Friday Night Lights

Daddy issues come home to roost in this ep: Coach finally tries to get JD to stand on his own; Buddy attempts to reconnect with his two California-livin', younger children; and Jason gambles everything to get his family back. You know, the usual devastating, heartbreaking scenarios we've come to expect. Let's get to it!

Previously on FNL, Monty was over-invested in his son's football success; Devon, Crucifictorius' new *girl* bass player (woo!), told Landry he needed to get over this chick that he kept writing the same damn song about; Seven had a crazy idea and a work list to bring his family back together; Buddy was a maniacally happy that Lyla stayed in Texas with him instead of going off to California with Lyla's mom, their two younger kids and her successful, faithful, globally-thinking and locally-acting new love. Well, Buddy says "with a vegetarian raising figs", but that's what he meant.

At an airport, Buddy is almost at jogging speed with Lyla and Tim, searching for gate four. Tim says he thinks they should actually be looking for gate two, and Buddy is not amused: "Thank you so much for your unsolicited, WRONG opinion, Mister Tim Riggins," he says. Lyla runs interference and mentions that she's not sure about "this camping thing" that Buddy has planned, but Buddy thinks it'll be quality time! Back to nature, just like God intended! Except for when we plow it under to build a football field, that's a totally different thing. I can't be too hard on Buddy, though, because we get a quick closeup of the very talented and underrated Brad Leland who has done such an amazing and solid job with this character for three whole seasons, and can clearly see that Buddy is equal parts hopeful and terrified, just like every father that's separated from his family.

At gate two (heh), Buddy brightly announces "there they are!" and rushes over to greet Lyla's brother and sister, who have flown in from California. Lyla excitedly hugs her brother and sister, but Buddy, on the fritz from his nervousness, goes from excited into manic and back again - he shakes Bud Jr's hand, calling him "Lil' Bud", before pulling him in for a hug and then actually shaking him briskly. Aw, he's so nervous! He can't stop talking about how they big they are, which is really just how we acknowledge how much time has passed and how much we've missed. It's the reason why parents mark the heights of their children on kitchen doorways: it's to mark that they were there for their childhoods, not to show how tall their children grew. Buddy remarks that he's going to have to call a friend and tell him his boy's got the build of a linebacker, and Lil' Bud breaks the harsh news that he's "into soccer now." Buddy zigzags into denial, saying football's in the genes, like soccer's a phase and not the sport that's adored by most of the world's population. He focuses on Tabitha (Tabby), pronouncing her his baby, and then immediately follows with "you look like a hippie." Heh. He pulls her in for a big hug and she squirms, embarrassed, telling him that he's all sweaty. Lyla, startled and defensive, says Buddy's not. Lil' sis looks immediately to Lyla and asks if her friend can come over to watch the Sex in the City movie, but Lyla says they're miniature golfing tonight, which appalls lil' Sis.