tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post5621575923736415343..comments2024-03-28T18:01:28.997-04:00Comments on What's Alan Watching?: Friday Night Lights, "Injury List": No good deed goes unpunishedAlan Sepinwallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03388147774725646742noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-69043055507233028632010-02-04T11:06:07.848-05:002010-02-04T11:06:07.848-05:00>>but some of the characters opposing Tami a...>>but some of the characters opposing Tami are coming across as straw men<<<br /><br />Uhn. I am a financial advisor. I had an office in a Professional Building in Brookline, MA where one of the tenants was a Family Planning place (not the same one as where one of your "straw men" murdered a half dozen people in '96). From my very real world point of view, the FNL writers nailed exactly how these people would react...if anything they have muted them too much. <br /><br />Every morning, lunch time and evening I would face the same kind of aggressive idiots Tami faced, as would my clients. Except of course, none of us had ever expressed any opinion about family planning choices or abortion, we just happened to lease space in the same building as the clinic. <br /><br />In the real world your "straw men" are not kind, thoughtful or understanding people. They are zealots who are just a little bit meaner and more vindictive than the plausibly attractive and honorable characters that are besieging Tami and Coach Taylor.Stavnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-22102407685465206372010-02-02T22:12:55.694-05:002010-02-02T22:12:55.694-05:00FNL writers are masters of illusion. There are a n...FNL writers are masters of illusion. There are a number of story line and events that we never see transpire but are eluded to and developed after the fact. We never *saw* anything happen between Luke & Becky, then several eps later we learn of their one night stand. Same goes for the trip to the abortion clinic...we never actually see Becky enter or exit the clinic, only speak about 'taking care of it' when Luke phones. Likewise, we are left to fill in the blanks of the Becky-Mrs. Cafferty conversation. I still believe there may be a bombshell ep concerning some of the unspoken and unseen details of the Becky storyline.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-7154692316172188482010-02-02T18:10:13.659-05:002010-02-02T18:10:13.659-05:00I'll add my two cents about the Becky/Tami sit...I'll add my two cents about the Becky/Tami situation-<br /><br />When Luke's mom showed up at Becky's door she seemed to be super sneaky to me, like she had an agenda. She was very nice, not upset, and just wanted to 'talk' but she was clearly upset about the termination. By playing the empathetic supporter she manipulated Becky into letting her guard down and speaking freely. Becky may have mentioned speaking to Tami in passing like "Before I told my mom, a friend took me over to Principal Taylor's house and she told me what my options were. I then told my mom I was pregnant and wanted an abortion and my mom agreed to take me." <br /><br />Luke's mom wants to place blame (because it can't be her baby boy's fault) so she started with Becky (is she a tramp that used my son?), and if not then probably would have went after her mom (bad parent), but when Mrs Coach was casually mentioned it was like JACKPOT! I now have somewhere to place my misguided rage.<br /><br />I hope that Becky (maybe with the encouragement of #33), steps up and defends Tami. we'll see.perimeterposthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16803761356048465807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-31941145275122757372010-02-01T12:45:01.197-05:002010-02-01T12:45:01.197-05:00I'm so sorry I responded my emotional reaction...I'm so sorry I responded my emotional reaction without reading through the comments, hence it being an emotional reaction. I know I'm not the first to ever do so. And I fully stick by my first emotional reaction which I posted.<br /><br />Luke's mom and the school board member thinking that it shouldn't even be an option makes the most sense.Rebecca Jillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18262004084187699127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-47023693280379041442010-02-01T10:35:47.576-05:002010-02-01T10:35:47.576-05:00I felt like we missed out on seeing a scene betwee...I felt like we missed out on seeing a scene between Becky and Luke's mom talking about what happened and how Becky arrived at the point where she did what she did. <br /><br />I think if we'd seen Becky and Luke's Mom talk about it and seen just how the conversation unfolded, it might have allowed us to know how Luke's Mom arrived at the decision to take the actions she did. I wonder if Becky might have brought up that she asked Tami about what Tami would say to Julie if Julie were in the same situation. I have a bad feeling that is going to come back before the season is over.Michael Hickersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08283539524957605129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-26682010175705926372010-02-01T00:53:43.712-05:002010-02-01T00:53:43.712-05:00The excellent writing of the show gave us two conv...The excellent writing of the show gave us two conversations between Becky and Tami. In the first, Tami went right for the medical care and adoption choices. It wasn't until the second visit, and Becky's clear statement about not wanting the baby, that led to Tami's offer of literature and talking to her mother. <br /><br />I'm glad though that they are making this a big deal for Tami - it seems very realistic that as she knew with her first suggestions to Becky, that the choice in that culture would be to keep the baby. <br /><br />My own take of Eric staying at the bar actually made me wonder if he wanted some distance because a part of him thought that Tami might have suggested abortion to Becky. But i really don't think that's the case. I like the build up of stress explanation offered here. Still, coach and Tami are dealing with a lot and we're not seeing them deal with it together, as usual. <br /><br />Finally, Matt and Julie. How much time has passed since Matt left? Everything Julie hurled at Matt seemed right on. Considering how close they were why wouldn't he call? They didn't leave on a bad note, Matt just left. But there to us and to Julie Matt's silence seemed odd. I hope it's not the last we see of Matt b/c I like the character and that there the talented writers give us something good for both of these characters.HaroldsMaudehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06548639096681791389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-32848043786525049432010-01-30T19:08:25.525-05:002010-01-30T19:08:25.525-05:00@ Rebecca Jill - Both HMM2 and PY above laid out p...@ Rebecca Jill - Both HMM2 and PY above laid out plausible reasons for why Luke's mom behaved like she did. It was not that anyone was lying or misconstrued. It was simply that Tami suggested that abortion was an option at all. As pro-life proponents, Luke's mom and the board member didn't think a school principal should EVER even SUGGEST the abortion option.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-33551776896917671242010-01-30T18:33:54.080-05:002010-01-30T18:33:54.080-05:00One thing that I can’t let go of is the fact that ...One thing that I can’t let go of is the fact that it was Becky’s mom that wanted her to get the abortion and the one that drove her to get the abortion. Tammy only told Becky her options.<br /><br />What is it that Becky said to Luke’s mom? And what is it about scenes with Becky and Luke or Luke’s family that we don’t get to see? We only learn about the fallout, so we never get to see what actually was said or what actually happened.<br /><br />I don’t see why they have to give all of this abuse to Tammy, unless Becky said the wrong thing, or Luke’s mom completely misinterpreted what Becky told her. I can see maybe that Becky only mentioned Tammy and didn’t mention her mom to protect her in some way, since she’s her mom. But still! This is one storyline that doesn’t make sense, and only seems like it can be corrected by Becky or Becky’s mom setting the record straight on Tammy’s behalf.<br /><br />This just seems like the most contrived and ridiculous plot point/storyline on FNL I’ve seen, since season 2.<br /><br />There were other parts of the episode that are well worth talking about, but this one incensed me so much that I’m having trouble focusing on everything else. Especially when they had Tammy say in her discussion with the board, “Becky’s mom drove her to get the abortion,” and I wish she had repeated it, so it would stick, yet no one is then questioning Becky’s mom to see if Tammy is correct. Ridiculous!Rebecca Jillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18262004084187699127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-49030806206563642882010-01-30T00:52:45.611-05:002010-01-30T00:52:45.611-05:00After these last two episodes, I finally have gott...After these last two episodes, I finally have gotten to the point where I care about Becky, Luke, and Vince as much as the old guard. Jess needs a storyline of her own, but is certainly an enjoyable character.Billiamnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-56952801652300262942010-01-29T10:15:18.910-05:002010-01-29T10:15:18.910-05:00You guys do have a point about Luke, though I thin...You guys do have a point about Luke, though I think it's both selfish <i>and</i> selfless, in that the Luke we met is a kid who desperately wants to get out of town, but who also is fixated on not letting down the people around him. Coach gave him a big guilt trip about missing school to fix the fence, and the implied message was, "I'm sorry you have problems in your personal life, but don't let it get in the way of your service to the team."<br /><br />In terms of Tami alone on the stoop, keep in mind that Eric didn't know about the reporter's phone call, and the last he'd heard about the situation, the problem went away once the school board voted to keep her. I'm not saying there can't/won't be cracks in the Taylor marriage, but Eric lingering at the bar was mainly about his concern about how the Lions' season was swirling around the toilet again.Alan Sepinwallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03388147774725646742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-78182199040425207792010-01-29T10:03:50.793-05:002010-01-29T10:03:50.793-05:00I think Luke's mother just needs someone to bl...I think Luke's mother just needs someone to blame for the loss of her grandchild. When Becky told her what happened she zeroed on to Tammi as the fall guy and may not even realize she is intentionally lying about the situation.<br /><br />I agree that Luke didnt' cover up his injury for the good of the team, that may have been part of it, but he wants to get out of Dillon.......and a football scholarship seems to be his only way out. His parents don't seem to have the financial means to send him to school and would rather have him work on the ranch. Thought he was going to get robbed when he went to the park with his wad of cash.<br /><br />Loved seeing Matt again even in a small part, he does need a better send off......Kathienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-89387694540165587612010-01-29T09:52:24.722-05:002010-01-29T09:52:24.722-05:00First of all, I really liked this episode. Howeve...First of all, I really liked this episode. However, seeing Matt again was a little jarring and I don't think I would have minded a more vague ending for that character. It felt sort of like Matt didn't belong in Dillon anymore, and he had to reinvent himself. And he had realized that Julie was a part of his adolescence, and he needed to be a grownup now. (Her reaction to his phone call particularly seemed very "teenager", although Matt was particularly dense. Julie could be mature at times, but mostly she was a young 17-year-old.)<br /><br />As far as the abortion storyline, I think the writers are feeling freed by the Direct TV/NBC deal. They don't really have to worry about a letter-writing campaign or advertisers up in arms about the controversy. And I'm liking the way that they are showing how people get totally irrational about this subject.<br /><br />You did not comment about Tami sitting on the stoop waiting for Coach, and I so trust your opinion that I wondered I read it wrong. To me it looked like a crack in the Taylor relationship: she's going to be vilified in the press, and hubby was drinking in a bar instead of coming home to support her. Maybe that innocent kiss a few eps back will be revisited (someone witnessed her exhibiting "loose morals" and it will cause more problems with the school board). It's not that I'm hoping for marital strife with this pair, but I think Tami's role in this tragedy is going to end up with some serious ramifications, both personal and professional. I'm not finding the writers to be favoring one side too much as you do, but maybe I'm betraying my own politics.<br /><br />One major critique I had about this episode is that it feels like all the stories are so tenuously connected--it feels like several shows in one lately. I wish there was more of a connection between these characters other than the theme of the week. Some of that might come from casting requirements, if a series regular is only committed to a certain number of eps—but when they disappear and reappear suddenly, it feels like we're in a new show. In Riggins' case, although I'm interested in the character, I feel like his character arc is going to be like Matt's now, and just go off totally in its own direction. I kind of wish the show had had the courage to recast the younger actors every season and just tell new stories, but I can understand the fear of alienating old viewers. It's always that way with teen shows: you fall in love with the characters and then...you find it harder and harder to suspend disbelief as the needs of being a profitable TV show outweigh the goal of telling a great story. FNL can still make me cry, but I'm not as swept up lately and I don't ever lose the sense that, yes, this is a TV show. A great one, but not that show of season 1 that made you weep and forget you weren't watching real people's lives on your TV.Dudleys Momnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-4043821501393458192010-01-29T05:10:38.517-05:002010-01-29T05:10:38.517-05:00This season can't have the Lions beat the Pant...This season can't have the Lions beat the Panthers: It would be unrealistic and isn't needed. If the Lions were to survive the season and to hold their own against the Panthers would be sufficient. The big finale for next year, especially if it were to be the last season, would be the Lions defeating the Panthers and Coach Taylor completing this particular journey.HMM2noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-10683306392947787102010-01-29T04:31:55.633-05:002010-01-29T04:31:55.633-05:00I have to say I hate it when the writers ignore hi...I have to say I hate it when the writers ignore history -- it's not like we did not *see* the seasons when Julie and Matt weren't together -- they were not together for 4 years! They were together about 2. But I was delighted to see Matty again, even if in a weird and awkward and uncharacteristic way.<br /><br />Also, re: Anonymous 8:54 -- I *never* read Becky's mother's actions as forcing her daughter to get an abortion, and I think that is a misreading of what occurred. Becky knew she did not want a child, informed her parent of her pregnancy and her interest in not being a mother at 16, considered what she would lose by not having one, and then decided to go with her initial instinct.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-89948832714767138752010-01-29T02:57:17.440-05:002010-01-29T02:57:17.440-05:00Also, I agree with the commenter above who said th...Also, I agree with the commenter above who said that, though it was purportedly about Mrs. Coach suggesting an abortion to Becky, the subtext of the backlash was that the board member and Luke's mom felt it shouldn't have been offered up at all ... similar, *in their view* (to stay non-political) to giving an option to get a hitman to take care of a problem relationship. To them, rightly or wrongly, it shouldn't have been an option at all ... they just can't really say that. Given that, I think the storyline with the school board is not necessarily judgement or a viewpoint on the writers' part, as Alan said, but seems more like a plausible outcome in a Bible Belt town that is a logical/possible implication that can be explored by the writers for the sake of the story itself.<br /><br />And, Alan, on an entirely un-FNL-related note, why was this such a big week for re-runs for ongoing non-midseason replacement shows, particularly sitcoms? HIMYM, ABC Wed night, NBC Thurs night were all re-runs. Is there anything in the calendar that made it that way? Seems strange, given that most just came back from holiday breaks. Sorry to ask that here, but don't know what the appropriate venue would be (no blog posts for those shows ... because they were re-runs).PYnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-87878111379634774292010-01-29T02:46:22.077-05:002010-01-29T02:46:22.077-05:00RIP, ANG. We hardly knew ye.
Can the writers rea...RIP, ANG. We hardly knew ye.<br /><br />Can the writers really have the Lions beat the Panthers now, with Luke out and with Vince likely to be so distracted/distraught? It feels like it would be such a stretch at this point that it will feel contrived to me at this point, no matter how they make it happen (JD McCoy ACL tear, followed by Vince 90 yard run and "necklace" tribute in endzone to ANG, and then last second 50 yard FG by Landry?).<br /><br />And I don't know if you're giving Luke too much credit here for being "selfless". Was he playing for the team, or was he playing so as to not jeopardize his scholarship chances? Given his desperation at the beginning of the season to use football as his means out of his life on the farm, it doesn't seem entirely selfless and team-oriented to me, at all (though I do feel for the guy -- he seems to be the new Saracen in terms of getting piled on with tribulation after tribulation ... first getting kicked off the Panthers, then the initial injury, then the pregnancy/abortion after what seemed to be his one happy moment this season with meeting Becky, then the season ending injury).<br /><br />It did make me very happy to see Matt back (I gave let out a big "Matt Saracen!" when he came on). It was always my assumption he'd be back for some kind of closure, given the abrupt drive out of town, and I'm wondering how it will turn out. I haven't seen any previews, but what are the odds that Matt shows up on Julie's doorstep before the season ends? And is there any chance she follows him to Chicago eventually?PYnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-34880382586317150212010-01-28T22:49:25.142-05:002010-01-28T22:49:25.142-05:00That Lions defense appears to be The Steel Curtain...That Lions defense appears to be The Steel Curtain reincarnated. Too bad we never get to see them...Q Ballnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-61501595337179303302010-01-28T20:54:54.224-05:002010-01-28T20:54:54.224-05:00Aren't we forgetting that it was Becky's m...Aren't we forgetting that it was Becky's mom that pretty much forced her to go along with getting the abortion? I guess it's plausible that blame could be deflected to Tami as Becky tries to protect her mom but that seems like a huge fact that's missing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-18755197654785169082010-01-28T17:43:06.244-05:002010-01-28T17:43:06.244-05:00Alan:
Please delete if this is getting too close ...Alan:<br /><br />Please delete if this is getting too close to a political discussion.<br /><br />I think any suggestion of abortion from a person in authority--even simply including it as a moral equivalent alternative to the adoption and other options--without condemnation was a problem for Luke's mother and the board member. To them, it was the same as discussing what to do if you hadn't studied for a test, and a principal suggests killing the teacher who's going to give the test as a viable alternative along with requesting more time or asking for a make-up test. I don't think anyone had to alter the facts of Tami's discussion. Once you have the position that abortion (or at least this abortion) is murder, any inclusion, even if neutral, would have seemed wrong.<br /><br />I know what the state of the law and Tami's legal obligations are. But for that mother and the board member, we should compare how people feel about Kazan naming names to the HUAC: it was legal and required by legal authorities, but most people feel he shouldn't have done it.<br /><br />In other words, I had no problem with the reactions or with how the positions could've arisen without any slant by Becky or Luke's mother.HMM2noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-31012446878957799122010-01-28T13:53:45.191-05:002010-01-28T13:53:45.191-05:00"The Calvin thing, while awful, seems contriv..."The Calvin thing, while awful, seems contrived to me, but then again, so does small town Dillon suddenly becoming big enough to have a crime problem on this scale in the first place."<br /><br />Odessa, Texas (the setting for the Friday Night Lights book and movie and thereby probably the inspiration for Dillon) at one point had the highest per capita murder rate in the United States, so this doesn't bother me too much.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-88782536359739657942010-01-28T13:29:34.800-05:002010-01-28T13:29:34.800-05:00My take on Becky's conversation with Luke'...My take on Becky's conversation with Luke's mom, based on how she described it to Luke, is that things were perfectly cordial, and she didn't feel like she was being judged - and, therefore, that she wouldn't have played up Tami's influence to duck blame. <br /><br />Now, it's entirely possible that Becky listened to what Tami said and interpreted that as advising her to get an abortion, and it's even more possible that Luke's mom (who both has strong feelings about the issue and a personal stake) could watch a videotape of the Tami/Becky conversation and come out of it believing that Tami told her to get an abortion. But I don't believe Becky lied about her perception of events, nor do I think Mrs. Cafferty knows in her heart that Tami isn't to blame here. Her passions are running too hot, and as we know from the writing and acting of the earlier scene, there was an awful lot of nuance in what went down.Alan Sepinwallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03388147774725646742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-13447083650116030782010-01-28T12:57:15.720-05:002010-01-28T12:57:15.720-05:00Bryan said: "...we have to assume Luke's ...Bryan said: "...we have to assume Luke's Mom is intentionally lying". <br />Interesting, that assumption didn't occur to me. Ian's take is that Becky steered the mother down that path. I can see a scenario where Becky describes the options that Tami laid out and Luke's mom fixates on the abortion option and concludes (falsely but not maliciously) in her own mind that Tami advised Becky towards abortion. The beautiful thing is that the writers made us think about that conversation between the mother and Becky, while brilliantly choosing not to actually show the conversation. <br />I also did not see the Board member's "are you calling me a liar" statement to be unrealistic. I viewed it as a calculated emotional tactic to try to make Tami snap and look bad in front of the Board. I have seen this very tactic at Board of Education meetings. Luckily, the Board member didn't properly understand who she was up against - Tami handled the aggression very professionally.mjnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-48113157398106069112010-01-28T11:25:14.024-05:002010-01-28T11:25:14.024-05:00Regarding the straw man situation, we don't kn...Regarding the straw man situation, we don't know what Becky told Luke's mother. It may well be that Becky decided to deflect blame by telling Luke's mom that Tami steered her towards the abortion.Iannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-4011057198258428592010-01-28T10:11:41.713-05:002010-01-28T10:11:41.713-05:00Usually I let this show get buy with the occasiona...Usually I let this show get buy with the occasional slips in character and logic because of the overall quality of the show but this week's a little harder.<br /><br />I'm having a hard time getting passed the "straw man" situation Alan spoke about - yes, the reaction of Luke's mom and the school board is realistic BUT because of what we've been shown we have to assume Luke's mom is intentionally lying. If this is the story line they want to pursue, fine, but it would make more sense from a character standpoint to have had Becky insinuate - or even flat out say- Tammy advised her to do that. Yes it would still be a lie but an understandable one from a confused scared 17 year old talking to the mother of the boy that got her pregnant. Yea I know these writers take shortcuts all the time but this one's a big one.<br /><br />Also quickly - having just bought a house I know very well you have to account for every penny you use to buy property. Every realtor knows that and if a 20 year old kid comes in her office with what I guess is 65k she should tell him that.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06336003200003462670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-2118122152050788612010-01-28T09:33:53.841-05:002010-01-28T09:33:53.841-05:00Looks like they might be removing Becky from regul...Looks like they might be removing Becky from regular appearances in the show (her telling Riggins she wouldn't be seeing him much anymore), which would seem to me to be by way of them trying to have their cake (touch on a third-rail subject like abortion) and eat it too (remove the character who had the abortion so they don't have to worry about her losing part of the audience's sympathy). Will be interesting to see how it goes.Karennoreply@blogger.com