Friday Night Lights: Crossing the Line

Friday Night Lights never fails to be both uplifting and gutwrenching. And that, my friends, is the definition of damn fine TV.

Street spends the episode trying to convince everyone that he's ready to play in his first murderball scrimmage: the doctors, his parents, the other quads and (of course) Lyla think it's too soon. But the kid needs an outlet for his rage toward Riggs and Lyla and he ends up playing triumphantly in the scrimmage and punching Riggs in the face. It's a pretty face, but he had it coming.
Heartbreakingest moment: Herc and Street fight and fall out of their chairs before the latter emotionally states that Lyla's all he's got and his tough-love buddy reminds him that just because they're cripples, doesn't mean they deserve the crumbs.

Meanwhile the Riggins boys are barely scraping by (like returning groceries at the register barely scraping by) and Big Brother Billy's doing all he can to make a better life for Tim (buying veggies, talking to the coach about college options, etc.). Tim's having sex with Tyra, rubbing it in his older brother's face and taking out the frustration he should have towards his absent parents on the only ill-equipped guardian he's got. They have a disasterous dinner at the Taylor's and Derek Phillips as Billy is just spot-on in his portrayal of the character.
Heartbreakingest moment: After tending to Rigg's black eye, Billy splits his grilled cheese sandwich down the middle and silently gives his baby brother half. Then Riggs takes a sip of Billy's beer and we're reminded of something else they share.

Saracen and Smash's tentative friendship takes a few strides forward when the former lands the latter a job at the Tasty Freeze (or whatever). Why does Smash need a job? To pay for the STEROIDS he's getting from the scariest woman ever. He slacks off at work, but tries to impart some of his game to our young quarterback. It doesn't exactly work, but they get along and it's tough when Saracen catches Smash about to steal from the till and jeopardize both their jobs.
Heartbreakingest moment: Because she couldn’t afford to give her son the money for an “SAT Prepcourse,” MamaSmash goes to the church and they take up a collection to help Smash become the kind of scholar-athlete that will make them proud. And then he takes the money to buy more ‘roids.

And in the land of fully functional families, Tami’s worried about a rally girl who thinks she has to have a threeway to make her Panther happy and is therefore worried that Julie’s entertaining the idea of going out with one the hornball’s teammates. Coach breaks it down to his little girl that boys are just hungry sex fiends, but he assures his wife that Saracen’s a good kid.
Heartbreakingest moment: N/A; Julie decided to give our boy a shot!

Next week: Street yells at Lyla and the team turns on Riggs for turning on Street. Plus, Julie and Saracen go on a date. I just hope he doesn’t try anything Smash taught him.