Last night's episode of Friday Night Lights was outstanding television. It wasn't the series best, but it was purt near close. In a perfect world, we'd have gotten two episodes at State and ended the first one right after the half. As it was, I felt like they tried to squeeze just a bit too much in. For example, I could have done without Lyla and Tyra's ending reconciliation. That, on top of Lyla dumping her cheerleading gear, felt forced. Sure, their earlier interaction with the car and the mutual understanding (and the look on Tyra’s face as she realized Street could cheat) was great, but I really don't need them to be BFF.Speaking of the car, Landry and his ever-growing pack of cranky, singing, pre-menstrual ladies was wonderful. He didn’t even get to play the sweet Crucifictorious tunes with which he’d planned to woo Tyra…
Despite the intrusive media narration (something from the pilot that I didn't miss during the rest of the series), the show was on top of its game. Jason Street seeing his parents in the stands right after his team won state? What a perfect mix of joy for the present and heartache for the past. The Taylor's argument over whether or not Eric will take the job at TMU? I wouldn't have bought it from a lesser show. And poor Matt Saracen lugging around all that anger about Coach's perceived betrayal? Their hug on the field made up for the slightly lame slow clap later in the locker room. Also, I'm pretty sure he told Coach he loved him, which is maybe the sweetest damn thing ever to be recorded for posterity.Of all the beautiful moments and tiny missteps, here’s the piece of the finale that has stayed with me all day: the Bright Eyes cover of Daniel Johnston's "Devil Town" over the parade. My first reaction was naked shock that they were following up Coach's declaration to remember the people (Billy and MamaSmash and Grandma Saracen) who will never give up on them with the implication that those people and the rest of Dillon are bloodsuckers. But then the song was so melancholy and beautiful that I decided the producers were trying to evoke the fleeting glory of the situation rather than render the citizens of Dillon as dusty, pathetic people clinging to a tradition made inappropriately large.
It's not like they just dropped in Foo Fighters' "My Hero;" it was a deliberate song choice that risked hurting a lot of the people who are hesitant about the show to begin with. Ultimately, I think that the song is a lot like the show: neither a celebration nor a condemnation, but something a lot trickier and a lot more true.
4 comments:
If I remember correctly I think they also used that song is an earlier episode. I love that show. I also love that you used the phrase "purt near" in your blog.
The only thing I *almost* wished happen was that they lost state. Although if they had lost to anyone else, maybe that would be ok. But not Voodoo.
What's with Voodoo being so weirdly evil? Had this been One Tree Hill, some lesser player would have blown the whistle on the fact that apparently someone's paying his family's rent and purchased them a dishwasher. But then the boys would insist that he play so they could beat his ass fair and square. And then we'd find out that Coach is Saracen's biological father.
And Mrs. Coach slept with Saracen's Army father and Julie is their kid. And then she'd play football with Saracen, just like Kathy Ireland in Necessary Roughness.
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