In covering Friday Night Lights on its run on DirecTV this year, instead of next spring on NBC as Guest Clacker Sebastian did for us last year, I’m making a concerted effort to be very conscious about spoilers, which, if you know me, is something I rarely care about. Trying to stay spoiler-free in the selection of a picture, the title, excerpt, and lead paragraph of a particular post is a bit of a challenge, but I think the dual airing of the show on different networks necessitates that I try. And in case you didn’t realize it, the previous paragraph was just another way to meet that goal!
I like it when Friday Night Lights is actually about football. It is tough to see Eric Taylor as an outsider in Texas football. Sure, he’s got enemies in Dillon (Two episodes in, and still no JD “Chosen One” McCoy is a win for me) but across the entire state? Considering the emphasis on concussions in player safety in all levels of football, I certainly understand why Luke might be in trouble, but it looked like a clean hit to me. Outsider or not, Taylor knows how to motivate his players. It only took one word, written on a whiteboard, to instantly bond the players and coaching staff to goal of proving the “insiders” wrong.
Vince’s story was pretty damn inspiring. Between his conversation with Coach in the cold open, to his sharing the recruitment letters with his mom, there was an air of joy and innocence that was absent from, say, the recruitment of Smash Williams (Except for the moment Smash told Coach he got into school … Truly one of the seminal moments on the run of the show). The darker side of being recruited, though, are the handouts, gifts, and favors that come with it. How Vince will handle the fame, fortune, and infamy, is yet to be seen.
Just when you thought it was safe to watch a show with high school and/or college students and not have a story about a student and a teacher, well, even Friday Night Lights is going to go down that unfortunate path. Sure, Julie was flirting with a TA, which is better than the storylines on Pretty Little Liars, Gossip Girl, and Life Unexpected, but still. It’s tired … And to think that Julie Taylor would have trouble fitting in just seems silly to me.
I spent some time talking last week about how I really didn’t connect with the new cast last season. I’m the first to admit when I’m wrong (it just doesn’t happen often), and I remembering more and more what I do like about these kids. Sure, I hated Jess for what she did to Landry, and was as confused about Becky’s love life as she was last season, but I shouldn’t blame them for not being named Tyra, Landry, Street, Riggins, or Lyla. It’s just going to take some getting used to.
Notes & Quotes
Clacked by Ivey West 
on Nov 04, 2010 @ 09:30 EST5EDT
Since all the episodes were already filmed I think the recent discussion on the NFL about hits to the head is very on-topic. Maybe it’s lessening the anger I was supposed to feel for the Lions missing one player in their next match (see how I prevented spoilers there as well ;-) ) but on the other hand it made me appreciate the show even more because it tackles everyday problems these people from middle-of-nowhere Texas have every day.
I also love that when Coach went to the Panthers’ field that JD was not to be seen. That guy/kid still annoys me to no end.
Did you also see Julie’s story coming from a mile away?
Were you also surprised that after the player’s party at the dropoff the parents didn’t show up and cursed her for even getting close to the guy? I mean I expected that and was surprised. Maybe this not happening and JD not showing up is something we’ll see in later episodes and they don’t want to spoil all their potential drama right away right now.
I loved what coach wrote on the board.
This shapes up to be an awesome season if you ask me.