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Howdy, y’all, and welcome back to our Friday Night Lights rewatch!
Last week, Mandy W. posed this question: in an episode with bad ideas as its central thesis, which one was the worst? As someone who somewhat recently had a newborn at home, I was glaring daggers at Eric every time he was onscreen. I understand wanting to live your dreams, but the timing (and his moaning) couldn’t be worse.
The previous episode saw the Taylors still separated thanks to Eric’s job at TMU, Tami struggling with being a married single parent, Matt getting Grandma Saracen some (nosy) in-home help, Julie breaking up with Matt over the Swede, Buddy being Drunk, Divorced Buddy, and Tyra and Landy connecting (wink, wink, nudge, nudge) over a murder. Before we dive into this week’s, let’s revisit the drinking game—
The Official FYA Friday Night Lights Season 2 Drinking Game
Drink once every time:
You want to give Matt Saracen a hug
Tami Taylor drinks a glass of 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
Lyla Garrity is a little (or a LOT) much about the Jesus
You think, “It’s JUST football, people.”
You are not a fan of the romantic relationship you’re seeing on screen
Glen is just SO Glen
Baby Gracie appears in a scene
You are reminded why no one likes Season 2
Drink twice every time:
The Panthers score a touchdown
Tim Riggins makes poor choices
There’s a classic Coach Taylor pep talk
Landry and/or Tyra stress you out
Tami and Julie clash
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”
Landry straight up kills a guy
On to the episode!
2.3 “Are You Ready for Friday Night?”
Landry and Tyra wake up in bed together, with Landry staring at her in an only slightly creepy way. He’s obviously got hearts in his eyes, but Tyra quickly leaves out his window, telling him that they shouldn’t ever do it it again. Later, the two of them go shopping for a new watch (after Landry’s dad asks him where it is) and Tyra heads to work (where Landry’s dad pays a visit and asks her what she sees in him (HARSH, Tai Mr. Landry.)). Tyra has a realization as she’s relaying Landry’s virtues, and hops back through his window later that evening having changed her mind.
In typical Tim Riggins manner, he shows up to a practice hungover and—thanks to Coach MacGregor’s brutal regime—passes out while carrying a tire over his head. He’s carted away in an ambulance and receives a diagnosis of dehydration (i.e., he’s hungover). The doctor, who is also a Panthers stan, natch, tells him he can’t go home until an adult signs him out. Billy’s MIA, so Tim has to wait. Lyla visits him and invites him to church, and then Buddy shows up to be the adult. (Which … Buddy?) On the way home, Buddy gives Tim a pep talk (not at all like one of Eric’s) and tells him that the issue isn’t him being hungover, it’s Coach MacGregor. Tim later heads to Lyla’s church … and then tries to turn his attendance into a way to get into Lyla’s pants.
The Taylor family continues to struggle with Eric being in Austin, Tami being at home with Baby Gracie, and Julie being a baby about both things. Neither Eric nor Tami knew about the breakup—even Glenn knew about the breakup before them—and they’re reaching the end of their ropes. When Julie stays out with the Swede and his friends till the wee hours of the morning, Tami goes past the end of her rope and ends up slapping Julie across the face. And after it all, Eric makes a deal with the devil and takes Buddy up on a sketchy offer to get him the Panthers coaching job back.
The Panthers are also struggling, both with Coach M’s coaching style and Smash’s ego. Matt tries to talk to Smash about being an actual Captain, but Smash doesn’t listen. And so, at the end of the first game of the season, during which Matt blows it and Smash saves the day, Matt tackles Smash in an attempt to land a blow. Matt’s the loser in the quick fight, however, and heads home with his tail between his legs. At home, Nurse Carlotta helps him work out his shoulder issues, and Matt obviously gets the kind of ideas that (straight) teenage boys get about pretty women.
During the game, Jason tries to get Coach M to listen to him about some plays, but Coach M shuts him down by telling him that he’s never going to listen to the “team mascot.” Jason’s still thinking about Mexico, and even when Herc tries to be a voice of reason against it, so he quits the team, then shows up at Tim’s house to give him some tough love and break off their friendship because Tim’s a disappointment. And, of course, the two of them end up riding off into the sunset heading to Mexico in Jason’s truck.
How many times do I have to take a drink?
25. Tim was really making some poor choices this episode.
Did the Panthers win?
Yep. But they also lost, if you know what I mean.
MVP of the Week
I’m so proud of Tyra finally making some good decisions about the people she hooks up with! (Sure, their relationship is unrealistic, but it’s cute!)
Booster Play of the Week
Did we know Buddy had personalized license plates that read PANTHR? Because of course he does.
Best Taylor Couple Moment
Although the Taylors were in a couple of scenes together this week, they mostly were quiet moments in bed with Baby Gracie or holding each other together after The Slap. The best moment between the two, however, was their phone call early in the episode, during which Eric said “I don’t want Glenn at the house with his hands in my wife’s icebox.”
Tim Riggins’ Finest Moment
Tim sassing Jason after Jason tries to get him to live up to his potential was actually quite funny. Him yelling “That fire under my ass has been lit!” made me giggle.
The Taylor Advice of the Week
Neither Taylor parent had much wisdom to depart this week. I get it. They’re going through it.
Post-Game Breakdown:
- Buddy going all secret agent/Illuminati member about getting Eric the coaching job back is actually kind of endearing.
- On a scale of 1 to missing out on adopting the cutest puppy you’ve ever seen, how disappointed is Jason going to be about the Mexico trip?
- Please, please, please do not tell me that Carlotta and Matt will have a thing. The older/younger thing has been done on this show already (multiple times).
- The Slap was a massive shock to me. Part of me can’t blame Tami, seeing that she’s dealing with a whole lot at the moment, but wow. Escalation!
Come back in two weeks (I know! I’m sorry!) for Meredith C.’s recap of “Backfire.” My question for her—and you, gentle readers—is: If you were in Tyra’s shoes, what would you do with Landry? (I know that sounds like innuendo, but I don’t mean it like that … entirely.)
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I know I need to get over it, but I’m just still so annoyed with Landry and Tyra for not GOING TO THE POLICE. Everything is sooo much worse now!
– I cackled when Buddy was like, no, Tim, the problem isn’t you being hungover, it’s the Coach! Classic Dillon.
– And YES that icebox line was hilarious; I love the way Kyle Chandler speaks in such a clipped way (while maintaining his accent) when he’s annoyed. It’s legit good acting.
– To answer your question: If I was a teen girl, and I was as hot as Tyra, I’m sorry, I would not get with Landry. And if I had, I would feel really bad about it but would still break things off. Landry just gets too weird!! I know he has strong feelings for her but stop being so awkward, dude!!! The term cringe is probably no longer a thing but CRINGE!!