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Friday Night Lights Rundown: Episode 15, "May the Best Man Win"

BuzzSugar — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 11:32:37 -0800

It was impossible for me to watch the most recent Friday Night Lights without feeling dread that it could be the last one ever. This episode wasn't meant to be a finale, season or series; it was just episode number 15 of 22, tying up a few stories and starting others — others that were meant to be finished later and now might never be.

I know I'm sounding doomsday, and to be fair, there's some vaguely encouraging news about the possibility of FNL moving to another network. There are also several campaigns underway to save the show; stay tuned for more on those later. But for now, to talk about what might be the end of FNL (sob), just

Friday Night Lights Rundown: Episode 14, "Leave No One Behind"

BuzzSugar — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 15:31:25 -0800

I haven't exactly been shy about the fact that Friday Night Lights occasionally makes me cry, but the waterworks reached a new level after watching Friday's episode. Part of that was the episode itself, but part of it was the context: This was the next-to-last episode the show finished before the writers' strike started, and even if the strike ends soon, there's no telling if the show will go back into production. (It's probably safe to say things don't look good.) As a result, this episode felt very much like the end to me. Did anyone else need a tissue and a hug? We can talk about it if you

Friday Night Lights Rundown: Episode 12, "Who Do You Think You Are?"

BuzzSugar — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 08:30:39 -0800

This week's Friday Night Lights wasn't the most subtle episode of the show, with its twin themes of separation and prejudice leaving their mark on almost every story line. But amid the occasional heavy-handed nonsense, there were some interesting developments for Smash, Tami, and even Matt (finally). Want to read my thoughts and add your own? Just

Friday Night Lights Rundown: Episode 11, "Jumping the Gun"

BuzzSugar — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 08:15:00 -0800

Friday Night Lights just can't seem to have its characters stop breaking the law this season, can it? Granted, the criminal twist in "Jumping the Gun" seemed more believable than a lot of the Landry/Tyra murder plot, but still, I'm a little surprised. That plot was just a minor part of Friday's packed episode, though, which featured Smash having to make a decision about a college and Coaches Taylor and Dickes facing off in a major game. To read my thoughts and share your own, just

Friday Night Lights Rundown: Episode 10, "There Goes the Neighborhood"

BuzzSugar — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 11:34:40 -0800

Wow, did I go on a rant during the first commercial break of the most recent Friday Night Lights. First a murder plot, now a horribly fake CGI tornado? What was this show coming to?

But this time, I needn't have worried. Yes, the tornado was pretty awful — but it set up a story that put football front and center at last. The rest of the episode outweighed the cheesiness of the setup, so to talk about it (spoilers and all) just

Friday Night Lights Rundown: Episode 9, "Confession"

BuzzSugar — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 08:30:00 -0800

Friday Night Lights is one of the few, fortunate shows that has several more episodes stored up to get through the Hollywood writers' strike. Nonetheless, Friday night's episode felt like the end of a chapter. On the one hand, I'm glad to see some of these stories end; on the other, it felt like a little too much, too fast. To read my thoughts and add your own, just

Friday Night Lights Rundown: Episode 8, "Seeing Other People"

BuzzSugar — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 10:36:42 -0800

NBC's promos for the most recent episode of Friday Night Lights promised this would be the episode where Landry's morals got the best of him, driving him to confess to murder. But in reality, that was the smallest part of Friday's episode, which leaned more on strong moments from the Taylor family and one of the best comedic subplots of the season. The ending left us with plenty to discuss before next week's episode, so without further ado, let's get to it. Just

Friday Night Lights Rundown: Episode 7, "Pantherama"

BuzzSugar — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 07:30:41 -0800

The latest installment of Friday Night Lights reminded us of two very important things: Smash still exists, and Dillon High students occasionally go to class. Who'd have thought?

The episode was one of the lightest of the season — maybe too light. But it still had some great moments, including the redemption of Buddy Garrity. (Again: Who'd have thought?) To read my take, just

Friday Night Lights Rundown: Episode 6, "How Did I Get Here?"

BuzzSugar — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 05:30:00 -0800

This week's episode of Friday Night Lights was a particularly intricate one, with stories weaving in and out of each other throughout the hour. For the second week in a row, I think the show was up to the high standard of season one — and yes, that even includes the murder story. It's still not the road I would have taken for the show, but this week's episode brought some intriguing fallout. It also brought Tami's sister, a new Dillon cheerleader, and a militant soccer coach into the mix, so to see how they fit into the FNL universe, just

Friday Night Lights Rundown: Episode 5, "Let's Get It On"

BuzzSugar — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 07:30:03 -0800

Hey, now that's more like it! In my view, the latest episode of Friday Night Lights was easily the best of the season so far, dispatching one controversial plotline, making new headway with another, and — most of all — getting inside the lives and heads of these characters we've come to love. To hear my thoughts on the episode and share yours, just

Friday Night Lights Rundown: Episode 4, "Backfire"

BuzzSugar — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 11:25:52 -0700

It seems like everyone's talking about how Friday Night Lights just isn't as good this season, with the murder plot and the Mexico trip and Coach being away. I've had my complaints, too. But I loved the latest episode (with one exception — but I'll get to that in a minute). And the amazing thing was, the story that I liked the most was the one I was prepared to truly hate. To see what I'm talking about, just

Friday Night Lights Rundown: Episode 3, "Are You Ready for Friday Night?"

BuzzSugar — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 12:58:40 -0700

Last week, everything was starting to fall apart on Friday Night Lights. But that was nothing compared to this week's episode, which plunged everyone into full-out crises. There were a lot of story lines to cover — with varying amounts of good and "wha?" — but the heart of the show is always the Taylor family, and right now they are in t-r-o-u-b-l-e. To read my thoughts on the episode and share your own, just

Friday Night Lights Rundown: Episode 2, "Bad Ideas"

BuzzSugar — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 08:30:05 -0700

Friday Night Lights sure is shaking things up this season. With Coach Taylor in Austin, Tami dealing with a new baby, Julie going after the Swede, and of course that crazy plot twist with Landry and Tyra, Dillon is looking a lot different right now. To talk about this episode, just

"Friday Night Lights" Rundown: Episode 1, "Last Days of Summer"

BuzzSugar — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 07:30:00 -0700

Oh, "Friday Night Lights," it's good to have you back. This episode had a lot of what makes "FNL" so brilliant — but it also had one major moment that took the show down a new, and pretty controversial, path. If you're ready to talk about the episode, just

"Friday Night Lights" Recap: Episode 22, "State"

BuzzSugar — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 12:06:39 -0700

I think I've pulled myself together enough to write this recap, but I have a box of tissues here just in case, because "Friday Night Lights" finale had me in a puddle all night on Wednesday. This show needs to go on to produce years and years of moving-but-not-sappy television and win a zillion Emmys. But even if this does end up being the show's final episode, I could survive; this was a satisfying ending.

To be honest, this episode easily could — and maybe should — have been two hours long. There were a lot of storylines to tie up, and the football game needed more time than usual, which made some of the surrounding action feel rushed. But the finale certainly did justice to the town of Dillon that I've come to know and love. If you're ready for all the details,

"Friday Night Lights" Recap: Episode 21, "Best Laid Plans"

BuzzSugar — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 11:25:17 -0700

A terrible thought kept dogging me all through this episode of "Friday Night Lights": What if this is the next-to-last time I get to watch Matt and Jason and Lyla and stupid Buddy Garrity and, most of all, the Taylors? I watch a lot of TV, and I really can't say I've ever been more attached to a series. If you agree, vote in Kristin's poll, visit Fight for Lights, and do whatever else you can think of to keep this show on the air.

Now, onto business.

It's the morning before Coach is scheduled to visit TMU, and Tami wakes up with a bad feeling about moving. She asks him not to commit to anything. Speaking of not committing, Riggins and Jackie are in bed together when Bo starts knocking on the door, so Tim sneaks out through the bedroom window. For the rest of the details,

"Friday Night Lights" Recap: Episode 20, "Mud Bowl"

BuzzSugar — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 11:55:29 -0700

Well, "Friday Night Lights" sure knows how to kick us in the stomach, huh? With three episodes left in the season, Jason finally got angry, Lyla finally pushed back, and Smash finally broke down. And that was all before the last few minutes, which mixed euphoric joy with a sad twist I never saw coming.

It's a few days before the game that will decide whether the Panthers go to the state championship and face the team led by Voodoo "tangential plotline" Tatum. Coach spots Jason coaching Matt in an empty field. Buddy has a huge logo for his dealership painted on the stadium (I'm sorry we didn't get to see his reaction to Lyla's smash-up), and Matt finds an envelope full of cash in his locker, which Coach assumes must be Buddy's doing. To see what happens from there,

"Friday Night Lights" Recap: Episode 19, "Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes"

BuzzSugar — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 11:10:03 -0700

If "Friday Night Lights" is going down this season, it won't be without a fight. After a couple of weeks off, the show came back with big moments for all of the characters: Jason hearing about his future with quad rugby, Lyla facing her dad's infidelity, Julie finding out her family might be moving, Smash getting serious about Waverly's troubles, Tyra deciding she can break her family's mold. It was good stuff, and some of it had me sobbing like that girl from "American Idol." For the rundown,

"Friday Night Lights" Recap: Episode 18, "Extended Families"

BuzzSugar — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 12:02:17 -0800

I’m sure there was a deep theme about biological and emotional families in this episode of "Friday Night Lights", but the more obvious one to me was: Everything Buddy Garrity touches turns to poo. Most of this episode — all of the episodes are now online, by the way — focuses on the aftermath of Buddy’s affair with Tyra’s mom, with a few forays into the worlds of Riggins and Smash. The episode built up slowly, but by the end it was one of my favorites. To hear why,

"Friday Night Lights" Recap: Episode 17, "I Think We Should Have Sex"

BuzzSugar — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 12:24:20 -0800

Where does a show that’s already tackled racism, paralysis, drugs and broken families go next? Ah yes: teen sex.

In some ways, this was also an episode about trust and what happens when it’s broken — between Julie and the Taylors, Tim and his dad, and Buddy and his wife. And “Friday Night Lights” can pull off those quiet dramas better than almost any other show on TV, so

"Friday Night Lights" Recap: Episode 16, "Black Eyes and Broken Hearts"

BuzzSugar — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 12:04:16 -0800

If last week's episode of "Friday Night Lights" was all about the Dillon Panthers as a family, then this week's was more about the Taylors themselves. We’ve always seen how football conflicts spill over into Coach’s home life, but now he also a suddenly wayward daughter to deal with, right when things on the field are at their most intense. Of course, we have to deal with last week’s cliffhanger of a walkout, too, so to see what happens,

"Friday Night Lights" Recap: Episode 15, "Blinders"

BuzzSugar — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 11:10:55 -0800

An episode focusing on the uproar over a white coach's racially insensitive remarks is perfectly in character for "Friday Night Lights"; after all, one of the show's hallmarks is exposing the unspoken tensions that run through our lives. I’m just glad they waited until this point in the season to bring it out; unlike the Reyes vs. Voodoo episode earlier this year, we really care about these characters now. We care about the friendship between Smash and Matt, and we care about the rivalry between Smash and Riggins, and we care when these kids who have coexisted mostly peacefully until now come up against something that could tear them apart. This episode gave me chills, so

"Friday Night Lights" Recap: Episode 14, "Upping the Ante"

BuzzSugar — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 10:55:46 -0800

The Panthers finally prepare for their first playoff game on this week's "Friday Night Lights," and everything seems to be getting more intense — the practices, the pressure, and especially the teen angst. Jason takes a stand against Buddy, Julie strikes up a friendship with Tyra, the Streets and Coach meet in court for the first time, and Matt gives in to some shirtless hot-tub action with the rally girls. There was so much going on in this episode, in fact, that I wished it had been a two-parter, because it felt a little rushed. As it was, it was an action-packed hour, so for the scoop,

"Friday Night Lights" Recap: Episode 13, "Little Girl I Want to Marry You"

BuzzSugar — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 10:26:49 -0800

It was the night of a million tangential plotlines on this week's "Friday Night Lights." The Panthers have to win another game to make the playoffs, which I really thought they already did. The mayor reveals a secret, Tyra gives her mom a lesson in women's empowerment, and Smash gets busted. Oh, and there's the little matter of that proposal. For the scoop on Wednesday's episode,

"Friday Night Lights" Recap: Episode 12, "What to Do While You're Waiting"

BuzzSugar — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 13:26:49 -0800

What exactly do you do while you're waiting to learn whether your football team makes the playoffs? Why, you file a lawsuit, battle domestic abuse, and go to the rodeo — at least according to this week's episode of "Friday Night Lights."

We start with glimpses into each of this episode's storylines: The Panthers' season depends on the outcome of a Friday game between Arnett Mead — the team from the rivalry week episode — and Buckley. Smash is still trying (and failing) to date Waverly. Matt's dad says he's leaving the Army to stay home with Matt and Grandma, Tyra gets fed up with her mom's abusive boyfriend, and Coach finds out he's being sued by Jason's family. Gee, that game doesn't seem so important now, does it?

Jason finds out about the lawsuit from a headline in the newspaper, and he yells at his parents that now he's not just paralyzed, he's also the town pariah. His mom tells him that they need the money, and if Coach had taught Jason to tackle, he might not have gotten hurt.

For more juicy details and pictures,

"Friday Night Lights" Recap: Episode 11, "Nevermind"

BuzzSugar — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 13:04:34 -0800

First of all, here's some good news: NBC still has all the full episodes of "Friday Night Lights" online, including last night's. So if you missed it over the holidays or forgot the show had moved to Wednesdays, here's a chance to catch up.

And you'll want to catch up, because "Nevermind" is a doozy: Lyla and Jason get back together, Matt's dad comes home from Iraq, and Coach Taylor gets an offer from the University of Texas — right before his current quarterback almost loses the Panthers' big game.

We start with Jason wheeling himself down to the record store, where he runs into Lyla for maybe the first time since he showed up at her cheerleading competition. They flirt adorably and end up back at Jason's, where they have super-clumsy attempted sex. It ends when Jason realizes he's not completely sure how his paralyzed body, uh, works.

Over at Matt's, Grandma babbles about Matt's dad being home, and he keeps reminding her that dad is in Iraq — until he looks outside. It turns out his dad has gotten a two-week leave and is home to help straighten out things with Grandma's care.

At school, Riggins gets called into Tami's office, because his teachers are worried he'll fail his midterms. He protests that they're two games away from the playoffs, and if he fails, he can't play football. Tami decides to find him an English tutor: Landry, Matt's geeky best friend.

To see what happens from there,

Season Recap: "Friday Night Lights"

BuzzSugar — Wed, 27 Dec 2006 07:00:08 -0800

"Friday Night Lights," which started its first season this fall, takes us to the heart of Dillon, Texas, an impoverished town that doesn't have much going for it besides its high school football stars. The mayor speaks at pep rallies, the radio stations constantly chatter about the team, and the fans will settle for nothing less than a state championship.

Coach Eric Taylor took over as the new coach of the Dillon Panthers this season and immediately faced a tragedy when star quarterback Jason Street was paralyzed making a tackle. Since then, Dillon has struggled to rally around the team, questioning the coach's decisions and facing the reality that even the best Panther players are just teenagers trying to muddle their way through high school.

Here are some of the highlights so far:

Jason's girlfriend, cheerleader Lyla Garrity, stays perky and positive even in the aftermath of Jason's injury. But the pressures of being the supportive girlfriend ultimately get to her, and she somehow ends up in the arms — and the bed — of Jason's teammate and best friend, Tim Riggins, who blames himself for Jason's botched tackle.
Gawky sophomore Matt Saracen takes over at quarterback and becomes at least competent, leading the team to a winning record. His new status as a team star causes some tension with his old nerdy friends. He also takes a liking to the coach's bookish daughter, Julie, who returns his affections — much to the dismay of Coach Taylor, who can't deal with his daughter dating at all, but especially not dating one of his players.

Two more, so

Friday Night Lights Recap: Episode 10, "It's Different for Girls"

BuzzSugar — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 14:56:23 -0800

As much as I love "Friday Night Lights," I admit the promos for this episode had me worried. Maybe it had something to do with Minka Kelly totally overacting Lyla's big line, "You're all that I have in the whole" (pause, gasp, sob) "world!" Luckily, the rest of the episode doesn't plunge to that level of melodrama. But there is a lot going on, as the whole school turns on Lyla for sleeping with Riggins, Jason moves home from the rehab facility, and Smash randomly takes a shine to his preacher's daughter. Oh, and Julie and Matt kiss, a development Coach Taylor simply cannot handle.

Virtually all of this week's action happens off the football field, and it starts at Lyla's locker, which has been tagged with "slut" and other such graffiti. Apparently Dillon High School gets nasty when you sleep with your paralyzed boyfriend's best friend.

Cut to the cuteness that is Matt and Julie. Julie tells Matt he'll have to stand up to her dad if he wants to keep dating her, and Matt says that's not going to happen - it's bad enough to deal with your girlfriend's father, but when he's also your football coach and you're the quarterback? Yikes. Matt says he's sorry for boldly kissing Julie last week, and Julie accepts the apology by planting one on Matt's lips right there at her locker.

Meanwhile, Jason wheels into his house on the ramp his dad built, and he glances over the football trophies on his dresser before spotting a picture of him and Lyla. Disgusted, he turns it over and slams it in a drawer. There's more to come with Jason and Lyla, so