Friday Night Lights, Season 3

Taylor Kitsch as Tim Riggins and Adrianne Palicki as Tyra ColletteI was somewhat less taken with this episode than either of you. For me, the show is at its best when it holds relationships—and football games, for that matter—in tension. In this episode, the writers let too many of those tensions go. Once, Tim Riggins and Lyla were each ambivalent, for different reasons. He loved her in some inexplicable way and also ditched her in the hallways. She loved and hated him all at once. Now they are a settled couple and not all that interesting. The role reversal is OK for one episode, but Lyla is not believable as a permanent "beer wolf," or whatever he calls her. And the beatification of Tim Riggins has become truly tedious. He's now the guy who brings her to church and gives her dad "good, sound advice." Yawn. For the first time, I feel bored when he comes on the screen

I feel the same way about the Joe development. It's not that his explosion isn't believable; his need for control is so closely tied to his rage. It's just that I find the time before the explosion more interesting. After it happens, everything unfolds in the predictable way: J.D. unloads to Eric, Mom's mascara is smeared, cue to "abusive husband" subplot. I would have preferred to let it coast for a while with some interim developments—a background story, as you suggested, Meghan; a scene of him confronting minx Madison's dad at the country club; some more abusive shouting from the stands.

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The one exception here is Matt and his grandma. As you said, Meghan, the Alzheimer's panic scene unfolded in such a subtle yet urgent way that it felt wholly organic. And what comes after it is not at all settled. A teenager torn between his love for his grandma and the reality of her illness is not a common screen dilemma. Despite what he said, I still have a hard time imagining Matt giving his grandma up. And if he does, I will still be drawn into the drama of it.

On the lighter side, I keep coming back to Tyra's concept of "man points." She tells Landry he loses a lot of man points for suggesting she slice the cucumber thinner for the tea sandwiches. He responds that he should earn some back because he's now in a legitimate band. This is a very useful way of viewing the world, but I need help working it out. Does Billy get man points or lose them for waving that giant leaf blower around? What about for putting on that sexy teddy in the last scene at the bridal shower? Tim is clearly bleeding man points in my book, but maybe for one of you he is rapidly gaining them.

Maybe this has utility in a Paul Fussell way, as a guide through the American class system. Arugula in the victory garden: more or fewer man points for Barack Obama? Your answer clearly depends on whether you're a beer party or a tea party type.

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