Friday Night Lights: God May Open a Door, But Your Phone Won't Work

(5.1 "Expectations")

I watched all of S4 over the weekend, and while I have many thoughts about it, I'm not really ready to voice those.  So I've decided to just skip ahead to the new(-ish) episode from Friday.

Having said that, do I really have to put up with another whole season of Becky?  Maybe spaced out week to week she won't make me want to offer up myself to invasive medical research.  Maybe.  I don't know that there is much hope that she will get any smarter, but in smaller doses I may find her relentless desperation slightly less oppressive.  I'm sorry her mom went to work on a casino boat and that her step-mom didn't want her around, but... ok, I'll stop.

So, Tami is the guidance counselor at East Dillon, and she finds the teachers somewhat apathetic and the parents rather absent.  Becky is going to live with Billy and Mindy, since no one else wants her.  Billy is going to assistant coach the Lions, because he wants to be around the good influence of Eric.  And no one can question what a good influence Eric is, since not only did he manage to make the Lions into a cohesive team that can win (more than twice), you've got to give him some credit for Vince's wonderful advice to Jess' brother about responsibility.  After a last Crucifictorious performance and a trip to the Landing Strip, Landry and Julie went of to their respective colleges.

Buddy Garrity in his full on Buddy-Garrity-mode is just priceless.  Of course he knows that Ruckle is a Welsh name, because he has probably lifted Hastings' fingerprints and knows every detail of his life, since little pesky hiccups like personal privacy or human dignity won't stop Buddy in pursuit of the perfect football team.

On the other hand, how uncomfortable is Billy's guilt?  Not that we aren't kind of used to this, since Billy's entire life is one overcompensation after another, and letting you kid brother take the fall for your illegal activity is a shit move, but Billy introducing himself to the Lions was downright painful.  It would be really nice if by the end of this series Billy had a tiny bit of self-respect.

Did I miss the part where they said what college Julie is going to or did they not actually say it?  Julie isn't be written off the show, since she is the daughter of the main characters that would be a little awkward.  Looks like there will be more mistakes and meltdowns from dear Julie, who despite her tendency to be a bit unpleasant I can't seem to really dislike.

But this may have been the last time we see Landry, and can we just take a moment to appreciate the wonderfulness.  Landry wasn't often the hero, never really got the girl, and his band lacked stage presence, but was good-hearted, kind, willing to forgive, and appreciative of his blessings in life.  Nothing showed Landry's character better than his farewell to Mrs. Saracen.  He took the time to say good-bye to his best friend's grandmother, to give someone who had influenced his life the respect she deserved.  Lance, best of luck at Rice, you deserve it.

Here is my problem, not with the episode, with my life.  I want to watch The Chicago Code (which means catching up with the whole season so far because it got away from me).  I would like to enjoy this final season of FNL the way it was intended, week by week.  These two desires conflict, because of Matt Lauria.  I don't know that I can concurrently watch an actor play characters in such vastly different circumstances without my suspension of disbelief suffering.  I sound like I'm begrudging someone their success, and really I'm not: I like him and one of my great joys is seeing actors and actresses I like on new/different shows.  I'm just afraid that in this instance my experience of one or both shows will lessen.  Anyone (hint hint KP) have any advice?

The TV Girl