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Thoughts on FNL
Does what it says on the tin,
Sometimes, I think the FNL writers sit around together and say "OK, what's the worst cliche you could ever have on television?" Then they come up with a few. Then, they get really drunk and make preposterous bets about who can take the cliche, twist it up like a pretzel and create something real and true.
Whoever came up with this week's episode was firing on all cylinders. Teen pregnancy? Check. Racial tensions? Check. Love triangle? Check. Infidelity and divorce?
Going in no particular order...
Infidelity and divorce - While part me thinks maybe it's too easy for Joe McCoy to become humanized because his wife left him (ala Buddy Garrity), they played it just right. For the first time all season, McCoy was more than just a mustache-twirling bad guy....and it was refreshing.
Then we have Glen (poor misguided, misdirected and utterly mistaken Glen) 'fessing up to Eric about kissing Tami. A lesser show would create tension by making that an issue between Eric and Tami. But one of the things I love most of all about this show (yes, even more than Tim Riggins), is the way it portrays the relationship between Coach and Mrs, Coach. That conversation in bed was utterly real and just perfect for them. Of course Eric's annoyed, but he knows his wife and it becomes a joke between them. Made of awesome.
Racial tension - I know they have to compress a lot into thirteen 42-minute episodes, but I think they laid the groundwork right all season, then played it out beautifully. There was some pushback. There was Buddy Garrity ham-fistedly throwing around phrases like "we're taking it back." And finally, there was the football game with all its loveliness: Coach soliciting help to open the electrical box, Vince being a quiet leader, and a just plain old-fashioned fun game of football. (And btw, it was awesome to see D'Angelo from The Wire, playing the ex-gang guy.)
Love triangle - I'm dying to know the backstory between Jess and Vince. I liked the way Landry handled this, approaching Vince in his awkward Landry way. And I liked the way Vince handled it, although I don't think that's the end of it by any means.
Teen pregnancy - Saved this one for last because it's not all the way played out, so it still end up veering into cheesy After-school Special territory. But I like what they've done here so far. Becky captured the barely contained panic that any girl would feel in that situation. Luke is being a good guy, although I really hope he doesn't talk her into having a baby. I've never had to make that decision, but I have to imagine that it's one of the hardest decisions ever and that it would almost be impossible not to have doubts, regardless of the ultimate decision.
Just a couple more things-
Can anyone tell me why Jessie's dad seems to be called 'Big Mary'? Because I am seriously confused about that one.
Julie - way to get the rebound guy out of the way. Nicely played.
Tim - First of all, hooray for broken plumbing in the trailer. Second, I loved the scene where he was trying to get Becky to talk to him. ("Skeeter's upset." "All day...all day...don't care.") And then that last scene. I think from the first season, it wouldn't have been surprising to have a girl say those words to him, but whoever thought that would be a friend confiding in him?
The last couple episodes, I can't help but think about how isolated Tim's become. Becky's really been his only friend. One thing Tim's good at is being the loyal, do-anything-for-you friend. If she goes for the abortion, I can't see anyone but Tim going with her and taking care of her.
I love this episode, even though it didn't make me cry once. It was real and honest, full of difficult decisions and conversations, just like real life, but with all the boring bits cut out. Looking forward to next week, but each week also makes me a little sad, since we're getting closer to the end.
Sometimes, I think the FNL writers sit around together and say "OK, what's the worst cliche you could ever have on television?" Then they come up with a few. Then, they get really drunk and make preposterous bets about who can take the cliche, twist it up like a pretzel and create something real and true.
Whoever came up with this week's episode was firing on all cylinders. Teen pregnancy? Check. Racial tensions? Check. Love triangle? Check. Infidelity and divorce?
Going in no particular order...
Infidelity and divorce - While part me thinks maybe it's too easy for Joe McCoy to become humanized because his wife left him (ala Buddy Garrity), they played it just right. For the first time all season, McCoy was more than just a mustache-twirling bad guy....and it was refreshing.
Then we have Glen (poor misguided, misdirected and utterly mistaken Glen) 'fessing up to Eric about kissing Tami. A lesser show would create tension by making that an issue between Eric and Tami. But one of the things I love most of all about this show (yes, even more than Tim Riggins), is the way it portrays the relationship between Coach and Mrs, Coach. That conversation in bed was utterly real and just perfect for them. Of course Eric's annoyed, but he knows his wife and it becomes a joke between them. Made of awesome.
Racial tension - I know they have to compress a lot into thirteen 42-minute episodes, but I think they laid the groundwork right all season, then played it out beautifully. There was some pushback. There was Buddy Garrity ham-fistedly throwing around phrases like "we're taking it back." And finally, there was the football game with all its loveliness: Coach soliciting help to open the electrical box, Vince being a quiet leader, and a just plain old-fashioned fun game of football. (And btw, it was awesome to see D'Angelo from The Wire, playing the ex-gang guy.)
Love triangle - I'm dying to know the backstory between Jess and Vince. I liked the way Landry handled this, approaching Vince in his awkward Landry way. And I liked the way Vince handled it, although I don't think that's the end of it by any means.
Teen pregnancy - Saved this one for last because it's not all the way played out, so it still end up veering into cheesy After-school Special territory. But I like what they've done here so far. Becky captured the barely contained panic that any girl would feel in that situation. Luke is being a good guy, although I really hope he doesn't talk her into having a baby. I've never had to make that decision, but I have to imagine that it's one of the hardest decisions ever and that it would almost be impossible not to have doubts, regardless of the ultimate decision.
Just a couple more things-
Can anyone tell me why Jessie's dad seems to be called 'Big Mary'? Because I am seriously confused about that one.
Julie - way to get the rebound guy out of the way. Nicely played.
Tim - First of all, hooray for broken plumbing in the trailer. Second, I loved the scene where he was trying to get Becky to talk to him. ("Skeeter's upset." "All day...all day...don't care.") And then that last scene. I think from the first season, it wouldn't have been surprising to have a girl say those words to him, but whoever thought that would be a friend confiding in him?
The last couple episodes, I can't help but think about how isolated Tim's become. Becky's really been his only friend. One thing Tim's good at is being the loyal, do-anything-for-you friend. If she goes for the abortion, I can't see anyone but Tim going with her and taking care of her.
I love this episode, even though it didn't make me cry once. It was real and honest, full of difficult decisions and conversations, just like real life, but with all the boring bits cut out. Looking forward to next week, but each week also makes me a little sad, since we're getting closer to the end.
no subject
I like how they handled the Landry-Vince situation too. Before I was firmly on Team Landry (because I will always be on Team Landry) but the new, responsible, team leader Vince is HOT.
I'm wondering about "Big Mary" too, since his actual name seems to be Virgil, and yet the restaurant is called "Ray's."
no subject
no subject
And I completely agree with all your other comments. :)