Keep Quiet About GAME OF SILENCE

Article first published as GAME OF SILENCE Review on Seat42F.

NBC’s latest drama, GAME OF SILENCE, is based on a Turkish show. Four best friends went through a traumatic experience in their childhood that changed everything for them. Now, as adults, they remain scarred by their experience, and at least one of them would like to do something about it. Are they getting in over their heads?

Honestly, I don’t like GAME OF SILENCE very much. The story is somewhat interesting and seems constructed well enough. They cast is fine. Events are over the top to the point where they don’t seem believable, but one could say the same about most television shows. Superficially, it seems like a good premise. So what is it that doesn’t sit right with me?

Well, for one, the characters are a little flat. The central protagonist is Jackson Brooks (David Lyons, Revolution), who has left the old neighborhood behind to become a lawyer. Everything is going right in his life before the others come back, engaged to an intelligent, beautiful woman (Claire van der Boom, Hawaii Five-O) and about to make partner, a very tired set up. Yet, while Jackson resists giving that up when his buddies ask for his help, he doesn’t exactly stay out of things. Why did he try so hard to leave in the first place if he wasn’t going to stay out?

There is a girl the group looked out for, Jessie (Bre Blair, Last Vegas), whom Jackson used to have a thing for. Now, Jessie is with someone else, but that feels false, too. It seems like TV programs always have to force a love triangle, and this one feels particularly strained, given who her current partner is. How many folks in real life break up with one person and then start dating their friend? It doesn’t seem such a common occurrence, and I struggle to comprehend why the characters in GAME OF SILENCE felt this would be OK. The formula is sometimes acceptable when the story justifies it enough or there are fitting distractions from it, but that is not the case this time.

The other players are even more underdeveloped, at least at the start. Jackson’s gang, which includes Gil (Michael Raymond-James, True Blood), Boots (Derek Phillips, Friday Night Lights), and Shawn (Larenz Tate, House of Lies), all appear to be one-note, despite the fact that they are all played by recognizable faces from quality shows. Viewers are shown what the guys want, but not why exactly, and while to some degree that is being saved for frequent flashbacks, more could easily be done to differentiate their personalities and motivations than is present.

GAME OF SILENCE feels a lot like a number of films and miniseries from the past few decades. Some kids got into trouble, and then it comes back to bite them. From It to Mystic River, the main premise has been done before at a higher quality level. Why make something that so obviously invites comparisons if it’s not going to stand up to the level of what’s come before it?

That’s probably my biggest problem with GAME OF SILENCE. It just doesn’t feel fresh and exciting. It’s almost like I’ve already seen it before, even though I know I haven’t. It relies far too much on the familiar and the cliché, rather than building a world that viewers can get lost in. With the steep competition on the airwaves today, it’s got to do better than this to stand out. I applaud NBC for making something that’s not just another crime drama, but am disappointed by the lack of creativity that went into something like this.

GAME OF SILENCE premieres Tuesday, April 12 at 10/9c on NBC.

"Part" of GRIMM is Good

Article first published as GRIMM Review Season 4 Episode 11 Death Do Us Part on Seat42F.

Reggie Lee as Sgt Wu, David Giuntoli as Nick Burkhardt, Russell Hornsby as Hank Griffin | GRIMM

 

NBC’s GRIMM is back to case-of-the-week stuff in this week’s “Death Do Us Part,” unfortunately. A team of ghost hunters encounter a Wesen that murders one of their own. When Nick (David Giuntoli), Hank (Russell Hornsby), and Wu (Reggie Lee) investigate, they discover a love triangle and a man gone insane in the creepy house. From there, it’s not hard to stop the haunting.

The main plot of “Death Do Us Part” is utterly predictable and trite. Right from the beginning of the hour, there is never a doubt in my mind that the husband is the killer and still hanging around. The official ruling from the connected original case five years ago is that the lover killed a husband and wife in bed, but that makes no sense to anyone who ever watches crime shows. It’s always a jealous spouse who is the guilty party, as it is here.

There is also no reason to ever suspect ghosts are real here. It would be cool if Grimm were to expand its world and the crazy man, Stetson (Derek Phillips, Friday Night Lights), really did see his dead wife, but he didn’t. This universe is full of strange creatures, but only living strange creatures, which keeps it somewhat grounded. It’s hard to complain about that choice, but since the episode is so annoyingly boring, I was hoping for a hint of something cooler.

In the end, Nick and his colleagues don’t even stop the killer. The dead lover’s spouse, Lily (Rebecca Wisocky, Devious Maids), shoots Stetson, thus ending his reign of semi-terror. Then they let her get away with it.

In this specific case, it’s true, the killer Wesen couldn’t really be jailed in the traditional sense. But he was mentally ill, not evil, and needed help and sympathy. Instead, he’s just executed. And the cops don’t do what cops are supposed to do, which is seek justice. Instead, they sweep it under the rug. There are very legitimate reasons that Nick, Hank, and Renard (Sasha Roiz) have gotten used to taking the law into their own hands, and a lot of times, that’s acceptable. Not here.

I was hoping Wu would be the voice to speak up and remind the others about the responsibility of the badge. Instead, in a mere couple of weeks, he’s settled right into being the gopher again, albeit a gopher in the know. There’s a scene in the trailer in “Death Do Us Part” where Nick ‘graciously’ allows Wu to read what he found about the Wesen they are hunting. This is the most Wu ever gets acknowledged by his co-workers, despite the fact that he finds the baddie in the book and an image on a melted camera. Wu is highly capable; now we just need to see him come into his own.

The one part of “Death Do Us Part” that is interesting is the thread where Renard introduces Juliette (Bitsie Tulloch) to the mysterious Henryetta (Garcelle Beauvais, Franklin & Bash). But, as has become the case for such stories, it’s relegated to a few little scenes, moving forward very slowly. It’s also worth mentioning that Nick, a trained detective who isn’t that consumed with his case this week, continues to ignore Juliette’s strange behavior, which is completely unrealistic.

Once upon a time, Grimm was growing into a series to watch. In the tradition of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, it was crafting a compelling mythology and an engaging narrative. Now, it’s mostly gone back to being a police procedural that just happens to have supernatural creatures in it.

This follows the same trend of Sleepy Hollow over on FOX, about which a studio exec told the press it had become too serial. This is a disturbing trend for the broadcast networks. I’ll speak more in depth about this in my Jerome-ing column on Blogcritics.org this week, but at a time where choice in programming has never been broader, cable and internet companies are cranking out high-quality shows that earn accolades and legions of passionate fans. The Big Four continue to ignore that, looking at an outdated commercial-based model where only the least technologically-literate people looking for easy “fast food” television turn. This pool is shrinking as evidenced by the rampant ratings erosion. Forcing GRIMM back into a restraining box is not the answer.

GRIMM airs Fridays at 9 p.m. ET on NBC.

Parenthood ends with tears and a wedding

NBC's Parenthood is always among the first of the network shows to bow out for the season, and with last night's episode, "My Brother's Wedding," it does so again. Crosby (Dax Shepard) and Jasmine (Joy Bryant) rush their wedding into existence in less than a week. This happens despite Crosby's feud with Adam (Peter Krause), which heats up as Adam pressures Crosby into selling their business. Also, Julia (Erika Christensen) and Joel (Sam Jaeger) struggle with their devastation at not getting the baby they were promised, and consider other options, while other Bravermans fall in and out of love.

Crosby and Jasmine getting married is long overdue. For awhile, it appears that the two are ready to move on, both dating delightful people, who are great additions to the series. But in a cast as full as Parenthood's is, there just isn't any room for too many extras, and they were superfluous. Yes, the idea isn't romantic, but it's realistic for the confines of a network television budget. And so, gone are Dr. Joe (DB Woodside) and Lily (Courtney Ford), as regrettable as that may be.

In some ways, Crosby and Jasmine's nuptials in "My Brother's Wedding" come out of nowhere, as the characters have been separated for quite a bit of time, and only reunite in the penultimate episode of the season. On the other hand, this is a plot thread begun in the very first episodes of Parenthood, and one this has often seemed an inevitable conclusion. Crosby is finally mature enough to handle a family, and so he gets one. It's nice that Parenthood decides to stop playing around and just get them together already, in a hopefully permanent situation, even if it may have been done partially due to fear of cancellation.

The main story of "My Brother's Wedding," more than the wedding itself, is the fight between Crosby and Adam. These two siblings are as close as can be, and their purchase of the Luncheonette earlier this season solidified that. While the two have plenty of stories together prior to this arc, seeing them in business together creates a whole new, welcome, dynamic. To think that they might give it up for money, admittedly, a whole lot of money, is heartbreaking.

That is the crux of the fight. The Luncheonette is Crosby's dream, but Adam only sees it as a business. Worried about his family's financial future, Adam is eager to sell, even before the offer is upped considerably. He doesn't think about what it means to Crosby all that much, and certainly doesn't even consider how the business has brought them closer together.

Crosby, on the other hand, is not only in his dream career, but genuinely seems to enjoy working with Adam. It's this affection that convinces him to let Adam sell, not wanting to deny his elder brother his own dreams. Until Adam sees this, it looks like the partnership might be over. But in a very touching wedding toast, almost coming too late, Adam waxes the truth of the matter, and decides to turn down the offer. It's a prime example of the best that Parenthood has to offer, and a moment that will rank among the series's best, even should the show go on for ten years. As it should.

Joel and Julia are wrecked in "My Brother's Wedding," but not surprised, when Zoe (Rosa Salazar) decides to back out of the adoption. While Zoe does seem sincere when she says she had no inkling that she wants to back out of the adoption prior to her son's birth, it's a fear that haunts Joel and Julia all season long. And with good cause. As parents themselves, they know how the birth of a child can change a person. For Zoe, she is leaving this ordeal enriched and in a much better place, and is rightfully grateful for everything Joel and Julia have done for her. But for the couple, Zoe deciding to be a mother is a painful betrayal, and Zoe is lucky that they handle it with grace, when anger would be perfectly justifiable here.

However, Joel and Julia's plot going forward in "My Brother's Wedding" seems rushed. They immediately go to someone to expand the pool of children they are looking to take in. When they are asked if they would be willing for a last minute placement, and agree, it's highly predictable that they will have a child by the end of the hour. And sure enough, they do, though he's a boy at least as old as their daughter, Sydney (Savannah Paige Rae), rather than a newborn. Only in television, with the threat that Parenthood may not get a fourth season, would a bureaucratic system move so swiftly!

If Joel and Julia thought the risk of losing Zoe's baby was great, wait until they get attached to this boy! His mother is incarcerated, and only gives up her rights to him up to keep him out of "the system," assumedly, foster care. It seems incredibly likely that, should the show return, she will be freed at some point and seek to get custody of her son back. Joe and Julia may be much better caretakers than this unseen criminal mommy, but courts usually side with the biological parents, if that's at all possible. This could end in even more tears, which would not be fair to the characters or the fans of Parenthood, who have suffered along with the couple.

Sarah (Lauren Graham) also has babies on her mind when she dumps Mark (Jason Ritter). Mark is willing to do without children, something he'd really like to have, but Sarah isn't about to let him make that sacrifice for her. She has a point. Mark may think he is making the right decision now, but who's to say that he won't regret it later in life?

To the delight of many a fan, Mark wins her back and proposes, which she accepts, by the end of "My Brother's Wedding." The question is, how successful will this be? Sarah's fear about Mark's potential regrets are real and unresolved. The simplest solution would be to have Sarah get pregnant, then come around to the idea of raising another child. After all, viewers have gone through enough heartbreak with this pair. However, that's also an anti-feminist story, in a way, which could offend a number of women. In that regard, it may seem a little old fashioned should this happen, but compromise is also the key to any successful relationship, and might just need to happen here if the two are destined to stay together. That is, if Ritter doesn't get another series. Budget be damned, lock him in as a series regular Parenthood! It's necessary!

New love blossoms as Drew (Miles Heizer) and Amy (Skyler Day) decide to do the nasty in "My Brother's Wedding." That's a crude description of what has been a sweet, young romance. But how else to talk about it when they sneak upstairs and get it on with their family right below at the wedding? Just because it's a season finale, does not mean that Parenthood should have rushed this along. Their hooking up is actually a great scene for those who like love. But the circumstances surrounding it are this episode's misstep.

In the meantime, Amber (Mae Whitman) must choose between her job and being with Bob Little (Jonathan Tucker). He is her boss, and running for office, so it wouldn't be cool for him to sleep with his assistant. And yet, Bob, who is supposedly a "great politician" doesn't concern himself with this. He is genuinely interested in Amber, and also in need of her capabilities as his assistant. There is no discussion of him considering how it might hurt his standing with the voters. And so the choice falls to Amber and Amber alone.

It's a shame that this is handled clumsily, and the resolution stretched out an episode or two longer than it should be just so it winds up in the season finale. But Amber makes the right choice. Yes, it would be terrific to see her in a sturdy relationship with Bob, who seems like a good fit. However, Amber is only 19, and just starting out in the professional world. She should not give up a chance at a real career doing something that she is good at for any guy. If they are meant to be together, it can still happen down the road. She is smart to not toss out the opportunity at this juncture.

Amber's story channels the classic head versus heart debate. Many people of a romantic notion always root for heart. In reality, head must sometimes be given the preference. Not all the time, mind you, but in certain situations. The one presented in "My Brother's Wedding" for Amber just feels like one of those times. So while Amber and Bob not being together might be sad, it's the right thing for the character and the show.

Lastly, it is worth noting who Crosby's best man is. The character is named Billy, and he is played by Derek Phillips. Phillips played the character of Billy on Jason Katim's other series, Friday Night Lights. This Billy has a different last name, but fans of Katim, who created Parenthood, will not miss the reference, as Parenthood's Billy acts very much like early Friday Night Lights Billy. Also, this could just be coincidence, but the woman in the green dress that Billy dances with at the wedding in "My Brother's Wedding" looks an awful lot like Dana Wheeler-Nicholson, who played Billy's mother-in-law on FNL.


In all, Parenthood delivers a moving, fantastic season finale. If the world is just, the story will continue next fall on NBC.

MORE: If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Click here to purchase streaming episodes and DVDs of Parenthood.

Article first published as TV Review: Parenthood - "My Brother's Wedding" on Blogcritics.

Does Body of Proof "Love Thy Neighbor" ?

     For the second season premiere of ABC's Body of Proof, "Love Thy Neighbor," the team investigates a case in a neighborhood that purposely will remind fans of Dana Delany's previous series, Desperate Housewives. In an idyllic cul-de-sac, a man is murdered, and the body is made to look like an accident. But a little digging, and the team discovers an extensive circle of swinging, and eventually, the real cause of the murder, a meth lab. Throughout the case, Megan (Delany) proves she still has her wits, even while increasingly bothered by the relationship between ex-husband, Todd (Jeffrey Nordling), and her boss, Kate (Jeri Ryan). Specifically, how they might mess up Megan's still-in-repair relationship with her daughter, Lacey (Mary Mouser).

     The setting is a fantastic homage, and even Megan's toss off about "desperate housewives" at the end of the episode doesn't seem too corny. The whole thing is done with affection, rather than parody. The characters making up the neighborhood get filled by some fantastic guest stars, including Joelle Carter (Justified), Derek Phillips (Friday Night Lights), Rick Fox (Dirt, Oz), Christopher Wiehl, (Jericho), and Danielle Bisutti (True Jackson, VP). The cops find evidence of kinky sexcapades and false real estate schemes, with juicy twists and delicious surprises. As a case of the week, this one is pretty darn good.

     Thankfully, much of "Love Thy Neighbor" focuses on Megan's personal life, rather than just the case of the week. ABC. is generally pretty good about keeping the characters interesting in their procedurals, and Body of Proof looks to continue that trend. Megan now seems far closer to Lacey than when season one ends, and she is desperate to keep that mother-daughter thing from deteriorating, a perfectly understandable reaction. It's hard to tell how much of Megan's distress over the situation comes from worrying over Lacey, and how much is jealousy concerning Todd, but the former seems to be winning. Nice job keeping that at the forefront, while still going about this week's business.

     Other characters besides Megan are showing some growth and depth, too. Is Kate just acquiring a fancy, expensive new piece of machinery so that her staff doesn't hate her for what she is doing to Megan? Bribery is not necessary, as Kate is staying as classy as possible under the circumstances. Ethan (Geoffrey Arend) and Curtis (Windell D. Middlebrooks) continue to bicker, but help each other.

     Bud (John Carroll Lynch) gets to complain to Sam (Sonja Sohn) about his sex life. This opens up something that is perhaps not necessary to know about Bud. But it also humanizes him, and allows a real look at the two homicide detective's working relationship. This is welcome, and so are the scenes of the two doing their own jobs, as the pair are often only on the fringe during season one. Clearly, both actors can handle a bigger workload.

     Peter (Nicholas Bishop), so far, remains generic and boring.

     Watch Body of Proof Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET on ABC.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Click here for all my Body of Proof reviews.

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Friday Night Lights is no "Texas Whatever"

     NBC's Friday Night Lights ends for good next week. Which means this week's episode, "Texas Whatever," provides some closure and sets up the final plots for the series. The Lions campaign hard to keep their team, but despite their best efforts, it is decided the Dillon Panthers will be the only high school football in town next year. The Panthers move quickly, recruiting Buddy (Brad Leland), hoping he will coax Vince (Michael B. Jordan) and Eric (Kyle Chandler) to get on board. Eric ponders it, infuriating Tami (Connie Britton), as her husband isn't seriously considering moving north for an exciting job she is offered. Tim (Taylor Kitsch) gets some advice from Tyra (Adrianne Palicki), and gives some in return to Luke (Matt Lauria).

     Tami rightly points out that she has put her life on hold for Eric's career for many years. While she does pursue jobs in the field she loves, serving as principal and guidance counselor during Friday Night Lights's run, these are supplementary to her role as coach's wife. Their marriage hinges on what Eric does professionally, and despite being a pretty decent husband most of the time, in this instance, Eric dismisses her far too quickly. He doesn't even seem to consider the move. Oftentimes, when Tami disagrees with Eric, she swallows it because she is happy enough. This time, her displeasure is obvious and ongoing. Which will hopefully jolt Eric awake to his error.

     Despite this recent anti-feminist attitude, Eric and Tami have one of the best, most solid, most realistic marriages on television. There is much give and take and compromise over the run of the show, and in "Texas Whatever," they are merely going through a rough patch. Seeing their love and dedication to each other spurs confidence that the issue will be worked out in a satisfactory manner. It also telegraphs what has to happen, because only one decision will end the fight. Should Eric continue to deny Tami the opportunity of a lifetime, one she is recruited for because of her high skill level, he will be saying he does not have that same level of faith and pride in her that she does in him, as well as telling her she is not as important in the marriage. This would run contrary to the give and take shown over the past five years. Eric will make the right choice.

     Buddy switching sides may seem out of character at first, but it's really not. The loveable business owner is nothing if not loyal. He switches his allegiance to the Lions when Eric is treated unfairly, and seeing an opportunity to return Eric to what Buddy considers his proper position, and knowing the battle to save the Lions is lost, he makes the best of a bad situation. He truly wants to do right by those he cares about, and in this case, that means brokering peace between his closest friend and the people who ousted him.

     Watching Jess (Jurnee Smollett) and Vince pull together to try to save the Lions is incredibly touching. The two have had their share of problems, but they bond over Dillon football. Because of what Eric puts into the program, the team is more than just guys playing sports. It's a community that inspires and teaches the students to grow as people, not just athletes. Only Eric's version of football can mend relationships and lead his players to greatness. All this is demonstrated brilliantly in the scene where the former couple go before the school board president to beg for the Lions' survival. Even their failure takes nothing away from that moment.

      Besides the Taylor family, no character is in as many episodes, or means as much to Friday Night Lights fans, as Tim Riggins. As such, it is wholly depressing to watch the young man spend most of the final season behind bars, a sacrifice he makes to keep his brother, Billy (Derek Phillips), out and taking care of his family. It's a noble deed, but Tim's behavior after release sinks many a hope that he will make something of himself. In "Texas Whatever," little of the Tim viewers have grown to love is left, as he considers moving to Alaska, giving up his beloved Texas home.

      That's why it is highly gratifying for Tyra to come back into the picture and set him straight. Many people have been able to reach Tim in various situations, but none as effectively as the woman Tim loves. Any other girls he dates will always be measured up against Tyra, and she is the one who completes him. Only Tyra can talk sense into Tim, helping him mend the fences with his brother, rather than take off from his problems. She has only a small role in the final season, but it's one every bit as important as anything else.

     Tyra frees Tim up to be the best man he can be, which he needs in advising Luke. The two guys are similar in some ways, though vastly different in others. But they have enough in common for Tim to be able to help Luke see that playing football will probably not be his life, and if Luke really wants Becky (Madison Burge), he should go for it without worrying about anyone else. Luke suspects Tim may have a thing for Becky, but Tim dismisses that, and he's telling the truth. In this case, Tim is in a paternal role, and it is a testament to Luke's character that he can seriously consider the wisdom Tim imparts, despite his misgivings.

     Depressing this entire hour, though, is the Lions being abandoned as a team. For three years Friday Night Lights motivated its fans to cheer for the Panthers, but two years ago, the show made the beloved team the enemy. Going back now is impossible, with the same crooked men still running the show. For the Lions to face extinction is nothing but sad, and wholly unfair. But life is unfair, and without the disbanding of the Lions, several characters, including Eric, would never be able to move on as they need to. The team means so much to so many, in spite of its brief existence, and once the magnetic pull stops, it won't take long for the magic to be over. Everything must come to an end, and not everything turns out the way one wants. It's how one moves forward that is important.


     The hour and a half series finale of Friday Night Lights will air next Friday at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter!

     Please click here to buy the book, movie, TV DVDs, or streaming episodes of Friday Night Lights.

Article first published as TV Review: Friday Night Lights - "Texas Whatever" on Blogcritics.

Friday Night Lights faces more than one "Fracture"

     NBC's Friday Night Lights continues its final season this week with "Fracture." This is an important episode, because a number of arcs that have been brewing threaten to fracture the delicate balance of relationships between characters. Vince (Michael B. Jordan) begins to get too big an ego, after doing an arrogant interview, and visiting a college that courts him for a verbal commitment. Luke (Matt Lauria) and Becky's (Madison Burge) budding romance faces hardship as Becky dwells on what she goes through the last time they have sexual relations. Julie (Aimee Teegarden) decides whether or not to go back to school after a visit from former TA and love Derek (Gil McKinney, ER).


     Julie's plot is a bit dumb, because sleeping with someone with authority over her does not fit her character. However, this can be forgiven, as she is just beginning college, and taking some chances, feeling her way outside of high school. She is going through a lot, and Derek is a good outlet for her to let off some steam. Or so she thinks at first. Derek showing up out of the blue, and facing off with her very hostile parents to get Julie back into his bed may seem romantic to two people in a committed relationship, but is creepy for a guy Julie only spends a bit of time with. She makes the right decision in not going back to that situation.

     What does it mean, now that she goes to visit ex-boyfriend Matt (Zach Gilford) instead? Does this mean she is considering transferring schools, or dropping out all together? Fans of the show are likely more interested in a reconnection between the long time pair, but that seems obvious and certain. More up in the air are Julie's life plans from here. She can't pin everything on a guy, no matter how great that guy is. It's fine that she goes to him, as long as she also does something with her life, too.

     Mindy (Stacey Oristano) is getting some of her best work in Friday Night Lights in being a mentor to Becky. Becky needs a positive female role model in her life, and while Mindy is hesitant at first to be that woman, becoming a mother changes her in ways both small and large. She is more big sister than mom to Becky, especially as Mindy and her friends take Becky to a beauty pageant, and celebrate with alcohol. But as long as Mindy is there for Becky, it doesn't matter in what capacity.

     Becky's abortion plot seems all but forgotten until this week, though bringing it back up certainly informs as to why Becky is resisting sleeping with Luke again. Those are traumatic memories for her, and if it happens once, it can happen again. Will Becky be able to get past those bad feelings? She sort of leans that way when leaving Luke a note at the end, and hopefully, things will only get better for her from here.

     It's hard to know what to make of Epyck (Emily Rios, Men of a Certain Age), the girl with the ridiculous name, and even worse spelling of it. Tami (Connie Britton) always needs a project student to work on, and Epyck is the latest. But she lies to Tami about her home life, while also seeming very appreciative of just being in Tami's company. Is she such an easy nut to crack? She just needs attention? If so, it seems like a wasted subplot, one that could have been much better. Though perhaps, since this is the final season, there is no time for more.

     Also uncertain is Buddy Jr.'s place in the larger stories. The character returns this season, recast to Jeff Rosick, a fairly inexperienced actor, who is doing well enough. It's hard to know if the former boy was available, or if he would be up to the task, given his previous small scenes and long absence. But other than to give Buddy (Brad Leland) one last challenge, is there some big lesson Buddy Jr. has come to teach anyone? While some characters flow in and out of shows without much purpose, it is not a common tactic used on Friday Night Lights.

     Vince's arc following his ever ballooning ego feels like a repeat. It's been done before. Vince's circumstances are slightly different than others because his motives are tied to those of his father, Ornette (Cress Williams, Grey's Anatomy), who he has just gotten back to bonding with after a long stint in prison. As such, Vince is more likely to fall into old patterns while listening to the man who raised him, and who he so desperately wants back in his life. While Vince acts tough, every boy wants their father's pride and respect. Vince has his once more, and now he's allowing it to push him off course.

     Something has got to give. Vince has come too far to just be kicked off the team and have his life ruined. Yet, should he continue valuing Ornette's advice over Coach Eric Taylor's (Kyle Chandler), he will fail. Eric believes in Vince when no one else does, and makes him who he is today. If Ornette didn't return, Vince would still be following Eric towards a bright future. The question is, what will it take for Vince to realize that? And how might that hurt his relationship with his father, who does just want what is best for his son, but is unwilling to allow another man to dictate the terms, even if the other man knows best?

     Eric has a big decision to make himself, and it's hard to predict which way he will go. Being offered a head coaching job at a college is a big deal, and surely it is tempting him. He has done wonders in Dillon, and while his assistant coaching gig at the university level doesn't work out the way he hopes, being the leader of a team of coaches is a whole other opportunity, and one that he deserves. Is he content to stay at the high school level all his life? He has about achieved all he can there, so his career would now consist of doing the same thing over and over again with different kids after Friday Night Lights goes off the air.

     At first, it seems Billy Riggins (Derek Phillips) is really establishing himself as a decent football coach, perhaps even a successor for Eric, should he choose to leave. But now, Billy seems to be going too far into the "showy" side of things, causing conflict with another assistant coach. Billy has always been a wild child, and he is trying to be responsible and mold himself into a great man. Sadly, it appears he is not doing as well as he hopes to. Does Eric have time to try to turn things around for Billy, too, and will there be a place for him on the team once Eric reigns in the ridiculous behavior he has been too lenient about?

     The fifth and final season of Friday Night Lights begins very strong, but is in its middle, meandering section. At the halfway point, things should start to pick up as the action moves towards its conclusion.


     Watch Friday Night Lights Friday nights at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Click here for all of my Current Season Reviews.

     Please click here to buy the book, movie, TV DVDs, or streaming episodes of Friday Night Lights.

Article first published as TV Review: Friday Night Lights - "Fracture" on Blogcritics.

Friday Night Lights lives up to "Expectations"

     One of the best shows on television began its final season last night on NBC. For those lucky viewers with DirecTV, it already aired and came to an end in February. It is also already out on DVD, so there is no need to hold off twelve weeks for the finale if you're so inclined. However, for those waiting for the NBC broadcasts, the countdown to the end has begun. This refers, of course, to Friday Night Lights.

     Tami Taylor (Connie Britton) begins her job as guidance counselor at East Dillon High School. She is quickly in over her head, realizing just how bad the students on the poor end of town have it. Her first thought it to set up meetings with parents of high-risk kids, but while many agree to the meetings, almost none actually show up. Tami gets a rude awakening, and realizes she may have taken on the toughest challenge of her life.

     But she is willing to step up and do what it takes to help anyone she can. Tami is one of the most compassionate fictional characters ever, in any format of story. She really goes that extra mile to make sure she can help those kids get what they need. She isn't a pushover. She has a steely toughness that, when mixed with her big heart, gives her the tools she needs to be effective. Whatever challenges the job holds, there is no doubt that Tami will get through them and change at least a couple of the students' lives this season.

     Which is what the Taylors are all about. Tami and her husband, Eric (Kyle Chandler), are the surrogate parents for all of the needy children in Dillon, Texas. While not all the adults in town realize this, the younger generation surely does. Everyone knows these are the people to go to when you need help, and they have already made lives better for many kids over four seasons. They demand and command respect, and don't just give out charity. They help guide the kids to succeed on their own. While the students on the series come and go as the years pass, the Taylors have been the one constant, and really are the amazing story of Friday Night Lights.

     That's why Billy Riggins (Derek Phillips) now works as an assistant coach for Eric. Billy saw the kind of man that his younger brother Tim (Taylor Kitsch) grew into with Eric's help. Tim is currently sitting in jail, taking the fall for Billy so that Billy can be there for his family, including a young infant. Billy wants to give back, and is inspired by the kind of loyalty that Tim shows. While Billy is older than most of the Taylors' projects, he will be changed by them, as most are. And what's more he knows it, and is actively seeking.

     Now, the Taylors are not some kind of deities, or perfect people, despite what it may sound like in the proceeding paragraphs. They are constantly challenged, and do get discouraged, like anyone else. They have fights, with others and with each other. They are painted as complicated, realistic people, which is the show's biggest strength. Eric is made to quit coaching at the 'good' school and transfer to the bad end of town. Tami is forced out of her job as principal of the same 'good' school. It's their determination and pluck that keep them going, no matter what obstacles are stacked against them.

     This attitude inspires those around them. Vince (Michael B. Jordan) is one step away from a long prison sentence when Eric takes him under his wing. Last night, Vince sat down and had a talk about responsibility with Jess's (Jurnee Smollett) younger brother, who is acting up because their father is out of town. Without the influence Eric has had on Vince, he would never have been in a position to mentor anyone else. Now, jail is the last thing in Vince's bright future.

     Jess is not the only one struggling with an unusual family situation. Becky's (Madison Burge) mother has left her in the care of her father, who in turn dumps Becky on her stepmother, who doesn't want her. Becky's best friend, Tim, is in jail, and she has no one to turn to. Except, Tim promises Becky that she is family, so she goes to Billy. Billy's wife isn't happy about it, but Billy allows her to stay. While the Taylors are not personally involved in this particular save, it is connected to them, like an inspirational game of Six Degrees.

     As with many beginnings of seasons on this show, it is time for some long-running characters to move to the next phase in their lives. Landry (Jesse Plemons) is preparing to leave for Rice University. Landry has been with the show from the beginning, so his exit is sad. Unfortunately, he only gets a couple of scenes to explore it, having a last gig with his band, and saying goodbye to Grandma Saracen (Louanne Stephens). With his best friend already gone, it is up to Julie (Aimee Teegarden) to make Landry's last night in Dillon memorable. So she takes him to a strip club, though she leaves him there by himself. Probably not what her parents would have done, but still helpful.

     Julie is Eric and Tami's daughter, and she is leaving, too, though only Dillon, not the cast. It's interesting that the show will follow Julie to college, as it doesn't usually continue with the main characters once they leave Dillon. There have been small exceptions, and Jason Street (Scott Porter) has a huge arc post-high school, but it's not the norm. Best guess is that because Julie is a Taylor, she will get a special pass. While the Taylors are far from the only characters featured, they do seem to be the most important.

     As Julie packs up to head off to college, it really effects the stoic Eric. She skips out early on a dinner with her parents, and when he waits up for her to come home, she wants to go straight to bed. But he will have none of it, making her play ping pong with him and reliving old memories.

     Eric isn't the most emotionally expressive person, and the series is careful to keep him in character. He does tell Julie he loves her and will miss her, but almost all of his best acting his done in his eyes, not verbally. It's a testament to Chandler that Eric is able to be so loving without having to be explicit about it. Chandler is one of the few actors that can communicate so much while doing so little. As this series comes to an end, he will not be out of work long.

     It should say something that in a show titled Friday Night Lights, there is so much to review that does not concern football. That's because the series is not about football. For TV fans who avoid sports shows, this is not one of them. Although, it's so easy to care about the various people the show does follow, that when some of them inevitably make it on the field, whether or not you like football, it is still plenty exciting.

     Coach Taylor loves football, and that is probably the best thing the sport has going for it, as Coach Taylor is character to love. He insists that the game is about teamwork, not violence, and that is the attitude he brings to it. It's why his team follows him so readily. It's also the one he uses to steal newcomer Hastings Ruckle (Grey Damon) from the basketball team over to Taylor's East Dillon Lions.

     The Lions have a losing record last season, going 2-8. They win one really important game, but lose most of the others. It is, after all, the team's first year playing together. With Friday Night Lights completing its run this season, it is likely that the Lion's will have a much better record thisseason, and Ruckle, as well as Vince and Luke (Matt Lauria), will be the primary reasons for that. Vince and Luke were new last season, and with Ruckle, the three of them are sure to be Eric's next, possibly biggest, triumph.

     But Ruckle's story will surely go beyond football, as everyone on the show does. It is just unknown at this time what Ruckle's story will be.

     Luke's arc seems set to be a doozy, as he injures a player on the field in this week's game. This will combine his football story with the rest of his screen time. The look on Luke's face while realizing he has hurt another human being lends to the theory that the action will come back to haunt him. Luke has a genuine kind heart, and he will not be able to go on happily living his life if he causes serious harm to another. It will likely make for hesitation on the field, and a challenge the Lions must overcome. It may also affect Luke's future as he consider what his post-high school plans should be.


     Friday Night Lights continues its thirteen episode final season every Friday night at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.

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Article first published as TV Review: Friday Night Lights - "Expectations" on Blogcritics.