The dualities of the show’s episode titles continue. This week, “May the Best Man Win” refers both to Eric’s pissing match with Tami’s ex-boyfriend, Mo McArnold, (which, by the way, is a great name for a character) and Riggins’ relentless pursuit of Miss Lyla Garrity.
Let’s start with the latter. Tim has decided to go to church every Sunday and even pitch his own show – “The Rig Show” – to Lyla’s boyfriend. The scene after the show where her new beau laid down the law was pretty funny, as was the show itself. Riggins had a great response when Lyla asked if he was going to come to church every Sunday: “Whatever it takes.”
One thing’s for sure, if Lyla’s boyfriend doesn’t put out, she’s probably going to run back into Tim’s arms. After all, a girl has needs, and that’s exactly what Tim is counting on.
I’ve always said that nothing good can come from spending time with your significant other’s exes, and this week’s episode would support that theory. After 15 years, Mo McArnold is still pissed off about losing Tami to Eric, but it sounds like he was getting some action on the side at the time, and thought that Eric was the one that told her about his indiscretions. It was a great way to show that Eric and Tami were, at one time, just as dramatic their daughter. The scene that took place the next morning where a hungover Eric had to deal with the girls as they went off to church was absolutely priceless. (And, as much as Tami would like to blame Eric for what happened at the restaurant, she precipitated the whole event by coercing Eric into spending time with Mo. It’s just a bad idea to hang out with your wife’s ex-boyfriends.)
Landry and Tyra showed up at school holding hands, which I think has Matt a little jealous. We were treated to a great conversation between the two friends as they discussed Tyra and Carlota. We need more of Matt and Landry’s debates about life.
I’m not sure how much I like this Jason/Erin storyline. He’s pumped about potentially being a father, but talking a girl into having your baby probably isn’t the greatest of ideas. It speaks volumes that she called it a one-night stand and didn’t call him back after he left 10 messages. If she doesn’t even like him enough to date him it’s going to be very difficult to raise a child together.
Lastly, it was good to see Smash’s scholarship storyline come to a conclusion. He was acting pretty desperate, but I didn’t think it was very realistic how no one was returning his calls. This is Texas, for Pete’s sake! Guys get into fistfights all the time! If you can run the ball like Smash can, someone is going to want to hear your side of the story. In this case, it was little Whitmore University, where the “family” aspect of the team appealed to Smash. He seemed genuinely grateful for the opportunity, but I wonder if the bigger schools might come calling again once he gets back on the field.
Sadly, we may never find out. There were 15 episodes in the can before the writers’ strike, and now that the work stoppage is over, there are no known plans to finish out the season. “Friday Night Lights” might come back in the fall, or it might not come back at all. Get your petitions ready.
