Friday Night Lights

Welcome back, Panther fans! It's a chock-full episode this week, full of stretched loyalties, looming threats and dashed hopes. Hop in the truck, y'all!

Previously on FNL: In his dimly-lit study, Joe McCoy tells Coach T that he moved his family to Dillon from Dallas so his son, JD, could play for coach. I struggled over whether to make Joe McCoy a viper, wolf or jackal, but I've settled on a python: he curls around you so subtly that you don't consider desperate measures until it's too late. Being a fan of British humor (or humour, if you like), I immediately dub him “Monty”. We see JD's 70-yard pass again; Coach is stunned, Saracen freaked. Tim's getting letters of interest from colleges, to the delight of Billy and Lyla; Tim, you will be shocked to hear, is passive about it. What were the odds? Saracen and Julie are reconnecting and smiling and teasing each other, and while my Riggins-girl status is firmly established, it is nonetheless utterly adorable. Billy takes the stage at a honkytonk and asks Mindy to marry him, which I still think is one of the most brilliant storylines yet, if for no other reason than Tyra and Tim will now be siblings-in-law. Hee! Mindy shrieks her inevitable “yes” and their crowd of friends and family goes crazy.

Honkytonk bar, wherein we can observe the indigineous dance traditions of the Dillon natives. Mindy and Billy can't keep their hands off each other; Tim and Lyla hold each other close and sway back and forth; Tyra and her mom, smiles blazing, twirl each other about. Food and drink are in plenty, and Billy seems to be shelling out for most of it. Once the Riggins boys are alone in their truck, however, it's a different story: “Damn, those Colette women can eat,” Billy mutters. Hee! Billy proceeds to tear into Tim for ordering a $30 steak. Tim counters by suggesting Billy ask his “soulmate” (BWA!) to refrain from pointing out everyone in the restaurant who's received a lapdance from her; he quietly finishes that it made Lyla uncomfortable. Billy snarks that Tim's whipped; point to Riggins the elder. Tim asks where Billy's taking them, and Billy stops the truck and says he has a business meeting. In the dark. In the middle of a trailer park. Well, surely this will go well! Tim follows Billy out as Billy tells him they're broke and need to get some money. Timmy reasonably asks why Billy keeps picking up the tab if they've got no cash, and Billy just as reasonably points out that he can't really have Mindy's mom pick up the tab. Tim: “Why not?” Billy: “Because you're an idiot, that's why not.” Heh.

The trailer door opens and we meet Lou, who is carrying a gun in the back waistband of his jeans in the dead of night. Well, it is Texas. Lou demands to know who Tim is. Billy shrugs that it's just his brother, and that “(Tim) won't say anything.” Oh, Billy - I thought we were beyond this! Tim goes from befuddled to worried in about two seconds, because he's been here before, and the last time they both nearly got shot. Billy goes in, telling Tim to stay outside. Tim shakes his head in disbelief, pivots as if to go back toward the truck - and shifts his weight the last second, unable to walk away from his brother.

Panthers Field. JD is solo on the field, throwing the ball to various dummies in the field and nailing every one of them. Monty has invited some local snakes-in-the-grass - various Boosters and Buddy Garrity – to stand with him on the sidelines, admiring JD's golden arm. Monty comments on how Wade, the quarterback coach who works with JD, has made “great strides” with his boy. The Panthers emerge from the locker room in full gear, taking the field for practice. Coach walks with Saracen, advising him on the upcoming game with Arnett Mead, and they both stop dead at the sight of JD throwing the pigskin. Saracen stares worriedly at JD and Coach T glares at Monty, both of them thoroughly aware that their literal turf is being threatened. Saracen nervously says that he heard they flew Wade down from Dallas just to work with JD. Coach faces Saracen and flat-out says that JD is not his quarterback, Matt is. Saracen nods, unsettled, and takes the field.

Monty, wearing some serious black shades, comes up to Coach and thanks him for the use of the field. Coach responds with the tersest “uh-huh” I've ever heard. Coach points out the boosters as JD's “cheerleading section”; Monty handwaves that away and changes the subject to the upcoming game. He says he knows everyone in town's talking about changing to the spread offense for Arnett Mead, but that he supports Coach T's decision 100%. Coach blinks and searches for the right response before settling on “I appreciate that.” I would have gone with “I expected no less”, but again, that's probably why I'm not a football coach, living in the south, or male.  McCoy seamlessly follows up by telling Coach that if he does change his mind, he should know that JD is ready. You have to admire the pro level of mindfuckery that Monty has brought to town; remember when we thought Buddy Garrity was bad, back in S1? Does that not seem like a cakewalk compared to Monty? Coach knows it, too, because he's looking everywhere but at Monty. He finally says firmly that he only has the team until eight, and tells Monty to clear the cones. “Sure enough,” Monty smarms, and Coach runs on to the field to join his team as we head into the credits.

Chez T. Tami unpacks party supplies while Coach T tells someone on the phone that he won't choose his quarterback by committee. Coach goes to the kitchen, searching for the keys and mutters about how JD's quarterback coach is getting paid $1,000 a month to coach JD. Tami sits in the living room and frets about how much the party's going to cost. Yay, the Panthers BBQ! I loved this event in S1. Tami finally asks Coach if he's thought about having the party somewhere else. Coach, who's just gotten blindsided again, looks like someone just moved his cheese. Tami points out that they don't have enough room, it costs too much, “those boys clog my toilet, they break my things...” Aw, Tami Taylor! I feel you, girl. Coach goes into domestic hyperdrive, promising Tami they might be able to next year and telling Tami that she's “the best friend, mother and lover that a man's ever had.” Ha! Obvious and yet momentarily effective: well played, Coach. Tami's weariness fades in the face of such ardor and desperation, and they kiss sweetly. In the quiet, you can hear Slammin' Sammy Meade and a caller on the radio, debating whether to keep Saracen in the game or put in JD. The beast never sleeps, not even for a Taylor kiss. Tami tells Coach she'll need his truck to get the ribs - good lord, they need a truck just for the ribs? No wonder she wants someone else to host this brouhaha – and Coach tells her she can have the truck, as soon as she finds the keys.

Chez Smash! Smash multi-tasks, doing pushups in his living room while giving Nonnie relationship advice.  He teases her that he won't always be around to help, and blows off Nonnie's suggestion that he's nervous about his walkon for Texas A&M next week: “The Smash don't get nervous, he gets ready.” He answers the phone as SmashMama (woo!) enters with some grocery bags. She looks faboo in brightly-colored scrubs. Have you lost weight, SmashMama? Fistbump me, girl. Smash tells the caller that they must be have the wrong number, because “my mama already has a job.” SmashMama snatches the phone from him and politely tells the caller that Saturday would be great, and this is as good a time as any to explain why SmashMama is my favorite. I recognize the parenting badassery that is Tami & Coach Taylor, but SmashMama is raising three kids, not two; she's raising them on one income, not two incomes; and she's doing it all on her own. 'Nuff said. Smash, feeling blindsided himself, asks his mama what's going on; SmashMama says it's just a little home health-care job on the side. Smash asks if it's “cleaning bedpans” kind of work, and SmashMama asks if he thinks nurses sit around and flirt with doctors all day. Oooh, Grey's Anatomy, I do believe SmashMama just called you out! Smash asks why she needs a second job, and SmashMama points out tuition costs, baby boy. Smash looks upset, like this has occurred to him for the first time. See, SmashMama should be taking care of Lorraine! Tell me they wouldn't have a blast. Get on that, writers!

Tami is wigging out at the butcher's because they don't have her zillion racks of ribs. She pulls everything out of her charm arsenal, including shutting down a tarted-up, shiny southern girl who tries to get horn in and get “two New York strips – real fast!” Tami shuts her down and gets the butcher to look into her order first. Left alone, shiny southern girl asks Tami if she's on the Atkins diet, because “it made me real cranky too.” Tami looks too tired to even put this lady in her place, which is a sad thing, ladies and gentlemen, because I would be taking off my earrings. Shiny southern girl introduces herself as Katie McCoy. Oh, of course! Monty's bubbly, entitled and glittering trophy wife! Gah. Now that they're inevitably connected, the girls backtrack and make nice. Katie redeems herself by saying she “likes a woman who speaks her mind.” She then asks about getting involved at the school and music programs and being a connector - “I love to throw parties, and get other people to give their money away! I'm a connector!” I have to say, I loved Janine Turner's work on “Northern Exposure”, but she is making my teeth itch with this character. Well done, I guess? Tami struggles for the words - as Coach did with Monty - and finally settles on “Neat!” HA! Katie rightly asks what “a little thing like (Tami)” is doing getting zillions of racks of ribs, and Tami wearily begins to explain the eighth level of hell that is planning the Dillon Panthers BBQ, and...

...cut to Tim Riggins, pencil behind his ear, studying at the library with Lyla Garrity. And by “studying”, of course, I mean “doing anything but studying.” Tim alerts Lyla to a 'creep' at her seven o'clock, who apparently has been watching them for some time. Tim, considering the hotness of you and Lyla, I'm surprised car accidents aren't constantly happening wherever you pass, so cut the kid some slack. Tim can no longer bear whatever it is that's bothering him and starts to pack up his books. Lyla firmly pulls him back down into his seat, telling him he's going to study and ace the test and improve his grades and get a scholarship and they'll go to colleges that are close to each other and the world will be filled with Tim/Lyla sex, beer and football! The Tim Riggins Trifecta, ladies and gentlemen! She does a great job selling it, leaning in closer to Tim until her voice is a whisper and they're close enough to kiss. Tim, sensing an opening, asks if she's coming over tomorrow night, and Lyla does a complete 180 so fast you can practically hear the tires screech. She informs Tim, not unkindly, that Mindy and Angela hate her. Tim is shocked and disbelieving that anyone could not adore Lyla Garrity, and insists that if she spent time with them, they would love her. He plays the “I really want this” card – with the caveat that if they even look at her funny, he will “blindside them with the worst block they have ever seen.” I would pay good money to see that. Lyla agrees, smiling, and Tim starts making out with her, to the amusement of the library at large.

Chez Taylor, where Coach is eating at the stove. Not even time for a plate, Coach? Tami comes back from the store and delightedly tells him the good news – she met Katie McCoy, and she's so nice! She's going to be a great asset, and she's wonderful, and ohbythewayshe'shostingtheBBQ. She offers Coach “marchellos”, which I guess means that she brought home Mexican food to celebrate, but Coach is still processing the “we're not hosting the BBQ” part. He pushes for an explanation, and Tami says Katie offered to take it off her hands since it's so much work and Tami doesn't have any time to do it. Coach asks how they can host a BBQ at someone else's house, and Tami suggests that it's “co-hosting”, which Coach rightly calls as bullshit: “this is my BBQ.” Tami points out that he's not done any of the actual work for “his” BBQ: point to Tami. Coach is pissed at this very valid observation and goes on the offensive, talking about the scrutiny he's under, and how he doesn't need to be at a disadvantage by being scrutinized on someone else's turf. Tami responds that he's not the only one under pressure – man, we learned that in the first two eps of this season, didn't we? - and that she'd prefer to not be scrutinized at all, thanks very much, not to mention the fact that Coach said this morning that next year they could hold it somewhere else. Coach snaps that he said next year it might be an option, and then invalidates his whole argument with “I was pretty much just sayin' what you wanted to hear anyway.” Mayday, Coach, mayday! He gets to the heart of the matter, though, when he says that Tami's being played. Tami says she doesn't know what that means. “It means scotch,” Coach spits, referring back to the scene in Monty's study. “It means cigars. It means now they have the parties. And the next thing you know, we are going to be indebted to them.” Baby Grace starts to cry in the other room; Coach turns on his heel and leaves the kitchen. Tami stands in the kitchen, startled and worried. “I'm not being played,” she calls after him, not sure of it herself. “She's nice.”

Panthers practice. Matt is unraveling under the piercing glare of Monty and the Boosters, throwing one interception after another. Coach tries to bolster Matt up, but it falls flat. Mac approaches Coach and suggests they put JD in for a few reps, “just in case” - Coach declines. Mac moves closer and reminds Coach that his job is on the line, too: “I'm not looking forward to U-Hauls and 'For Sale' signs if we lose two (games in a row).” Coach, who's been freaking out about the same thing since he walked out of the locker room and saw Monty and JD on his field, grits back that he'll keep that in mind. In his defense, Mac can appeal to Coach, but there's no one Coach can approach about the same worries. He's the end of the line.

Lunch room. Landry tries, once again, to get Matt to be his own marketing machine, and once again Saracen wants to avoid anything to do with it. Landry brings out a “Texas Football” publication which has a three-page article about JD; Matt says that it's the freshman edition, of course JD's in it. Julie walks over as Landry bulldozes on about marketing angles and media until Matt literally begs him to stop. Landry says that JD's “young and hip”, and that's the last straw for Saracen: “Have you heard him talk? He's not hip.” Hee! He immediately turns to Julie in the hopes of changing the conversation and Landry, annoyed, gets up and leaves. I really love the idea of Saracen and Landry bickering 20 or 30 years in the future - just the two of them forever bickering and talking over each other. Hee.

Julie cracks up at the bizarreness and sits down; Matt offers her Landry's tacos and slides them over to her. She tries to strike up a conversation, but Matt's too deep in his football drama and unraveling life to pick up on it. She finally asks if football is a bad topic, and he finally lets loose about all the pressure he's under: JD, Arnett Mead, JD's perfect 70-yard pass. I mention this only because Julie channels Tami so beautifully in this moment, it's like a snapshot of where Tami and Coach have been (and where, presumably, Julie and Matt will eventually be). She watches him and listens, knowing that all he needs to do is let it out and know that she is on his side. And then he'll be more prepared to do what he needs to do. Matt finally runs out of steam and apologizes - he asks again if Julie doesn't want Landry's tacos. Julie cracks up at Matt's obliviousness: “I didn't come over here to eat tacos,” she laughs. Awww. Matt looks at her, surprised and a little encouraged... aaand Landry comes back, killing the moment and clearly wondering why his tacos are in front of Julie. She slides them back over wordlessly. Hee! Excellent work by all three (but particularly Amy Teegarten) in that scene.

Alamo Freeze. Smash stocks some inventory as Mr. Pollard, the Alamo Freeze owner, comes in to talk to him about “a future with Alamo Freeze”. Smash starts to laugh, of course, but recovers quickly when he realizes Pollard's serious. Pollard tells him both management and employees like him, and dangles the Regional Manager job in front of him. Smash is stunned but tempted when Pollard mentions a five-figure raise and a company car. Pollard tells him to think about it; we can tell Smash already is.

Chez Taylor. Tami and Katie sit on the couch with Baby Grace, planning the Panthers BBQ and drinking some wine. So, there's alcohol and someone else does all the work? My kind of meeting! Coach comes in from practice as Katie suggests having a poolside margarita bar, or some games, “like 'Toss the Orange'!” Oh, sweet baby Jesus. Can you imagine Tim Riggins et al playing “toss the orange”? I don't even know what that is, but I know it's a bad idea. Coach kisses Tami, exchanges niceties with Katie, and then says that everyone at the party should be focused on the Arnett Mead game. Katie, for all her shiny bubblyness, is no fool; she apologizes for getting carried away. Coach tries to make his escape, but Tami's got a cute baby with a dirty diaper for him first. Heee, a hard practice, ambushed by party games for the BBQ he's co-hosting, and a dirty diaper. Poor Coach. He leaves and Katie notes that Coach isn't happy they're hosting the party. Tami doesn't argue the point, but she does tell Katie how appreciative she is that Katie took it over for her. Tami Taylor is TIRED, y'all. “You know what this is?” Katie kindly says. “Growing pains.” Tami nods once, worn out, and looks away.

Riggins Ranch! Billy sits on the couch with the Colettes, planning their wedding. The hilarity of this just does not wear off for me, y'all. Billy, like most grooms before him, asks if they really need this many people at the wedding; Mindy and Angela, of course, assure him that of course they do. Tim walks in with a six-pack of “ice-cold memories”, hee, and Lyla dutifully follows him in with a six-pack of her own. She takes one out and offers it to Angela, but Angela takes one directly from Lyla's six-pack instead, and thanks Timmy for it. BURN! Guess she's still not over that whole Buddy-Garrity-affair thing from S2. Mindy, who has some kind of bridal veil in her lap, announces that she's decided on her wedding vows, and even though I giggled, I had no idea of the brilliant train wreck that awaits us. She turns to Billy and says the following in the most rushed, monotone delivery you can possibly imagine: “No one's ever stuck with me for so long before. It's there, I know it is, because when I look at you, I can feel it. When I look at you, I'm home, I don't want that to go away. I don't want to forget.” Billy blinks but smiles gamely, and there's a split-second shot of Tim staring at her, his brow furrowed and his mouth hanging open. When TIM RIGGINS cannot believe the words coming out of your mouth, ladies and gentlemen, you have hit a new low.

Billy pulls Mindy in for a kiss as Angela clutches her non-existent pearls, which is when Lyla Garrity completely cracks up... and of course everyone looks at her in disbelief. She asks if the lines aren't from “Finding Nemo.” BWA! Oh, Mindy Colette, you are too good to be true. Mindy freely admits that they are; Angela says she doesn't think it's nice to laugh at someone's vows. Lyla, shellshocked, apologizes and said she thought it was a joke. Tyra winces: she was thinking it, but wasn't dumb enough to say it.  Lyla immediately backtracks that she thought it was romantic, but the Colettes smell blood. “What's your problem, Garrity?” Mindy asks. Heee! A car horn suddenly starts up outside, and Billy gets up to investigate; Tim worriedly watches him go. Billy announces it's Falcon - “Rehab Falcon?” Tim clarifies, so we know the guy's bad news – and Billy skedaddles, telling Mindy that her vows were “real pretty” as he goes. Lyla is falling all over herself, saying that she agrees with Billy: “Finding Nemo has great themes of love, and finding family, and... Tim, tell them how much I love Finding Nemo!” Y'all, I love Lyla, but watching her do some social hydroplaning is pretty damn hilarious. Alas, Tim is too busy spying on Billy and Falcon through the blinds to be of any help: “Uh. Yeah. Sweet fish,” he mumbles, and I nearly fall off the couch laughing. Angela snarks about “Garrity standards” and Lyla tries to lasso Tim back into the conversation, but he heads out to check on Billy. Tyra very kindly tries to get Mindy and Angela to let it go, to no avail.

Outside, Falcon's driving off. Bye, Falcon! We hardly knew ye. Billy is frustrated because he's "lost his wingman", and at first I thought he meant his Best Man, but this is Billy Riggins we're talking about, so of course he means either a quick-money scheme or something criminal – ding ding ding! It's stealing copper wire from an abandoned power plant! Tim is anguished that Billy's heading into Screwup territory again, but he immediately starts offering suggestions to help Billy out, reminding him that the cops won't have speed traps up on a different route. Billy pauses, impressed: “You're much better at this than Falcon would be.” Tim can't believe where Billy's going with that, and starts to go back to the house. Billy begs for his little brother's help, but Timmy can't be any clearer – the answer's no. The front door opens on the brotherly battle because the Colette women, insulted and offended, are leaving the Riggins Ranch. Lyla repeatedly asks them to stay, but it falls on deaf ears: Angela and Mindy are in a snit and are leaving in a huff. Angela announces that they're going home “where life is not so prissy and judge-y”. Lyla throws her hands up in disgust and heads for her own car, saying “thanks for the block, Tim” as she goes. You go, girl! Tim's completely gobsmacked by all this drama and follows Lyla, asking her not to drive away. “Watch your feet,” she snaps – my third-favorite line of the episode - and then she is gone. Hee! I kind of adore snarky, pissed-off Lyla.

Panthers BBQ. Tami and Eric pull up to the biggest gated McMansion (snerk! McCoys? McMansion?... sorry, just me, then) that I have ever seen. Tami thinks it's awesome; Coach glances at her before snarking that it looks like a sanitarium. When he pulls up and finds there's valet parking, he refuses to turn over the final sanctuary that is a man's vehicle, and practically peels out of the drive while Tami half-shouts that the valets are supposed to park the car for them! Heh. Once inside, Katie squees that her new BFF has finally arrived; she informs Coach that she's going to monopolize Tami all night, so he might as well go hang out with the boys. She means well, but Coach looks like he's going to be throw up, poor thing. The first man to shake his hand asks what “the plan is” for Friday night. It's gonna be a long night, Coach.

Buddy Garrity and Lyla, en route to the BBQ, are arguing about Tim. Well, Buddy's really arguing about Tim, pronouncing it unacceptable that Tim is not even escorting Lyla to the event. Lyla, who isn't thrilled with it either but is trying to Be Supportive, tells Buddy that Tim had to do something with Billy. When Buddy asks what could possibly be more important – he doesn't clarify whether he means attending a football-related event or escorting Lyla, but really, they're both incredibly important to Buddy – Lyla honestly says she doesn't know. Thank the Lord for that small mercy. Buddy starts up about how back in his day, a young suitor would actually pick his date up. Yes, Buddy, I'm sure you never did anything untoward or sketchy back in your day. Lyla says she knows Buddy doesn't like Tim, but Buddy interrupts her: “I do... there's just some things I know about him that you don't know, and your daddy doesn't want you to have a broken heart, that's all.” I cannot for the life of me think of what Buddy knows about Tim that Lyla doesn't, so I'm going to call bullshit on that one. It's a low blow. Lyla stares at her dad for a moment and then softly says that Tim's not who Buddy thinks he is. Buddy tries to rally but folds under Lyla's desperate hope that she's right about this. He lets it go and Lyla looks away, concerned for Tim, who is...

...at the abandoned power plant, in a U-Haul. Billy attaches a chain to the U-Haul hitch and wraps it around the chicken-wire fence; Tim guns the engine and the gate collapses. The boys run toward the plant until they hear something – it's guard dogs, of course, big huge Rottweilers. Tim reaches the U-Haul first and slams the door shut; Billy, in a brave attempt for the Darwin Awards, climbs in through the open window, shoving Tim to the side. Fortunately Fido and Scooter are so happy to be free that they are not interested in a Riggins scooby snack, and head for the hills. Tim pants and gasps; his criminal days are pretty much behind him now. He'd never be here if it was anyone other than Billy.

McCoy Estate. Caterers, wait staff and a six-person country band. I don't think the BBQ's ever coming back to Chez Taylor; this bar is so high you can't even see it anymore. Coach, a drink in his hand, stands alone and watches Tami from afar as she laughs it up with Katie and Monty. Inside the football players are exchanging war stories (“...he was so drunk he could barely stand up!”) with Lyla, who is not even remotely paying attention. Cut to Billy and Tim at the power plant, loading a HUGE spool of copper wire into the U-Haul, and struggling not to lose control of it. Tim's sweaty and clearly annoyed. Back at the BBQ, Julie and Matt are standing up on a massive veranda, overlooking all the action below. Julie, like her mother, is kind of begoggled at the enormity of the McCoy estates; they banter cutely until Matt sees something, and the two of them walk into a room full of trophies. Julie pronounces it a shrine to JD, and you can almost hear Matt's confidence collapse a little more. Julie picks up a trophy from when JD was six years old (“that's a little extreme”) and Matt wonders who gets trophies for attendance, anyway... when JD walks in behind them. Awkward! They apologize and put the trophies back where they found them. JD: “You know, they actually bronzed my first diaper. I can show it to you if you want. It's in the garage...” Oh, ouch. Matt and Julie just stare at him, not knowing what to say; JD walks off, his shoulders slumped.

Downstairs at the McCoy estates, Tyra and Lyla are hanging out. Oh, my. Tyra asks where Tim is, and Lyla says he's doing something with Billy: “Gotcha. Rally girl and a free six-pack, on his way,” Tyra snarks. Lyla pauses and then looks up (and up, and up... hee, sorry, Adrienne Palicki is TALL, people) at Tyra, who realizes her mistake and immediately takes it back. Lyla says it's okay, which it's not, of course, but what can she say? It's Tim's history; she can't change who he used to be. Buddy walks up and says hello, and Tyra immediately walks off. Hee! Memory like an elephant. Love it! Buddy asks if Lyla needs a ride home or anything, but she declines. He walks off, reminding she can come to him if she needs anything. Lyla watches him go and stands by the front door, alone.

Power plant. Tim is ready to blow this popsicle stand, but Billy stops him, saying he wants to get the other three spools of wire. Tim says no; he's already late and Lyla's expecting him. Billy snaps that he's Tim's brother, and when that doesn't work, he tells Tim that he really needs this: “I got a second chance, Tim. Maybe start a little business, have a decent life. There ain't no football games and rally girls for me anymore.” He promises he'll never ask Tim for anything ever again, and Tim looks like he's about to say yes, and – police sirens! Oh, fuckaduck. Tim practically tackles Billy to get him out of sight, and the cop drives by; he's after someone else. Tim laughs, relieved: “Unbelievable,” he says, shaking his head. Billy stares up at him. “Let's load 'em up,” Tim finally says.

McCoy Estates. Coach is playing pool – alone, again, some more – when Buddy walks in with an entourage of Monty and Wade. He asks if they can join the party, but it's a rhetorical question and they all know it: they're on Monty's turf now, and the rules are different. Buddy says he just wants to get something out of the way, and then asks what Coach thinks about the spread (read: JD playing QB1). Coach, who has been ducking this all night, stares at Buddy in disbelief. Wade picks up the thread, saying that most teams are playing the spread these days; Coach says that you need the right kind of personnel to do it effectively. Wade looks shocked and asks if Coach is saying he doesn't have the players for it. Coach says that he does not at this time. Wade pushes some more, and Coach gets crystal clear: “Wade, I don't know what you're being paid -” this with a stare at Monty, complete with a raised eyebrow- “but I'm not payin' you, and I really don't need your opinion.” BOOM goes the dynamite! Wade looks like he's just been bitchslapped and Buddy goes into damage control, saying that they're just saying JD has a great arm. There is a fantastic shot of Monty, watching Coach try to hold his ground as Buddy and Wade circle around him, endlessly saying the same thing in a different way. Monty doesn't have to do any heavy lifting at all; he doesn't need to say a word. He is the Anti-Coach. Coach finally speaks directly to Monty, admitting that JD is “an incredible 15-year-old" - but he knows Matt, and he doesn't know JD. Monty speaks for the first time in this entire scene, saying that he thinks this is an opportune time for Coach “to get to know (his) son.” Bloody hell, Monty, why don't you just buy Dillon High and put your own coach in charge? Oh, wait. Coach tells Monty he should give Coach a chance to do exactly that, thanks him for throwing the party, and then excuses himself. Monty watches him go, smirking. Man, he makes my skin crawl.

Taylor Bedroom, where the magic happens, except not now. Tami flops on the bed and giggles about how much fun she had and how big their house was (OMG, we get it, Tami! The squirrels in the next county get it!), and did Eric get a chance to try the chocolate fondue? Coach purses his lips scornfully, but to his credit he's trying not to be too much of a killjoy. He tells her he heard about the virtues of JD vs. Saracen all night; Tami sits up and gently says she's sorry Eric didn't have a good time. And then we get my favorite exchange of the night: Eric asks if Tami knows who he misses. Who, Tami gamely asks, half-knowing the answer. “The coach's wife,” Eric says honestly. It's hard to hear, but it's true, and he's had a really hard week. Tami nods, looks away, and then looks back. “You know who I can't wait to meet?” she asks, and I say it with her when Eric asks: “The principal's husband.” WORD, Tami Taylor.  There's not much Eric can say to this except “touche”. Well, a lesser man would get mad or start a fight, maybe, but that's not our Coach. Excellent writing and acting in that scene.

Friday Night! “If you're at Hermann Field in Texas, then you're exactly where God wants you to be,” Slammin' Sammy Meade crows. The boys suit up and stretch in the locker room as the crowds wave their banners and cheer outside. “It's about heart, it's about commitment, it's about who wants it more,” Sammy continues. Seven stares at JD (#12, for the record), who's suited up and ready to go. On the field, Matt's all business: “Anyone who thinks we can't win this game, get the hell outta my huddle.” Nice! Matt calls the play as Slammin' Sammy voiceovers that Coach is betting everything on Matt. Well, he's gotten you to two championship games and one state win, that seems pretty reasonable. I don't get why everyone is so ready to throw Matt, who's a proven performer, to the wolves just because JD has a great arm, but perhaps I just don't get football or small-town politics. Matt gets hit as he throws a short pass to Riggins for a first down; on the next play Saracen himself runs the ball down toward the end zone, and yes! I love it when Matty scores (dirty!) - but alas, he is taken out (a late hit) at the ten-yard line. Coach charges the field, yelling at the ref to throw a flag, but the ref ignores him. Monty watches grimly from the bleachers. Saracen half-stumbles back onto the field, and Slammin' Sammy tells us Saracen's gonna feel that one tomorrow. Seven hands off to Riggins, who charges into the end zone – literally knocking over two defense players to do so – and Saracen takes another bite out of what is quickly turning into a turf buffet, poor baby, but he bounces back. Slammin' Sammy pronounces that Saracen's tenacious playing has inspired his team - as it always does, IMO - and Coach grabs Saracen as he comes to the sidelines, praising his work.

7-7. Arnett Mead is running the spread, and their QB1 has a golden arm as well, throwing a long pass into the end zone. 7-13 for Arnett Mead. Saracen runs what looks like a reverse option, but throws to Riggins at the last minute, and gets pummeled to the ground again. We get multiple camera angles of Saracen getting hit even as he throws another long pass to the end zone. 13-13. Slammin' Sammy observes that Saracen keeps “taking one for the team”. I think he's taken about a dozen for the team by now, Sammy. Arnett Mead scores another touchdown as one of the coaches blots some blood off Matt's face. The score is 21- 17, Arnett Mead, 3rd Down, 4th quarter. Coach yells at Saracen, asking whether he can see out of his bruised eye; Saracen shouts that he can, but Coach hesitates. “We're gonna get the ball back, we need six more. You got one more in you?” Coach yells. Saracen looks Coach straight in the eye and says my favorite line of the episode: “I always got one more in me.” YES! That is what I'm talkin' about, Seven! Six seconds are on the clock as Slammin' Sammy tells us that it's all or nothing now; Monty watches, Coach worries, Tami cheers desperately.

Julie screams for Matt as he starts the play, running the ball down the middle. Cut to JD, watching Saracen push off one massive tackle, then another. I swear, these high school kids look like refridgerators. Go, Matty, go! Matt runs for the end zone for dear life, and there's only one defensive player who's close to catching him: we go to Matt's POV as he closes the distance and launches himself into the end zone, and the other player hits him as the crowd rises up on his feet and Slammin' Sammy calls a touchdown... but no. The ball rolls free, clear of Saracen's grip; it doesn't count. The Panthers, en masse, all freeze with their hands in the air and their jaws on the ground. Julie flinches; Billy rests his chin in his hands; Saracen collapses to his knees in the end zone. Matt takes his helmet off in slo-mo and looks over at Coach. Boos - boos, people! - start to ring out from the bleachers, and there's a shot of Monty and Wade actually smiling at the team's misfortune. Oh, poor Matt.

Panthers Field of Despair, a few hours later. Matt walks out of the locker room to find Julie waiting for him. She says hello; he apologizes because he didn't know she was waiting. Julie kindly offers to talk, or not talk, whatever Matt would prefer. Matt would like to go somewhere and talk about anything other than football. Aw. They start to walk off, dejected. Matt: “Oh, they made me employee of the month at Alamo Freeze. (pause) Again.” HA! The delivery on that was perfect. Speaking of Alamo Freeze...

Smash comes home to find his mama asleep on the couch. She wakes up, asks him if he wants some more pie, and he tells her that he's not going to go to the walk-on with Texas A&M. Aw, Smash! His mama blinks, and Smash tells her that Alamo Freeze offered to make him regional manager. SmashMama gives this the righteous “aw, hell naw” that it deserves, and Smash tries to be all manly and grown up, saying he's made his decision and he's going to tell Coach tomorrow. SmashMama awesomely tells him that all he's going to tell Coach is 'thank you', reminding him about everything that Coach has risked for Smash: “he could've lost his job, Brian.” Damn skippy, and props to SmashMama for remembering that steroid storyline from S1. Smash says this isn't how it was supposed to go: he was supposed to run like a golden god, get a scholarship and provide for his family. You know, back when life was fair! Oh, wait. SmashMama asks what's bothering her son, and Smash starts to talk about how he's done “everything right”, but it's still not enough. I take a moment to write a letter [Dear Smash: Hey,  remember taking the church money to buy steroids? THANK YOU. Best, Otter] as SmashMama starts to gently read Smash the riot act: she tells him that he's going to go to the walk-on, "play like God made you to”, and go. To. College! I love how she has just refused to accept that Smash would ever do anything else; she does not have an ounce of uncertainty in her body about that. Smash asks what happens if he won't take her help. “Oh, you gonna take my help,” she says, starting to tear up. “I am your mother. Maybe you get the scholarship, but if you don't, I am going to help you! You let me be your mama, that is my job.” Both Brian and I, cowed by the force that is SmashMama, start to wibble. Smash says that he's going to pay her back, and she says he most surely will: “When you graduate. And I wouldn't mind watching you play ball again, neither.” I kind of feel that Brian's greatness is assured purely by how awesome his Mama is. She sends him off to watch game tapes, and Smash says he will, smiling.

Garrity Condo. Tim knocks on the front door and Buddy emerges. “Hello, Tim,” he snaps. Buddy snarks that Tim has a big set of cajones, coming by after he stood Lyla up. Tim starts to explain that it's not what Buddy thinks, but Lyla overhears them talking and comes out, asking Buddy to give them a moment. Buddy says okay but gives Tim a pretty severe stink-eye as he walks back inside; Lyla has to plead with him to go. I admit, I thought this was going to be the end of Tim & Lyla, and we were going to hem and haw for a whole season about how they want to be together but are intrinsically incompatible. When she closes the door, Tim immediately apologizes for screwing up, and Lyla shakes her head, saying that she keeps standing up for Tim and telling people that they don't know him like she does. “I tell them you're a good guy. You're a good guy, right?” Tim quietly says that he is. Lyla stares at him for a second, and then she really impresses me: “Please don't make a fool out of me,” she says, tearing up. Aw. Tim blinks and shakes his head, touched, and tells her that he won't. The two smile sadly at each other, hoping that they can make this work despite all their history and class differences, and we cut to...

Death Cab for Cutie, singing “Bixby Canyon Ridge”, as an SUV arrives at Chez Taylor. Coach pulls in the driveway to find six “For Sale” signs standing in his yard, and I gasped out loud when I realized that Dillon fans must have put them there after the game. I mean, I know it's Devil Town, but that is pretty hardcore. Tami instinctively reaches over to touch Coach's shoulder. He gets out of the car, jaw clenched, and looks at his neighbors' houses for a moment before walking over to the signs and ripping them out of the ground. He walks to the garage and hurls them at the garage door; Tami stands on the walkway to the house. He paces at the curb of his house until she calls his name, and then the two of them walk inside.

Montage! At the Garrity condo: Lyla watches Tim drive away.

Riggins Ranch: "I cursed myself for being surprised/That this didn't play like it did in my mind". Tim stands on the back porch and takes a drink from his beer, watching Billy draw a tarp over the giant spools of copper wire. He hands a beer to Billy (who's wearing a Dillon Panthers state championship T-shirt, which is a nice touch), and the two of them sit down at the edge of the empty pool simultaneously, dangling their feet over the edge. Death Cab for Cutie: “I still have miles to go...” Word, Death Cab. Word.

On a empty street, Julie and Matt walk together. She bumps him with her hip; he shoves her lightly. They're both smiling.

Taylor Bedroom. Eric scrubs his hand across his face; Tami strokes his shoulder and rests her head against him. Death Cab sings about wondering if you missed your dream, and how you can't see in a dream, and Tami and Eric hold on to each other for dear life until we cut to black.