Grid Effect

A couple notes while channel surfing last night. We strolled through ABC during the big season premiere for Lost, and it appears they’ve somehow gotten guns on the island. This is good, there’s no way that show could survive without some random plot device. And guns are the best of all random plot devices. Honestly this show is the closest thing to a WWF match there is on scripted television. Its like a revolving door of unexpected characters walking into camera shots, then a tension filled score is queued up and everyone either rejoices or scorns. Someday, I’m sure I’ll understand the fascination, but it is currently beyond me.

You people must think I’m going through some sort of male menopause with how bitchy I’ve been this week. But I can assure you, my tone on this site only correlates with my disgruntled state in relation to the world of television. In most conversations I usually evoke a sunny disposition. Except for when I’m talking about television, then heads roll.

As you can imagine, we were not very big fans of this episode. We can’t figure out if this title is referring to one or several of its characters, or the writers inability to write a predominate amount of original, organic storylines, or the writers current standing in their labor strike. Either way, it didn’t resonate.

They rehashed about three different themes this episode that were significant in the first season. Namely, Tim being in love with Lyla (understandable, but redundant), Smash dealing with Texas racism (from a peer, rather than a coach) and Tyra taking a stab at athletics (volleyball instead of football). All of which, while executed with subtlety and nuance in the first season, are now heavy-handed and predictable.

The Tim-Lyla storyline ended somewhat early in the episode. He discovered last episode she is dating some good-intentioned choir boy, essentially his polar opposite, and demanded she attend his house where he prepared dinner then promptly apologized. In short, he vowed his love again, she for the umpteenth time rebuffed his advances and compensated by loaning him $3,000 she either stole from her dad or the church, so he could payback the meth-addict he ripped off.

And they can’t just report this clown to the cops because…

This devolved into a confrontation with said meth-addict and his unsavory looking cronies pulling a gun on Tim and Billy. It is well-acted and all, but how many people can be living outside the law on this show?

Also in legal trouble? Smash, who cold-cocked some sniveling kid for making an inappropriate remark about Sidney Poitier in Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner. Oh, I’m sorry, I mean about Smash dating his new beau, Noelle. For some reason this is a public concern, filled with press conferences, public apologies and accusations, some kid punched another kid in a movie theater over a girl, how is this “news”? Shit, I imagine something like this happens in Dillon at least three times a day. And did we ever see a single news report about the guy Landry and Tyra murdered? And yet we have local “press” tracking Smash down at an Applebee’s. Maybe Katims and them are trying to make a point about the misplaced priorities in the journalism industry, a la The Wire’s fifth season. Then again, maybe its just an oversight by the FNL team.

In good god we get he makeup of these characters news, Tyra is now playing volleyball at Tami’s request. And since there isn’t another capable adult woman in all of Dillon and FNL is pushing their luck just being on the air much less expanding their budget, Mrs. is also coaching the team. Anyhow, due to relationship struggles, Tyra takes her frustration out on the volleyball and leads the winless Dillon team to their first victory in eight efforts. This would be great if virtually the same thing didn’t happen last year in the powderpuff football game. Tyra was bitter towards Lyla for sleeping with Tim, and indicated as much with her tackle play in a flag game.

The episode wasn’t all bad (note: even when it’s bad I enjoy it), Street’s plight has been an great character arc since the pilot, and last Friday was no exception. Of course we would have loved to have seen him lash out at the Texas caricature of a woman who was sabotaging his work at the dealership. You have to love Buddy’s mentality. He does something borderline charitable by giving Street a job, but indeed benefits from it by manipulating customers by forcing the disabled local football hero’s sales pitch on them. Street has always been exceptional, in character and intelligence so he probably would excel at hawking cars regardless. But Buddy spontaneously offering him a job was really in character.

Seeing Landry move on from Tyra was entertaining and (finally) realistic. While there is no accounting for him and Tyra completely forgetting they conspired to murder someone, throwing Jean into the fray is a smart move, because it helps the characters and the audience move on as well. If they continued with Landry obsessing over Lyla, it’s a constant reminder that he murdered someone in her name. Additionally, we welcome the introduction of Jean, since we prefer her to Tyra anyways. Namely because she has a brain that operates outside of self-preservation. Honestly, has Tyra ever expressed interest in anything beyond her own concerns? I guess with her mom, but isn’t she immediately effected by her well-being? Whatever. Welcome to the cast Jean, we hope your residence lasts for at least the remainder of the season. Or at least the last two episodes NBC has ready to air before they go on an indeterminable hiatus.

We’re obviously not anywhere near bailing on the series, but if we missed an episode here or there, we wouldn’t be regretful about it. That, in and of itself, is a far cry from the brilliance of the first season.

Wire recap later today or Sunday.