7.7/10. Ahhhh FNL, even when things aren't completely firing on all cylinders, you just hit some of those big moments so perfectly that I just can't fight it.
The stand out scene for me was Coach coming across Jess crying in the locker room. It wasn't as big or dramatic as some of the other scenes in the episode, but it was quiet and full of emotional truth and great performances from both Kyle Chandler and the actress who played Jess. Jess conveys both her public strength and her private woundedness at what happened between her and Vince, and Coach, with just a few words ("You know I have two daughters" and "take all the time you need") with some very meaningful looks shows compassion and understanding. It's the kind of understated character moment this show can pull off at its best.
The other moment I really liked was a much gloomier one -- Tim saying that he didn't want Billy speaking at his parole hearing because he'd screw it up, like he does everything. Presumably Taylor Kitsch was off in movie star land or what have you, so we haven't really seen a lot of what prison has been like for him. But I'm intrigued by the idea that his time taking the rap for Billy, which he initially seemed totally on board with, has now left him bitter at his brother. I'm interested at how Tim's feelings have changed, and how he's changed, while in the joint.
But we also got a bigger scene, where Billy, Coach, and Buddy all speak on Tim's behalf. Each of them spoke from the heart in one way or another. Billy's nervousness about it was pretty adorable, and him crumpling his notes and just saying that Tim has a family that loves him and misses him and will support him was enough. Coach is obviously more adept at giving speeches, and his words on Tim's character were appropriately touching. Buddy, of course, speaks in much more grandiose terms, but that too is endearing in its way (and seems to endear him to Tim as well). Ultimately, they're successful, and we get that blank-faced Tim Riggins charm back at Billy and Mindy's house.
The show contrasts these big speeches to try to get someone out with another set of big speeches to try to get someone to stay. The parade of Lions talking about what Coach Taylor has meant for them, especially with Shane St. University in Florida trying to bring him in as head coach, is a meaningful setup. Tinker in particular, who also seems very genuine and authentic as a character, says it all in just a few words. But it's Vince who gets to Coach.
Vince, having been tilted on his axis a bit in "Gut Check," is firmly back on Coach's side now, realizing the error of his way, and with a much-needed assist from Regina, pushes back on his Dad after he loses out on the Oklahoma Tech offer. Again, the transition to Vince getting a big head was a little too quick, and his transition out of it is fast as well, but it's still nice to see him back to his old stuff. Vince's earnest expression of gratitude to Coach and imploring him to stay is a lovely moment here, and the fact that it works, that Coach commits to sticking around, is a nice payoff to it.
There's other interesting stuff in the episode as well. Tami continues to feel kind of wasted in cheesy storylines here, where she argues against a stock evil school administrator at a conference on college admissions, and says that they should sit down with every student in the state to unlikely applause. It's a hokey scene, possibly setting up Tami getting a job offer at a college, which would be an interesting flip of Coach moving for Tami rather than the other way around. And we get hints that Luke is considering a future where his football talents won't get him into college, which is an interesting take on Smash's similar experience.
Overall, there are some really nice moments, both great and small in this one, as we get into the last few episodes of the series.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParent2016-08-24T02:09:08Z
7.7/10. Ahhhh FNL, even when things aren't completely firing on all cylinders, you just hit some of those big moments so perfectly that I just can't fight it.
The stand out scene for me was Coach coming across Jess crying in the locker room. It wasn't as big or dramatic as some of the other scenes in the episode, but it was quiet and full of emotional truth and great performances from both Kyle Chandler and the actress who played Jess. Jess conveys both her public strength and her private woundedness at what happened between her and Vince, and Coach, with just a few words ("You know I have two daughters" and "take all the time you need") with some very meaningful looks shows compassion and understanding. It's the kind of understated character moment this show can pull off at its best.
The other moment I really liked was a much gloomier one -- Tim saying that he didn't want Billy speaking at his parole hearing because he'd screw it up, like he does everything. Presumably Taylor Kitsch was off in movie star land or what have you, so we haven't really seen a lot of what prison has been like for him. But I'm intrigued by the idea that his time taking the rap for Billy, which he initially seemed totally on board with, has now left him bitter at his brother. I'm interested at how Tim's feelings have changed, and how he's changed, while in the joint.
But we also got a bigger scene, where Billy, Coach, and Buddy all speak on Tim's behalf. Each of them spoke from the heart in one way or another. Billy's nervousness about it was pretty adorable, and him crumpling his notes and just saying that Tim has a family that loves him and misses him and will support him was enough. Coach is obviously more adept at giving speeches, and his words on Tim's character were appropriately touching. Buddy, of course, speaks in much more grandiose terms, but that too is endearing in its way (and seems to endear him to Tim as well). Ultimately, they're successful, and we get that blank-faced Tim Riggins charm back at Billy and Mindy's house.
The show contrasts these big speeches to try to get someone out with another set of big speeches to try to get someone to stay. The parade of Lions talking about what Coach Taylor has meant for them, especially with Shane St. University in Florida trying to bring him in as head coach, is a meaningful setup. Tinker in particular, who also seems very genuine and authentic as a character, says it all in just a few words. But it's Vince who gets to Coach.
Vince, having been tilted on his axis a bit in "Gut Check," is firmly back on Coach's side now, realizing the error of his way, and with a much-needed assist from Regina, pushes back on his Dad after he loses out on the Oklahoma Tech offer. Again, the transition to Vince getting a big head was a little too quick, and his transition out of it is fast as well, but it's still nice to see him back to his old stuff. Vince's earnest expression of gratitude to Coach and imploring him to stay is a lovely moment here, and the fact that it works, that Coach commits to sticking around, is a nice payoff to it.
There's other interesting stuff in the episode as well. Tami continues to feel kind of wasted in cheesy storylines here, where she argues against a stock evil school administrator at a conference on college admissions, and says that they should sit down with every student in the state to unlikely applause. It's a hokey scene, possibly setting up Tami getting a job offer at a college, which would be an interesting flip of Coach moving for Tami rather than the other way around. And we get hints that Luke is considering a future where his football talents won't get him into college, which is an interesting take on Smash's similar experience.
Overall, there are some really nice moments, both great and small in this one, as we get into the last few episodes of the series.