Friday Night Lights 10/5/2007 (S02E01) "Last Days of Summer"

[dswallow]

I'm not feeling the love. Everyone's in a bad place. Interesting way to start the season.

[mwhip]

I know what you did last FNL summer?

What the hell was that? Please, please, please writers do not let this be that really bad Fonzy moment everyone dreads.

[lodica1967]

Ok,

So I am only 5 minutes in but I loved the "WWRD" line. I am feeling the FNL love. Sounds like it won't end well though.

See you when it ends.

[Zevida]

I actually FF'd the scene on the bridge. I am not at all liking how that turned out. It is like a bad L&O episode. In real life, 99.999999% of the time, you would call the police right then and there. After all, even a mediocre TV detective has enough evidence to narrow down Tyra and Landry after a half hour of work.

Otherwise, I thought the episode was very good. Interesting dynamics all around. I just rewatched the season finale and comparing the very upbeat ending of that one to the pretty down tone of this episode.

I did like Saracen's comment about Riggins being captain of the SS Ta-tas.

[Cainebj]

I must admit that Friday Night Lights was one of those shows that when it originally aired I just could not get into and I deleted my season pass.

Cut to earlier this spring and I got caught up into a marathon showing one weekend and got completely hooked.

Only problem is some of the storylines now completely escape me - so can someone explain anything about who Tyra's stalker was? - because I was confused.

[dswallow]

Only problem is some of the storylines now completely escape me - so can someone explain anything about who Tyra's stalker was? - because I was confused.
Last season she was assaulted in the parking lot of a diner after waiting for Landry, whose car had died.

[TIVO_GUY_HERE]

I know what you did last FNL summer?

What the hell was that? Please, please, please writers do not let this be that really bad Fonzy moment everyone dreads.

I thought the same thing....

Wow...

A move to friday night was bad enough, but now with this storyline? If this was my very first time watching this show, I think it would of been my last. Not a great episode to hook new viewers.

[Neenahboy]

So are we to believe that Coach hasn't been back to Dillon in nine MONTHS?

They need to resolve the killing twist quickly and they need to do it in a way that doesn't make us hate Landry and Tyra. This could be the death knell for the show if they don't play this right, and that would really suck. :(

Loved the WWRD bit, though. :D

[analog4]

I like this show - I wish more people would watch it.

[DancnDude]

I love this show, but this episode was a stinker. I hate, hate, hate the dead body storyline. This is one of the first completely unrealistic turns for the show. Landry has been established as having a good head on his shoulders and I doubt he would ever act this way. And they certainly would have just called 911 and it would have been over. I'm disappointed that the writers went this way :(

I too was confused on the timeline. Coach was gone for 9 months (?!) while his wife was pregnant, but didn't they say her water broke 3 months early? And if she was 3 months early, wouldn't the baby be a premie and need to stay in the hospital for awhile?

[dswallow]

I too was confused on the timeline. Coach was gone for 9 months (?!) while his wife was pregnant, but didn't they say her water broke 3 months early? And if she was 3 months early, wouldn't the baby be a premie and need to stay in the hospital for awhile?
3 weeks early.

[fmowry]

That kid looked like an alien. And the Landry story line stunk. Not really diggin the coaches kid going after some older band dude either. Like he'd be a lifeguard on the side.

Frank

[DancnDude]

3 weeks early.
OK That makes more sense.

I also felt like there was a lot of annoying shaky-cam in this episode. I think this is the first time I've seen this show in HD and it's kinda grainy, but I guess that's just the film style. I'd like to see it crisper though.

[boywaja]

And they certainly would have just called 911 and it would have been over.

I don't agree. Landy hit the other guy while he was walking away and then hit him again when he was down. You don't need CSI to figure out that isn't self defense.

[bareyb]

I knew that girl was trouble! :p
I'm a little shocked too at how everything has changed so much over the summer. What's going on here? Still... It's a good show and I'll keep watching to see how it all comes out. I too hope they drop the dead body stuff quickly, this show is too good to have to go that route. I imagine this may have been a misguided attempt at hooking new viewers.

[Graymalkin]

I haven't watched the episode yet, but...

The Star-Ledger's TV critic was absolutely horrified with the Landry-Tyra storyline and called the producer to ask him if the network had forced the story on him. The producer insisted that the writers had been contemplating this story since season 1 -- no network suits made them do it -- and asked the critic to give it a couple of episodes to develop.

The critic then talked about what he saw in eps 2 and 3, but I won't go into that, since that would be a spoiler.

[spikedavis]

I don't agree. Landy hit the other guy while he was walking away and then hit him again when he was down. You don't need CSI to figure out that isn't self defense.

All they had to say was that he was attacking Tyra and Landry came up from behind and hit the guy. Case closed.

[thudtrain]

Um, wasn't Riggins a senior last year? I thought it was established that Riggins, Street, Leila and Tara were all seniors. Now he's (I guess the others too, although they haven't actually shown them in school yet) back on the football team. Were we not supposed to notice?

And now suddenly Landry is on the football team, is bff with Tara, and suddenly kills someone and dumps the body??? The hell? What happened to my TV show.

On the other hand, Leila becoming a bible thumper is pretty hilarious. So was Riggins' meeting with her in the parking lot.

So how long until the new coach is fired, and Eric is back coaching the team. 2 more weeks? I could see him attempting to make it work this entire season, and coming back to coach them next year I guess

[dswallow]

And now suddenly Landry is on the football team,
Landry's just trying out for the team.

[DVDerek]

I like this show - I wish more people would watch it.

Good luck with that. I watched the entire first season in about a week. This episode was laughably bad on oh so many levels. They spent the entire episode tearing down the characters they built up last season.

I'm going to watch a one or two more episodes, but right now I'm wishing this show just got canceled. It's way early, but Friday Night Lights season 2 is shaping up like Rocky V or Godfather III.

I missed the press release announcing the fact that they hired the writers from the O.C. :rolleyes:

[DVDerek]

Landry's just trying out for the team.

He was in uniform at the ring ceremony.

[jsmeeker]

Landry/Tyra storyline is killing me. they already did the Tyra gets assaulted, Landry saves the day thing last season. why do it again??


I can't recall if Rigging was a senior or not. Street is a coach. That was setup last year. Lyla isn't shown to be in school. She is not a cheerleader. So, those two are clear. No messup there.


Apart from the stupid Tyra/Landry deal, it was OK. To me, the show is about Coach Taylor and his family. That part worked for me.

[cmontyburns]

Landry/Tyra storyline is killing me. they already did the Tyra gets assaulted, Landry saves the day thing last season. why do it again??

I think because they want to make them a couple, and something traumatic like this would be the galvanizing event that pushes the two of them into it. Like most people, I'm not crazy about that development (the murder, not the relationship), but the show has hardly shied away from melodrama so far in its run. This is just melodrama of the more common variety. I'm content to let it play out.

[jsmeeker]

I think there a lot of other ways for them to get together other than dumping a body off of a bridge and into a creek.

Heck, him killing the dude right there in the parking lot, then calling 911 would have been enough. Maybe he is in jail for a bit, Tyra supports him, DA drops the charges, and they are together.

[The Flush]

I liked it although I am wondering if the cashier at the convenience store is deaf.

Do we know for sure that they dumped the body off the bridge? They sure want us to believe that they did, but they did not actually show it did they?

[DVDerek]

I liked it although I am wondering if the cashier at the convenience store is deaf.

Do we know for sure that they dumped the body off the bridge? They sure want us to believe that they did, but they did not actually show it did they?

No, and that was my hope too. But assuming the ring ceremony came after the murder I would look at that as a cheap way out. I'd take it because that plot line is so horrible, but it'd be cheap.

Even if the clerk is deaf, eventually someone is going to report this guys car in the lot and the clerk will be able to point to Landry as someone who was in the store around the time the car was left. The owner of the car will also match the description Tyra gave to the police. If that "investigation" goes on much longer than 10 minutes, then I need to rob a bank in Dillon. CSI isn't needed.

There were a number of problems with the episode outside that woeful plot line.
1. Last we saw Matt & Julie they were professing their love for one another. Now they're on the outs and we're not given any real reason why this is so. There was no foreshadowing - it just happened. An enormous hand waive over the summer.

2. Are there any viewers out there that DON'T want Coach Taylor back in Dillon? We're all just waiting for this guy to get fired and for Buddy to bring Coach T back. We were given no real introduction to the new guy in episode one, so no one is expecting him to last long. How long are they going to drag this out?

3. Haven't we done the Jason as a mascot vs Jason as a coach thing already? We're going to do it again? Awesome.

4. So Coach Taylor leaves and once again Mac McGill - the Offensive Coordinator - gets passed over for the head coaching job? And he stays? There are no schools in Texas willing to give him a shot?

5. What's with the previews? (Preview content spoilerized for those that dont watch)
"Will Julie chose the Quarterback or the Swede?" <cut to scene of Julie making out with Swede. Gee. I wonder.

One of the things people always told me about FNL was that it was "smart" and not cliche in the way that most shows involving High School kids are. This episode was far from smart, and it was cliche and unoriginal.

[jsmeeker]

high school kids can be fickle when it comes to who they like. Hell, adults are that way, too. Besides, Julie is pissed at her Dad for not being around. That's always a good way to mess up a girl. Have her be pissed at Daddy.

[Graymalkin]

Finally got around to watching this episode.

I'm not feeling the love much, either, except for Tami and Eric. Two superb actors at the top of their game.

[Zzot]

Even if the clerk is deaf, eventually someone is going to report this guys car in the lot and the clerk will be able to point to Landry as someone who was in the store around the time the car was left. The owner of the car will also match the description Tyra gave to the police. If that "investigation" goes on much longer than 10 minutes, then I need to rob a bank in Dillon. CSI isn't needed.
I kept telling my wife that this is not CSI: Dillon, so they will get away with it.

1. Last we saw Matt & Julie they were professing their love for one another. Now they're on the outs and we're not given any real reason why this is so. There was no foreshadowing - it just happened. An enormous hand waive over the summer.
But, they did... by making Coach's fault. She is rebelling against her father. She said that she sees herself and Matt growing up to be like her Dad and Mom, which she obviously does not like right now.

3. Haven't we done the Jason as a mascot vs Jason as a coach thing already? We're going to do it again? Awesome.
First, this is going to happen through out his life.
Second, it was only the new coach who said this. Jason should have told the new coach what he believes would motivate Riggins.

4. So Coach Taylor leaves and once again Mac McGill - the Offensive Coordinator - gets passed over for the head coaching job? And he stays? There are no schools in Texas willing to give him a shot?
He did have that whole racial issue last season.

[kyote]

I don't agree. Landy hit the other guy while he was walking away and then hit him again when he was down. You don't need CSI to figure out that isn't self defense.

I agree. When I saw it I paused it and said to my wife, "that's murder. his life was no longer in danger and he hit him not once but twice." under the law he'd be convicted in a heart beat. once the guy turns away and is fleeing/leaving the scene then your life is considered not in danger anymore and it's not self defense to start whacking on him.

[kyote]

All they had to say was that he was attacking Tyra and Landry came up from behind and hit the guy. Case closed.

good point. i didn't think of that. but i did think of a few good ways to dispose of the body that would have been better then dumping him in the river. based upon my keen viewing of CSIs and L&O's. :)

[kyote]

Um, wasn't Riggins a senior last year? I thought it was established that Riggins, Street, Leila and Tara were all seniors. Now he's (I guess the others too, although they haven't actually shown them in school yet) back on the football team. Were we not supposed to notice?

And now suddenly Landry is on the football team, is bff with Tara, and suddenly kills someone and dumps the body??? The hell? What happened to my TV show.

On the other hand, Leila becoming a bible thumper is pretty hilarious. So was Riggins' meeting with her in the parking lot.

So how long until the new coach is fired, and Eric is back coaching the team. 2 more weeks? I could see him attempting to make it work this entire season, and coming back to coach them next year I guess

I was wondering that, too. I thought the main characters were all seniors. Is this like SBTB's mysterious 2nd senior year????

[TAsunder]

I didn't mind the tyra storyline that much, simply because it was a big unanswered unresolved plotline. At least they are putting it towards some resolution.

It wasn't self defense as we saw it but surely they could have called the cops and lied, saying that the guy was in the process of attacking tyra when landry hit him. It would have been smarter than what they did.

I loved it when riggins chugged his beer while talking to lyla.

[DVDerek]

I was wondering that, too. I thought the main characters were all seniors. Is this like SBTB's mysterious 2nd senior year????

1. Smash specifically says, "And the best part? I'm only a Junior" to the college recruiter guy in season 1.

2. We know Julie was a Sophomore, and for some reason I think that's the case with Matt too (and by extension, Landry). Matt was of driving age last year (we saw him drive in a couple of episodes) so I guess he was either an old Sophomore or a junior.

3. I don't think we were even given any clues about Riggins, really. Even if he was a senior, isn't it possible he didn't graduate? The only thing I can think of is that during season 1 after a big game, Billy arranges a dinner with coach and asks if Tim should start thinking about playing college football and if they should start looking at schools. That process usually does begin in your Junior year.

[dswallow]

Ausiello on Friday Night Lights

http://www.tvguide.com/Ask-Ausiello/friday-night-lights/070808-06

Question: Please clear something up for me: Who will be a senior this season on Friday Night Lights?— Dave

Ausiello: Just Smash. And I know what you're thinking, 'cause I thought it, too: Does Smash's inevitable recruitment by a major college mean Gaius Charles will be written out should FNL be lucky enough to see a third season? Maybe. Maybe not. While exec producer Jason Katims didn't rule out that possibility when I spoke to him at press tour, Charles was thinking positive thoughts: "If they can make Coach Taylor work as a character outside of [Dillon], I don't see any reason why they can't make my character work that way," he said. "I trust the writers."

[MacThor]

Seems pretty unlikely that Tim Riggins was a sophomore last year. Constantly drunk, sleeping with a single mom, Tyra, Lyla, and best friends with a senior (6) since they were little kids? He was also an established player on the team......not realistic as a frosh.

Perhaps he flunked.

[Bierboy]

The review on this season opener in the Chicago Tribune indicated the rough start (alluded to by several posters in this thread). It went on to say that the season gets better as it regains its footing following plot thread changes (I believe the reviewer saw several eps of the new season).

EDIT: The review can be found here. (http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/lifestyle/chi-1005watcheroct05,0,6521700.story)

[uncdrew]

I love this show, but this episode was a stinker. I hate, hate, hate the dead body storyline. This is one of the first completely unrealistic turns for the show. Landry has been established as having a good head on his shoulders and I doubt he would ever act this way. And they certainly would have just called 911 and it would have been over. I'm disappointed that the writers went this way

+1

Call 911. Explain stalker. Explain self-defense.

Uh duh.



This is almost as bad as Michael Scott driving a car into a lake in broad daylight. :p

[DVDerek]

Ausiello on Friday Night Lights

http://www.tvguide.com/Ask-Ausiello/friday-night-lights/070808-06

Question: Please clear something up for me: Who will be a senior this season on Friday Night Lights?— Dave

Ausiello: Just Smash. And I know what you're thinking, 'cause I thought it, too: Does Smash's inevitable recruitment by a major college mean Gaius Charles will be written out should FNL be lucky enough to see a third season? Maybe. Maybe not. While exec producer Jason Katims didn't rule out that possibility when I spoke to him at press tour, Charles was thinking positive thoughts: "If they can make Coach Taylor work as a character outside of [Dillon], I don't see any reason why they can't make my character work that way," he said. "I trust the writers."

I was thinking that maybe if Coach Taylor manages to stay the entire season at TMU, he could recruit Smash and we might see him that way.

But right now I don't have much interest in that. As has been said by many, the show is primarily about The Coach and his wife and secondarily about their interactions with the kids (with the other plotlines always taking a backseat to this). Coach T not in Dillon limits his interactions with both his wife and the other kids. This cant last.

[edc]

2. Are there any viewers out there that DON'T want Coach Taylor back in Dillon? We're all just waiting for this guy to get fired and for Buddy to bring Coach T back. We were given no real introduction to the new guy in episode one, so no one is expecting him to last long. How long are they going to drag this out?


Perhaps they shouldn't have used up all the source material in one season. ;)

Through one episode of season 2, the manipulation going on is just ridiculous.

As to Coach Taylor, no, I don't want him back in Dillon. It would completely blow the "reality" of the situation. A college assistant does *not* quit while on the verge of a new season. Doing so would ruin his chances of EVER moving up the ranks again. Remember, college coaching has been his lifelong dream. Further, although they haven't shown it, the coach is the kind of man who would be just as devoted to his college players as he was to the bunch in Dillon.

[dvdapex]

Regarding the pipe to the back of the head...
The guy attacked Tyra, attacked the albino guy AND said he'd come back for her while going to his car. I would take that to mean that he was going to get something from his car to come back and hurt her/them right there.

Easy self defense as I'm pretty sure anyone would believe that both Tyra and See-Through would have thought their lives were in danger.

[DVDerek]

Perhaps they shouldn't have used up all the source material in one season. ;)

There was plenty there for another season with Coach Taylor at Dillon. Players and coaches alike getting swelled heads, resting on their Laurels. The evolution of Matt and Julie. Coach T being secretly upset at his wife for being the reason he stayed... etc.

As to Coach Taylor, no, I don't want him back in Dillon. It would completely blow the "reality" of the situation. A college assistant does *not* quit while on the verge of a new season. Doing so would ruin his chances of EVER moving up the ranks again. Remember, college coaching has been his lifelong dream. Further, although they haven't shown it, the coach is the kind of man who would be just as devoted to his college players as he was to the bunch in Dillon.

While it doesn't make sense for him to quit and come back, I think the show will suffer with him off in Austin. We'll see... maybe.

[modnar]

I thought this was a great episode, but I really wish they hadn't taken that turn with Landry.

[jeffo13]

I am assuming they put the body into the tank of sharks that they just jumped over.

Jeff

[kyote]

I am assuming they put the body into the tank of sharks that they just jumped over.

Jeff

I am afraid your mistaken, because in order to do that, they would have to first entertain us with a soliloquy about their motives, back story, and their devious scheme to conquer the world.

[DVDerek]

I am assuming they put the body into the tank of sharks that they just jumped over.

Jeff

ROTFL.... hahahahahahaha

[DevdogAZ]

I think the only character that doesn't make sense as to their place in school is Riggins. Saracen, Landry and Julie were all sophomores in S1. Smash was a junior in S1. Street, Lyla and Tyra were all seniors. We all assumed Riggins was a senior too, due to his close friendship with Street since they were kids, his dating Tyra, who as far as we know was a senior, and because of his leadership position on the team. Even if he didn't graduate, I don't think he'd be eligible to play another season. It will be interesting to see if the writers suddenly try to tell us that all these people were juniors in S1.

As for the horrible ending of this episode, I'm willing to give it another episode or two. I think the writers earned at least that much during S1. Hopefully they don't go through with dumping the body and some other explanation is reached, but I'm willing to find out how they have it scripted.

What I think is worse is the idea that Coach Taylor is going to be away from Dillon for any extended period of time. I don't see how the show will work with him as an absentee character, and he can't be coming home all the time during football season. Something there is going to have to give, and as edc points out, it would be pretty unrealistic of him to quit his dream job (or this significant step to his dream job) simply to let his daughter stay in school in some small town. I think with what we saw in this episode, the most realistic solution is for Eric to insist that Tami and Julie move to Austin, at which point the show is over.

[jsmeeker]

I don't think they would do something as dumb as making Jason Street a Dillon High student again. Same with Lyla. They were both clearly seniors in the first season.

[TAsunder]

Jason missed basically his entire senior year though, didn't he?

[jsmeeker]

Jason missed basically his entire senior year though, didn't he?


Well, he missed all of football season. Which is really only half of a school year if you go all the way to state finals And it wasn't clear if he ever really finished school and graduated.


But he's a coach now, so I assume he did.

[jeffo13]

I think the only character that doesn't make sense as to their place in school is Riggins. Saracen, Landry and Julie were all sophomores in S1. Smash was a junior in S1. Street, Lyla and Tyra were all seniors. We all assumed Riggins was a senior too, due to his close friendship with Street since they were kids, his dating Tyra, who as far as we know was a senior, and because of his leadership position on the team. Even if he didn't graduate, I don't think he'd be eligible to play another season. It will be interesting to see if the writers suddenly try to tell us that all these people were juniors in S1.

As for the horrible ending of this episode, I'm willing to give it another episode or two. I think the writers earned at least that much during S1. Hopefully they don't go through with dumping the body and some other explanation is reached, but I'm willing to find out how they have it scripted.

What I think is worse is the idea that Coach Taylor is going to be away from Dillon for any extended period of time. I don't see how the show will work with him as an absentee character, and he can't be coming home all the time during football season. Something there is going to have to give, and as edc points out, it would be pretty unrealistic of him to quit his dream job (or this significant step to his dream job) simply to let his daughter stay in school in some small town. I think with what we saw in this episode, the most realistic solution is for Eric to insist that Tami and Julie move to Austin, at which point the show is over.


I agree, when Coach and Julie were sitting in the car all that I could think is that if Julie is now having such a hard time, MOVE TO AUSTIN!!! Problem solved, shows over folks. Nothing to see here, don't mind the dead body and giant baby. Move along.

As you may be able to tell I am a little bummed with the first episode. I am sure I will watch it, but I don't think I can recommend it too people like I was last season. To all of those I told to watch last year, I am sorry. Please watch the first season, you will see that I was not lying and it really was a good show. Maybe they can pull out this season if Tyra gets Hero powers and can bring the guy back to life or maybe the guy is not really dead but on an island. :rolleyes:

Jeff

[kyote]

I agree, when Coach and Julie were sitting in the car all that I could think is that if Julie is now having such a hard time, MOVE TO AUSTIN!!! Problem solved, shows over folks. Nothing to see here, don't mind the dead body and giant baby. Move along.

As you may be able to tell I am a little bummed with the first episode. I am sure I will watch it, but I don't think I can recommend it too people like I was last season. To all of those I told to watch last year, I am sorry. Please watch the first season, you will see that I was not lying and it really was a good show. Maybe they can pull out this season if Tyra gets Hero powers and can bring the guy back to life or maybe the guy is not really dead but on an island. :rolleyes:

Jeff

Maybe Tyra could become a cheer leader and then find she has latent super powers that give her incredible healing abilities?

[jryken99]

Did anybody watch this episode online ahead of time? If I'm not mistaken the ending with Landry was quite a bit different (hopefully I'm not making this up).

In the preview version, Landry ran to help Tyra and the stalker punched/pushed him down. Landry immediately grabbed a bottle and hit him over the head and killed him. I even noticed the bottle hit in some of the commercials leading up to the real season premiere.

It was a much cleaner version of self defense in the original version. I'm wondering why they changed it.

[uncdrew]

Well, he missed all of football season. Which is really only half of a school year if you go all the way to state finals And it wasn't clear if he ever really finished school and graduated.


But he's a coach now, so I assume he did.


I vaguely remember him taking the GED and finishing high school so he could join that wheelchair basketball traveling group.

Or something like that.




So I hope we learn more about the two hot, now over 18 year old chicks. Seems like one is a bible thumper and one is laying out by the pool a lot. Is either working or in college?

[jsmeeker]

I vaguely remember him taking the GED and finishing high school so he could join that wheelchair basketball traveling group.

Or something like that.




So I hope we learn more about the two hot, now over 18 year old chicks. Seems like one is a bible thumper and one is laying out by the pool a lot. Is either working or in college?


We joined up with the kids at the tail end of summer and then went to what appears to be the first game of the season.

Not sure if either hottie is working. Maybe Tyra still has her job wiating tables at Applebee's. My guess is that Lyla's work is going to be for her church.

[MasterOfPuppets]

Tyra...looking hot.
Was there a game at the end of the episode, or was it just a ring ceremony?
If it was a game, why was Dillon with some players in home jerseys, some in away jerseys?
The episode was alright...it was a bit too much doom and gloom, but we don't know how the whole murder thing will play out. Even in self defense, you can't kill someone unless it is a clear matter of life and death for you as well.
Must have been a hell of a whack from Landry. He should be going out for baseball, not football.

[jsmeeker]

Tyra...looking hot.
Was there a game at the end of the episode, or was it just a ring ceremony?
If it was a game, why was Dillon with some players in home jerseys, some in away jerseys?



I dunno. Good question. Maybe the away jersey guys were seniors from last year, and therfore no longer on the team?

I guess I didn't pay close enough attention to who was wearing what. I just saw people in uniform at the the stadium with people in the stands and assumed it was a game.

[MasterOfPuppets]

I dunno. Good question. Maybe the away jersey guys were seniors from last year, and therfore no longer on the team?

I guess I didn't pay close enough attention to who was wearing what. I just saw people in uniform at the the stadium with people in the stands and assumed it was a game.
I like to nitpick about the show's football scenes. :p

[jsmeeker]

I like to nitpick about the show's football scenes. :p


why? The show really isn't about football.

:)

[MasterOfPuppets]

why? The show really isn't about football.

:)
Yeah, I mentioned it last year...but still, the football scenes need to make sense.
Otherwise it takes away from the show for dorks like me, because we spend the next couple minutes wondering what the hell just happened. :up:

[DancnDude]

I was thinking it was some kind of ring ceremony. If not, I think it's strange that Landry was there and they didn't really mention that he made the time unless I missed it. He was only trying out.

[jsmeeker]

if it was a ring ceremony, why would he be there? Should it not be just players from the previous season?

Also, didn't they HAVE rings during the parade at the close of last season? Could have sworn I saw some of the players showing them off..

[DancnDude]

if it was a ring ceremony, why would he be there? Should it not be just players from the previous season?

Also, didn't they HAVE rings during the parade at the close of last season? Could have sworn I saw some of the players showing them off..
I was just thinking some sort of pep rally where all the players and people trying out would go. They just happened to also hand out rings there. It is strange that I do also remember them getting their rings last season too though......

[The Flush]

I was just thinking some sort of pep rally where all the players and people trying out would go. They just happened to also hand out rings there. It is strange that I do also remember them getting their rings last season too though......

This is my assumption as well.

[uncdrew]

Yeah, I mentioned it last year...but still, the football scenes need to make sense.
Otherwise it takes away from the show for dorks like me, because we spend the next couple minutes wondering what the hell just happened. :up:


I'm with ya. The football is very important to this show. Football makes this community and ties the characters together -- it's gotta be solid or the show falls apart.

IMHO, of course. :o

[uncdrew]

I was just thinking some sort of pep rally where all the players and people trying out would go. They just happened to also hand out rings there. It is strange that I do also remember them getting their rings last season too though......


Yeah, weird.

In pros they often have a ring ceremony at a game the following year. I think that in some cases the players already had the rings but they hand them back for the ring ceremony.

But it usually proceeds a game.

In football-happy Dillon they'd fill the stands just to pass rings around. Other places, you'd need a game immediately following to get people to show up.

[thebigmo]

Tyra...looking hot.
Was there a game at the end of the episode, or was it just a ring ceremony?
If it was a game, why was Dillon with some players in home jerseys, some in away jerseys?


I was thinking it was possibly an intrasquad game?

[quango]

That would make the players wearing both "home" and "away" jerseys make sense; they'd certainly get a decent crowd out there for a preseason scrimmage.

[TAsunder]

Do we know what position landry is trying out for? I'm thinking kicker or wide receiver.

[DVDerek]

He's number 85, so I would guess WR.

[TAsunder]

Wow, nice catch on seeing the number.

[fmowry]

He's number 85, so I would guess WR.

He's white. Tight End. :)

Frank

[DevdogAZ]

Wow, nice catch on seeing the number.
You didn't see the number? That was the only way we could tell it was him getting his butt kicked during drills.

[MasterOfPuppets]

I was thinking it was possibly an intrasquad game?
That would make sense.
Perhaps they should, ya know, put it in the script someplace. :p

If Smash is the only senior on the team (of the main characters), well, let's just say that's quite the stretch for Riggins. Even if he was held back in elementary school, I assume there's some kind of age restriction eventually.
And...congrats to him on hooking up with the hot MILF as a s'more. Among several other things.

[DevdogAZ]

That would make sense.
Perhaps they should, ya know, put it in the script someplace. :p

If Smash is the only senior on the team (of the main characters), well, let's just say that's quite the stretch for Riggins. Even if he was held back in elementary school, I assume there's some kind of age restriction eventually.
And...congrats to him on hooking up with the hot MILF as a s'more. Among several other things.
Like openly buying and drinking beer.

[TAsunder]

You didn't see the number? That was the only way we could tell it was him getting his butt kicked during drills.

I must admit I was a bit confused as to whom was getting hit by whom. That's what happens when I watch the show with 3 girls who may or may not blab during the football scenes.




OK, they don't, but I can say they did and no one would be the wiser*.


* - Except TCF

[DLiquid]

I thought this was a great episode, but I really wish they hadn't taken that turn with Landry.+1

[uncdrew]

He's white. Tight End. :)

Frank


That was my "not sure how I came to that" assumption while watching. I thought he'd be a tight end.

[DVDerek]

Like openly buying and drinking beer.

In a season 1 episode, they make it pretty clear that the clerks tend to favor football players. Jason tried to buy a 12 pack and he is carded. He says, "If I was still on the team this wouldn't be a problem..." Riggins walks in and buys 3 12 packs without issue.

[kyote]

In a season 1 episode, they make it pretty clear that the clerks tend to favor football players. Jason tried to buy a 12 pack and he is carded. He says, "If I was still on the team this wouldn't be a problem..." Riggins walks in and buys 3 12 packs without issue.

In the book, it talks about how kids drinking alcohol wasn't an issue in the town. most of the parents approved and felt that it helped keep up the image of a manly tough town.

[TonyD79]

I was thinking it was possibly an intrasquad game?

We have a winner!

They showed the sign of the Blue-White game at least twice. That would be an intrasquad practice game.

But, gee, a lot of you are hard on the opening of a new story line or two without seeing how it plays out. Before we assume how good or bad the story is, let's see how they handle it. Last year, they handled some awfully cliched story lines in ways better than would be expected from the base line (race, steroids, etc.).

[edc]

There was plenty there for another season with Coach Taylor at Dillon. Players and coaches alike getting swelled heads, resting on their Laurels. The evolution of Matt and Julie. Coach T being secretly upset at his wife for being the reason he stayed... etc

I agree with you. However, the first season of the show is more or less a variation on the book (and the movie). Given the gift of a second season, the writers no longer have that comfort zone, and the result (at least through one episode) definitely has a sense of "artifice" that wasn't there before, most notably the end of the episode.

[Mabes]

The episode was alright...it was a bit too much doom and gloom, but we don't know how the whole murder thing will play out. Even in self defense, you can't kill someone unless it is a clear matter of life and death for you as well.
Must have been a hell of a whack from Landry. He should be going out for baseball, not football.

That's why I don't have a huge problem with the storyline. Landry knows it wasn't self defense, he's probably guilty about it and not thinking straight. He probably doesn't know exactly what constitutes self defense and what doesn't (if they went with the story that he hit the man while he was attacking Tyra). He wonders if you are allowed to kill someone because he has his hands on a woman. If he and Tyra make up a story, they have to keep all the details straight. He's also being influenced by Tyra who wants to dump the body.

Teenagers who have just killed someone don't always think rationally.

Who's with me?

[Graymalkin]

I'm with you, Mabes. Sounds as reasonable an explanation as any.

Besides, anything that gets Tyra more screen time is OK in my book. :D

BTW, she looked really good with the short hair in her public service announcement about teen drivers.

[uncdrew]

I'm with you, Mabes. Sounds as reasonable an explanation as any.

Besides, anything that gets Tyra more screen time is OK in my book. :D

BTW, she looked really good with the short hair in her public service announcement about teen drivers.


I do agree. It's plausible, even quite likely.

The actions afterwards, that is...

A highschool kid murdering a stalker in Texas -- less likely. :p

[ced6]

That's why I don't have a huge problem with the storyline. Landry knows it wasn't self defense, he's probably guilty about it and not thinking straight. He probably doesn't know exactly what constitutes self defense and what doesn't (if they went with the story that he hit the man while he was attacking Tyra). He wonders if you are allowed to kill someone because he has his hands on a woman. If he and Tyra make up a story, they have to keep all the details straight. He's also being influenced by Tyra who wants to dump the body.

Teenagers who have just killed someone don't always think rationally.

Who's with me?

Those were my thoughts exactly.

In addition, it seemed to me that their original plan (or at least Landry's original plan) was to drive him to the hospital. He said something to that effect in the car. So, they probably thought they looked extra guilty now that they had moved the body and hadn't called the cops in the first place.

[DancnDude]

I guess I just have a problem with the storyline as a whole. Why even do a storyline with Landry killing a guy? He is a good kid, kinda dorky from what's been established all of last season. Seems way out of character. They're ruining a good thing.

Of course I'm gonna watch and maybe they'll surprise me. They've done it before. But at this point in time, I really don't like this plot at all.

[fmowry]

Drunk Riggins killing a dude is much more plausible.

Frank

[kyote]

Drunk Riggins killing a dude is much more plausible.

Frank


After burning down a Circle K in a fit of rage. :)

[jeffo13]

That's why I don't have a huge problem with the storyline. Landry knows it wasn't self defense, he's probably guilty about it and not thinking straight. He probably doesn't know exactly what constitutes self defense and what doesn't (if they went with the story that he hit the man while he was attacking Tyra). He wonders if you are allowed to kill someone because he has his hands on a woman. If he and Tyra make up a story, they have to keep all the details straight. He's also being influenced by Tyra who wants to dump the body.

Teenagers who have just killed someone don't always think rationally.

Who's with me?

Writers who have just received the gift of a second season don't always think rationally either.

I think it would have been more realistic of kids not thinking rationally if they would have just taken off leaving the body. I believe the drama would have been just as good if the stalker was in a coma. Having a season long threat of the stalker waking up to say it was not self defense would have been better IMHO. The show had enough realistic drama without having to go over the top with murder.

Of course maybe the guy wakes up in the car or when he hits the cold water.

Jeff

[jsmeeker]

Drunk Riggins killing a dude is much more plausible.

Frank


I don't think Landry intended to kill the guy.

It's not like he did it in a drunken rage. He did it protecting a girl he like. Pretty believeable that a lot of guys would do that.


But then it fell down with them not calling the cops/ambulance.

[Maui]

Add me to the list that did not enjoy the first episode at all. Really hated the end to the Landry plotline. All the characters seem to be starting out the season as unlikable in one way or another.

[DevdogAZ]

Add me to the list that did not enjoy the first episode at all. Really hated the end to the Landry plotline. All the characters seem to be starting out the season as unlikable in one way or another.
I think this is the key. Everyone finished out last season in a pretty good place and if they simply continued on from there, there wouldn't be much conflict which is essential for good storytelling. So they decided to put everyone in an awkward position to begin the season, so they'd have somewhere to go. I personally think they went way too far, but I see what they were trying to do. Here's hoping they get these things straightened out in a hurry, and the few critics I've read that have seen more episodes say we should stick it out.

[jsmeeker]

I think this is the key. Everyone finished out last season in a pretty good place and if they simply continued on from there, there wouldn't be much conflict which is essential for good storytelling. So they decided to put everyone in an awkward position to begin the season, so they'd have somewhere to go. I personally think they went way too far, but I see what they were trying to do. Here's hoping they get these things straightened out in a hurry, and the few critics I've read that have seen more episodes say we should stick it out.


it's like the first epsiode of the first season.

People in a bad place with Street hurt and out for the season.

:)

[Neenahboy]

Here's hoping they get these things straightened out in a hurry, and the few critics I've read that have seen more episodes say we should stick it out.

The title of episode nine is, "The Confession," so I think we can safely assume what takes place. But to have to wait that long isn't good.

[fmowry]

I don't think Landry intended to kill the guy.

It's not like he did it in a drunken rage. He did it protecting a girl he like. Pretty believeable that a lot of guys would do that.


But then it fell down with them not calling the cops/ambulance.

I just don't buy it. Landry a soft spoken, quirky, peaceful dude. Chicks can make guys do a lot of things, but this just seems totally implausible.

Frank

[TAsunder]

I just don't buy it. Landry a soft spoken, quirky, peaceful dude. Chicks can make guys do a lot of things, but this just seems totally implausible.

Frank

I am also a quirky and peaceful dude and can see myself doing something similar to protect someone I care for. They guy more or less directly threatened to physically harm them in the near future and twice has attempted to rape her.

[Swirl_Junkie]

I just don't buy it. Landry a soft spoken, quirky, peaceful dude. Chicks can make guys do a lot of things, but this just seems totally implausible.

Frank

Maybe He's been on the 'roids to make the team.

[Mabes]

I just don't buy it. Landry a soft spoken, quirky, peaceful dude.

Frank


So is every serial killer ever. Hmmm.... :)

[fmowry]

So is every serial killer ever. Hmmm.... :)

Serial killers don't beat guys with bats (or was it a pipe?). They lure them home and chop them up into little pieces. I hope that's not Landry in episode 2 after professing his love. :eek:

Frank

[MasterOfPuppets]

That's why I don't have a huge problem with the storyline. Landry knows it wasn't self defense, he's probably guilty about it and not thinking straight. He probably doesn't know exactly what constitutes self defense and what doesn't (if they went with the story that he hit the man while he was attacking Tyra). He wonders if you are allowed to kill someone because he has his hands on a woman. If he and Tyra make up a story, they have to keep all the details straight. He's also being influenced by Tyra who wants to dump the body.

Teenagers who have just killed someone don't always think rationally.

Who's with me?
I'm with you.
I didn't "hate" the episode as others have claimed that they have, I can understand where they may be going with the story.
At the very least, it should get him in closer with Tyra, who has seemingly shown a tendency to favor the bad boys.

Hell, if Smash can get away with using steroids and never having it brought up again, why couldn't Landry get away with murder? :p

Since the consensus seems to be that people disliked this episode, the show had better come up with some crowd-pleasers soon, it's on a short leash as is.
American Gladiators and the Hulkster are waiting in the wings. heh.

[DVDerek]

The Sports Guy (From ESPN) turned me onto this show in a column a few weeks back. Here's what he had to say about the episode. I think it's pretty darn good commentary, though I'm not buying this was some edict from NBC...

Q: Could you comment on the "twist" on the "Friday Night Lights" season opener? I think it's network executives making sweeping changes in order to try to get ratings, killing my favorite show in a way worse than simply canceling it.
--Chris W., New Haven, Conn.

SG: Quick break from baseball to answer this one...

Normally I'd say, "Come on, don't be so cynical, they had an incredible first season and the FNL writers earned the respect of a 3-4 episodes to prove that this 'twist' was a good idea." But network TV has betrayed us so many times, it's impossible not to think that NBC ordered FNL to sex it up and use "The OC's" old playbook to boost ratings. But this "twist" completely betrayed Landry's character, which wouldn't be a major deal except he was one of the four rocks of the show (along with the coach, his wife and the QB). You can't just waste one of your rocks like that unless there's a REALLY good reason.

Hell, that's one of the reasons an inferior show like "The OC" died so quickly -- Peter Gallagher's character (Seth's dad) was the show's moral compass, only he started considering an affair in Season 2 and the show never recovered, mainly because his character never recovered. I wasn't a "Sex and the City" fan, but my wife went crazy when Sarah Jessica Parker's character started cheating on her boyfriend with Mr. Big; she just felt completely betrayed because Parker's character was her "friend" and she could never condone a friend acting like that. I thought this was an interesting way to look at it because TV characters DO become your friends to some degree, and you DO feel like you know them, so when someone as great as Landry pulls a 180 and does something his character would never, ever, ever, EVER, EVER, EVER do (not the "twist" itself but how everything was handled after the twist), it was almost like losing a friend, as weird as that sounds.

Yeah, they can resolve the twist, but it's going to be difficult to repair the damage that was done to Landry's character. I don't trust his judgment anymore. Which brings me back to my original point: You can't betray one of your main characters like that, especially on a show like this, when the decisions for every character were made so carefully in Season 1. That's what made this twist so infuriating. Even a few seconds before "it" happened, I paused the TiVo and told the Sports Gal, "That's it ... NBC is about to ruin this show, we should have known."

There's a bigger issue here: Because everyone thought "FNL" was going to get canceled last year, they threw the kitchen sink into Season 1 and...

(SPOILER ALERT IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN SEASON 1 YET. AND, MY GOD, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR????)

... made the understandable decision to have Dillon High win the state championship (thinking the show was one and done), which would have been the perfect way to go out if NBC hadn't screwed everything up by halfheartedly renewing the show and giving it the "Friday, 9 p.m." death sentence.

(END OF SPOILER ALERT. AND, DAMMIT, BUY THE SEASON 1 DVD ALREADY!)

You can't blame the FNL creators for doing everything they could to keep this show on the air, even if it meant toning down the football scenes and executing some of the dumbest script notes in recent Hollywood history. And maybe they'll salvage the ill-fated "twist." I just worry that Season 2 is headed for the "Let's just pretend this never happened" Hall of Fame along with "Fletch Lives," "Another 48 Hours," "Caddyshack 2," Hakeem Olajuwon's year on the Raptors and everything else.

I couldn't put my finger on it, but yeah... I feel betrayed by the actions of Landry.

[TAsunder]

People keep talking about it being something landry would never do. How so? All he did most of the first season was talk talk talk. He seemed quite incompetent when it came to his own social life, aside from winning over riggins. He was the observer of all the action who provided good insight and fun commentary.

When it comes to his dating life, he very clearly demonstrated that he gets overly emotional over tyra (remember the dinner when she came with riggins). Combine this with the guilt he felt over not being able to be there for her the last time this ****** attacked and you have a pot of water ready to boil over.

It was slightly out of character to dump the body, but as others mentioned, it was a state of panic he was in. Not everyone makes clear decisions in a crisis.

More out of character was him trying out for the football team.

[DVDerek]

More out of character was him trying out for the football team.

That too!

Okay, so Landry takes a guy out with a pipe (and then hits him again in the back of the head when he's not moving). He does this out of anger. Fine. Okay. Then he decides to dump the body in the river? I don't care what you say about "the heat of the moment", that's not consistent with his character.

[Bierboy]

Still not certain body was dumped into river.

[TAsunder]

Still wondering what happened to the dead guy's car as well.

[Bierboy]

...is the stalker really dead? Tyra said he was, but do we have a medical opinion? I think not...

[MasterOfPuppets]

If they're taking the body somewhere...and the body comes back to life.
Well, that's be just about the cheesiest thing ever.
Move over, Velveeta Cheesy Mac.