clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose
Finally watched the series finale of Friday Night Lights. Who knew the show about Texas football would end on such a feminist note?
The scene in the penultimate episode, where Tami murmurs "eighteen years" and then segues into hostess mode, asking the assembled football folk at her door if they'd like some iced-tea, summmed up Mrs Coach's story arc so perfectly that the final episode back-and-forth about whether she'd take the job at Bryn Mawr Braemore seemed extraneous. Nonetheless, a satisfying conclusion for one of TV's best couples ever.
The action of the finale, in general, seemed to consist far too much of scenes where two characters, looking at each of meaningfully, said Something Important to one another (and, too often, came across as bizarrely wise -- there's no way Tim Riggins is astute enough to realize Mindy would miss Becky). I've always thought FNL was best at capturing the poignancy of incidental moments, rather than resorting to the Big Speeches that filled this episode.
However, the lovely, lovely final montage saved it for me.
Thinking on it, I don't think I ever really forgave FNL for its sophomore slump, but I still have huge affection for it and it will still go down as one of my favourite shows of the 00s. It's a shame that so many people assume it's "too sports-y" or "too red-state-y", because -- for the very last time -- neither of those things is true. It's a show about the poignancy, the warmth, the grit of regular people. Plus: pretty actors; good music choices; lens flares = all my favourite things. ;)
The scene in the penultimate episode, where Tami murmurs "eighteen years" and then segues into hostess mode, asking the assembled football folk at her door if they'd like some iced-tea, summmed up Mrs Coach's story arc so perfectly that the final episode back-and-forth about whether she'd take the job at Bryn Mawr Braemore seemed extraneous. Nonetheless, a satisfying conclusion for one of TV's best couples ever.
The action of the finale, in general, seemed to consist far too much of scenes where two characters, looking at each of meaningfully, said Something Important to one another (and, too often, came across as bizarrely wise -- there's no way Tim Riggins is astute enough to realize Mindy would miss Becky). I've always thought FNL was best at capturing the poignancy of incidental moments, rather than resorting to the Big Speeches that filled this episode.
However, the lovely, lovely final montage saved it for me.
Thinking on it, I don't think I ever really forgave FNL for its sophomore slump, but I still have huge affection for it and it will still go down as one of my favourite shows of the 00s. It's a shame that so many people assume it's "too sports-y" or "too red-state-y", because -- for the very last time -- neither of those things is true. It's a show about the poignancy, the warmth, the grit of regular people. Plus: pretty actors; good music choices; lens flares = all my favourite things. ;)