Friday Night Lights – Season 3
February 21, 2009
Shortened by the writer’s strike, last season was a washout in terms of plot and story, and apparently in Dillon Texas as well, as we find out that the Panthers were swept out of the playoffs early after Smash suffers a knee injury. This season, Jason and Smash are both graduated and Tim, Tyra, Lyla and Matt all seniors so there’re plenty of farewells in the works here.
Given unprecendented life in a deal NBC cut with DirecTV, Season 3 is possibly the last season of Friday Night Lights ever. All my episode reactions for Season 3 are listed below, as well as my concluding thoughts about Season 3 in general.
Season 3 Episode List
3×01 – I Knew You When:
Tami’s now Principal but has to fight budget wars with Buddy Garrity, a new freshman QB puts Matt’s starting future in jeopardy, and Smash faces, possibly, not ever being The Smash anymore.
3×02 – Tami Knows Best:
Matt finds his long lost mum, Lyla and Tim try to make things work, Tyra and Tami face off and Coach brings The Smash back.
3×03 – How The Other Half Live:
Dillon vs Arnett Mead and the annual BBQ - Coach and Matt find themselves fighting losing battles, Tim is caught between Lyla and Billy and Smash makes a decision.
3×04 – Hello, Goodbye:
The Smash farewell episode as Coach helps him get to A&M, Tyra meets a cowboy, Matt’s life doesn’t get any easier while Tami learns how to play the game.
3×05 – Every Rose Has It’s Thorn:
Jason Street makes his first appearance this season and he’s got a plan to turn his life around, Tim steals inspirational lines from Buddy Garrity, Coach makes a tough choice about QB1 and Julie gets a tattoo.
3×06 – It Ain’t Easy Being J.D. McCoy:
Tim takes JD under his dubious wing, Matt and Julie get back together in a serious way and Jason finds himself hitting a wall or two.
3×07 – Keeping Up Appearances:
Coach and Tami fight a little but hand-in-hand continue to save the day, Landry finds out something about his new bandmate, there is trouble in the McCoy household and Jason finally has something work out for him.
3×08 – New York, New York:
Jason Street says his goodbyes as he heads up to New York for a new life and future, Tyra makes a bad, bad decision to follow her heart instead of her head, and Julie helps Matt out in football.
3×09 – Game Of The Week:
Lyla and Tim work things out, Matt catches a break in his new football role, Coach tries to seduce Tami but his plans get derailed by Tyra who’s just realized what a bad decision she’s made.
3×10 – The Giving Tree:
Coach walks in on Matt-Julie, Buddy screws up Lyla’s future, Joe McCoy pulls a plug on a blossoming JD romance and Tyra and Landry fight it out.
3×11 – A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall:
The Collette hen tea party and everybody loves Tyra, things reach a boiling point with the McCoys, Lorraine gets into an accident, Tim takes care of Lyla and Coach faces an uncertain future.
3×12 – Underdogs:
The Panthers head to State Championship, everyone ponders their next move, Tyra makes an awesome speech and Tami and Coach face the fallout of the McCoy incident.
3×13 (Finale) – Tomorrow Blues:
5 months after State Championship, the Riggins-Collete wedding happens, we find out who’s staying and who’s leaving Dillon, and Coach faces a strange new path ahead.
Overall, Season 3 was awesome! It’s back to Season 1 standards after a rubbish Season 2, with my only quibbles being that it’s so short (only 13 eps!) and that we had to say goodbye to Smash and Jason. With more of the characters potentially leaving the series due to graduation, as well as the uncertain future of the series, it’s difficult to know or even imagine if there will be a Season 4, or whether it would still be as awesome.
I rate this season a solid, must-watch, A for any FNL or sports drama fan!
