Friday Night Lights Review S1E7

Due to the MWC postponing their season, we’ve been forced to think outside the box a bit in terms of our content. One of those things we will be bringing out is a weekly series discussing thoughts on arguably the best football TV show ever in Friday Night Lights. If you haven’t seen it, there is no better time to start. If you have seen it, there’s no better time to rewatch it. And if you’re like me, and watch an episode or season every year in preparation for college football, you’re right on track. Regardless of which category you fit into, it’s on Hulu, and you can follow along each week (on a Friday, of course) as a different episode from season one will be discussed, from the heartbreaking cliffhanger of the pilot to the final nail-biting game.

Random thoughts in live-tweet form.

• Homecoming week in Dillon looks like a festival. They have a band playing, the whole town seems to be there, and Tim is drunk at 7 am.
• Smash meets the Texas high school football guru Grady Hunt, who make the annual list of top high school athletes each year. Smash says he wants to be on that list.
• Coach Taylor comes to see Jason and invites him to the homecoming game. Jason isn’t sold on the idea.
• Billy and Tyra’s sister Mindy don’t seem to get along. Stay tuned on that front.
• Tim tries to quit drinking after his fight with Lyla.
• Jason asks Lyla about how much she sees Tim. Lyla denies anything is going on. Meanwhile, Landry is encouraging Matt to ask Julie out on a date.
• Lucas reveals to Eric that he lost his scholarship, never graduated, has a son he rarely sees and isn’t working at an insurance agency. He then asks Eric for a coaching job. Sadly, his life took a rough turn after his championship season in high school six years ago.
• Herc tells the story of another former player in a wheelchair being used as a gimmick mascot for a team years ago. He also senses there is trouble in paradise in his relationship with Lyla. Jason opens up about his suspicions about Lyla and Tim.
• Billy and Tyra are hanging out an awful lot this episode. Billy opens up about his and Tim’s parents and why they aren’t around.
• Grady comes to Smash’s house and tells him to get serious about his recruiting. Grady questions his size and says he will be keeping an eye on Smash, but he doesn’t sound convinced yet.
• Eric tells Lucas he can’t afford to hire him this season. Lucas isn’t happy.
• Coach Taylor finds Smash in the locker room studying the playbook four hours before the game. Smash is focused on making Grady Hunt’s prospect list. Coach Taylor tells him to focus on the game at hand and not the list.
• Tim delivers a fantastic speech following the game, exclaiming the team gets their heart from Jason Street and gives him the game ball instead. Tim says he loves him like a brother, and things get a bit awkward. Smash walks out of the locker room with his uniform on in the middle of the celebration.
• Smash continues to feel bad about his play and walks out on his mother trying to console him. He goes to Grady’s hotel room in desperation to ask about his list. Grady tells him to work on his conditioning to work on his strength and size.
• Julie finds Matt at the victory party for their customary once an episode talk. Matt finds the courage to ask her out.
• Billy and a handful of others wake up the morning after the homecoming party still in the field. He and Tyra made over $1000 on the night.
• Smash is parked outside a gym late at night. His next scene the following morning shows him injecting himself with a steroid. He clearly fears his college/pro dreams fading and is hell-bent on controlling his fate.

Coach Taylor’s speeches.

• Coach Taylor calls Smash into his office in halftime to chew him out. Smash tries to make excuses, and Coach Taylor says he’s only focused on making the list.
• Coach Taylor awards the game ball to Tim Riggins for “one hell of a game” after Tim scores three touchdowns.

Football observations.

• Smash is lighting it up in practice under the watch of Grady.
• Coach Taylor discusses how their next opponent will run the option, having a player in motion every play, multiple sets, and run and shoot. That’s all the offenses in one.
• Former QB Lucas still has it as he throws some routes after practice.
• Jason leads the team out on to the field for the homecoming game as the honorary captain. He gets a few seconds to himself, and the crowd goes nuts for him. Tim wheels him out on the field.
• The option is confusing the Dillon defense early. Smash is struggling under the pressure of Grady watching him.
• After Smash fumbles and it’s recovered for a TD, he throws his helmet to the ground in frustration.
• Coach Taylor benches Smash, and Tim becomes the primary tailback. Tim’s sobriety and newfound work ethic pays off with this opportunity as he has a great game, leading a comeback.
• Smash pouts on the bench, unable to support his teammates as they come back and win.

Unanswered questions.

• Eric Taylor coached this former Dillon state-champion quarterback Lucas. He was seemingly at Dillon his whole career and was not at Dillon in recent years.
• Why is Dillon always a second-half team?

Plot holes.

• If Jason’s parents don’t look very old, it’s because they aren’t. The actress who plays his mom is only eight years older than him in real life.

Quote of the episode.

“I love you like a brother 6.” - Tim Riggins.

Clear eyes. Full heart. Can’t Lose. official counter: 12

Texas Forever official counter: 3

Riggins quitting the team official counter: 1