned that she had been looking up coaching gigs for Eric was funny. But did they have to take a shot at Seattle? Why couldn't it be Portland? And I dig everything about Julie and Saracen together. They have very good chemistry and bring a much needed balance to the high school romance angle. Julie also got the best line of the night with, "Dude, you need to chill out. I'm not ESPN." Saracen is delightfully nervous.

Which brings us to Riggins and Lyla. Good grief, what a train wreck that relationship is. I keep thinking of the scene from Chasing Amy where Banky tells Holden, "Nothing good can come from this." It does make for some good drama though, and you can just see the eventual explosion that is coming in the future. The scene with her at the hospital with Street was so uncomfortable. As if the guy doesn't have enough problems.

I like the way the Street story is going with the roommate and murderball giving him an incentive to tackle his physical therapy. And what can you say about the visit from the team? Coach Taylor coming to see him was enough to choke you up. But the whole team? That's why this show is so good, and why it is not a football show. I am still left wondering though, where are this kid's parents?

Speaking of football though, I was convinced that Eric was going to start Saracen. Last week my guess was that Voodoo would do something that would give Eric that opening, and I thought the scene in the office was it. Not so much it turns out. It worked better the way they did it. Eric's explanation to Tami about the reasons to start, or not start, Saracen and Voodoo was good. It really pinpointed the pressure that he is under. And when he finally just loses it in the locker room and kicks Voodoo off the team, that was a great scene. Kyle Chandler is the best thing on my TV this season.

The game itself was pretty good. They really do a nice job of shooting the game footage, and managed to keep it a fairly small part of the overall episode. Another Hollywood ending, sure, but it worked in the context of the Panthers being one of the top teams in the country at the start of the year. And now they are struggling to win games that they should be walking through. I thought things seemed much more realistic with Saracen handing the ball to Smash and Riggins as well. Of course, it looks like it may all be for naught with the visit from the District Executive Committee. How about our old pal Buddy tossing Eric under the bus right from the get go? Geez, that guy is slimy. It looks like the Voodoo debacle may cost Eric a win, but it may also get rid of Buddy, which would be welcome. Whichever way it goes, I am looking forward to that scene at the meeting next week.

Another good episode. I just keep liking this show more and more. Hopefully some of those Heroes fans stuck around tonight and got an idea of what NBC has going on with Friday Night Lights.