Friday Night Lights - Who Do You Think You Are?

This episode begins with the Taylor's struggling with what to do with "Gracie-belle" during working hours now that Shelly is no longer living with them. A sudden vacancy at a Day Care forces Tami (Connie Britton) to have to face the decision sooner than she is prepared for. Tami "chickens out" on her first three attempts, forcing her and Eric (Kyle Chandler) to discuss their decision to allow Tami to continue working, instead of staying home and caring for Gracie.

Coach tells Tami he read on the Internet that this separation anxiety is normal, and reminds her that part of the reason he left the TMU job was so she could continue working at a job she loves.

Meanwhile, Matt (Zach Gilford) learns that Carlotta has suddenly been called back to Guatemala, because her "family needs her". Matt struggles with his feelings for Carlotta, knowing that there isn't much he can do,"I'm in high school". He accompanies Carlotta to a family event and tells her he doesn't want her to leave, and he loves her. Matt later returns home from school to find a note on his bed. "She had to leave a day early" his grandma tells him, "she wanted to say goodbye". We need more of Matt FNL!

Next, Santiago is tracked down by a buddy of his that has just gotten out of prison. He successfully avoids the temptation to skip school and hang out, but is eventually lulled into hanging out with his old gang. Buddy finds them and invites Santiago's friends over for pizza. "Friends of Santiago's are welcome here anytime". Buddy struggles with showing Santiago he trusts him and opening his home to a bunch of "thugs". He seeks counsel from the Taylor's, and decides to leave his prize possessions on the mantle for the pizza party. After the "party" Santiago finds someone lifted Buddy's prized watch from the party, and goes to retrieve it. "Don't hate me because somebody is giving me a chance.", he tells his old friend, a fight ensues, but he retrieves Buddy's watch.

Elsewhere, Noel invites Smash's family over for dinner, not knowing the purpose of the dinner is for her parents to ambush them with concerns about their interracial relationship, hoping to get the support of Smash's mom. "It's a different world now", Smash (Gaius Charles) objects, but finds his mother agrees with their concerns about the relationship causing Smash to feel betrayed. Against the wishes of both their parents, Smash and Noel meet anyway when he agrees to take his younger sister to a movie. Racism raises it's ugly head at the theatre, and the trio have to leave early to avoid a fight. Smash struggles with his inability to do anything about this without the support of his mother.


In the final story line of the episode, Lyla (Minka Kelly) finds work at a talk Christian radio station alongside a fellow Christian teen, and current host, Chris Kennedy. We get a brief glimpse of Jason (Scott Porter), as Riggins (Taylor Kitsch) makes a prank call from Jason's apartment into the station pretending to be a girl with a question for Lyla. "Is that how you show a girl you like her?", Jason questions Tim. Later, listening to Lyla on the radio, Tim renews his feelings for Lyla, stops to buy her flowers to apologize for the call, heads to the radio station, only to find Lyla and her co-host in an embrace. Tim pitches the flowers and escapes the station before being discovered by Lyla. Tim ,Tim, Tim...


We close the show with the Taylor's (together) successfully dropping "Gracie-belle" off at the Day Care on their Day 4 attempt...

As much as I love Friday Night Lights, I think they are falling victim to too many story lines that stray too far from the shows "center". The Tim/Lyla thing seemed to come from nowhere, and was completely unneccessary. I suspect and hope that is why Carlotta is gone. As much as I liked her and Matt, the story lines need to stay closer to school and football. How does this racism affect Smash's performance on the field? I am very worried about this show that I LOVE not seeing rating increases up against repeats. We need these characters back in the stands and on the field at the end of the show, pulling their stories together, and giving these wonderful performances some credibility. Does anyone else feel the same?