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Welcome back! As we near the commencement of football season in real life, FYA readers are the real fans, because y’all have been in the bleachers for weeks.
Last week, Mama Smash discovered Smash’s steroids and smashed some sense into him. Coach, learning of Smash’s performance enhancement, benched him without announcing why, and the entire town of Dillon reacted about as well as you’d suspect. Plus Tyra and her mom found some female empowerment, and Mrs. Collette found a job at Buddy’s dealership. Tami joined Mayor Rodell’s campaign, and Jason PROPOSED TO LYLA instead of breaking up with her, like he planned. As a reminder, these charming children have not yet graduated high school.
Kandis asked me what I think one mister Landry Clarke is doing when he’s not onscreen making this show better with every single acting choice. Well, my man is practicing his craft, obviously. Crucifictorious is never gonna make it to Austin City Limits without regular rehearsals! (That must be what he’s doing this week, too, unfortch.)
The Official FYA Friday Night Lights Season 1 Drinking Game
Drink once every time:
You want to give Matt Saracen a hug
Tami Taylor drinks a glass of white wine
Tami Taylor says “y’all”
Landry Clarke goes off on a tangent
You’re Team Tyra Collette
Buddy Garrity makes you roll your eyes
You think, “It’s JUST football, people.”
The quick camera cuts make you reach for the Dramamine
Drink twice every time:
The Panthers score a touchdown
Tim Riggins makes poor choices
There’s a classic Coach Taylor pep talk
Grandma Saracen says something sassy
Take a shot every time you hear:
“Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose!”
“Texas Forever.”
Finish your drink when:
Hands slap the Panther “P”
Jason’s incident happens
Book club admits they don’t read the book
On to the episode!
1.14 “Upping The Ante”
In this week’s A-plot, Tim’s got a speeding ticket and fine for failure to appear in court (because there was an away game, ofc), and he can only keep his license by having a legal guardian sign off on the paperwork. Billy doesn’t count as a legal guardian, so Tim hunts down his dad to get a signature. Billy gives him lots of brotherly advice beforehand that essentially boils down to, “under no circumstances are you to trust this deadbeat,” and then Tim goes ahead and trusts that deadbeat. He spends the day bowling, making heart eyes, planning a sleepover, and then getting his handsome little heart stepped on all over again when it becomes clear his dad would rather beat his son at golf than go to a Panthers game and watch him succeed. Billy’s a great brother to Tim when he comes home filled with disappointment, and then in a twist ending, Walt Riggins shows up right at game time to support his son.
The entire town is still on pins and needles to hear if Smash is going to play this week, and speculating why he was benched for the entirety of the last game. Smash is doing all the Panther grunt work, trying to win Coach over, and Coach still isn’t budging an inch. Smash is running himself into the ground trying to build his strength back up while coming off the drugs, and Mama Smash is worried sick. Eventually, after some excellent Tami guidance, Coach goes to Smash’s house, gives him a classic pep talk (drink!), and they play some street ball with the neighborhood kids. It’s cute as hell.
Julie and Matt are on a date when the hosts of the KCPQ live radio show interrupt them to ask Matt about, what else, football. He tries to apologize to her after his interview, but then he’s kidnapped by Tim and a few other Panthers for “a football thing,” leaving Julie stranded at the Applebee’s until Tyra gives her a ride home, establishing a new female friendship for these two, who both frankly need it. (Julie needs it MUCH more than Tyra, obviously.) Later, Julie and Matt are supposed to go to an Old 97’s concert on a weekday, and Julie basically signs her life and soul away to her mom to get permission. (Tami makes me laugh with her open disdain at Julie’s groveling.) Matt, surprise surprise, has to flake for another football thing. Julie does her best to be “the coolest and most understanding girl in the world,” and even agrees to watch Grandma Saracen while Matt does his football things, but then he gets kidnapped again for a football party. At the party he’s pressured to do some dumb calendar shoot, shirtless and surrounded by rally girls, and then he lies to Julie about it, who’s already seen the calendar. She’s devastated, and I’m less inclined to give Matt a hug than usual because he needs to be less damn passive. People just keep yanking him around this episode and he never makes a single decision on his own.
How many times do I have to take a drink?
19
Did the Panthers win?
The episode ends with them running out onto the field, but with a passionately grateful and fired up Smash back as starting tailback, I bet they do.
MVP of the Week
This may be a controversial choice, but Walt Riggins’ ex-girlfriend, with her purse dog, big hair and filtered cigarette, gives my favorite line delivery of the episode: “Hey, if you see him, I want you to do something for me. I want you to tell him, I want my Conway Twitty back! They don’t have it at Target no more.”
I presume she means her Conway Twitty CD, which means she also has great taste in music, plus I must salute any woman who “throwed [Walt’s] sorry ass out.”
Worst Engagement Announcement of the Week (/Decade)
During a backyard barbecue, Buddy needles Jason about quad rugby and his earning potential until Jason angrily blurts out that he and Lyla are getting married. Buddy sucks and all, but this is an extremely unromantic way to tell your fiancée’s parents that you’re getting hitched. Also, you know, maybe let her tell them? Lyla’s understandably upset, and later tells Jason she thinks they might be rushing this engagement (ya think?). Jason does not receive her concern with equanimity.
Best Taylor Couple Moment
Tami tells Coach that he’s being WAY too hard on Smash, and I have to agree. Either forgive him or kick him off the team, but instead Coach is running Smash ragged and destroying his confidence. Tami points out that won’t do Smash, Coach or the team any good, and Coach just stands there and humbly puts away the groceries, knowing his brilliant wife is right once again.
Best Trio Moment
Julie, Tyra and Grandma Saracen doing magazine quizzes and manicures together?! How do I get an invite? Actually, never mind, I’ll just take Julie’s place and hang out with Tyra and Grandma Saracen.
Tim Riggins’ Finest Moment
Hope springs eternal, and Tim Riggins has never been more adorable than when he’s hoping his dad might actually be a dad for once.
The Taylor Advice of the Week
“Y’all are young. You better make sure. You better make damn sure.” Amen, Coach:
The Streets’ case against Coach is still moving ahead, but at a preliminary court date, sweet Coach heads over to Jason, ignoring their lawyers’ recommendation that they stay apart, and advises him not to rush the engagement. Jason tells him having the court date on game day wasn’t his choice, and Coach smiles and gives him a friendly shoulder pat to indicate he’s not holding it against Jason.
Post-Game Breakdown
“High school children get engaged” is one of my least favorite tropes on YA TV, and Jason and Lyla have one of the most depressing engagements of any of those bad idea betrothals. But in other tropes news, I’m happy the afterschool drug special arc was quickly wrapped up. And what I love about Tim Riggins (besides the obvious) is that his character never goes near a cliché, as far as I can remember. This dude is one of a kind. (Same for Landry. Also PLEASE BRING BACK LANDRY.)
Next up we’ve got Sarah covering the episode “Blinders,” and I have a question for her and for y’all: am I the only person who desperately wishes the two main gals on this show didn’t have such similar names? I spend half my time double-checking the Tyra vs. Lyla of it.
Shop Our Friday Night Lights Themed Merch
– I forgot Jason proposed to Lyla, SUCH a short-sighted decision that surely won’t backfire in anyone’s face…
– Matt definitely needs to learn how to put his foot down with people, and also take personal responsibility. I can’t blame Julie for being mad.
– Ugh, Tim’s dad is The Wooooorst. I am very grateful I’ve never been let down in this way by a family member, so maybe I’d react differently if I was in Tim’s place, but I could just never trust him again for being a deadbeat dad and abandoning me without good reason. Everything about this story arc is rage-inducing.
– I love Tyra and Julie’s budding friendship! More lady-time!
More lady time! I just want all the gals on this show to be friends.
– COMPLETELY agree, re: how do we score an invite to manis and magazine quizzes with Grandma Saracen and Tyra?!! The CUTEST.
– I legit lol’d when I saw your MVP choice. YES! Give that woman back her Conway Twitty!!
– I love how this episode gave us more insight to the sweeter/emotional side of Tim Riggins. Like you said, one of a kind.
– I got SO mad at Jason for blurting out the engagement news. Dude, you think you’re old enough to get married when you’re not even mature enough to handle yourself and not spill the beans before your girlfriend (ahem, fiancée) is ready? Ugh.
I totally thought “Sarah’s gonna love this” as I screencapped Walt’s ex 😀
Sometimes — a lot of times, actually — I feel like this show should be about a college team and not high schoolers. Case in point: Walt would have bought Tim a beer if he wasn’t sober, Tim cites needing to drive, but HOW ABOUT THE FACT THAT HE’S A MINOR???!? (I get that it’s rural Texas and I’m a goody-goody square, but still!) Also all the leering at Tyra/Lyla would be slightly less repulsive if everyone was aged up.
I find myself thinking this about a lot of YA shows! PLL certainly would have been served by aging up the characters (they’d be closer to the actors’ ages, also).
OMG YES. Another show obsessed with pairing teenagers with adult love interests!