This is an episode just scrapes by into "good" territory. I like that the theme of the episode is lying vs. telling the truth. Sometimes in the episode that theme gets pretty didactic (particularly Matt telling his coach that he got confused about doing whats right for the team versus just doing what's right), but it was something that united all the stories and, at least in terms of the Coach/Tami and Matt/Landry story, led to some interesting parallels.
The idea that Reyes's situation, where he felt frustrated by what Voodoo said and took it out on poor Kaster, led to this series of events is an interesting one. It created moral dilemmas for both Matt and Coach, who have a vested interest in looking the other way, in going against their guts, and taking Reyes's word without as much questioning or digging as it deserves because of what Reyes lying would mean for the both of them in terms of football.
And then you have Tami and Landry, who are each far enough outside of the football industrial complex that they can see 1. How unlikely it is that some pudgy straight-A student spewed a bunch of racist stuff at a football player and 2. How unlikely it is that Reyes is ever going to face punishment for what he did because he's on the football team. As corny as their exchange was, I appreciated it that it was Matt's realization that led to Coach realizing he couldn't just turn a blind eye, and sticking to his principals by apologizing to Kaster and kicking Reyes off the team.
And I liked the way there seemed to be a lesson of "honesty is always right and fair," that was mitigated by 1. the conversation between Coach and Tami on their back porch wondering if you can succeed at the job without selling your soul and by just trying to focus on the football and the kids; and 2. Buddy showing up at the front door to reveal that Voodoo told the truth and it may get the entire team in hot water. Again, a lot of the dialogue is pretty corny, but there's some thorny and complicated thematic and interpersonal stuff there that the show does quite well.
The problem, once again, is that we have to get bogged down in the world's dullest love triangle. Again, this type of stuff belongs on The O.C., but at least it connects to the overall theme of lying. The idea that both Riggins and Lyla are keeping things from Jason, and that he's starting to catch on has the slightest bit of substance to it, but for the most part it's just an excuse for the three worst actors on the show to hang around and mope at each other. (Seriously, I couldn't tell if Lyla was being disingenious with Riggins when she said she took full responsibility, or if she was meant to be sincere but was unconvincing because of the performance.) To some degree, it can be written off as the banality of teenagers, but the whole bit of giving Jason his One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest day only for him to then get the hint of what's going on is such forced teenage drama. It's a solid third of the episode and it's what keeps me from rating this one any higher. And that's the truth.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParent2016-06-18T01:54:55Z
This is an episode just scrapes by into "good" territory. I like that the theme of the episode is lying vs. telling the truth. Sometimes in the episode that theme gets pretty didactic (particularly Matt telling his coach that he got confused about doing whats right for the team versus just doing what's right), but it was something that united all the stories and, at least in terms of the Coach/Tami and Matt/Landry story, led to some interesting parallels.
The idea that Reyes's situation, where he felt frustrated by what Voodoo said and took it out on poor Kaster, led to this series of events is an interesting one. It created moral dilemmas for both Matt and Coach, who have a vested interest in looking the other way, in going against their guts, and taking Reyes's word without as much questioning or digging as it deserves because of what Reyes lying would mean for the both of them in terms of football.
And then you have Tami and Landry, who are each far enough outside of the football industrial complex that they can see 1. How unlikely it is that some pudgy straight-A student spewed a bunch of racist stuff at a football player and 2. How unlikely it is that Reyes is ever going to face punishment for what he did because he's on the football team. As corny as their exchange was, I appreciated it that it was Matt's realization that led to Coach realizing he couldn't just turn a blind eye, and sticking to his principals by apologizing to Kaster and kicking Reyes off the team.
And I liked the way there seemed to be a lesson of "honesty is always right and fair," that was mitigated by 1. the conversation between Coach and Tami on their back porch wondering if you can succeed at the job without selling your soul and by just trying to focus on the football and the kids; and 2. Buddy showing up at the front door to reveal that Voodoo told the truth and it may get the entire team in hot water. Again, a lot of the dialogue is pretty corny, but there's some thorny and complicated thematic and interpersonal stuff there that the show does quite well.
The problem, once again, is that we have to get bogged down in the world's dullest love triangle. Again, this type of stuff belongs on The O.C., but at least it connects to the overall theme of lying. The idea that both Riggins and Lyla are keeping things from Jason, and that he's starting to catch on has the slightest bit of substance to it, but for the most part it's just an excuse for the three worst actors on the show to hang around and mope at each other. (Seriously, I couldn't tell if Lyla was being disingenious with Riggins when she said she took full responsibility, or if she was meant to be sincere but was unconvincing because of the performance.) To some degree, it can be written off as the banality of teenagers, but the whole bit of giving Jason his One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest day only for him to then get the hint of what's going on is such forced teenage drama. It's a solid third of the episode and it's what keeps me from rating this one any higher. And that's the truth.