A Tale of Two Dillons

I'm starting to miss the departed Friday Night Lights characters a little less.  Maybe it's just that the abrupt changes in the premiere have had a week to sink in, or maybe it's because we got to know some of the new characters a little better, or perhaps, it's just the prevailing awesome-ness of Eric and Tami Taylor, but somehow the new FNL was a little easier to swallow this week.  I like the way the writers are developing the central conflicts inherent in Coach Taylor's new coaching position.  First, he has no team.  Or at least he didn't until that 10 p.m. practice.  Now, he has a group of kids who are willing to give him a second chance.  They're willing to put the past behind them and go forward with their season.  But they're going to need to learn how to play first.  They need to craft their raw talent, work together as a team, and trust their coach (even if he didn't let them finish their fight during the first game).  Otherwise, it's going to be a very long (and painful) season.


Meanwhile, Tami has her own fight to finish back at Dillon High.  After a little tip from Buddy Garrity, she's in the hot seat for following the zoning laws.  One of the Panthers' star players was technically ineligible to play at Dillon because his real address (as opposed to that mail box in front of the empty field) was zoned for East Dillon (home of Coach Taylor's Lions).  She, being principal and all, had to boot him from Dillon and send him over to East.  Great move for Coach Taylor, but the decision is making his wife a little less popular.  Oh, and she also got a threat from Joe McCoy: push the mail box issue and he'll do some mail box digging of his own.  How great was that scene at the booster club meeting when she marched right in there and broadcast his threat??!!  LOVE Tami!!  Later at the pep rally, the students didn't give her the most welcoming of introductions, but something tells me that Tami Taylor can handle some booing from the students.

Maybe it's just me, but I think Landry is smitten.  I'll always carry the torch for him and Tyra, but Landry and Jess could be cute too.  And speaking of couples, Matt and Julie seemed better this week (other than her accidentally insulting his community college art education).  I'm not sure how things are going to end up between these two, but it looks like it's about to get interesting next week.  Finally, BEST DECISION SO FAR: Riggins helping Coach Taylor at East.  Love it!

Friday Night Lights is all-new and commercial-free Wednesday nights on DirecTV's 101. The fourth season will be seen in its entirety next year on NBC.