Monday, July 26, 2010
The Televangelist / Television The Televangelist: 'Friday Night Lights' Season 4, Episode 11
Posted by Allison Keene @FlossyAlli on Mon, Jul 26, 2010 at 10:21 AM
- nbc.com
- "Please tell your parents I like Obama just fine"
Let us first give thanks that this is not to be the final season of "Friday Night Lights." Not only would it be a shame to end such a extraordinary series prematurely, but Season Four has been exceptionally dark, and to end on such a note would, I think, bring some despair for long-time viewers. To start, Coach Taylor was ousted from the West Dillon Panthers and forced to regroup and rebuild a ragtag team at East Dillon (Coach's moments with the team have been some of the only light-hearted ones of the season, and even then there has been enormous struggle). But consider that we also lived through the introduction of Vince and a much more violent side of Dillon than prior seasons, as well as the increasingly evil and vengeful attitudes of people like Joe McCoy. We saw a teenage girl have an abortion, and the venerable Tami Taylor go through a witch trial in its aftermath. Matt Saracen saw the body of his slain father, and then moved away suddenly to Chicago, while talented yet confused and impressionable Luke Cafferty worked nights on the farm so he could practice days at school, until he started popping pills and was finally sidelined for the rest of the season by a debilitating injury.
In more subtle happenings, has anyone else noticed the frequency of the Taylor's drinking? What is this, "Mad Men"? There's hardly a scene at home without wine present, and Eric has been logging in some long hours at his local watering hole, culminating this week with him saying "I don't want to go home just yet." Could anything be more blasphemous coming from the other half of the most well-liked and well-respected couple on TV? These are dark days in Dillon, and the prospect of them being our last in the town would be terrible to face. (Luckily, the show has been picked up for another one, possibly two seasons)
Yes, this is a show whose first episode showed an extraordinarily promising young man break his spine and become paralyzed. And it's a show that has never shied away from the difficulties of life, but at the same time, "Friday Night Lights" is at its best when showing people leaning on one another or their inner strength to pull themselves back up and get on with life as best they can. I can only presume that will be a strong theme in the coming season. Because really, could it get any worse?
I spent most of my word count discussing the season as a whole, but "Injury List" was an episode that did start putting into place elements and arcs that have been nurtured throughout. As the game against West Dillon looms, the Taylors are starting the fall apart. Vince and the Riggins' brother's flirtations with danger turned deadly (with Calvin, one of the more sinister characters being gunned down in a moment of insta-karma), and next week's previews portend some involvement with the law. More in the Musings, but I am truly baffled at how the writers might see fit to cap off this emotionally stormy season. Or am I alone in reading this season through a lens darkly?
Next Week: The Lions versus Panthers showdown gets ugly, Jess convinces Vince not to avenge Calvin's murder, Tami is picketed, Eric starts to lose it, and Tim gets heat at Riggins' Rigs
Musings and Miscellanea:
- I liked that we got some new interior shots this week. I didn't realize how we've only been using a handful of sets throughout the season. It was nice to see a little blip of the Clarke house, Luke's room, Becky's kitchen.
- Good football action this week, although with the loss it appears the season is all but over (at least, according to El Fuego!)
- I am rarely a fan of Julie Taylor, but I thought she had some good points that were well articulated when she spoke to Matt on the phone. But is she planning on training for Habitat instead of going to college? Big mistake, Jules - just because you make out with a guy doesn't mean you have to live his life!
- I truly believe Jess really likes Landry, race-awkwardness with his parents aside. But her connection with Vince is undeniable. I would hate to see Landry's heart broken yet again.
- There were a lot of new faces this season, so I can see why someone like Tinker only gets a few moments here and there. But isn't he great? He has my vote for favorite semi-regular character at the moment. I also thought the scenes with Tinker, Luke and Vince in the huddle and Vince ultimately taking the blame for running the play the other direction was a great small moment to show how far the team has come in supporting one another.
- I feel so bad or Tami. She's so smart and capable, but she's caught in an ideological witchhunt. Why is no one going after Becky's mother for taking her to the clinic, if it's such a big deal to them?
- How on earth did it take me this long to recognize that Cheryl Sproles is Alicia Witt??
- "Dear Lord, please let me get some more drugs before Friday" - Luke
- More Becky/Cheryl/Tim drama that I don't care about commenting much further on. I don't know how Becky thinks that guilting Tim into hanging out with her puts them on the road to a relationship, but I do know that mother/daughter sexual competition is awkward and gross.
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