Friday Night Lights 1.09-1.12

[bop_radar]

So I'm all caught up on Friday Night Lights. *bounces* Everyone was right: I now officially love Matt. And Matt and Julie as a couple--they're too cute for words and such good-hearted kids. The episode where Matt's dad came back from Iraq made me very edgy--I really wanted Matt to get free of his father, so I was a little surprised by the twist that had him stay in town for a while... not sure what I thought of that, other than that it gave us the chance to see that Matt's father is not a complete monster, just weak. In the face of such parenting, Matt's an angel. It's far far simpler to sink into anger with a difficult parent than to admit, at that age, that they're doing their best. Hell, it's taken me nearly 30 years to admit that about my parents... Matt, I tip my hat to you!

I also love Tyra now--I loved her in 1.12--she was so wonderful with her mother and I love that she didn't take Tim back, just bit back the tears and shook her head in dismay. She's so wonderfully strong, yet so frustrated by her life. And I may have got a little tear when her mother chose her not the loser guy.

And I love this Waverley (sp?) chick! She's the best thing to happen to Smash's plot yet. I love that she's intelligent and feisty and mocks his use of the third-person. I love that she's not a pushover. It was hilarious that Smash claimed he hung out with Matt and Julie--I'm glad W saw through that in an instant. Hope we get more of her, she's excellent value!

Tim's being challenged in his favourite status, but I did adore the plot about his English paper. Oh, how much money would I give to read that?! *g* It was hilarious that he went to Landry's band's concert as well. Oh, Tim! And I liked the way we saw his acceptance of the bullying, but his defence of Lyla.

My least favourite episode so far was definitely the cheerleading one--no surprises there. I have to second Julie in her opinion that it's the only thing more pointless than football. And don't get me started about how this woman's 'sport' exists only in relation to and in support of a male sport. The farce of having the football team (so patronisingly gracious) support the women--for a week, oh how GENEROUS--just made it worse. So I cringed. And I didn't really buy that Lyla did care that much about cheering--who could? But again, that could be the weak actress not selling it to me. Meh. (Clarification: I don't mean to diss the dedication required by cheerleaders or their athleticism--it's incredible--but why it has to be about men is beyond me. Just ditch the pom poms and call it gymnastics already!)

Jason's plot has evolved further than I ever expected it to. When he returned home I suddenly realised that we were really going to see his journey over a long time--somehow until I thought we might settle into a bit of a status quo with Jason in the hospital. In moving home, new issues have arisen in Jason's plot that makes me appreciate the writing/direction even more. The sueing of Coach is a really challenging one. Ouch! Wow--America's litigious culture strikes again. I thought they did a good job of explaining why the parents felt so trapped into this decision, which certainly is an unappealing and unsympathetic one. But I'm a little foggy on what the grounds are: so Coach didn't give Jason any tackling training? Er... that sounds a bit implausible for a sport based on running into people? I'm clearly missing a subtelty here. *frowns*

Oh, and Tami is so great! I loved it when Julie came home and told her parents she loved them and Tami realised something terrible must have happened while Coach just say there going 'aww!'. Hee!

Anyway, much love all round for this show. YAY!

I've finished A Storm of Swords at last and am now scouring Melbourne for Book 4. Yes, queenofthorns, I was very much converted to Jaime by the end of the novel! *g*

I saw 'Babel' the other day--it wasn't bad, but I thought it was self-indulgent in places and needed a tighter edit. Looking forward to seeing Cate Blanchett in a few more movies this year--I know she's got a lot coming out. Hopefully she'll have more to do than just writhe in pain in the next ones. ;-)

Comments

[random-serious.livejournal.com]

FNL rules!! Even though I hate the culture football etc. promotes (I know, I know, we've had this conversation.) I still haven't seen the newest episode, so I am sticking my neck out based on 1.11....

Regarding Saracen Sr., I think he has a bad bad case of John Wincester-itis: he makes decisions/ prefers choices that involve "manly man" macho bullshit "action" because it is easier to be emotionally blunt drill sergeant (and reactionary and authorative: in conrol and expecting obediance and "success" and more manageable life as a result of having that control) than actually try and cooperate with others and mold as circumstances allow and demand, and thus not always being the big man in control... Both daddies strike me as people who depend on the social standing (John: alpha male hunting dog, Henry: a respected soldier, who has a function and a place ina group and a spesific task to do, and thus an end in sight, with rewards, rather than the ungrateful and grating task with no reward that await him at home -I think that's how he sees it, even if he might not realise it, IMO-)

OK, that sounded bad. I know both daddies do/ did their best, but I think they fail to notice or consider that there isn't just one thing that is the best choice.

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

John Winchester-itis = hee! I should tell you now that I DETEST Papa Winchester. :-) I think that's a great observation.

I think they fail to notice or consider that there isn't just one thing that is the best choice.
Mmm, or they are just very rigid and inflexible--have limited themselves to a narrow range of defined actions/roles. And if I was being bitchy, I'd say that they lash out at others when asked to step beyond those roles. Of course they are men of their upbringing/era, and they've been made that way, but they're also limited men who at some stage chose to remain inflexible, even when it meant hurting their families. They probably feel trapped, as if they have no choice, as if they are making the best of their 'destiny'. But that's a bullshit excuse for crap behaviour, imo. They lack the greatness that would lead them to look honestly at a situation and make the honourable decision no matter how hard for them... a greatness that Matt does NOT lack. *snuggles Matt*

[random-serious.livejournal.com]

I know. they saty inflexible because they are too afraid to chalenge the manly man crap they've been fed and then internalised. Also, I think they are both (John and Henry) adddicted to their own "misery": the rewards and attention and feeling of martyrdom one gets are totally different in the manly man action choice ("I live the hard life by hunting/ soldiering, and I can feel good about that... it's sort fo asketism that proves I am a good, useful human. Oh, I am so tragic, and so worthy of accolades, even if I would never ask them.") and in the "domestic" choice of child-rearing/ taking care of the elderly/ sick.

Can you tell, I too absolutely detest John Winchester and he choices he's made?

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Noooooooooo! *fakes shock* ;-) Yup, all that crap. Grr.