Friday Night Lights -- Season Three

[Shade]

Anyone else on DirectTV and watching this show? Four episodes in and I am SO in love. The show is really firing on all cylinders again and is just spot on fantastic.

Anyone else out there catching these episodes or is most everyone stuck waiting for NBC to get them on?

Any discussion should I guess be in spoiler tags.

[tlp0708]

I don't have DirecTV. I miss my FNL! I hear it's better than last season!

[Deathstroke]

I don't have DirectTV so I'll be waiting until the episodes get shown on NBC.

[mr.brighteyes]

Major news. Tami is now the principle of Dillon High (How the heck did that happen). Matt, Lilah, Landry, Tyra and Riggens are all just now seniors. Though i Riggens case I assume thats because he didn't care. There is a new kid in town threatening to take Matt's spot and the school has massive problems with their budget.

Billy and Tyra's sister get engaged and The coaches daughter wants her own car. Smash is worried about his speed not coming back after the injury last season and there is no Jason Street in sight. (Except in the highlight reel but that doesn't count.

Lilah and Riggens are together and make out in public at the party after the game and Tyra and Landry are not a couple but they still hang out like they are.

My thoughts.

Not that I miss him but where is Street. I was surprised by his absense. Tami being the principle was a little jarring. It seems to come ou of no where and I am sure we are going to have plenty of stories about the staff resenting her for that fact.

My thoughts

[Shade]

One of the FEW advantages of DirectTV is that I JUST finished watching the Season 3 finale a few days ago. This show is so beautifully done. All the things you talk about will have VERY satisfying resolutions and will bring tears...of sorrw and joy to your eyes through out. This is the best show on television and they totally rock back on track after the Season 2 mistakes. If I could marry a tv show (im sure there is a Prop against that) I would marry this one and make sweet love to it, because it has my heart.

[mr.brighteyes]

Does Street come back. I really hope he doesn't.

[joemagnum611]

I dont have Direct TV but I watched the whole season online and can only say that it was awesome. Quick question. When did Street become older than Riggins? I thought that they were the same age. Besides that I really hope that the show comes back for at least one last season

[jeriscratch]

Does Street come back. I really hope he doesn't.

Highlight for spoilers:

He does. But then he goes away for good later on. It's pretty touching, his last episode.

[Gilda Dent]

I just caught the premier episode on Hulu.

The subplot with Tyra and her college prospects is irritating. There are more options than go to a top school or end up stuck in a dead-end job there in Dillon. There are smaller four-year colleges with less stringent entrance requirements and there are community colleges, which aren't an educational dead end, as both Tyra and the counselor seemed to think. There's this thing called transferring; you go to the community college for a year or two and transfer to the major university.

The counselor was a jerk about how he went about telling Tyra about her choices, but that doesn't mean he was wrong. A better approach would have been, "Sure, let's apply to these big schools, but just in case, let's look at community college as a back up in case you don't get in, and you can always transfer later if you get the grades there."

Likewise with Smash. There are more choices than go to school on a football scholarship or work at a fast food place. There are smaller four-year schools, community colleges, many of which have football programs and are ideal for a student looking for a bridge to a bigger school. There's walking on. There's even going to school without football, going for the education.

Riggins being a senior this year doesn't seem to work in terms of timeline. It can't be because he failed a year; eligibility doesn't work that way. Unless Texas has a red shirt system, Riggins was a sophomore in season 1, which doesn't seem to jibe with my memories of things. Dramatically, I can see the need for some continuity, so I'm willing to go with it.

Tammy being principal likewise doesn't make logical sense, but I can forgive that for the dramatic possibilities it presents.

[Shade]

I just caught the premier episode on Hulu.

The subplot with Tyra and her college prospects is irritating. There are more options than go to a top school or end up stuck in a dead-end job there in Dillon. There are smaller four-year colleges with less stringent entrance requirements and there are community colleges, which aren't an educational dead end, as both Tyra and the counselor seemed to think. There's this thing called transferring; you go to the community college for a year or two and transfer to the major university.

The counselor was a jerk about how he went about telling Tyra about her choices, but that doesn't mean he was wrong. A better approach would have been, "Sure, let's apply to these big schools, but just in case, let's look at community college as a back up in case you don't get in, and you can always transfer later if you get the grades there."

Likewise with Smash. There are more choices than go to school on a football scholarship or work at a fast food place. There are smaller four-year schools, community colleges, many of which have football programs and are ideal for a student looking for a bridge to a bigger school. There's walking on. There's even going to school without football, going for the education.

Riggins being a senior this year doesn't seem to work in terms of timeline. It can't be because he failed a year; eligibility doesn't work that way. Unless Texas has a red shirt system, Riggins was a sophomore in season 1, which doesn't seem to jibe with my memories of things. Dramatically, I can see the need for some continuity, so I'm willing to go with it.

Tammy being principal likewise doesn't make logical sense, but I can forgive that for the dramatic possibilities it presents.

Alot of the timeline stuff doesn't work out. I prefer that they just ignore trying to explain it and tell good stories which I think they have.

Tyra and Smash's situations are part of the whole show, knowing only what you know and believing there is no escape from Devil Town...and the options you have are limited. Doesn't make it true, but it's the mindset of small down Texas football that the show has built around since Season 1.

[Gilda Dent]

Alot of the timeline stuff doesn't work out. I prefer that they just ignore trying to explain it and tell good stories which I think they have.

Tyra and Smash's situations are part of the whole show, knowing only what you know and believing there is no escape from Devil Town...and the options you have are limited. Doesn't make it true, but it's the mindset of small down Texas football that the show has built around since Season 1.

It's pretty obvious Dillon isn't a small town. They're 5A, for one thing, which means a medium-sized city at a minimum.

I understand that these characters want to get out of Dillon, that's obvious in their character arcs, but it's just as obvious that there is more than one path out of town. Going to a big name four-year university isn't the only choice, and Tyra at least, given the grades she's gotten once she started applying herself, is smart enough to be able to understand this.

Dropping out of school if she can't get into a big state university would be stupid, and Tyra isn't stupid.

[Deathstroke]

So am I the only one disappointed that Tyra and Landry aren't together anymore?

[Gilda Dent]

So am I the only one disappointed that Tyra and Landry aren't together anymore?

I thought they made a good couple.

That could be because it was the socially awkward nerd with the tall, sexy, popular, girl, and I'm projecting a little.

[Shellhead]

I'm doing the television equivalent of trade-waiting... instead of paying for cable just to watch a couple of shows, I buy the season boxed sets. However, I did briefly glimpse some remarks in this thread about FNL season three. Did this show jump the shark? Or is it still one of the very best tv shows of recent years?

[Shade]

I'm doing the television equivalent of trade-waiting... instead of paying for cable just to watch a couple of shows, I buy the season boxed sets. However, I did briefly glimpse some remarks in this thread about FNL season three. Did this show jump the shark? Or is it still one of the very best tv shows of recent years?

Season two came very close to jumping the shark in my opinion, but season 3 is very close to the greatness of season 1.

[Subotai]

S2 was the weakest season, but there are some mithril flakes to be found, including:

-Chris Mulkey as the tough replacement for Coach Taylor;
-Glenn Morshower as Landry's benevolent cop dad;
-The scene in episode 6 where Street gives his game tapes to Coach Taylor, saying goodbye forever to a life of football, and breaking Coach Taylor's heart;
-The fantastic scene in episode 14 where Smash gives an awesome speech set to Explosions in the Sky, 'The Moon is Down';
-Joel Oglesby as Riggins' one-time pot-bellied, meth-cooking, hilarious housemate;
-The usual fantastic acting and directing.

FNL suffered more than most shows from the writer's strike, with the entire exclusion of the last 3rd of the season, the playoffs. Subtract the murder plot and add that last 3rd, no one mentions the words jumping the shark.

But FNL, a show which has been on the bubble especially since Kevin Reilly left NBC, needs to be seen live; not just because much of the terrific music is removed for the DVDs, but when you have such a terrific show getting less than 5 million viewers per week, every little bit helps.

Terrific interview with producer Berg here - sorry, can't remember if there are S3 spoilers in it.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espnradio/podcast/feeds/itunes/podCast?id=2864045

[EZMOHR]

Season 3 started out pretty weak for me (save the Smash parts.) But once Street came around, Riggins became a real character finally after three seasons, and they again focused on the Taylors...it got back to season one great. People are in for a treat with Season 3 once NBC shows it.

Some writer the other day had a good quote about Taylor Kitsch that I find pretty appropriate. He isn't a great actor by any stretch of the imagination. But, the guy has the "it" factor to be a movie star one day. Riggins was always a bad character for my taste...just totally unbelievable. But, Kitsch is a good enough actor to make the character at least fun to watch. The guy has a good career in front of him.

[Shellhead]

Season 3 started out pretty weak for me (save the Smash parts.) But once Street came around, Riggins became a real character finally after three seasons, and they again focused on the Taylors...it got back to season one great. People are in for a treat with Season 3 once NBC shows it.

Some writer the other day had a good quote about Taylor Kitsch that I find pretty appropriate. He isn't a great actor by any stretch of the imagination. But, the guy has the "it" factor to be a movie star one day. Riggins was always a bad character for my taste...just totally unbelievable. But, Kitsch is a good enough actor to make the character at least fun to watch. The guy has a good career in front of him.

I'm stunned to discover that Kitsch is from British Columbia.

[Subotai]

On a comic-book note, in a 3rd-season episode, Riggins wakes up and there's an X-Man comic placed prominently on the nightstand next to him. Heh.:cool:

[Subotai]

My pipe dream is that Berg grabs the rights to Preacher and casts Kitsch as Jesse.

[EZMOHR]

My pipe dream is that Berg grabs the rights to Preacher and casts Kitsch as Jesse.

Well....lets hit the breaks on that right about........now, and hope Kitsch gets some nice, decent roles that expand him as an actor, and see what he can do.

[Subotai]

Under 4 million viewers last night.

[EZMOHR]

Under 4 million viewers last night.

Plus the close to 1 million that watched the episode already on DirectTV.

[mr.brighteyes]

decent episode. who played matt's mom? anyone know?

[mr.brighteyes]

I watched last weeks episode finally and thought it was pretty decent despite an appearance by Jason Street his gf and their kid Noah.

Poor Matt getting benched like that. I figured it would happen but still sucks.

And I like grape Jelly

[Deathstroke]

decent episode. who played matt's mom? anyone know?

His mom is played by Kim Dickens. I think she did some of those late night cable titty movies but she is probably now best known for being that Madam on Deadwood.


I watched last weeks episode finally and thought it was pretty decent despite an appearance by Jason Street his gf and their kid Noah.

Poor Matt getting benched like that. I figured it would happen but still sucks.

And I like grape Jelly

I like grape jelly too. And I think they got Matt's reaction to his benching note perfect.

[mr.brighteyes]

His mom is played by Kim Dickens. I think she did some of those late night cable titty movies but she is probably now best known for being that Madam on Deadwood.




I like grape jelly too. And I think they got Matt's reaction to his benching note perfect.



Hey I don't watch late night titty movies... She was Cassidy Philips on Lost (Sawyer's GF/Hurley's Lotto Girl/Kate's Friend.

[mr.brighteyes]

Yay one more episode and Street is finally gone. I love that Matt is playing receiver now especially since Riggens just gets up and leaves town for days at a time ignoring the fact that he has practice.

[Subotai]

Praise the football gods!

http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2009/03/its-official-fr.html?xid=partner-cnn-todayslatest-%27Friday+Night+Lights%27+safe!

[Deathstroke]

I'm pretty happy about the renewal but sad that we are going to be losing so many of the cast that make the show worth watching.

Now I just have to get around to watching the two most recent episodes.

[Shade]

I'm pretty happy about the renewal but sad that we are going to be losing so many of the cast that make the show worth watching.

Now I just have to get around to watching the two most recent episodes.


Do we know at this point who of the cast we would be losing?

[Subotai]

I think it's all up in the air - but Katims gives an interview here with some info (BEWARE - end of S3 spoilers!)

http://www.tvguidemagazine.com/what-the-keck/exclusive-scoop-on-fnls-two-new-seasons-474.html

[EZMOHR]

Great news about the show. So, we are gonna have what...The Taylors, Landry, and the McCoys only from last year. Maybe the Riggins and Matt back ala Street and Smash. I'm cool with that. Although, I wish they would leave Riggins character alone. The last 6 episodes with him, and Billy's talk at the wedding was the perfect ending for Riggins arc.

[mr.brighteyes]

We definitely need some new blood for next season. Are you sure Landry will be back I assumed he was the same age as Matt but then I thought Matt was the same age as Julie

I think http://www.splendicity.com/files/101/2007/12/corbin-bleu.jpg Corbin Bleu would be a good cross between the characters of Riggens and Smash and he has enough of a teen girl following that it might draw in an audience.

http://www.daemonstv.com/images/abc/kirsten_prout_interview1.jpg Is one of may favorite young actresses since the Elektra movie and her show Kyle XY just ended so I think it would be nice to see her get some work.

I think the idea of a female attempting to join the team shaking things up would be a good idea but I don't think it will happen it's too cliche and its been done too many times.

I haven't seen the end of the season yet.

[Gilda Dent]

I was mostly happy with the last couple of episodes.

Little stuff bugs me, but little stuff always does.

Nitpicky stuff that bugged me a little:


Why does nearly every game have to come down to the last play? This is a dramatic device that works well in a movie, but it starts to feel forced in a TV show.
Dillon High School is said to have about 2000 students in the discussions of redistricting. This would make it one of the smallest 5a schools in Texas, barely big enough to be 5a. They wouldn't have been playing one of the largest schools in Texas, they'd be in Division 2.
Going on from the redistricting thing, if the student population is split, this wouldn't really handicap Dillon much, as dropping from 2000 to about 1000 students would also drop them from a small 5a school to a small 4a school; they'd be playing primarily smaller 4a schools instead of their current roster of opponents.
Why was there even any discussion on calling the abuse hotline? They didn't just suspect abuse of a student, they were eyewitnesses to it. There is no question, no discussion. You call the hotline.
They really need to gradually introduce a few younger students each season so that they don't end up with a mass exodus and replacement each year. A football team is going to have some seniors, some juniors, even at this size school, some sophomores. Introduce a couple of characters each year, graduate a couple. It makes much more sense than introducing a whole group, following the entire group for three years, then replacing them wholesale. School sports don't work that way.


But, as I said, that's all nitpick stuff. The character development, the relationships, the depictions of the difficulties at home for every major character, all that overrides the little nagging stuff.

Tyra and Landry's story this episode was my favorite. Two moments stood out--Landry asking Tyra what changed, and then Tyra reading her essay in the hotel room. I actually teared up a bit at the latter bit.

[Deathstroke]

Tyra and Landry's story this episode was my favorite. Two moments stood out--Landry asking Tyra what changed, and then Tyra reading her essay in the hotel room. I actually teared up a bit at the latter bit.

Tyra and Landry are so well matched it is a shame that they will most likely NOT end up together.

The essay was great.