"You Wanna See Something?" Watch Bunheads

Grade: 88%
 
ABC Family's Gilmore Girls 2: Bunheads returns to complete its freshman season this week with "You Wanna See Something?" It's the end of the summer, many months after the Nutcracker disaster, and no one is having a good time. Michelle (Sutton Foster) is hiding out in Henderson, Nevada, dancing for a ridiculous magician (yet another Gilmore Girls alum, Michael De Luise). Sasha (Julia Goldani Telles) is hiding out to avoid going home. Boo (Kaitlyn Jenkins) is caring for her pregnant, bed-ridden mother (Jennifer Hasty), while Melanie (Emma Dumont) cares for her very old, sick grandfather. Ginny (Bailey Butain) tries to sell a run down house, and Fanny (Kelly Bishop) lets her own home become rundown. It's a miserable way to start a (mid-)season.

What's more, this isn't a situation easily resolved. Things have been allowed to deteriorate to the point where they cannot be repaired in an early-episode montage. Instead, the suffering drags out for almost the entire hour, with each character forced to take stock in themselves. Well, some do, others just accept their depression, assuming they can do nothing about it. This is what sets the main players, like Boo and Fanny, apart from the supporting ones, like Melanie and Ginny.

The key to everyone's happiness is bringing Michelle back. She may have only lived in Paradise a short time, but she brings a brilliant, chaotic energy with her that enthuses everyone else. It may seem like she is rubbing them the wrong way, but keeps things interesting, and provides drive to move forward. Take away such a spark where it has already been burning, and it leaves a smoldering ruin behind.

Fanny is the first to realize this, but it is not something she comes to on her own. Annoyed with Truly (Stacey Oristano), whose attempts to cheer Fanny take "quirky" to the extreme (which is very amusing for television viewers), she turns to DVDs lying around. Some reveal Michelle at her best, teaching the young dancers in Fanny's school. One is Michelle's wedding, with Hubell (Alan Ruck) explaining to the camera exactly what he sees in his bride.

Bunheads benefits from as much Hubell as it can manage to realistically include. For a man who died in the very first episode, he has appeared quite a few times, and each number among the best moments of the show. This is one of those times. I don't know whether Fanny goes to get Michelle because she sees Michelle's worth, or out of affection for Hubell, or both (probably both), but the end result is the same: Fanny gives Michelle the kick in the pants she needs to get out of her funk.

And funk is the right word for what Michelle is in. Crashing at Talia's (Angelina McCoy), drinking her wine, eating her food, and generally getting in the way for Talia's senior citizen lover. Her job is the absolute worst, where they won't even give her the dignity of firing her. Instead, her attitude loses her the "perk" of holding a bird. This is probably the worst we have ever seen Michelle.

Yet, Michelle hesitates to go back. Why? Yes, the town might be an uncomfortable place to be after she maces a bunch of children, but surely putting up with some mutterings can't be any worse than where she is now. At least she has her own place in Paradise, and a job that she enjoys. Her hesitation is purely a pride thing. Thank goodness she manages to get over that.

I did not care for the viral video itself in this episode, but what a great way to use it, making light of a situation that needed to be made light of, and giving Fanny an outlet to show off her sense of humor!

"You Wanna See Something" is a good episode. It takes most of the main people far enough out of their comfort zone to be interesting, but gives enough teases of normalcy to not only show that life goes on, but reminds us of the Bunheads of last summer. On a series like this, it's hard to ever have a status quo, as the serialized story telling keeps people changing and moving. However, this will stand out as an episode apart, and a good way to bridge the disaster of the previous episode onto the future of the season.

Bunheads airs Mondays at 9 p.m. ET on ABCFamily.

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Article first posted on TheTVKing

"Better Luck Next Year!" Bunheads

ABC Family's Bunheads continues to delight this week with "Better Luck Next Year!" Fanny (Kelly Bishop) is devastated to learn that the Joffrey summer camp auditions have been moved to a different venue, away from her studio, with very little notice. Michelle (Sutton Foster), frustrated with her failed attempts to fix her own life, throws herself into Fanny's problem instead. In the end, it takes Fanny and Michelle working together to save the day, and they get the auditions back.

There is something heartwarming about every episode of this series, and "Better Luck Next Year!" is no different. Fanny and Michelle are both in bad places in their lives, feeling like they haven't accomplished what they set out to do, and barely hanging onto a fragile reputation. Losing the Joffrey event could kill Fanny's self-esteem the same way that Michelle's inability to hang a curtain rod does to her. But by helping each other, these two are going to find their way, and I mean that in the larger sense, not just in this particular instance. This can be seen as they sit and sip wine, watching over the studio with serenity. This is their place.

"Better Luck Next Year!" illustrates Michelle's uneasiness with moving vans full of stuff that may or may not be hers, a (literal) broken home, and a pair of dream sequences. While each of these work very well as metaphors, the latter also showcases Foster's singing and dancing ability, something I sincerely hope the show continues to do periodically. She is experienced on stage, and using that only enhances her character. Now if only we could see some of the same for Bishop...

Bunheads does very well in serving their side characters, which lend serious charm to the setting. This week, Rico (Gregg Henry, Hung, Gilmore Girls) is featured in a single scene to great effect, and Bob and Don, who run the local hardware store, are introduced.

The scene stealer is Stacey Oristano's Truly, who knows what everyone wants but herself. It's sad, knowing that Truly would love to be in Michelle's place in relation to Fanny, yet isn't a strong enough personality to do so. Truly does lend help, being there for Fanny, and hanging curtains for Michelle, while giving a bit of advice. It will be interesting to see how this character grows, if she will always be on the outside, or if Fanny and Michelle might include her a little more actively over time. If this happens, it will be because of Michelle's influence, as Fanny and Truly's relationship, or lack thereof, is already well established.

Boo (Kaitlyn Jenkins) and Nanette (Jennifer Hasty, True Blood, Horrible Bosses) are shaping up to be a pair to watch. Nanette is introduced as flaky, yet supportive. However, as Boo discovers in "Better Luck Next Year!," Nanette doesn't have as much faith in her daughter as she probably should. Nanette buys Boo a cake with the phrase that doubles as this episode's title before the auditions even taken place! It may be that Nanette just knows her daughter very well, but if so, she should realize that it's a terrible idea, bringing that cake into the house, where Boo can find it, ahead of time!

Gilmore Girls thrived on mother-daughter relationships, and as Bunheads is mostly a continuation of the themes and stories of that show, without actually using the same characters (at least not yet), one expects the same from them. Michelle and Fanny are obviously going to have that type of interaction, but not being related, they also flirt with friendship. It's Nanette and Boo viewers should look towards for the family stuff, though Nanette is not a main character.

There may be a second mother-daughter story building with Sasha (Julia Goldani Telles), though her mom sits out this week, which is appropriate. While Sasha's main story is making nice with Boo, which is great, because fans finally get to see her compassionate side, there is an undertone of the relationship Sasha has with her own mother, too. Boo's mom may screw up, but there is still affection present, while Sasha's parents are almost absentee. Maybe Nanette could serve as a surrogate to Sasha, thus saving her soul? If Boo and Sasha manage to deepen their friendship, this is a possibility, and would serve as a good spring board to bring Sasha's mom more to the forefront as well.

As many things as Bunheads has going for it, there definitely seems to be a lack of budget. This stands out most noticeably in "Better Luck Next Year!" because, with the Joffrey auditions occurring, only two of the four main ballerina girls are even in the episode. Granted, there is enough story with Michelle, Fanny, Boo, and Sasha, the four more developed girls, that the other two aren't missed. Except, this is a big deal for the dancing they are all so committed to. They should have at least been seen.

Ah, well. Minor flaws like that are easily overlooked because of the genuine joy Bunheads inspires with its complex relationships and feel-good stories. This week continues that tradition, and there is no end in sight, with dozens of stories already teed up to go forward. Check it out, as it airs Mondays at 9 p.m. ET on ABC Family.

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Bunheads, a.k.a. Gilmore Girls 2

Did you ever have a really bad day, and then doing something reckless out of exhaustion, frustration, and possibly under the influence of alcohol? That is exactly the premise that Bunheads begins with. Michelle Simms (Broadway star Sutton Foster) is a Vegas showgirl who has given up on her more ambitious dreams. Failing yet another audition, she accepts the kindness of a dorky man who has long admired her (Alan Ruck, Spin City, Persons Unknown). Which leads to her marrying the guy, and moving in with him and his mother in a sleepy town. Yes, this sounds like the mistake to end all mistakes. But from the mind of Amy Sherman-Palladino, the creator of Gilmore Girls, it is simply the beginning of another quirky, fun series.

It's a bold move to kill off the husband at the end of episode one. It would have been nice to see Michelle with her groom for a bit, and Ruck is a wonderful actor. On the other hand, Michelle didn't love him, and even if they were both OK with that for now, that is a status quo that would not have lingered very long. If Ruck's character hadn't died, Michelle would be back on her way to Vegas soon, or would have had to fall in love with him, which didn't seem a likely scenario, especially not in the short term.

So, instead, Bunheads will be about two women brought together by their connection to a man, and how they move on without him, helping each other in unexpected ways. The second woman in this duo is Fanny Flowers (Kelly Bishop, Gilmore Girls), who is Michelle's mother-in-law. Michelle and Fanny quickly discover that, despite a rocky introduction, they have a lot in common. Their bickering is reminiscent of Bishop's previous character's mother-daughter relationship, and remembering that, it's hard not to see warmness present under the surface. These two gals will find their way, probably learning to rely more on each other than either would like to believe right now.

Michelle and Funny have a mission: to turn a young group of girls into fine dancers. This group is less developed in the first episode than the older women, but the basics are there, and surely they will be a large part of the show going forward. Sasha (Julia Goldani Telles) has all of the talent, but none of the desire. Boo (Kaitlyn Jenkins) is the exact opposite, desperately wanting her dream, but lacking in coordination. Melanie (Emma Dumont) just wants to have fun, while Ginny (Bailey Buntain) worries she doesn't have the right build to be a ballerina. Surely, they will all grow and become fantastic. The fun isn't in knowing the outcome, but instead, enjoying their witty dialogue and slow growth. With a cast this good, it should be thoroughly entertaining.

Like Gilmore Girls, Bunheads is set in a sleepy little town, which will likely provide much of the show's charm, as well as a sizable supporting cast of oddballs. In the pilot, viewers are introduced to Truly Stone (Stacey Oristano, Friday Night Lights), a dressmaker and clothing store owner who is in love with Michelle's husband. If the other, soon to be introduced, players are half as interesting as she is, Bunheads has it made.

Yes, it does feel a little bit like Emily Gilmore took over Miss Patty's life on Gilmore Girls and gained a new, unwanted replacement for her daughter, who has the same smart mouth and lack of style. Fanny's dance studio even looks like Miss Patty's! When will Kurt wander in? But for fans of GG, what's so wrong with that? This will definitely fill a void for those missing the show, and it looks like Bunheads is made with the same high quality, and just as much warmth. For that, I am most grateful.

Plus, being on cable, it might get a little more love than network TV would show it. Watch Bunheads Mondays at 9 p.m. ET on ABC Family.

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"Always" Friday Night Lights

     It may be July in the real world, but it's Christmas time in Dillon, Texas on Friday Night Lights, as the five-year series comes to a permanent end with "Always." Knowing the Lions will soon be no more, the team still faces one final game - the state championship. Eric (Kyle Chandler) is pressured to sign a contract to coach the Panthers "super team" next year before leaving for the game, but wife Tami (Connie Britton) goes cold every time he brings it up. Matt (Zach Gilford) finds it easy enough to propose to Julie (Aimee Teegarden), however, getting a blessing from her parents proves far more tricky. Tim (Taylor Kitsch) ponders his future. And eight months later, life goes on.


     Friday Night Lights spends most of the series only covering football seasons, so it is not unusual for fans to have to imagine what happens during huge gaps in the characters' lives. Yet, the final scenes, set eight months later, or what would have been the beginning of a sixth season, should there have been one, are the last glimpses viewers will ever get. It's bittersweet, seeing how things continue, but already missing those people so many have grown to love. Even with only a few brief cameos by some long departed series stars, seeing the current crop's stories come to an end, along with the Taylors', is a moving finish.

     The transition is brilliant. Just before the skip ahead, the Lions are playing in their final game. Little ambient sound is heard, but a series of plays are shown over trademark music. The faces of the Lions' fans as they cheer are panned over. In stereotypical sports drama fashion, the favorite team is down by a touchdown, and there is only one play left to win the game. But between the musical strains and the camera constantly switching perspectives, the minutes spent on the field are anything but typical. Even more surprising, as the final pass goes for the player's hands, no resolution is shown. Sure, soon enough there are indicators that the Lions won, seeing the championship rings on their hands in the future. But choosing not to air the game winning catch is a bold choice that really pays off.

     Happy endings do come true. The interesting thing about Friday Night Lights is that the happy ending is merely a temporarily stop as lives continue on. Only five brief seasons play out, and despite learning all of the characters' back stories, little of their futures are shown. Many of the principal players are just graduating high school, or early into college. There is no completion. The only thing that ends is the Lions football team, and the Taylor's residence in Texas. So to sum up the entire show, Friday Night Lights, it's about when the Taylors briefly move to Texas and change many kids' paths for the better.

     And they really do. Whatever else can be said about Eric and Tami, they help children. None of Tami's connections are shown in "Always," though there are many. But Eric gets a scene each with Jess (Jurnee Smollett) and Vince (Michael B. Jordan), letting his two latest projects know that he loves and respects them, and will do anything for them, anytime they need it. He leaves them both in great places, much better than when he met them. Jess moves to Dallas and helps coach a high school football team, and Vince switches to the Panthers. But both owe much of their future careers and accomplishments to Eric Taylor. Vince also owes Eric for helping begin a healing between him and his father (Cress Williams).

    Besides mentorship, the most important element of Friday Night Lights is the marriage between Eric and Tami Taylor. It has been discussed at length in many a review, but never has their bond been tested like it is in "Always" and the episodes leading up to the finale. Tami is offered a huge career opportunity, and after following Eric around for years, thinks she deserves the chance to have a turn dictating the family's living situation. Eric likes things as they are, and has trouble seeing any future but the one he leads in building. The couple's give and take virtually disappears over this argument, and things between them take a very dark turn, even as their love is still evident.


     It's not the problems that arise that define a marriage, but how bride and groom deal with them. The climax of this arc comes as Eric lectures Matt and Julie on successful marriage. Tami is shocked at the hypocrisy in Eric's words, and Eric realizes, for the first time, how deeply it hurts Tami that he's ignoring her career. Soon after, she gives in, not seeing a way out of the argument if Eric persists on being stubborn. Even through her grief, she chooses her man. But she shouldn't have to choose, and eventually, Eric makes the right decision, telling Tami it is her turn.

     Eric's sacrifice comes late in the game, almost too late. There is plenty of reason to be angry with him for not capitulating sooner. It isn't fair how he treats Tami. But his apology, asking her so politely to take him with her as she accepts this great honor she has worked so hard to earn, makes up for it, somehow. Maybe it's the sincerity, or the knowledge that Eric knows he screwed up royally. Still, fans are just as apt as Tami to quickly forgive Eric. He has already won the battle, but forfeits anyway, because some things are far more important than getting your way. Tami's happiness is one of them to Eric.

     It's not hard to see how Julie and Matt may end up being a similar couple to Eric and Tami. The personalities in the four do differ, but facing trials and finding undying devotion is present in both instances. Eric and Tami are better people than Julie, but she is still a kid in many ways, and still has a lot to learn. Not the best written character on the series, it's still gratifying to see the Taylor daughter find such a romantic notion as the series comes to a close. And Matt does deserve her. In time, Eric will appreciate his son-in-law in time, whom he already cares for, but stumbles upon the shifting roles.

     Besides the Taylor family, many other characters come through Friday Night Lights over the years. Most get satisfying endings, whether they happen in earlier seasons, or in "Always." Landry (Jesse Plemons) and Grandma Saracen (Louanne Stephens) are two characters that are brought back, but do not get focus, in the final episode. Both are shown in brief scenes, typical for their characters, but not particularly special. Which is OK. As mentioned above, the show only covers a period in the lives of the characters. It isn't time for something large to happen to either of them, so the writers don't force it. But they are involved with characters who do need them, so they are present. Buddy (Brad Leland) is along those same lines, but with a bit extra screen time.

      Hastings (Grey Damon) alone gets no closure. Perhaps he has the unfortunate luck of joining the cast too late in the game, and disappears into the background almost as soon as he appears on the show. It seems likely, had the series not been ending, Hastings would get more to do. With other loose ends to tie up, he gets the short end of the stick.

      The final season of Friday Night Lights develops Mindy (Stacey Oristano) far better than any previous year. Her relationship with Becky (Madison Burge) is sweet and lasting. Even though Becky's mom (Alicia Witt) returns in "Always," and Becky moves home, Mindy and Becky's relationship cannot suffer. They are family, as sure as any blood relation. Thank goodness, for Mindy's sake, the young woman comes along, so that a long-time supporting player finally gets her due.

     Luke (Matt Lauria) gets the only confusing ending. He is shown, eight months later, leaving for the army. As Friday Night Lights winds down, Luke is trying to decide between football and farming, leaning heavily towards the latter. Military service comes out of nowhere. It's a believable path for him, but one that needs some sort of set up that never happens.

     Finally, there's Tim. More than any other character, Tim has to fight to overcome who he is. For nearly four years, Tim struggles with this, and then makes a heroic sacrifice. But after that act, Friday Night Lights still follows the young man, as he tries to figure out where to go from there. Seeing Tim sit on a hill with brother Billy (Derek Phillips), sharing a beer while they build Tim's dream house, is an absolutely average life, and a huge step forward from where Tim begins. While Tim has no romantic resolution with Tyra (Adrianne Palicki), there is hope there, too. His future is so much brighter than his past, it's astonishing. Guess who Tim should be thanking, besides himself, of course? Yep. Eric Taylor.


     Friday Night Lights has come to an end, but it will be sorely missed. Words cannot express the gratitude owed to everyone involved in the production of one of the most memorable, highest quality television series of all time. Thank you.

     Clear eyes. Full hearts. Can't lose.

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

Friday Night Lights gets a "Gut Check"

     NBC's Friday Night Lights begins counting down the final five episodes with "Gut Check." This is a real turning point in the season, when things get dark and characters go down paths they shouldn't. The Lions lose their first game of the year. Coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler) asks Vince (Michael B. Jordan) to help train Luke (Matt Lauria) to fill in as quarterback. After listening to some bad advice from his father, Ornette (Cress Williams), Vince doesn't show up for his practice session, and is benched. After an accident, Epyck (Emily Rios) is arrested and transferred away from Tami (Connie Britton). Julie's (Aimee Teegarden) stay with Matt (Zach Gilford) sours as he encourages her to face her problems, rather than continue hiding out with him.


     Vince has been having a rough year, and things are only getting worse with Ornette's continued presence. After overcoming all of his personality difficulties last year, with no small thanks to Coach, Vince is backsliding when exposed to someone who is an enabler, immoral, and good at saying what people want to hear. It's apparent Vince knows he's making the wrong decision, but his pride is getting in the way of him admitting it, and is causing a serious obstacle. Hopefully, being benched will be a wake up call for Vince, who is looking so promising until Ornette begins taking over.

     Something else that will help Vince is if he stops pushing people away. He isn't paying attention to Eric, and he gets into a big argument with Jess (Jurnee Smollett), leading to their break up. Jess is a positive influence in Vince's life, helping him make correct decisions and stay away from bad situations. Without her, Vince loses a serious source of support. Luckily, he is still as close as ever with his mother, Regina (Angela Rawna), who, despite her love for Ornette, recommends to Vince that he not always listen to Ornette's advice. It's a sound judgment call, and one Vince needs to take to heart. There's hope, as Vince prevents a potentially volatile confrontation between Ornette and Eric.

     Jess has some real potential as a coach. She is the one that takes Luke aside and helps him learn to play the top position. This dream of hers does seem to come out of left field, but her family's passion for the sport, as well as her spending the summer helping Vince prepare, keeps it from being completely unrealistic. What's more, while she is far from perfect, as evidenced by Luke's rough struggle to win, she has some raw talent. She helps both Vince and Luke become better players this year. Hopefully Eric will pay a little more attention to her as she continues down this path. He's already starting to see her like a daughter. It's a logical progression. Unlikely as it is, how cool would a spinoff, set years in the future, with Jess as a head coach, be?

     Vince's issues are likely the reason the Lions lose. While it is a team sport, having the quarterback more concerned with his ego instead of the team fractures everyone. His bad attitude is contagious. For those hoping to see the team go undefeated in their final season, this is a serious disappointment. But Friday Night Lights is all about overcoming adversity, so a stumble is bound to happen. Considering that this is the final season, it is not likely to happen again, whether Vince pulls things together, or Luke steps up like he did in the game at the end of the episode.

     Luke is slowly becoming a man. A grownup man. Besides the football stuff, the way he is handling his renewed relationship with Becky (Madison Burge) seems very mature. Luke doesn't pick a fight with his mom, but he's not going to keep hiding Beck from his parents, either. Instead, he simply presents her without comment, without rehashing last year's abortion incident. Luke's parents should be proud. Luke and Becky learn a lot from their experience, and will be much smarter the next time around. Plus, their reconciliation demonstrates real affection between them, making last year more than just a fling.

     Becky's new job at the Landing Strip could be a problem for her and the moral Luke, or not. There's not a lot of time left to deal with many issues, and the portrayal of Mindy's (Stacey Oristano) character makes the job seems less wrong and demeaning. Mindy has given a face to the type of girl that works at a strip club, and her sweet story of marriage and having a family humanizes the dancers in a way never seen before in series television. If Becky wants to pursue the relatively easy money to be had, Friday Night Lights won't pass judgement. The question is, will Luke?

     Mindy's hesitance about her pregnancy is natural. Their insurance is lapsed, and she is still caring for an infant. It will keep her from working when the family needs money. Mindy is a realist, but Billy (Derek Phillips) is not. The balance helps them work as a couple. Now it will be Billy's job to get Mindy on board. They have a stable, loving marriage. It will not be easy at this time, but they can handle another child.

     It's too bad Epyck leaves. Tami has really been working hard to reach out to the girl, and after all the kids Tami helps, it's a shame that the one that might be her last of the TV show is removed before the real work can be done. This plot is as much about the counselor as it is about the student, if not more, as Tami struggles to provide support for kids that really need it. Epyck just won't be one of them. Life isn't fair.

     Finally, it's time for Julie to go home. A happy ending between her and Matt would be a welcome development, but it cannot happen in "Gut Check." Not until the eldest Taylor daughter confronts the things she is hiding from. Sure, her first semester at college sucks. But part of being an adult is picking up the pieces and moving on. Instead, Julie is immature, intentionally crashing a car, and now running off to Chicago. Matt is ready to be with her, whenever she is. Let's hope that Julie grows up a lot in the last four episodes.


     Friday Night Lights airs Friday nights at 8 p.m. ET on NBC, or if you can't wait to see how it ends, the Season Five DVD is on sale now.

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

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Article first published as TV Review: Friday Night Lights - "Gut Check" 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.


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