FNL Watch: A Teacher, a Molder of Men
First things first: I was going to add an explanation here mentioning that other deadlines would be keeping this and other posts delayed/shorter, but let's just make a deal and agree that, if you're expecting a post by me and it isn't here, I'm aware of it and have a lame excuse. Deal? (Also, as always, feel free to use the Morning After posts as open threads, which they're meant to be.) Now then, quick thoughts on the latest Friday Night Lights:
Beautiful. All-around gorgeous. I only wish I had held off a week to make my point about the Gary Cooper-ocity of Eric Taylor, because it is even more suitable here. Smash's farewell, and the way Taylor stood up for a player who is no longer his charge, speaking up not just for Smash's physical ability but for his heart and guts—Coach is no relation to Smash, but Smash's college tryout was one of the best, most moving father-son scenes I have seen on TV. (For which I also credit Gaius Charles: the connection in his eyes as her gets one last word of encouragement from Taylor is searing and real.)
Taylor is "a teacher... a molder of men," as Tami says, and yet it's not—her words again—"corny" in part because Coach Taylor is a real person, and because his relationship with Tami makes him more so. His conversation with his wife in the bar was such a believable, recognizable one for a married couple: basically, he's torn about his decision and wants to hear her vocalize his thoughts so he can argue against him. It's risky territory, because taken in one direction it could amount to his trying to take out his frustrations on Tami, but because she's so strong, and their marriage is so functional (which is not to say perfect), they manage.
"Manage" is a key word here, come to think of it, because isn't that what FNL is about, when it comes down to it? It's a football show, so glorious victories and heartbreaking defeats are always going to be part of it. But the real core of the show is people with too many problems, just managing—the every day small victories of getting by, or of dealing with setbacks. This is true whether it's Tami fighting the Jumbotron for teacher funding, or Matt Saracen holding the pieces of his home life together with his grandmother and mom for one more day. (Speaking of which: Kim Dickens just adds to the embarrassment of riches on this show.)
Likewise, Smash's audition, and his well-earned send-off. He's not coming into college ball as a superstar. He's not necessarily going to have a glorious pro career, or any career at all. But he's going to college. He's managed. On FNL, this is the kind of victory that counts.
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I thought this was a really strong episode, and I definitely teared up when Smash got the call. I remember being a high school senior, desperately awaiting a call about the scholarship at the school I wanted to go to. I hadn't thought about it in years, but watching Smash get the call really took me back to sitting in my bedroom when I got that call, and the screaming and crying and jumping around that me and my family did when I hung up. I guess this time around he wasn't getting a scholarship, but the point is that the show PERFECTLY captures moments like that. A few other thoughts:
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Let me just say that I love Kim Dickens in whatever she's in. The interaction between her, Matt, and Grandma was handled so well by the writers and actors, I really hope that she sticks around. In general, I really like when episodes focus on Matt's home life, because of the awesome dynamic with him and his grandmother. I think that the show treats the character of his grandmother with a LOT of respect - they DO use her as comic relief, but it isn't cruel, and they don't just show her as a bumbling old fool - she is also sharp, affectionate, relatively self-aware, and capable of deep insight and reflection. I've gone through the aging (and mental slipping) of two beloved grandmothers, one of whom died awhile back, and I really appreciate how the show lets her be a whole character, not just a caracature that's around for cheap laughs.
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I like the idea that the show is about "managing". I can see that.
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Tami was awesome in the speech about the Jumbotron. No bitterness, no anger revealed, but no pandering either. And sticking Buddy Garretty with the charity auction (or whatever) was priceless.
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Is anyone else getting a weird vibe off JD's mom (Ms. McCoy?)? Mr. Shara Says and I keep expecting her to make a pass at Tami. -
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One thousand percent agree with your post. I admit I was having a good ole cry while watching and thankfully no one was around while I was reiterating out loud how much I love this show. Brilliant episode.
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Honestly, with this episode of FNL and "Blood on the Scales" episode of Battlestar Gallactica airing right afterwards.....well, that goes in the pantheon of greatest 2 hours of original broadcast television ever, if you ask me (and yes, I'm conveniently overlooking FNL's run on DirectTV -- sue me).
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Matt Saracen's life just breaks my heart every episode....throw in the awesomeness of both Coach and Tami (I will, by myself if necessary, forge both Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton matching Emmy awards for their work on this series), Tim Riggins generally (and we BARELY saw him this episode), the spectacular scenes this week with Landry and Tyra....
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Honestly, if HBO were airing new episodes of The Wire on Friday nights at 8 pm ET/7 pm CT, we could Friday nights "Unappreciated Greatness in Acting Night" each week. -
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And yes, it was VERY dusty in my apartment Friday night....dusty, with a helping handful of someone I could not see cutting onions within two feet of my face.
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@Chaddog - I totally forgot about Tyra and Landry - that seemed like such a natural way for that relationship to progress, and I think that each of them stayed true to their own characters. The scene where they were yelling at each other just broke my heart, but I could see how they each had arrived at their respective places and it made sense.
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@shara -- was I alone in feeling that Landry/Jesse Plemons is the television/poor man's version of (young?) Matt Damon? That scene really hammered the similarities home for some reason...
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@Chaddog: OMG that's exactly what I've been saying. I just watched the whole series so far over the last couple of weeks, and as soon as he started talking I told Mr. Shara Says that I was getting a young Matt Damon vibe off of him. Its two things - first is the way he talks - VERY similar ways of speaking and voices. Second, they have VERY similar facial structure. Glad I'm not the only one getting that.
BTW - I have a comment above that is "awaiting moderation" - does that mean that there was something objectionable about it? I hadn't seen that before. . .
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@shara: I'll check your comment. (Most common cause is an everyday word that has an obscene double meaning. URLs used to set off the filter too, but don't think that's a problem anymore.))
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@James - maybe it was when i mentioned Kim Di@kens. . .
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Coming from Austin, I'm always a little wary of storylines that Peter Berg has directly ripped off from my school. We had player in a playoff game... it was actually a WR not a QB. We also had the jumbotron saga (http://is.gd/iYL4 ... pic). I'm waiting for them to have the offensive lineman collapse with heart failure on the field (Google Matt Nader).
HOWEVER, this was a very moving episode of FNL. I've watched the first few of the season and it's been quite enjoyable. The scene where Smash tells his mom about getting into A&M made me a little bit misty... until they hugged and the "Stoic Smash" portrait above the couch (http://is.gd/iYLZ ... pic). Hilarious.
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See "All the Pretty Horses," where Landry played Matt Damon as a kid.
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I thought Jesse Plemons (the actor that plays Landry) looked a little like Matt Damon!
Everyone should go on ew.com and read Gaius Charles (Smash) blog about his last espiosde. It was interesting.
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@royfromage: seriously? Awesome!
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