FNL Rewatch - 1.01 - Pilot

[fleurlb]

Himself is off doing photography things this weekend and I've finally got a chance to start my long-planned FNL rewatch. Will be posting about the rewatch as I go along (which I imagine will be breath-takingly slowly). I'm trying to figure out things here about story-telling and what makes a good story. And I'd love to hear any thoughts about the show that anyone else has. (Eventually, I'd like to do the same detailed rewatch for Leverage and Sons of Anarchy, but we'll see how this first one goes.)

Love the device of the slowly getting to know Dillon while Slammin’ Sammy Mead’s call-in show tells us everything we need to know.

Oh hai, sun-dappled, shirtless Tim Riggins. Seriously, how did we ever have a chance when that’s how he’s introduced?

Matt and Gramma. So very sweet.

And the rest of the introductions are perfect. My only complaint is that the houses used in the pilot were pretty perfect, especially the seedy Riggins ranch. (And boy, is it just my memory playing tricks or is Buddy Garrity’s house WAY nicer than the one that gets flipped in S3?)

Love the media interviews and also love the way they brought that back at the end of S5.

“That dude could be Santa Clause and I still wouldn’t like him.” Cracks me up every time.

OK, in the diner, when Matt and Landry try to approach Julie. The light in this scene is just something else. The quality of the light in most shots really stands out and I think it’s something that’s unique to the first season in particular. At least when I think of the first season, I think of that luscious, languid light that makes so many of the scenes feel washed-out photographs. Like you’re watching someone’s memories. I just love that light.

“And I don’t eat with football players... and I don’t eat with you either.”

Coach and Mrs. Coach. Can’t beat a sweet Coach and Mrs. Coach scene. When I’m struggling with how to bring up something delicate with Himself, I sometimes think about how Mrs. Coach would say it. (Unless, you know, she were really pissed off. Then we’d probably sound roughly the same.)

“I’m thinking of starting a Christian speed metal band.” - All the times I’ve watched this, I’ve never realized that we were seeing the very beginnings of Crucifictorious. How could I have missed that? Clearly, I was either bamboozled by Landry’s strange crossword rant or by Gramma’s charming dottiness.

Ugh, I’ve never liked this scene with Lyla and Jason. “You must kiss me.” Blech. Lyla grates in this whole pilot. I still can’t decide if it’s the script or the actress.

What’s the big deal about His and Her closets?

And all that just happened on Monday. That was a lot of happening, wasn’t it?

Tuesday

Also, can someone explain to me what a fast counter is? (Nevermind, thank you, wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counter_run.)

(Dear Brain, yes, that is a nice chat between Coach and the older coach dude, but seriously, you do not need any more plot bunnies in your head. Sit down, shut up, and wait for Tim Riggins to show up again.)

The car dealership scene is still loaded with LOLz. And damn but Smash Williams has nice arms.

Wednesday

Working out with the pee-wee team. I think all the God talk in this scene is what put Himself off the first time.

Thursday

More grumblings from the radio.

The party. So, the first time I watched this, I think that scene made me cringe. It’s made me cringe less and less but now watching it, knowing how everything ends up, is sad. Sure, no one’s life ends up how they thought it would in high school (and for most people, I’d say that’s a good thing). But the scene still gives me the same feeling I had when I watched “Titanic” - oh noes, look at them, they’re all doomed and they don’t know it yet.

Friday

Finally, the big game day. Such nice scenes setting up the game, again with the constant chatter of the radio and the swelling music.

Coach, talking to his team. Writing locker room speeches must either be really hard or really easy - I can never decide which.

The big game - the Panthers really need a defense. I think that’s always been their problem. :)

I love the scene in the locker room at halftime - it has that frantic battlefield feel to it.

I’ve seen that accident so many times, it still gets to me. Especially the way Jason is so polite all the way through.

That look on Matt Saracen’s face.

I don’t think I’ve ever really stopped to appreciate how they edit the show, especially in the pilot. Big example: Intercutting the end of the football game with Jason’s surgery, the way it highlights how both these events must go on, one with all the pomp and drama while the other, the more important one, is just attended to with crisp and silent professionalism. It’s a powerful counterpoint and really well-done.

Coach’s voiceover at the end. Still. Makes. Me. Cry.

But I’ve also been reading John Rogers’ blog, so I’ve learned a little bit about how pilot episodes are structured. The purpose of the pilot is to hook your attention and introduce you to the characters. But that last scene, that’s the key to the whole show. It’s the mission statement.

“Give all of us gathered here tonight the strength to remember that life is so very fragile. We are all vulnerable and we will all, at some point in our lives, fall. We will all fall. We must carry this in our hearts: that what we have is special, that it can be taken from us. That when it is taken from us, we will be tested. We will be tested to our very souls. We will now all be tested. It is these times, it is this pain, that allows us to look inside ourselves.”

That’s the scene that you watch and ask yourself “Do I want to watch the rest of this show?” And the answer for me is still, after countless rewatches, hells yeah. I want to know what happens to these people.

Comments

[themonkeytwin.livejournal.com]

Okay, so, I'm watching this show for the first time because of your post, and I'm only reading your commentary as I go. And I know nothing about it going in except that it's about football and apparently that's a Big Deal, and everyone on the internets is hung up about this Riggins dude.

So ... fifteen minutes in, I thought I'd join you and commentspam. For the fun. :)

My thoughts so far:

WOW, great music choices. And already I like these characters more than I thought I would. I'm guessing, since the most sympathetic character so far is the back-up quarterback, the star guy they're making such a big deal over is going to be in a career-ending accident, probably right before game day? Oh noes!

Wait, that's Tim Riggins? Wow. What a dick. And apparently has no parents. I feel an epic Crouching Rebel, Hidden Woobie coming on, no wonder the internets love him. And he turns up drunk and gets tackled as discipline. I like him already.

Love your point about the light. Really pretty. AND OMG JESS! Being skanky and jealous! EEEEEE! She's hanging with Smash and mooching his cheeseburger. Who Riggins hates. Ooh, were she and Riggins childhood whitetrash BFFs? Or sweethearts?

His and Hers closets. Huh. Oh, and Moby Dick more-than-anvils. Well, okay, it can be hard to get the average watcher to pick up subtle literary motifs, may as well just put it right out there and comment on it. That can be fun.


... Okay, we're caught up. :)


Wait, now not!Jess is all over Riggins? Well, huh. Oh, so that WAS her on the couch to begin with. Hmm. And Texas book clubs, ugh, those women. "Stop it." I like Mrs Coach. And is the team sponsored by this car dealership, or something? I'm missing a lot here, I can tell.

Oh, Smash. I can tell you're going to be difficult.

Not!Jess is EVERYWHERE. I get the feeling Riggins is too. Heh.

Peewee? Oh, CUTE. And you, star quarterback, are sooo going down. Sorry about that.

Party. Wait, they're ALL doomed? Okay, this just got a little more interesting. Riggins, you is a blowhard. But I get the sense you're loyal, and that's why your do-right friends stick with you back.

Game day. Wait, quarterback still has his legs? It's going to happen IN the game? DAMN. Ouch. Give your inspiring, wise, grounded pep-talk, coach. I hope you're ready for this.

"I expect you boys to EXECUTE." Oh, wait, that look in Riggins' eyes – I just realised who he reminds me of: he's a male Kara Thrace. Teetering back and forth between brilliant giftedness and total screw-up.

... Holy crap, this is high school football? Wow.

Halftime scramble, lots of energy, I like the way they're shooting this. Yay, understudy quarterback is paying attention liek whoa to the problems star quarterback is having. He will be ready!

Oh noes, it's all going wrong! They're out of sync!

Aw, he's being all motivational and leadery as a quarterback, even though they're down. I'm gonna miss him, even though I'm not sure I know anyone's his name yet.

It's a critical play! *covers eyes*

He saved the game. eek. Oh man, this hurts.

OMG they're holding hands, I don't even know why but it's all teamy and *flail*

This is intense storytelling. Approved. Hot damn.

Let's keep it simple – throw the ball to our guys. Right.

He's rising to the occasion! *still covers eyes at the hospital scenes*

Riggins has the ball, guys, duh.

That classic big throw to win, of course. Still. Whew.

Okay, the monologuing is a little too much at this point – it's undercutting the emotional payoff that the game/surgery juxtaposition built up, to me. But they stopped just before it got too on-the-nose. I also like your point about how they intercut it, especially because one is triumphant and one is clearly not; this is going to be a bittersweet, high-stakes show.

John Roger's blog! Yes, I was thinking about that too. Okay, so, I'm coming away with football=life. Fair enough, and mostly very well done. I'm intrigued.

When's the next one? ;)

[fleurlb.livejournal.com]

Yay for watching-along comment-spam. :) That was fun! My highlights of your highlights:

- I didn't even comment on the music in this one, since I'm not into music-without-words. Even so, I bought several Explosions in the Sky albums, since I did love the instrumental music on FNL so much. FNL, more than any show in my recent memory, really gets music and uses it to their advantage.

- Crouching Rebel, Hidden Woobie - HAHAHAHAHAH. Yes, that is Riggins in a nutshell.

- Love that you intuited the accident-waiting-to-happen. I don't think the injury would've been as devastating if it had just been a car accident or a stupid-teenager-being-stupid-accident. There's something so gut-wrenching about a promising young kid being injured doing what he loves and is best at.

- Yes, the hand-holding always makes me flaily too. :)

- As for when's the next one - the fact that it took more than a week to come up with comment responses is fairly indicative of the stupid-busy level of life right now. But yeah, I have two vacation days coming up soon (this Friday, next Monday), so I'm thinking then. Also, some fic. (Still have that help_pakistan one and I have TWO FNL plot bunnies chewing on my synapses.)

[themonkeytwin.livejournal.com]

Oh good, I'm glad the commentspam wasn't too annoying. No pressure on producing anything, seriously; it's just appreciated when you do. :)

(Confession: I've been watching more on my ownsome. But I will be there for your rewatch. I'm currently at a cross of mystified, frustrated, sympathetic and reluctantly thoroughly charmed. There is some kind of characterisation'story-pondering post in the works that will definitely be including FNL.)