February 14, 2007: This Is Starting to Get Out of Hand Really Fast
I had always heard that high-school football in Texas was a religion, but I didn't realize it was something worth morally bankrupting oneself over. I cannot believe that those cops were willing to arrest Smash without a warrant for assault when the other guy tackled him in the end zone, unprovoked. Plus, if we want to be technical here, Tim threw the first punch - but they weren't going to go after a white player. Why did it take a far more insidious form of racism to vindicate Mac MacGill? Of course, that begs the question of whether Mac MacGill
is vindicated. He acknowledged that, "stuff like this kind of works its way into you if you're around it long enough," and he certainly fixed the situation on the highway. But as Tami rightly pointed out, he's a government employee, and his was an offense worthy of being fired for. This show makes me think way too hard.
Smash is a character I like more and more every week. He is really rising to the occasion, and it helps that he has such an amazing support system in his mother, even if she steals every scene she's in. Mrs. Williams can say more in one annoyed sigh than any other character I've seen. (For instance, who didn't mentally hear, "I wish that Waverly girl would just shut up," while she was eavesdropping on that conversation?) Smash showed just about everyone that he is, in fact, a leader, by rallying his teammates, scoring two touchdowns and
not starting the brawl when he would have been completely justified in doing so.
So while Smash had the moral high ground this episode, I think we might need to investigate who was on the bottom rungs. Julie, you do not insult my favorite onscreen couple and get away with it - even if they are your parents. Of course, with Julie sitting in jail, we got to hear Coach Taylor say, "All the other parents have picked up their perps, why can't we pick up ours?" That line does not need to be picked apart; we just need to bask in its brilliant glow.
Speaking of ending up in jail, was that not the greatest night of Landry Clarke's young life? I'm not sure I've ever had a friend who gave advice quite like, "Look 'em in the eye, not in the rack," but I think I'm also thankful for that. Between getting himself, Matt, Tyra and Julie arrested, the mix tape, and the member's-only jacket from way back when, Landry should probably be taken out of the advice-giving arena for good.
On the other hand, thank goodness Tami Taylor gives advice as a profession. The three faces of Tami (guidance counselor, wife, friend) was a fantastic scene, even if the three of her did scare poor Coach. If only she could talk some sense into those cops at the end, I'm sure even they'd come around.
Let's just be glad the Panthers are going forward, even if it was only because under league rules, three quarters can be counted as a full game. Hey, we don't make the rules, we just follow them. We'll follow them all the way to State.
