Friday Night Lights: Trying to Put Out the Fire

Oh dear, America.

We know we’re in for trouble within the first few seconds, as Principal Taylor learns she must follow the school district’s mandate and report the child abuse she and Coach Taylor witnessed last week, courtesy of Joe McCoy. Coach is obligated as well, so there’s definitely no way out. Reluctantly, PT makes the call to Child Protective Services.

But first! Incidental storylines, and season finale set-ups. Billy Riggins buys a shed he’s going to convert into the auto mechanica wonder-dome, Riggins’ Rigs. Lyla grows tired of living in filth and squalor with Tim and Billy, so when Buddy Garrity makes a heartfelt plea for Lyla to return home, she gives in without blinking. Who wants to live in a house where Billy Riggins can burst into the bathroom on you at a moment’s notice? And in a banana hammock? Buddy thinks her eagerness to leave Tim means the two are on the verge of a break-up, but the two most beautiful people ever can’t split up. I think the universe would implode. Instead, Lyla informs her father that she’ll be joining Tim at San Antonio State. Hey, it’s a good thing Buddy gambled away her college fund after all, because now she’ll be with Tim forever!

Over in the sad world of Matt Saracen, Mama Taylor pumps him full of big dreams by complimenting his portfolio (that is not a euphemism) and encouraging him to apply to art school in Chicago. Julie is less thrilled, but supportive. I was a Julie-hater from episode one this season, but she loves Matty, so that’s my girl now. But reality crashes in on Matt when Grandma Saracen overhears all this Chicago talk and immediately puts an end to it. It’s too far away and under no circumstances will Shelby (this week on double duty) be taking care of Grandma. Matt immediately gives in, because grandmother guilt is the worst. Later, Grandma and Julie share a moment, both admitting that they don’t want to hold Matt back, but both obviously not wanting to let him go.

Meanwhile, Tyra tries to write her college essay, and scholar-athlete Landry breaks it down for her that it sucks. But she must finish it this weekend, which means she’s going to miss Landry’s big game. Why is it Landry’s big game? Because our boy just made special teams! No more bench-warming! The night before the team leaves for State, Tim throws a party with more alcohol than I think I saw during my entire time in high school, and Landry misses the bus because he’s passed out in the living room. How on earth his team let him lay there, I don’t know, and I refuse to believe that’s possible. But then the writers’ quick fix makes sense as he rushes over to Tyra’s house to bum a ride to the game; he’s not sober enough to drive right now. She agrees after he promises to help her write, and along the way, he points out that her essay sucks because life, despite the gratuitous product placements, does not always relate to Applebees. She needs to dig deeper. Tyra eventually reveals that she started pulling her life together when Jason Street became paralyzed (you’ll haunt me forever, won’t you, Jason Street??), and people started to believe in her. And, of course, she met Landry. They continue to bond and rekindle a little something special between them as they drive, culminating in a kiss at the end of the night, with Landry safe in the team’s hotel, and Tyra’s essay complete (and amazingly well-written). I reserve judgment on their return to couple-hood.

But on to the real drama now. We pick up where PT left off: CPS show up at the McCoys’ home, and guess how Papa McC takes it? Well, he doesn’t hit the CPS agent, if that’s what you’re thinking – he only hits kids. Mama and Papa McCoy try to remain calm, while JD starts to freak out, on the verge of tears. He confronts Coach after school, and Coach explains the law, but JD doesn’t want to hear it. As the bus prepares to leave for Austin, Coach approaches Joe McCoy about helping JD through this obviously rough period. As you can imagine, Joe McCoy tells Coach to suck it, and Mama McCoy tells off Tami in the hotel lobby. JD spends the pre-game giving Coach attitude, which unfortunately for the Panthers, follows him onto the field.

And now: the big game! The Panthers defense sleeps through the first half, not helped by the oft-intercepted and sack-magnet, JD McCoy. Like father, like son as JD loses his temper, snapping at Coach and his teammates. At halftime, with the Panthers down 27-0, Coach changes things up. New defensive maneuvers, and Coach benches JD, calling Saracen back into the role of QB.

Well, you know that makes me happy. Landry gets his requisite big play, and Saracen runs the score up and puts the Panthers back into the game and up by one point. It comes down to a final possession by the opposition, who find their way into field goal range. With seconds left, they take the kick.

Who thought the Panthers were going to win? Dry your eyes, fans.

That’s right, America: The kick is good and the Panthers lose.

But that’s okay, because Coach is proud of his team anyway. “In awe,” really. He delivers a heartfelt pep talk to ease the pain of the loss. Doesn’t look like it worked, though.

As for the JD/CPS development, my only real problem is that supposedly there were other witnesses to Joe McCoy’s striking of his son, so the news should be all over school, right? Riggins, who tried to take JD under his wing, has no words for him? This seems a little weird. I refuse to believe no one’s gossiping about this.

On a lighter note, this is also the last game that Matt and Tim will be playing as high school students. The significance is not lost on Tim, who we glimpse throughout the days leading up to the game: at the pep rally, at his party, on the bus as the coaches do a little call-and-answer, doing interviews and playing frisbee with Matt the night before the game. He closes the episode for us as he stands on the field alone, takes it in one last time, and leaves his shoes on the football field. Okay, so maybe that last bit was a little too much. Tim’s mantra all season has been “let’s make some memories.” Very quietly, the writers allowed Tim to do that, and let him enjoy his moments. When FNL is subtle, it is a fine, fine show.

Next week: The Season Finale and trouble for Coach!

Season 3, Episode 12: Underdogs (originally aired January 7, 2009 on DIRECTV)

Listen to The J Factor with J.B. and Jaimie here or on iTunes.

For more on Friday Night Lights, click here.

Fridays, 9/8C on NBC

Photographs courtesy of Bill Records and NBC Universal