(S04E09) This is a really interesting time in television because there are not one or two or three excellent dramatic TV shows, there are a dozen I could name off the top of my head. Somewhat overlooked -- thanks to NBC -- is Friday Night Lights.

Amid Lost, 24, House, Mad Men, Breaking Bad, Dexter, Big Love, Damages, Sons of Anarchy, NCIS and others, the drama which some incorrectly think is just about Texas football, doesn't get its just desserts.

This was a typical episode of Friday Night Lights, layered with character development and conflicts, emotions out of whack, and problems that seem to crop up out of nowhere. It's a lot like life. For more on the show and what Tami and Eric were talking about in bed, follow me after the jump.

Love and marriage. Tami was stunned to hear the McCoys were separated, and Eric had a kick in the head when Glenn confessed that he kissed Tami. The Taylors realized they needed a night alone. Buddy screwed that up with standard datus interruptus, a football related confab.

Football really wasn't the point of turning on the lights at Carrol Park. Coach Taylor's visit to the neighborhood was not unlike the scene in The Blind Side when Sandra Bullock goes to the wrong side of town, only a kid was shot in Carrol Park and it looked deadly serious. But this incident was a bridge to get Ray and Eric together, and I see that as a major accomplishment.

The kids have all kinds of problems. Vince needed a job and couldn't get one because of his record. His scene with Coach was wonderful because he didn't ask for money, he asked for help. Eric was impressed.

Thanks to Eric, Ray agreed to hire Vince, but he had to promise to keep away from Jess. Seeing Jess cozying up with Landry, however, stunned him. I loved Landry's attempt to be upfront about the situation with Vince. He's very Ronnie Howard on Happy Days at times, you know, but with his red hair from The Andy Griffith Show.

Compared to Becky and Luke, Jess and Landry are a sitcom. Becky and Luke have big troubles. He's not going to be okay with her decision. She doesn't know what she wants to do except that she doesn't want to end up like her mother. Turning to Tim for literally a shoulder to cry on was proof that Riggins is a character with character. He may seem like a screw up, but he has a good heart.

Other points of interest

-- Julie's getting over Matt. The cute guy from Habitat for Humanities, Ryan, asked her out on a date. She hesitated, then let him kiss her. Oh, youth. Or maybe it was the romance of drywall and tile cement.

-- "Damn, I love you." -- Eric to Tami when she brought him to a spot that reminded them of their first first date. Aww.

-- Buddy and Ray communicate without saying anything, did you notice that? There's history there.

-- Wasn't it great how Eric scouted that 13-year-old kid at the game and encouraged him to come play football for him when he gets to high school?

-- Landry and Jess have a cute thing together, but she has unresolved feelings for Vince and they are not "brotherly."

[Watch Friday Night Lights episodes and clips at SlashControl.]