Friday Night Lights (9.5): Which is more romantic; The Wrath of Kahn or Jaws?

I can’t write anything right now, I’m on my way to give Matt Saracen a huge hug and tell him everything will be okay. At least, I wish I that was what I was doing. Matt has been working up to his nervous breakdown for a while now. I can’t help but think that the distance between him and Landry has not helped the situation. But let me make one thing clear: Julie left him for a different guy, not a better guy! Matt is one of the most precious characters on TV, and I can’t believe how difficult his life is. His dad is in Iraq, his mom is (mysteriously) in Oklahoma, his grandmother has dementia, Julie broke up with him for the stupidest reason (the Swede), and he hasn’t forgiven Coach Taylor for going TMU (do you know that there is an actual TMU, in Iran). My baby Matt has too much to deal with, and why is anyone surprised that he snapped. I can see people thinking that his emulation of Riggins is stupid, but from his perspective Riggins is the perfect example of everything he is not. Matt has so much responsibility, but Tim has none. I understand Matt wanting to be someone else for a few days, but he can’t live his life that way. Now that Coach Taylor knows just how hurt Matt is he will be able to help him. Standing up for Smash at the end indicates that Matt is on the mend, but considering that he called his art teacher a bitch (very un-Matt-like), it might be a long road.

I know that Landry and Tyra are meant to be together. He loves her too much not to get her, but I am sorry for Jean. She is so cute and I can’t help but wonder if she will turn out to be right when she told Landry he would regret choosing Tyra. Is Tyra ready to be loved unconditionally? The reappearance of her mother makes me think not.

Am I the only one who thinks Smash’s punishment is out of proportion? He hit a guy in a movie theater; he didn’t hurt the guy that much, didn’t endanger anyone’s life, didn’t damage any property, and left the incident before it escalated. Suspending him from games is one thing, but taking away his scholarship? His mom impresses me more and more every time I see her. His education is her highest priority. She might be disappointed that he has lost his scholarship, but she doesn’t kick him while he is down. He does right by his mother by encouraging his team to do well, and keeping his own difficulty to himself. Smash is growing; learning to strike a better balance between his own desires and what is right for others.

I think I need to address some concerns that were brought to my attention. I have heard some complaints that FNL is becoming more about drama and less about football. I understand this as intentional upon the part of the show creators. The townspeople of Dillon see these young men as football players, and that is it. They encourage their vices (the bartender willing to serve Riggins and Matt), ignore their problems, and base their opinions of them on whether they win or loose the game. These players live in a place that turns them into automatons that will be replaced every two-four years. Part of the point of the show is to give these players a real face, to discover who they are off the field. I love the games, so I’m looking forward to the beginning of the next episode, but if you want the focus of the show to stay entirely on the field then you have missed a major point of the show. Don’t mean to be harsh, but that’s how I feel.