Friday Night Lights: Season 4 Premiere

 Once again Peter Berg and Jason Katims prove why Friday Night Lights is perhaps the best show on television right now.  Season four brings us back to Dillon, Texas or better yet East Dillon and folks lets just say the Lions have a long way to go before they reach greatness.  Which can we all agree that there is nothing better than watching the underdog prevail?  For a minute there, just a minute mind you, I was worried that I might feel torn between my beloved Panthers and my newly beloved Lions.  But then I realized that it wasn’t the Panthers that I loved, it was the players, the people, and of course the coach.  They weren’t my Panthers any more.  They belonged to someone else and you know what?  They can have them.  Because if there is one thing tonight’s episode showed me and that was no matter what the Panthers were nothing without Coach Taylor. 

    What happened to sweet little JD?  Last season he was this delicate little boy who needed protecting from the big bad world.  he was shy and quiet and even a little submissive.  But boy how a year can change things, he seems to be channelling DW Moffett’s  arrogant smirk (whom I love to hate by the way).  Now he is arrogant, self assured, and apparently a dog considering he was hitting on Julie even though he knew she was dating Matt.  Speaking of Matt, it is looking like the decision to stay behind and not go to college isn’t working out so well (which as we all know will eventually pave the way for Zach Gilford’s eventual exit).  The poor guy just can’t seem to catch a break.  First he gives up art school to take care of his grandma, who sadly seems to be slipping even more, played to perfection by the lovely Louanne Stephens.  Then he is stuck going to Dillon Tech who apparently doesn’t like his, I wish I could draw as well, and delivering pizzas to ex-teammates.  I for one will be sad to see Zach Gilford leave but as with FNL by the time he does leave we will be ready and excited for the character to move on with life. 

  Ah the guy who used to be Tim Riggins is wandering just as aimlessly now as he was when he was in high school.  To be quite honest it never rang true for the character to go off to college for me at least.  He always seemed more of a home town guy.  Which is ok and not in the least bit tragic.  Because here is the thing about FNL, it’s an honest show and it takes the characters and leaves them in a place that rings true.  FNL doesn’t cater to flashy gimmicks to get people to watch it or big grandoise stories to keep them watching.  It simply goes on with life as it knows it.  When a special guest star comes on (like last nights Alicia Witt) they know that they are playing a character that is a real as any one you would meet in a small town.  After the inital “Hey isn’t that…?” you forget they are a big name and get down to the business that is life in Dillon.

  Poor Coach and Tami, if it isn’t one thing it is another.  Tami is stuck as the prinicpal of West Dillon while her husband is across town coaching at the horribly under funded East Dillon and although she knows that the redistricting is a wildly unpopular desicion she has to grit her teeth and do the responsible thing.  Which apparently seems to be sticking it to Joe McCoy and the new coach (forgot his name, sorry) in a small but definite act of revenge.  Ok it may just be me but I believe only Connie Britton can make the phrase “Flip the coin” sound unbelievably sexy.  Eric sure as hell agreed.  Didn’t you just want to take Eric in a hug and tell him everything was going to be all right?  He sure has an uphill battle to fight this season and if it were any one else I may have been worried, but since it is him I’m not.  I know the East Dillon Lions may not reach the glory that the Panthers know this season, but I have a feeling that one day Lions football will be just as big as it’s more loved brother school.

Moments that deserve special mention:

Landry asking his teammate if he needs a toy to keep his attention.  Classic Landry.

Matt & Landry throwing the football and reminding us so subtly that even though they have come so far at the heart of it all they are still the same friends they were back in Season 4.

Julie calling JD a jerk.

Tim & Billy Riggins fighting as real brothers do.  All Billy wanted was a better life for his brother and instead he has to sit by and watch all his hard work get thrown away.

Any scene with Kyle, Connie, & Aimee.  Yes real families to act that way.

Buddy Garraty, Buddy Garraty, Buddy Garraty.  Need I say more?

So there you have it.  Friday Night Lights is back and I for one couldn’t be happier.  Now I just have to find an East Dillon Lions T-shirt.