Writer: David Hudgins
Director: Michael Waxman
Grade: A
Heh, I knew Matt’s mom would be back when I saw who they cast in the role. I like the character so far on a personal level—she seems quite sweet, really, and she’s doing her best to make up for the wrong she committed years ago—but from a writing perspective, I have to wonder where the real drama is going to come in. Is she secretly a junkie? Does Matt have a brother/sister she hasn’t told him about? Or are they just trying to give Matt something nice for his personal life, since the football side of his life is pretty shitty, loyalty from Coach aside?
Landry’s mom is so completely awesome for trying to save her son from the post-dentist version of drunk-dialing. That was such a cute scene.
And is it just me, or is Tyra’s new love interest, Cash, like a male version of Katee Sackhoff’s Starbuck? Something about the eyes and the gummy grin remind me of her, and when he said “yeehaw,” it was like he was actually channeling BSG Season 1 Starbuck. And is the guy a junkie of some kind, or was the “cowboy candy” moment a red herring?
As for Tyra in all of this, I have to give her at least some credit for actually saying out loud to Cash that she had to bow out on their evening to go take care of Landry. I mean, who wasn’t expecting her to look conflicted, turn off her phone, and give a Cash a big fake smile? I wasn’t thrilled with Cash for kissing her, but it’s not like he had any loyalty to Landry. He was just trying to be aggressive rather than risk letting someone he liked slip away without a fight. And on the one hand, Landry is being a bit too stalker-lite here—they broke up, and Tyra can date whoever she wishes. On the other hand, Tyra seems like she’s trying to have her cake and eat it too, when it comes to Landry. They broke up, sure, but she’s still very close with him, and I doubt the writers would be hitting the tension so hard if she didn’t still have feelings for him. Unfortunately, I’ve blocked so much of Season 2 from my mind that I don’t remember what their relationship was like at the end of last season or what their main relationship conflicts were. Still working on that re-watch…
Katie McCoy seemed to genuinely intend to help Tami with the Superintendent stalking advice. I’m glad that she doesn’t seem like a secret champion of the Jumbotron. I’m really curious to see if her fundraising offer to Tami amounts to anything, and I’m dying to learn more about her relationship with her husband (who, by the way, is a rather menacing guy).
When it came time for Smash’s walk-on, wow, was I ever invested in that. My stomach was in knots and I cried through the entire scene. And the later family celebration. And the “thank you” scene with Coach. Gaius Charles really nailed Smash's fear and anxiety in this episode, and I’m really going to miss Smash Williams.
And my newfound love for Coach Taylor continues. What with the pep talk to Smash before his walk-on, his willingness to give Smash a manly goodbye hug, and his tenacity in trying not to let Matt Saracen down, I can really love this guy. Yes, they’ve softened the character, but so far, I approve. Given that all three of the main Dillon Panther characters—Smash, Matt, and Tim (and maybe even J.D.)—all lack suitable father figures, Coach has got to be just a little bit more of a soft touch than he has been up until now, in order to not look like a selfish, overly-professional jackass.
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