October 3, 2006: We Got Boys That Can Play Football
OK, so this isn't exactly the type of football show that makes you want to pull out your old Jock Jams CD, but what an opener. I just knew from the start when I saw Jason Street getting interviewed that this too-good-to-be-true life wasn't going to last till the end of the episode, a feeling that increased as his parents spoke with the recruiter. That said, it was still hard not to be shocked when he couldn't get up after slamming into the guy on the other team. But how wonderful was it to see Matt Saracen actually get a chance to play? The horror-stricken face as he was called up may have been the most true-to-life moment in this episode.
In that vein, there are few shows that hit the ground with such a lived-in quality, but this is definitely one of them. We've managed to get some histories (Coach Taylor has coached Jason since PeeWee, Smash and Tim Riggins really hate each other) without it seeming forced or contrived. Riggins' line regarding Smash that, "That dude could be Santa Claus and I still wouldn't like him" just gives me shivers about what's going to happen between the two of them. And though I'd heard that "To good friends living large in Texas" line about three million times in the promos, I think it basically sums up the premise of the show outside of the actual game of football.
My one pet peeve with this show so far? Kyle Chandler's glacial calm during the actual game itself. During the half-time scene, the assistant coach was screaming at the players and Coach Taylor is standing there completely serene, thinking about strategy. While this must be an enviable skill for a coach to have, with shows like
Two-A-Days and having seen coaches on the sidelines during games, to me it seems supremely unlikely that he wouldn't be the one chewing out his team for being behind.
I'm interested to see how some of the other characters develop, especially Riggins' girlfriend, who obviously has a problem with perfect Lyla, and Saracen in his newfound role of quarterback. On the other hand, we have Connie Britton, who has defined Tami Taylor so well already (how perfect was the look on her face after the two women invited her to the book club?); of course, it may help that she played the same role in the film.
Best non-football-related line of the night? The Realtor's "Room in the bathroom is what has saved more marriages than Oprah and Dr. Phil combined." I love that this show has its light touches, from this one to the scene at the dealership opening ("You've got great manners. Knock it off - you can't go into a game like that"), because with such a sad ending, it's definitely going to need them.
Regardless of that, I'm pumped for next week. To paraphrase those ESPN Monday Night Football ads I see everywhere, "Is it Tuesday yet?"
