Grid Effect

We’re watching two dachshunds for the next few days, and the roommates shiba-inu is making things really difficult. So in the interest of keeping them all alive, we’re going to keep this much, much shorter than usual, which is a shame because I really enjoyed this episode.

-The Landry subplot continues to distract, though the actor playing Chad (Landry’s father) really makes it tolerable. I don’t know where half these actors on this series come from, but the casting supervisors and such are doing more than their part.

-Riggins’ sulking was entirely predictable from the previews showing him getting 86′d from the team. Not sure if I can get on board with the juvy subplot, but it has some promise. I really hope they make Riggins’ path back to the team as arduous as coach Taylor is threatening. Oh, and it seems to be widespread to ask why no one explained to coach Taylor what Riggins was doing in Mexico, since it a valid reason like the one he ended up having would get him back on the team. For starters, that wasn’t why he initially went down there, or it was at least it was never explained to us. Maybe he thought Street wouldn’t actually go through with the procedure. Either way, he went to Mexico for booze and prostitution. Secondly, I can’t imagine Street wanting everyone knowing why he traveled to Mexico, if anything he was doing it for his friend.

-Saracen with the cheerleader was long overdue, she certainly laid it on pretty thick but it seemed like that was the only our resident “shy guy” was going to come out of his shell. Almost starting to feel bad, for emotionally overwhelmed Julie. At least she doesn’t have to lookout for Grandma Saracen any further, though she probably would in a heartbeat now.

-The Street storyline is probably the most eloquent acting and writing this season has had to offer. All of his scenes with Coach Taylor felt natural, and honest. And even for all the emotional resonance in these scenes, the one that stood out the most was Street’s epiphany coming full circle as he was shouting out directives at practice. Also, that birthday “party” scene was brutal, and I’ve never been more contemptuous with a character on this series than I was with Buddy’s “Lyla would’ve been rich” line, but Riggins actually played the mature one here since none of the adults were willing to do so.

-We find the “crazy aunt” plot a little tired around here, but the woman playing the AIDS stricken nympho from Nip Tuck sold it well, and the acting was top notch as always. But haven’t we touched on the Tami might have some regrets about her life choices? According to Hollywood, there isn’t a woman alive who was happy to get married and have kids.

-Finally, the two best scenes of the best episode of the season (I feel like I keep saying this after every episode, which is a positive) was the one with them playing football at the end, and coach Taylor expressing his approval as the plane flew overhead. The significance of the plane tying in directly to the theme of Dillon being an isolated hub from the rest of existence (the predominant theme of the episode, very Sopranos and Wire-ian).

-And the second scene being the one with Smash and Riggins first at Riggins’ house, then at Smash’s for dinner and a frank discussion about Riggins’ shortcomings as a leader on the team (we can’t recall if he’s a captain or not, we’re guessing no). It was just pitch perfect and comical in its own simple way, an understanding of the characters is probably necessary to find this scene funny.

Great episode, the season keeps gaining steam and we’re looking forward to tonight’s episode. Have a great weekend. And just so we’re on record:
OSU: 38
Michigan: 20