Street and Riggins head off on a road trip; Mac collapses on the field, putting Eric's coaching lineup in an uproar; Tami tries to convince Eric to buy a new house; Tyra struggles to choose between focusing on Cash or on college.
*****
Let's start the recap with a quick exercise. I'm gonna say - well, type - a word, and I want you to hold on to the first thing that comes to your mind. Ready? Here we go:
Home.
Where did you go for that nanosecond? Maybe it was a house, a city or a farm. Maybe you remembered the smell of freshly-cut grass or the cool air in an apple orchard. Maybe you heard the drum of an ocean's surf, felt the chill of mountain air, or the way sun felt warmer on a porch swing.
Or maybe it went much, much deeper than that.
Maybe you thought of a person.
*****
Previously on FNL: Erin left for the northeast and took Noah, Street's baby boy, with her; Cash denied that he'd fathered a baby, and told Tyra he'd never lie to her; Street reconnected with Wendell, a former Panther who's getting ready to go pro, and introduced Street to Grant, his "soon-to-be" NYC agent; Monty decided to motivate his son by yelling at him in the middle of a game, and Coach had to step in and tell Monty to give JD some breathing room; the Idiot Brigade of Snark and Hotness actually fixed up and sold the Garrity house.
Herc, Billy, Timmy and Street sit at a bar having their celebratory drinks. Billy announces that he "loves this life," and Tim snorts that's not a cheer. Did you bring the pom-poms, Timmy? Don't answer that. Street almost has to shout: "To MONEY." Herc whoops, and Billy interrupts: "Nonono, to being badass... real estate... guys, who..." Herc: "To money!" Hee. They clink their respective beer bottles and talk about how each of them is going to spend their $14,000. Billy's going to tell Mindy that she never has to dance at the Landing Strip again; Herc's either going to "buy an orphanage" or see how many margaritas $14K will buy, and Timmy announces he's in for Plan B; Street's going to take a trip to NYC and get a job at a sports agency "with my friend Grant that I met." The others stare at him blankly. "Yep, that's what I'm gonna do," Street says, bending down to drink from his beer. Herc asks who the hell Grant is, and Street admits that he's someone Street's met once. Tim asks if Street's talking about just picking up and moving to New York, but Street clarifies that's totally NOT what he's talking about... he's gonna move to New Jersey. Totally different! He's gonna get a job and show Erin that he can provide for a family, and then she'll take him back and he'll commute into NYC for his "fancy sports-agent job." Timmy asks why Street would ever want to leave Texas, glorious heaven that it is, and Street simply says it's not about Texas anymore for him; it's about Erin and Noah. Tim leans back in his chair: "When do we leave, Six?" You knew there was no way Timmy was gonna let Street go up there all by himself, but Street's surprised by it anyway. Herc and Billy start laughing at the idea of Street and Tim heading up to the Big Apple, and I am gleefully overjoyed. Road trip!
Oh, Lord, I have seen this episode countless times now, and it always leaves me a puddle at the end, but reading your recap, I am bawling again. Perfect. Perfect summation of the emotions these two play back and forth so effortlessly. This is easily one of the most evolved and beautiful relationships on the show, and I am going to really, really miss it. Scott Porter, thanks for everything, you have been magnificent.
*wipes away tears*
Elsewhere, did anyone really doubt that Matty would get Coach to come around about him being a receiver? However, what I did not predict was that JULIE would be such a huge part of it, and I loved it! I thought it was perfect the way Julie used her pull with her Daddy to get him to give Matt a chance. Julie needs to go into real estate!
Which brings me, of course, to the beautiful scenes with the house, and though it was obvious to all that the Taylors couldn't swing that house, it was really touching to see Coach struggle with how badly he wanted to give it to his family, even though he didn't think they could swing it in a million years, which they couldn't, but it's nice that a house won't be in the swing of emotions when something inevitably goes wrong with one of their jobs, I'm not thinking it will be Coach, since that is what has been suggested through the entire season…
Oh, Lord, I have seen this episode countless times now, and it always leaves me a puddle at the end, but reading your recap, I am bawling again. Perfect. Perfect summation of the emotions these two play back and forth so effortlessly. This is easily one of the most evolved and beautiful relationships on the show, and I am going to really, really miss it. Scott Porter, thanks for everything, you have been magnificent.
*wipes away tears*
Elsewhere, did anyone really doubt that Matty would get Coach to come around about him being a receiver? However, what I did not predict was that JULIE would be such a huge part of it, and I loved it! I thought it was perfect the way Julie used her pull with her Daddy to get him to give Matt a chance. Julie needs to go into real estate!
Which brings me, of course, to the beautiful scenes with the house, and though it was obvious to all that the Taylors couldn’t swing that house, it was really touching to see Coach struggle with how badly he wanted to give it to his family, even though he didn’t think they could swing it in a million years, which they couldn’t, but it’s nice that a house won’t be in the swing of emotions when something inevitably goes wrong with one of their jobs, I’m not thinking it will be Coach, since that is what has been suggested through the entire season…
Ahhh! I forgot the chest heaving, teary, Tim Riggins so relieved his Six got his job and his family, yet so sad to have to say good-bye. And then he does, with an expression. Wow, Taylor Kitsch OWNED this episode. With his "atta boy!" attitude to Jason Street, although he was struggling so mightily with letting his best friend go, to his grin when Jason "Texas Forevers". Wow, it was awesome. Taylor Kitsch has not been nominated for an Emmy? What? This entire cast has been grossly overlooked, you say? You are kidding me. It is a crime!
I'll just say this, the show makes me love Texas, and everyone who knows me know that I don't love Texas. At all. And I am really glad that my address is unlisted, but it is in TEXAS, so I feel somewhat okay in sharing my opinion in semi-public. Sorry, Astro Jones, I know you are from the Lone Star State, but I will only point to where you call home NOW, and smile.
Ahhh! I forgot the chest heaving, teary, Tim Riggins so relieved his Six got his job and his family, yet so sad to have to say good-bye. And then he does, with an expression. Wow, Taylor Kitsch OWNED this episode. With his “atta boy!” attitude to Jason Street, although he was struggling so mightily with letting his best friend go, to his grin when Jason “Texas Forevers”. Wow, it was awesome. Taylor Kitsch has not been nominated for an Emmy? What? This entire cast has been grossly overlooked, you say? You are kidding me. It is a crime!
I’ll just say this, the show makes me love Texas, and everyone who knows me know that I don’t love Texas. At all. And I am really glad that my address is unlisted, but it is in TEXAS, so I feel somewhat okay in sharing my opinion in semi-public. Sorry, Astro Jones, I know you are from the Lone Star State, but I will only point to where you call home NOW, and smile.
Damn, there really is nobody like Jason Street. *wipes eyes*. And the "Texas forever"s should be made of cheese, but somehow they're not. They ring true for native saps like me who love the state to the bone. I'm not a big fan of Tim but I love him in this episode.
"Be his Quan."?! Did you really throw that in? Awesome.
And how nice of you to link those awesome "Leverage" recaps. :)
Damn, there really is nobody like Jason Street. *wipes eyes*. And the “Texas forever”s should be made of cheese, but somehow they’re not. They ring true for native saps like me who love the state to the bone. I’m not a big fan of Tim but I love him in this episode.
“Be his Quan.”?! Did you really throw that in? Awesome.
And how nice of you to link those awesome “Leverage” recaps. :)
**Tim Freaking Riggins, leaning against the taxi cab, who heaves this body-shuddering gasp of relief and devastation when he sees Erin kiss Jason, like he’s just been saved himself; like he’s been holding his breath this whole time. Riggins looks at Jason, at his home, proud of him, happy for him, and devastated for himself… and he simply lets Six go. You can see it in his eyes. It’s one of the best scenes of the entire series – just brilliant.
Kudos and huge thank yous to Taylor Kitsch and Scott Porter: your relationship was the catalyst and the soul of this series, and you were magnificent**
I must echo KOM's post in our MM this morning:), as well as saying that it was that particular look in that scene that really personifies this series for me, and is making me have anxiety attacks thinking that it may not be back.
This is one of the best shows I have ever watched- and to think that KOM literally had to FORCE me to watch, repeatedly, because I couldn't get past the hand held camera work and could not understand a word anyone said -THE ACCENTS OMG!!
The show had me in the last 5 minutes of the pilot, when Riggins just walked out of the hospital, crushed- much like the look he had at the end of this episode.
I bow before your recapping prowess.
I love it! My poor little Canadian friend, how I came AFTER you to watch a show about Texas, and we would talk on the phone when you were first watching and every other sentence would require translation…How you have grown! *sniffs* It feels like home. I love this show, everything about it, even the people who should make me want to drop kick them, I still love them in some ways. Like Buddy, of course. But he wasn't in this episode, really, this was all about Street and Riggins, and how I love those two.
Damn you, Otter, I am crying just REPLYING to your recap! You have witchy powers that I will not stand for!
Holy crap, I think I might love Texas a little. Don't tell my neighbors.
**Tim Freaking Riggins, leaning against the taxi cab, who heaves this body-shuddering gasp of relief and devastation when he sees Erin kiss Jason, like he’s just been saved himself; like he’s been holding his breath this whole time. Riggins looks at Jason, at his home, proud of him, happy for him, and devastated for himself… and he simply lets Six go. You can see it in his eyes. It’s one of the best scenes of the entire series – just brilliant.
Kudos and huge thank yous to Taylor Kitsch and Scott Porter: your relationship was the catalyst and the soul of this series, and you were magnificent**
I must echo KOM’s post in our MM this morning:), as well as saying that it was that particular look in that scene that really personifies this series for me, and is making me have anxiety attacks thinking that it may not be back.
This is one of the best shows I have ever watched- and to think that KOM literally had to FORCE me to watch, repeatedly, because I couldn’t get past the hand held camera work and could not understand a word anyone said -THE ACCENTS OMG!!
The show had me in the last 5 minutes of the pilot, when Riggins just walked out of the hospital, crushed- much like the look he had at the end of this episode.
I bow before your recapping prowess.
I love it! My poor little Canadian friend, how I came AFTER you to watch a show about Texas, and we would talk on the phone when you were first watching and every other sentence would require translation…How you have grown! *sniffs* It feels like home. I love this show, everything about it, even the people who should make me want to drop kick them, I still love them in some ways. Like Buddy, of course. But he wasn’t in this episode, really, this was all about Street and Riggins, and how I love those two.
Damn you, Otter, I am crying just REPLYING to your recap! You have witchy powers that I will not stand for!
Holy crap, I think I might love Texas a little. Don’t tell my neighbors.
You know a show is good, and you know something is well-written when a recap gets you all choked up. The acting in this episode was so good, or maybe it's just that I have come to care way too deeply for these fictional characters, that I completely overlooked so many things that just didn't ring true.
The only thing that would have made it better would be a shot of Tim realizing that there is no actual stripping in Gypsy.
You know a show is good, and you know something is well-written when a recap gets you all choked up. The acting in this episode was so good, or maybe it’s just that I have come to care way too deeply for these fictional characters, that I completely overlooked so many things that just didn’t ring true.
The only thing that would have made it better would be a shot of Tim realizing that there is no actual stripping in Gypsy.