Friday Night Lights Review: Changes in the Line Up

Remember that undefeated streak the East Dillon Lions were on? Well, it comes to a close in the beginning moments of this week’s episode. Things that have been percolating for weeks finally come to a boil as Luke (Matt Lauria) and Becky (Madison Burge) try to make a new start, Mindy and Billy Riggins (Derek Phillips) get some surprising news, and Tami (Connie Britton) and Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler) might have reached their breaking point working with teenagers.

Let’s get Vince’s (Michael B. Jordan) storyline for the week out of the way first, since it’s one of the most frustrating. How can someone who’s come so far not see they’re being used? After the loss at the beginning of the episode Vince and Luke are at each other’s throats, which has been a long time coming since Luke was passed over weeks ago while scouts were trying to get to Vince. Even the other coaches on staff agree Vince is losing the team. Ornette Howard (Cress Williams) continues to steer his son down the wrong path, painting everyone, including Coach Taylor, as an obstacle in his way to college and the pros. The first sign someone’s probably not such a good influence is when they paint a picture of you and them against everyone else.

The breaking point comes when Coach asks Vince to tutor Luke on the playbook  but he skips out, feeling it’s not his job to keep Luke up to speed as a potential replacement. Jess (Jurnee Smollett), who wants to win, tries her best to help out but later comes to her senses and justifiably dumps Vince. Coach Taylor benches Vince, which ultimately leads to mixed results and a foreboding confrontation. It seems like he couldn’t handle the team pulling out a win and qualifying for the playoffs without Vince guiding them. Lucky for Eric Taylor, Vince has some sense of reason left in him and held his Dad back when he came storming down from the bleachers.

Oh, Becky. You’re doing that thing again where you almost make me hate you for being a Tyra substitute. Mindy isn’t able to finish her waitressing shift at The Landing Strip, so Becky excitedly takes it and makes more money than she’s probably ever seen while being objectified by the patrons, which she doesn’t seem to mind. She’s ecstatic amidst news that Mindy’s expecting again, so is Billy, but maybe not so much Mindy. I kind of enjoy that Mindy’s really not upset about it, or excited, just kind of overwhelmed by the idea. I wonder how much of Becky’s excitement stems from knowing now she’s got a shot at being on the pole. Don’t do it Becky, stay classy for Luke.

Speaking of, Luke gets a major arc this week when he’s promoted to QB while Vince rides the bench. It’s also senior recognition week at East Dillon, and while Becky’s trying to show her affection for her newly solidified boyfriend we learn his parents aren’t approving after what happened last season, and our boy Luke isn’t too keen to stand up to them about it. He’s also not too adept at leading the team on his own, but manages to stumble his way through the first half of this week’s game. Thanks to Jess’ help and some encouragement from Coach, even with the crowd chanting “We Want Vince” he pulls out a victory. Riding his post-game high, he even invites Becky to dinner with his parents.

Julie Taylor (Aimee Teegarden) makes one of the best decisions she has in a long while and goes to spend a few days with Matt (Zach Gilford) in Chicago before heading back to college. He talks some sense into her about what she’s doing in Chicago and why she’s running away from her problems. It seems like Matt, along with everyone else in her life, has grown up and is moving forward while Julie is fighting to find anything that works for her. I enjoyed that when she’s getting ready to leave, she’s the gossip of the other girls in his building. Clearly there’s not enough Matt Saracen to go around.

In contrast, Tami’s not having such a great week even though she starts out making big leaps with Epyck. It all goes down hill during a fight with another teacher, where Epyck manages to hit Tami pretty hard, causing her to be transferred out of school. Was an argument over twenty bucks really worth all that? This, coupled with the Vince drama, leads Tami to ask Coach about how seriously he’s considering the offer in Florida. Maybe it is time for a change.

Personally, I’m hoping the Taylor’s don’t take the college gig. Working with adolescents is hard, unforgiving, thankless work most of the time and true, there’s nothing a new city can’t cure. But, when I’ve watched both of them give up so much already for the kids of East and West Dillon, I can’t imagine the town without them.

Becky, I’m going to need you to get it together. There are only four episodes left and I don’t want to go out of the series hating you. Stick with this boy and his old fashioned values. You’re flirtation with exotic dance is not the way to go.

Jess has been terribly underutilized in the last few weeks, going the way of Buddy Jr. and Hastings into the background of the teen crowd. With a cast this huge and only 13 hours to tell a story it’s bound to happen, but she’s got to be one of, if not the most, interesting characters with the biggest potential. I want to spend some more time learning about her working for a future. Her work with Luke this week showed her commitment to the team, and why she’s exactly the anti-rally girl, despite having been the captain’s girlfriend up until this point.

Season 5, Episode 9 “Gut Check” (Original Airdate June 17, 2011)

Friday Night Lights airs Fridays at 8/7c on NBC.

Images courtesy of Bill Records and NBC.