KING OF THE JUNGLE

Now let me begin by saying I hope you all actually go to iTunes and BUY the new Crucifictorious album instead of illegally downloading it. We wouldn't want to do Landry like that now would we?

Matt in the grocery store reminded me of a younger me, saying he didn't drink coffee and how he had no idea what kind of onions to buy. The wife sends me to the store for some Baby Formula and a head of lettuce and I come home with Metamucil and a head of cabbage.

Loved how Eric gives Tami a wink before she goes up to make her speech and I also loved how there were just as many people clapping at the end as those who gasped in disbelief. Later she says she just wants to crawl into a corner. Well honey, why on Earth with everything you have going on would you be hosting Thanksgiving dinner? Come on now. And then you go and make a roasted turkey and get upstaged by Buddy and his amazing deep fryer. Grandma Saracen just loves Buddy's meat as does Tyra's mom.

Eric begins to get the team ready for Friday. Eric knows there is more than one way to skin a cat. He tells the team, "I don't think, I know damn well, we can beat the Dillon panthers."
He then keeps the team late at practice but after brushing aside pleas from the coaches to let the kids go home, he begins to cut them loose a few at a time starting with Tinker. In the end it is just him and Vince on the field. Vince isn't sure he can give Eric the win he so desperately wants. Eric in turn asks if he has somewhere to go tonight. He doesn't care about the game as much as he does Vince.


The turkey is gone, the stuffing packed away. It's time for some football. The teams are ready, the stage is set and away we go.

J.D. goes up top for 6 right off the bat. Eric unfazed turns to Vince and tells him he is going to enjoy watching him beat J.D. all night long. You can see the look in Vince's eyes change to one of confidence. Vince tucks the ball away on a busted play-action pass and despite carrying the ball like a loaf of bread, hits pay dirt and answers back. Landry comes on and Ray Finkle's the extra point though. Shank You very much Landry.
The Panthers go up two scores and Eric digs into his bag of tricks going double tight, wing left, shift to gun, with a release to Tinker. Vince asks if that's even legal. Tinker hauls in a bomb from Vince, not quite sure how he got down there so fast, but no flags on the play, it's six points. Next Vince takes the speed draw in for the two point conversion and just like that the Lions claw their way back into the game before half time.

The Lions in the locker room hear the Dillon home crowd chanting "WE ARE...PANTHERS!." Vince gets the team "fired up." A great opportunity was missed here to induce some chills on the viewers. Vince and the team's chant was weak and not nearly loud enough. The little Under Armour kid gets his bus full of pop warner team mates more fired up than Vince does his squad. The defense comes to play in the second half though and J.D. gets to see how the other half lives.

Wade begins to lose control and Eric sees his chance. He calls Luke over and tells him they are going to run The Lion. Luke says thank you to coach before taking the field. Love that kid. Vince hooks up with #44 and then Luke pushes the pile into the end zone for another two point conversion.
Luke carries once more on the next possession but reinjures that hip after taking a big hit from the Panther safety. Despite saying he is OK, Eric goes to his kicker, Mr. Landry Clarke. Redemption Time..."LACES OUT DAN!!!"
Eric: "You're goin in."
Landry: "That would be a 45 yard field goal"
Eric: "So?"
Landry: "I can't kick a 45 yard field goal."
Eric: "What do you mean you can't? I've spent three years turning you into a god damn football player. You know what you're gonna do? You're gonna go out there and kick that damn field goal, you hear me? And you know what, it could be worse son. It could be 47 yards, so do us proud, get in there."

With six seconds left and into the wind Landry nails what was officially a 46 yarder to give the Lions the biggest win in school history.
The next day on the radio, Panther announcer Sammy Mead even takes his hat off to the Lions.

Tami comes to a solution and takes a job at East Dillon. Julie tells Matt she needs to find her own Chicago. Landry opens his door to find Matt standing there having just been dumped by Julie. Landry goes "oh whatever" and lets him in.He then asks him, "did you see my field goal? My 72 yard field goal? It was a miracle." Great stuff. Glad to see them kiss and make up after earlier in the episode when Matt after getting snubbed by his best friend mutters "he's like a girl."
A solemn Tim asks to borrow Billy for a second but Mindy whines that it's like her first break ever. Are you kidding me? This is Riggins Brothers business.
Watch the kid for a minute so Tim can go deliver a brutal speech to his big brother. "You are my brother...this is my decision...this is what I have decided...you're my brother...etc." In the history of the show I don't think there has been a more awkward or just flat out more terrible Tim Riggins scene. I was heart broken. I really hope he is taking the bullet here for his nephew's sake and not Billy's. Billy all but blames him for the whole thing earlier in the show.

One bad play does not a career make though. Tim salvages his legacy and reminds us why we love him when he pauses on his way into jail to toss Billy the #33 key chain to his truck. I can't bring myself to think this is the end of Tim Riggins. I just can't and I won't ever discuss it.


The second to last scene of the Taylor's hanging Christmas decorations made me so nostalgic and crave Fall and football season even more. We close with Matt and Landry on the plane to Chicago as we say goodbye to FNL for another season.
Next year marks the series finale and they will have a lot to explore in a limited number of episodes. How can Luke think about transferring after a win like that? Although his mother will not be happy to hear Tammi is coming to his son's school. Luke and Tinker will be integral next year I feel as their friendship continues to grow. Will the show explore Stan, Coach Best Buy's, sexuality and tackle another tough issue? Wonder what Luke's holier than thou mother will make of that. Vince and Jess will test the limits of their feelings and the limits of Big Mary's patience I'm sure. Will we see a return of Smash, Jason Street or Tyra? Will we see Lyla visit Tim in prison and be subjected to the cat calls of other inmates. Will Tim have shaved his head the next time we see him, if we see him at all?
A great deal to think about and even more time to wait and see. Till then as always...Clear eyes, Full Hearts, Can't Lose.