Friday Night Lights is finally over, and after the tears stop flowing, I'll dive into the review. The series ends with Eric and Tami walking off together on a Philadelphia high school football field as the lights dim. The Taylors have always been the heart of the show, the two characters who were there no matter what and firmly dedicated to each other until the end. From an outside perspective, one may wonder exactly how a happily married couple makes for compelling television, since television relationships usually go the route of divorce, affairs, and other shenanigans. But as Eric and Tami prove, a real, stable relationship is as dramatic as any, as heartfelt and moving as any, and they certainly have their share of issues. In the end, though, these mature adults look in the face of adversity and confront it head on, compromise, and it is fine. Tami gets her job as dean of admissions, and Eric coaches a new team in Philadelphia. Sure, Eric would like to stay in Texas, but Tami has dreams, and Eric is flexible enough to move.
"Always" provides closure for most characters (minus a select few--Smash, Lyla, Landry, Jason--although Lyla certainly had a fitting exit in the fourth season), and it's wonderful to watch. Matt and Julie are together at last, engaged 8 months later, despite the initial and vehement opposition from Eric. Tim finds peace with himself and Billy, choosing to stay in Texas to make his house. Tyra knows how much she loves Tim, but also knows that they aren't on the same wavelength. Maybe something will happen between them later, but they are heading on their own separate paths for now. Becky returns to her mother, taking with her a new family of Billy, Mindy, and Tim. Luke leaves for the military, but not before handing Becky his championship ring. Vince is busy training for next season and Jess is already shadowing a new coach in Dallas. Also, Tinker makes the new team! All in all, everyone is doing well.
The state championship is simply a work of art, with a little bit of background noise flowing in. But mostly, it's the soundtrack we hear, tugging us forward through the game as we see opposing sides score and react according. The game ends with one play, Vince heaving the ball through the air. The background quickly shifts and it's Eric and his new team. Just brilliant.
If I really had to have one complaint, it would be the underuse of Landry, who is only in one scene and doesn't show up later. Sadly, the four old characters--Matt, Julie, Tyra (his old girlfriend), Tim--didn't invite him out to drink. But at least Landry dishes out love advice for Matt in classic form.
Regardless of what people may think about some questionable plot decisions, Friday Night Lights will undoubtedly go down in history as one of the most emotionally raw television shows. And it wasn't always angst, though, as "Always" demonstrates many times. The characters always had personality and their own special charm, making the cast and character forever memorable.
Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose. Texas forever. (Too cheesy?... nah).
Score: 10/10
Showing posts with label Friday Night Lights. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Friday Night Lights. Show all posts
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Review - Friday Night Lights Season 5 Episode 12 Texas Whatever
Damn, one episode left. One.
As Tyra, Matt, Julie, and "Devil Town" return, marking the end of the series, there's trouble brewing. Tami wants the dean of admissions job, knowing she's always followed Eric wherever his jobs were, while Eric wants to remain behind. The fateful decision regarding Dillon football comes down on the side of West Dillion, the better-funded school.
The new characters each get their part in the episode, but it's eclipsed by Tyra's big return. She reminisces on the old days with Julie, watching the boisterous celebration in the aftermath of the decision. Julie longs for the old days when QB 1 was still living with his grandma, and Tyra is ready to leave once again.
Another major development with Tyra and Tim reconnecting. There's several problems with this in my mind. Didn't Tyra date Landry longer than she did Tim in terms of total episodes? And if that's not the case, Tim certainly had more scenes with Lyla than with Tyra. But at the same time, Tyra has had difficult experiences in her life and can relate with Tim better than Lyla presumably. I guess it works more or less.
With the state championship next week, Matt coming home, and the fate of the Taylors undecided, there's still a fair amount of plot to deal with, and boy can we expect the tears to flow.
Score: 9.5/10
As Tyra, Matt, Julie, and "Devil Town" return, marking the end of the series, there's trouble brewing. Tami wants the dean of admissions job, knowing she's always followed Eric wherever his jobs were, while Eric wants to remain behind. The fateful decision regarding Dillon football comes down on the side of West Dillion, the better-funded school.
The new characters each get their part in the episode, but it's eclipsed by Tyra's big return. She reminisces on the old days with Julie, watching the boisterous celebration in the aftermath of the decision. Julie longs for the old days when QB 1 was still living with his grandma, and Tyra is ready to leave once again.
Another major development with Tyra and Tim reconnecting. There's several problems with this in my mind. Didn't Tyra date Landry longer than she did Tim in terms of total episodes? And if that's not the case, Tim certainly had more scenes with Lyla than with Tyra. But at the same time, Tyra has had difficult experiences in her life and can relate with Tim better than Lyla presumably. I guess it works more or less.
With the state championship next week, Matt coming home, and the fate of the Taylors undecided, there's still a fair amount of plot to deal with, and boy can we expect the tears to flow.
Score: 9.5/10
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Review - Friday Night Lights Season 5 Episode 11 The March
I'm really busy this week, so very short reviews only.
Between the Lions rolling over everyone in the playoffs, Tim's broken mindset, and drama in the background threatening to filter onto the field, "The March" is as good as it gets. I'll try to revisit the episode over the weekend and give a more detailed review.
Two episodes left!!!!
Score: 9.5/10
Between the Lions rolling over everyone in the playoffs, Tim's broken mindset, and drama in the background threatening to filter onto the field, "The March" is as good as it gets. I'll try to revisit the episode over the weekend and give a more detailed review.
Two episodes left!!!!
Score: 9.5/10
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Review - Friday Night Lights Season 5 Episode 10 Don't Go
I came into "Don't Go" thinking that I wouldn't care about anything else because it's the return of fucking Tim Riggins. Instead, not only was the return of Tim Riggins wonderfully sad, the rest of the episode was on point from beginning to end (maybe with the exception of the random conference).
With the enticing job offer sitting in front of him, Coach declines to make public comments are first, but privately seems to be on board as is Tami. However, after the players' speeches and Vince's personal declaration at his doorstep, Coach announces publicly that he is returning to East Dillon. No matter the salary, oranges, or other perks, Eric has a special connection with these kids and he won't give that up.
Vince also has a chance to move on, but in his case, Oklahoma Tech has moved on. We see increased tension with Vince's father actively defying Vince's wishes in order to line him up with more offers. One of the great moments in the episode is when Vince's mother steps in, telling Ornette that Vince needs a father, not an agent. Ornette probably doesn't see the distinction, though. He has a worldview shaped from tough life on the streets, so in his eyes, everyone is working for their own ends alone, thus Coach Taylor must be moving on since he received an offer from a university, and Vince must immediately snatch an offer before Coach can leave. Will Ornette see the light after Eric's announcement?
From an outsider's standpoint, Tim doesn't have anything to be angry about. He went along with Billy's criminal activity and he's the one who voluntarily took the fall. Billy has been supportive of Tim the whole time, even perhaps getting too much stress over Tim. But still, stewing in prison must have been terrible for Tim. Billy, Coach, and Buddy (who was extra funny this week with his self-interest) give their speeches and just like that, Tim is out.
Becky and Luke really hit their stride, playing football together and hanging out on the farm. Becky admits that she'd have no problem living on a farm. However, her major crush Tim comes home, so that'll undoubtedly shake things up.
Hold your breath--three episodes left!
Score: 9.6/10
With the enticing job offer sitting in front of him, Coach declines to make public comments are first, but privately seems to be on board as is Tami. However, after the players' speeches and Vince's personal declaration at his doorstep, Coach announces publicly that he is returning to East Dillon. No matter the salary, oranges, or other perks, Eric has a special connection with these kids and he won't give that up.
Vince also has a chance to move on, but in his case, Oklahoma Tech has moved on. We see increased tension with Vince's father actively defying Vince's wishes in order to line him up with more offers. One of the great moments in the episode is when Vince's mother steps in, telling Ornette that Vince needs a father, not an agent. Ornette probably doesn't see the distinction, though. He has a worldview shaped from tough life on the streets, so in his eyes, everyone is working for their own ends alone, thus Coach Taylor must be moving on since he received an offer from a university, and Vince must immediately snatch an offer before Coach can leave. Will Ornette see the light after Eric's announcement?
From an outsider's standpoint, Tim doesn't have anything to be angry about. He went along with Billy's criminal activity and he's the one who voluntarily took the fall. Billy has been supportive of Tim the whole time, even perhaps getting too much stress over Tim. But still, stewing in prison must have been terrible for Tim. Billy, Coach, and Buddy (who was extra funny this week with his self-interest) give their speeches and just like that, Tim is out.
Becky and Luke really hit their stride, playing football together and hanging out on the farm. Becky admits that she'd have no problem living on a farm. However, her major crush Tim comes home, so that'll undoubtedly shake things up.
Hold your breath--three episodes left!
Score: 9.6/10
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Review - Friday Night Lights Season 5 Episode 9 Gut Check
The episode begins after the Lion’s first loss of the season, so we don’t see the game, which is kind of surprising since it's one of the biggest games of the show. But with the strife at the end of the last week’s episode, it was clear the team could crumble at any moment if it hadn't already and the writers didn't need to show more.
In the aftermath with the team falling apart, Eric decides to bench Vince and start Luke at quarterback. The Lions win their next game with Vince on the sidelines, proving that Vince isn’t as crucial to the team as he thought he was. If Luke continues to perform well enough to win, Vince won’t be getting attention from colleges and his father won’t be seeing the money pouring in. Luke succeeding seems to have sobered Vince (not necessarily turning him around completely), but his father, a person who we know is violent, is extremely angry at the end of the episode.
Becky, after waitressing at the Landing Strip, rakes in tons of cash and likes the perks the job offers, and now she’s fully on her way to become a stripper.
Epyck shoves Tami, the cops get involved, and she’s sent away. Is this the last we see of her, the sad case of someone falling through the cracks despite Tami's heroic efforts, or will everything become right?
Julie showing up at Matt’s door, while optimal to showing up at the TA’s door, is still a diversion. She has a great time and so does Matt, but the root of Julie’s existing problem exists: She doesn’t want to resume her college life, instead feeding off Matt and the warm fuzzy feeling he offers. After a week, Matt realizes this and sets her right, knowing that if he loves he, he should make sure she is successful in life. I don't get why Matt is still with her after all the trouble she's given him, but it works.
After "Gut Check," there are four episodes left. Four! Some of the older characters should trickle back soon so that'll be exciting, and Coach Taylor may be leaving high school football for good.
Score: 8.9/10
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Review - Friday Night Lights Season 5 Episode 8 Fracture
There's lots of bad stuff happening in "Fracture," and you have to wonder whether the fracture will turn into something more. Will Coach patch things up by the end of the series? It's hard to imagine Friday Night Lights ending in the darkness, and with 5 episodes left, things will probably start turning around.
It's hard not to hate Vince right now. Simply put, he's acting like a dumbass punk, and part of me wants him fall off his high horse with some major NCAA investigation. However, we also have to remember that he is/was(?) a good kid and was doing fine before colleges and his father guided him in the wrong direction. Still, he was conscious in his decisions to go along with his dad, reject Coach, and be self-centered.
Meanwhile, the team is falling apart as they see their leader, Vince, going off on his own. Football is, after all, a team sport, and Vince would be nowhere without everyone else. His visit to Oklahoma, missing practice, and not giving a shoutout to the team, really speaks to the team how Vince feels about them
Becky had plenty of great scenes in the episode, revealing to Mindy and her friends how she got pregnant the first time she had sex.
Tami spends the episode dealing with Epyck who continues to fight and lie. Why? We'll have to find out, and hopefully we can actually see Epyck interact with characters other than Tami (she is in the same high school).
Derek shows up again, and if we needed more evidence, he fully exposes himself as a slimy guy. The episode ends with Julie at Matt's front door, thankfully not Derek's. I guess that's something positive.
Score: 9.3/10
It's hard not to hate Vince right now. Simply put, he's acting like a dumbass punk, and part of me wants him fall off his high horse with some major NCAA investigation. However, we also have to remember that he is/was(?) a good kid and was doing fine before colleges and his father guided him in the wrong direction. Still, he was conscious in his decisions to go along with his dad, reject Coach, and be self-centered.
Meanwhile, the team is falling apart as they see their leader, Vince, going off on his own. Football is, after all, a team sport, and Vince would be nowhere without everyone else. His visit to Oklahoma, missing practice, and not giving a shoutout to the team, really speaks to the team how Vince feels about them
Becky had plenty of great scenes in the episode, revealing to Mindy and her friends how she got pregnant the first time she had sex.
Tami spends the episode dealing with Epyck who continues to fight and lie. Why? We'll have to find out, and hopefully we can actually see Epyck interact with characters other than Tami (she is in the same high school).
Derek shows up again, and if we needed more evidence, he fully exposes himself as a slimy guy. The episode ends with Julie at Matt's front door, thankfully not Derek's. I guess that's something positive.
Score: 9.3/10
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Review - Friday Night Lights Season 5 Episode 7 Perfect Record
Although the Lions remain undefeated after drubbing the Panthers 37-7, it's clear things are quickly spiraling out of control for Coach Taylor. The team plays undisciplined, they trash talk, and their leader, Vince, throws a 60-yarder at the end of the game for no reason other than to show off. Clearly, these aren't the kids who entered the fourth season without much knowledge of the game. Instead, the players are full of themselves, confident in their ability and oblivious to their changes. It's only time before they're taken down a notch.
Vince finds himself in a tough spot in "Perfect Record." It's understandable that he would blindly follow his father after not having a father figure for years, but it also means he's not making the smart choices. Eric knows more about recruitment and what is illegal or not. Vince's father, on the other hand, wants the best for his son, but is likely to jump at colleges throwing money. In many ways, it's like the Cam Newton situation and no one wants Vince to turn out to be scumbags like Cam Newton and his father.
Julie still isn't going back to school, and her parents seemed to be resigned to letting him make her own choices. However, Tami still picks up her school material and even meets the TA, holding whatever words she has. By holding back, Tami refuses to fight on Julie's behalf, and gives Julie the opportunity to do what she wants.
Who's this black quarterback on the Panthers? Where's JD McCoy, the messiah of football? Along with the revival of everyone's police records, I was reminded that the whole high school stuff doesn't make much sense.
Score: 8.9/10
Vince finds himself in a tough spot in "Perfect Record." It's understandable that he would blindly follow his father after not having a father figure for years, but it also means he's not making the smart choices. Eric knows more about recruitment and what is illegal or not. Vince's father, on the other hand, wants the best for his son, but is likely to jump at colleges throwing money. In many ways, it's like the Cam Newton situation and no one wants Vince to turn out to be scumbags like Cam Newton and his father.
Julie still isn't going back to school, and her parents seemed to be resigned to letting him make her own choices. However, Tami still picks up her school material and even meets the TA, holding whatever words she has. By holding back, Tami refuses to fight on Julie's behalf, and gives Julie the opportunity to do what she wants.
Who's this black quarterback on the Panthers? Where's JD McCoy, the messiah of football? Along with the revival of everyone's police records, I was reminded that the whole high school stuff doesn't make much sense.
Score: 8.9/10
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Review - Friday Night Lights Season 5 Episode 6 Swerve
I am an entire day behind the television watching, so for the sake of time, reviews for Thursday and Wednesday shows will be very short (shorter than they the present short reviews). I was overwhelmed this week with other stuff, but I'll definitely be churning out reviews next week.
"Swerve" is one of my favorite episodes of the season for the Julie story alone. For the first time, there's nowhere to run for Julie. She can stay in her room or crash the car, but at the end of the day, she is an adult who must confront her actions. She made specific choices to get to where she is, and there's no avoiding that. As with the Vince storyline, the trouble brewing nearly derails the football game. This is, however, the magical season for the East Dillon Lions when nothing can do wrong. For the personnel, though, things are spiraling out of control.
The writing for Vince is plain stupid. He asks his criminal father for help and reminds him of his parole. But it's clear to audience that his father will violate his parole. Vince suddenly goes from distrusting his father earlier in the season to trusting him completely. And afterwards, Vince still thinks everything is fine. Get a clue!
Score: 9.2/10
"Swerve" is one of my favorite episodes of the season for the Julie story alone. For the first time, there's nowhere to run for Julie. She can stay in her room or crash the car, but at the end of the day, she is an adult who must confront her actions. She made specific choices to get to where she is, and there's no avoiding that. As with the Vince storyline, the trouble brewing nearly derails the football game. This is, however, the magical season for the East Dillon Lions when nothing can do wrong. For the personnel, though, things are spiraling out of control.
The writing for Vince is plain stupid. He asks his criminal father for help and reminds him of his parole. But it's clear to audience that his father will violate his parole. Vince suddenly goes from distrusting his father earlier in the season to trusting him completely. And afterwards, Vince still thinks everything is fine. Get a clue!
Score: 9.2/10
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Review - Friday Night Lights Season 5 Episode 10 Kingdom
"Kingdom" isn't a big picture episode. We don't learn more about TMU, Vince's father doesn't revert back to his old life, East Dillon High isn't even in the picture, and there's not really an emotional kicker; nothing major happens. We do, however, see the team bond in numerous ways during the trip to Kingdom.
But while the team had lots of fun, and the audience did also, there were a few dark undercurrents. The Lions win in the end, but it leaves an uneasy feeling for Coach Taylor who gives up his mantra of not stooping down to the opponents' level. It's a win alright, but not up to the usual Taylor-standards. And what about the rest of the season?
As far as plot developments go, Julie returning home after the TA's wife exposes her in front of a bunch of people. It's old by know, seeing as Julie has been snapped by to reality plenty of times before. Hopefully Julie can turn the corner and get something better to do know.
Score: 8.9/10
But while the team had lots of fun, and the audience did also, there were a few dark undercurrents. The Lions win in the end, but it leaves an uneasy feeling for Coach Taylor who gives up his mantra of not stooping down to the opponents' level. It's a win alright, but not up to the usual Taylor-standards. And what about the rest of the season?
As far as plot developments go, Julie returning home after the TA's wife exposes her in front of a bunch of people. It's old by know, seeing as Julie has been snapped by to reality plenty of times before. Hopefully Julie can turn the corner and get something better to do know.
Score: 8.9/10
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Review - Friday Night Lights Season 5 Episode 4 Keep Looking
Four episodes into the final season, and it's largely been hit or miss for me, and "Keep Looking" is no different. On one hand, I'm really liking the struggle from Tami, Buddy, Mindy, and Eric to help Epyck, Buddy Jr, Becky, and Vince, respectively. Largely, the older, non-high school characters interacting with high school kids works the best.
On the other hand, the plots with just the high school characters aren't doing much, mostly being they're not developed enough. Becky and Luke are skirting around each other with little development, and the fight between Jess and Vince doesn't make much sense to me. Why didn't Coach come out and tell all the players the stop messing with Jess? It would stop the inherent problem of people messing with Jess and in turn it would at least alleviate some of the misgivings Vince has about Jess in her new role. But it looks like the situation has turned a corner as Coach comes down hard on Vince. Jess, meanwhile, is ever more encouraged because Billy respects her opinion enough to express it to the other coaches, even if he does claim it as his own thought.
At the end of the episode, we see Vince invited into the head coach's office which has a lot of other important looking figures. Was Luke used as a tool to recruit Vince? And if so, what is Vince being drawn into?
While enjoy most of what's going on and neither like nor dislike the other parts, there's one small subplot which bothers me: more Julie and TA scenes. Please end it. Julie isn't given anything to do other than sleep with her TA. There's no reflection, no separate plot, just meeting up and hooking up.
Score: 8.9/10
On the other hand, the plots with just the high school characters aren't doing much, mostly being they're not developed enough. Becky and Luke are skirting around each other with little development, and the fight between Jess and Vince doesn't make much sense to me. Why didn't Coach come out and tell all the players the stop messing with Jess? It would stop the inherent problem of people messing with Jess and in turn it would at least alleviate some of the misgivings Vince has about Jess in her new role. But it looks like the situation has turned a corner as Coach comes down hard on Vince. Jess, meanwhile, is ever more encouraged because Billy respects her opinion enough to express it to the other coaches, even if he does claim it as his own thought.
At the end of the episode, we see Vince invited into the head coach's office which has a lot of other important looking figures. Was Luke used as a tool to recruit Vince? And if so, what is Vince being drawn into?
While enjoy most of what's going on and neither like nor dislike the other parts, there's one small subplot which bothers me: more Julie and TA scenes. Please end it. Julie isn't given anything to do other than sleep with her TA. There's no reflection, no separate plot, just meeting up and hooking up.
Score: 8.9/10
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Review - Friday Night Lights Season 5 Episode 3 The Right Hand of the Father
A good part of "The Right Hand of the Father" is dedicated to an anti-alcohol message. After a video of the drunk puppet girl is released, East Dillon High is thrown into a frenzy. Coach punishes his players, Tami brings in a speaker, and personally tries to connect to the girl.
That's fine, but why now? We've seen plenty of drunk, passed out high schoolers before, but none of the hubbub. It seems as though Eric and Tami only care about the image of the school and not necessary the well-being of the kids or else they'd have done more to curtail alcohol use before.
As the episode title suggests, there are father issues, most prominently, Vince's father issues. His dad is released from jail and Vince is not happy. His dad's been absent for years and strolls back into his life as if nothing changed. Michael B. Jordan is great, bringing out all the emotion he can between the confrontation with his father and talk with Coach. In the end, after Vince wins the game, his father leaves, but no before telling him how proud he is.
There are also a few smaller things going on. Buddy Jr., who may or may not be a fourteen year old pothead, is coming home. Jess becomes equipment manager, adding more trouble to Vince's already full plate. The scene where Vince and the team walks through a corridor of screaming fans is a perfect example of what's going with him. Despite his exceptional performances on field and respect from everyone, his personal life is riddled with holes and very few people know about it.
Predictably, Julie sleeps with her TA. To be frank, Julie has had so many guy problems that another one just doesn't seem significant to worry about.
Gracie Bell for the episode's second best performance? "Think about it, Daddy," was sooooooooo cute!
Score: 8.8/10
That's fine, but why now? We've seen plenty of drunk, passed out high schoolers before, but none of the hubbub. It seems as though Eric and Tami only care about the image of the school and not necessary the well-being of the kids or else they'd have done more to curtail alcohol use before.
As the episode title suggests, there are father issues, most prominently, Vince's father issues. His dad is released from jail and Vince is not happy. His dad's been absent for years and strolls back into his life as if nothing changed. Michael B. Jordan is great, bringing out all the emotion he can between the confrontation with his father and talk with Coach. In the end, after Vince wins the game, his father leaves, but no before telling him how proud he is.
There are also a few smaller things going on. Buddy Jr., who may or may not be a fourteen year old pothead, is coming home. Jess becomes equipment manager, adding more trouble to Vince's already full plate. The scene where Vince and the team walks through a corridor of screaming fans is a perfect example of what's going with him. Despite his exceptional performances on field and respect from everyone, his personal life is riddled with holes and very few people know about it.
Predictably, Julie sleeps with her TA. To be frank, Julie has had so many guy problems that another one just doesn't seem significant to worry about.
Gracie Bell for the episode's second best performance? "Think about it, Daddy," was sooooooooo cute!
Score: 8.8/10
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Review - Friday Night Lights Season 5 Episode 2 On The Outside Looking In
As the episode title, "On The Outside Looking In," suggests, everyone is on the outside looking inwards. Before, there would be one or two characters looking from the outside, but this is on a much larger scale. No longer at comfy Dillion High, every character, including the Taylors, is struggling with their current positions and have a hard time realizing that they have to put in extra effort.
Coach Taylor learns the hard way how the football establishment will treat him. Despite beating the former state champions, the Lions are unranked. Not only that, Luke is suspended a game for the hit he laid of the quarterback last week. The reasoning is that Luke led with his head which he clearly did not, but the message is clear: the Lions aren't to be respected. Of course the final scene gets the ball rolling. All Coach has to do is write "State" on the board. Our hearts beat a little faster and we know what's coming.
For Tami, she's starting at square one and she knows it. The troubled students have no intent on getting help on their own and the teachers have no incentive to help troubled students. Tami gets somewhere in the episode, managing to gain the help of one teacher for an after school program and bring Epyck slowly under the fold. The journey is far from over, but Tami is getting somewhere.
Unable to find friends or someone to connect with, staring at various groups of people talking together, Julie gets friendly with her TA, and it looks like she and her TA will hook up. Uh oh... Instead of always having plots relating to sex, couldn't Julie do something different for a change?
I'm still not that invested in the high schoolers, but things could change. Vince gets a rally girl, and Jess is also looking on the inside now that she's not helping Vince with football. (But wasn't she a cheerleader?) With the Riggins, Becky is also an outsider, unsure what to do with these people who seem to care about her.
Because this is the final season and it's how the show works, I'm guessing those on the outside will eventually reach the inside, defying expectations and succeeding under bad circumstances. Is it final season material? I guess we'll find out.
Score: 8.7/10
Coach Taylor learns the hard way how the football establishment will treat him. Despite beating the former state champions, the Lions are unranked. Not only that, Luke is suspended a game for the hit he laid of the quarterback last week. The reasoning is that Luke led with his head which he clearly did not, but the message is clear: the Lions aren't to be respected. Of course the final scene gets the ball rolling. All Coach has to do is write "State" on the board. Our hearts beat a little faster and we know what's coming.
For Tami, she's starting at square one and she knows it. The troubled students have no intent on getting help on their own and the teachers have no incentive to help troubled students. Tami gets somewhere in the episode, managing to gain the help of one teacher for an after school program and bring Epyck slowly under the fold. The journey is far from over, but Tami is getting somewhere.
Unable to find friends or someone to connect with, staring at various groups of people talking together, Julie gets friendly with her TA, and it looks like she and her TA will hook up. Uh oh... Instead of always having plots relating to sex, couldn't Julie do something different for a change?
I'm still not that invested in the high schoolers, but things could change. Vince gets a rally girl, and Jess is also looking on the inside now that she's not helping Vince with football. (But wasn't she a cheerleader?) With the Riggins, Becky is also an outsider, unsure what to do with these people who seem to care about her.
Because this is the final season and it's how the show works, I'm guessing those on the outside will eventually reach the inside, defying expectations and succeeding under bad circumstances. Is it final season material? I guess we'll find out.
Score: 8.7/10
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Review - Friday Night Lights Season 5 Episode 1 Expectations
The fifth season of Friday Night Lights sits in a weird place. It's the final season, and nothing is going to change that because the ratings suck. And it does serve as a natural ending point of sorts. Most of the original high schoolers have gone on, and the remaining, Julie and Landry, depart in "Expectations."
But at the same time, there was the new crop of kids introduced in the fourth season. As much as the writers tried to balance them last season with the old characters, they were kind of given the short end of the straw and ended up not having entirely fleshed out stories from beginning to end.
"Expectations" does its part in beginning the transition, which ultimately will end in 13 episodes, a short season of television. We get the emotional moment from Julie and Eric playing ping pong before Julie's departure, the fun moment from Landry at his last band gig and at the strip club, and the haunting moment of Tim in prison. By the end of the episode, the old is out and the in is new.
I'm still ambivalent on the new characters, so we'll see what happens. Jess's father is out of town, trying to open more franchises, leaving her behind to care for her siblings, including Andre who is out of control until Vince talks to him. Becky, left behind by her father and mother to be with her father's girlfriend (wife?), turns to Billy for a place to live. There's also this new basketball player named Hastings who is recruited for football and has a thing for Jess.
On the football side of things, Billy becomes a coach and already gives an embarressing speech. Somehow, the Lions manage to beat last year's state champion, no doubt helped by an almost Jason Street injury. In the past two games, these lowly Lions have managed to beat both West Dillion and the former state champions. Really? It'd be cool and all if Coach Taylor won another state championship in the final season, but with the Lions who were awful last season?
Tami tries to deal with the East Dillon high situation, but faces a mountain. The students, most of whom come from broken families, etc, are unable or unwilling to turn the corner and grab their futures, and the faculty is content to let them proceed indefinitely.
Without knowing what happens next, it's hard to tell whether the final season of FNL will live up to previous season. "Expectation," by itself, is a solid if not spectacular beginning to the season.
Score: 8.8/10
But at the same time, there was the new crop of kids introduced in the fourth season. As much as the writers tried to balance them last season with the old characters, they were kind of given the short end of the straw and ended up not having entirely fleshed out stories from beginning to end.
"Expectations" does its part in beginning the transition, which ultimately will end in 13 episodes, a short season of television. We get the emotional moment from Julie and Eric playing ping pong before Julie's departure, the fun moment from Landry at his last band gig and at the strip club, and the haunting moment of Tim in prison. By the end of the episode, the old is out and the in is new.
I'm still ambivalent on the new characters, so we'll see what happens. Jess's father is out of town, trying to open more franchises, leaving her behind to care for her siblings, including Andre who is out of control until Vince talks to him. Becky, left behind by her father and mother to be with her father's girlfriend (wife?), turns to Billy for a place to live. There's also this new basketball player named Hastings who is recruited for football and has a thing for Jess.
On the football side of things, Billy becomes a coach and already gives an embarressing speech. Somehow, the Lions manage to beat last year's state champion, no doubt helped by an almost Jason Street injury. In the past two games, these lowly Lions have managed to beat both West Dillion and the former state champions. Really? It'd be cool and all if Coach Taylor won another state championship in the final season, but with the Lions who were awful last season?
Tami tries to deal with the East Dillon high situation, but faces a mountain. The students, most of whom come from broken families, etc, are unable or unwilling to turn the corner and grab their futures, and the faculty is content to let them proceed indefinitely.
Without knowing what happens next, it's hard to tell whether the final season of FNL will live up to previous season. "Expectation," by itself, is a solid if not spectacular beginning to the season.
Score: 8.8/10
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Preview of Week 10/24/10 - 10/30/10
In Treatment - HBO, Monday/Tuesday, October 25/26, 9:00pm ET
This is the first time In Treatment will not follow the Israeli series BeTipul. Hopefully the show can continue be as good as it was. As for reviewing In Treatment, I already have 9 shows to watch on Monday and 6 shows on Tuesday, which is too much to handle along with 2 episodes of In Treatment. My plan is too watch all the week's episodes in bulk on Sunday and then review them.
Glee - Fox, Tuesday, October 26, 8:00pm ET
I don't like pure tribute Glee episodes, but this week is the Rocky Horror Picture Show episode.
Friday Night Lights - DirecTV 101, Tuesday, October 27, 9:00pm ET
The most consistently emotional show returns for its final season. I'm kind of worried where the fifth season goes, seeing as the fourth season had very questionable storyline choices (more so than in previous seasons) and a few important characters won't be coming back which is disappointing.
This is the first time In Treatment will not follow the Israeli series BeTipul. Hopefully the show can continue be as good as it was. As for reviewing In Treatment, I already have 9 shows to watch on Monday and 6 shows on Tuesday, which is too much to handle along with 2 episodes of In Treatment. My plan is too watch all the week's episodes in bulk on Sunday and then review them.
Glee - Fox, Tuesday, October 26, 8:00pm ET
I don't like pure tribute Glee episodes, but this week is the Rocky Horror Picture Show episode.
Friday Night Lights - DirecTV 101, Tuesday, October 27, 9:00pm ET
The most consistently emotional show returns for its final season. I'm kind of worried where the fifth season goes, seeing as the fourth season had very questionable storyline choices (more so than in previous seasons) and a few important characters won't be coming back which is disappointing.
