Friday Night Lights Review S1E14.

During the offseason, we are continuing our 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.

• Jason is over for dinner and is explaining quad-rugby/murderball to the Garrity family. Buddy dismisses it and the two of them get in a fight. Buddy is upset that Jason’s family is suing Coach Taylor. During the fight, Jason reveals that they are engaged. Lyla wasn’t happy about that.
• Matt and Julie are talking about her school newspaper opportunity, but he is called away to be on the live radio show while at Applebees. It puts a divide between him and Julie. Which grows ever greater when Tim and other teammates kidnap Matt for football things.
• Tyra offers to give Julie a ride home, although they have to stop at the strip club to pick up her sister first.
• Smash is playing team manager as his punishment and Coach Taylor is still riding him hard as he works his way back.
• Tim needs to get his speeding ticket signed by his legal guardian, which means he needs to go off in search of his father.
• Julie and Tyra are bonding. Tyra reveals that Buddy Garrity spends a lot of time at the strip club. Tyra shoplifts some lipstick for Julie.
• Billy is anxious about Tim going off to talk to their dad and tries to warn/protect him.
• Julie is begging her mom to go to a concert on a weeknight.
• Tim finds his dad hustling some people on the golf course. He signs the form and they make some awkward conversation. His dad invites him to hang out for a while and you can tell how strongly Tim wants to connect with him.
• Jason and Lyla fight about their future.
• The concert is off as Matt has to cancel because he is going on TV with Coach Taylor. Julie tries to be understanding.
• Tim learns that his dad brags about him to the bowling alley every week and keeps everyone updated on Tim’s games.
• Eric is not in the mood for the TV interview. Matt doesn’t help matters by asking if Smash is playing.
• Julie invites Tyra over while they watch Matt’s grandma.
• Buddy asks Eric to talk to Jason about marrying Lyla.
• Smash is feeling the pressure of reclaiming his spot and is working as hard as possible.
• Coach Taylor isn’t happy Tim has missed two practices leading up to the playoffs, but Tim says it’s worth it.
• Tim golfs left-handed, but is otherwise right-handed, which doesn’t matter but is notable.
• Tami is trying to reason with Eric to change his approach with Smash and the team. Eric takes it to heart, as he goes to talk to Smash and they play touch football with the neighborhood kids, who invited Smash to play. It’s a fun moment to see how confident the young Miles Shepard is.
• Tim’s dad beats him on the golf course and Tim gets upset he doesn’t want to come to Dillon. They fight and Tim walks off the course and drives home.
• The Rally Girls kidnap all the football players for a party and Matt doesn’t feel comfortable being there because they are taking pictures for a calendar for charity.
• Eric is anxious for the lawsuit hearing. He goes over to talk to Jason, as people, and as friends, not to talk about the case. It demonstrates he puts the well-being of his players first and foremost in his life. Jason apologizes that the hearing has to be on game day.
• Julie is upset that Matt lied to her about the calendar. She’s clearly feeling unappreciated and that Matt is taking her for granted.
• Coach Taylor informs Smash he is starting tonight and he couldn’t be more thrilled.
• Tim’s dad ended up coming to the playoff game to see him play.

Coach Taylor’s speeches.

Football observations.

• Dillon prepares for the playoffs, drawing McNulty in the first round.
• The team is flat during practice and Coach Taylor is on Smash as hard as ever.
• An inspired and motivated Smash leads the team in the pre-game locker room prayer and speech.

Unanswered questions.

Plot holes.

Quote of the episode.

“Sometimes we take this so seriously, we lose track of why it is we love this damn game so much, why it is we play this game. I’m guilty of that.” - Coach Taylor

Clear eyes. Full heart. Can’t Lose. official counter: 15

Texas Forever official counter: 4

Riggins quitting the team official counter: 1

Coach Taylor calling Landry ‘Lance’ official counter: 2

Jason’s job aspirations: quad-rugby player