I will skip all the veiled hints and just jump into what happened. Hell, it’s Sunday night – I finally saw the episode – and I expect all of you have too. While the first two episodes brought us up to speed on what happened in the summer, things at TMU and other things, this episode set the course for the next group of episodes – and it will only get more intense. Lets talk about the plotlines from low magnitude to high magnitude, so just in case you have not seen the episode yet, you can cut out early and you will not suffer through any spoilers.

As the first two episodes showed, Coach McGregor does not like Tim Riggins, and certainly not his attitude. He works Riggins to the bone and it finally comes crashing down as Riggins goes to the hospital because McGregor made him run sprints while caring a tire above his head. Riggins snapped last year, giving up alcohol and turning in ridiculous performances – but now, which way he will go is completely up in the air. Will he play for McGregor? Will he even play for someone else???

Most of us have enjoyed Landry finally winning over the girl of his dreams – Tyra – and how Tyra has truly become the girl of his dreams – more of a complete, intelligent character than the rally girl flirt she was before. While the two shop for watches to replace the one Landry last on that fateful night, they become even close. The episode DOES open with an amusing “day after” and concludes with Tyra accepting the fact that she really does care for Landry (at last).

From the first episode when Lyla confronted Riggins and told him she was born-again, and we saw that look in their eyes, we all suspected something might start between them again. Riggins apparently thought so too – finally bowing to Lyla’s pressures to come to her church and embracing his religious revival as a way to get closer to Lyla. To some this might be a spoiler, to others it might just confirm what they expected: Riggins pushes too early, and Lyla pushes him away.

The new character in the show – Mrs. Saracen’s caretaker Carlotta Alonso (played by Daniella Alonso) continues her character down the path she started last episode. As she gives Saracen some tough love about house chores, she opens up a little and tells him she is trying to earn money to pay her way through school (so her character has to be close to Matt’s age). And after Matt’s game Carlotta continues threading that delicate balance between being the mother Saracen never had, to being the lover Saracen misses with Julie gone. This could go either way, but once they start down the passage route, it probably will not be long before an episode begins with Carlotta in Matt’s bed.

Most of my friends who watched the show were curious about Riggins’ neighbor and her son. She was the first person Riggins actually cared for, and he shared a deep bond with her little boy. When she cut things off Riggins was crushed and many thought that that was an unfulfilling end if she received no screen time in season two. Early in the morning, in the beginning of the episode, Riggins sees his brother leaving her house, and the neighbor kissing him. Riggins confronts his brother who admits the two had begun a serious six-week relationship. Riggins is crushed. Despite the age difference, I always hoped that relationship went somewhere.

News cameras from the first two episodes focused on Smash – as they did in episode three. And Saracen, as the voice of the team, finally confronts Smash. While Smash’s arguments were mostly in the right, his attitude and his tact were way off and his selfishness and asshole-ness seem to have returned in force. With the two former friends’ chemistry shattered, there is a ridiculous culmination on game day. This plotline, and the enmity the two feel will only get deeper in the next few episodes. This provides for some interesting possibilities: will Mrs. Smash take on Mrs. Saracen? Who would you bet on in that fight?

Meanwhile, teams tensions are not limited to Saracen and Smash – Riggins and Street have a blowup after a drunk Riggins tells Street he is a terrible coach. After the game on Friday, Street tells Riggins that Riggins is a terrible friend. The episode concludes with Riggins reaching out to Street, and while Street accepts, he is still pissed as hell at Street. What will that mean for the next episode? All I can say is that the two will probably be in Mexico for an episode or two.

Anyways, little Miss Perfect turned annoyingly bitchy emo girl (Julie) continues her I hate the world phase by staying out past three with the Swede and causing Tammy to freak out – and rightfully so. A fight ensues, Tammy is hysterical, and deeply hurt and Julie refuses to give ground. Something Tammy wishes she could take back happens and Julie says something that cuts to Tammy’s deepest fears. And generally, Julie is a big bitch for most of the episode. You better believe this problem is going to be in the next episode.

Last but not least, the ground shaker. Buddy has a secret pow-wow with Coach Taylor where he tells him the team is falling apart, there is no leadership, McGregor is putting the kids’ health at risk…and that is not quite getting through to Coach Taylor. Buddy whips out his trump card and talks about how Julie is drifting without a rudder and how Tammy is beginning to break under the pressure. Coach Taylor cannot decide, but he shows up for the game. And he meets with Buddy at the end of the episode. Does he accept the deal? I cannot bring myself to answer that question – but the next episode will certainly follow what has been set in motion.

All in all, a great episode – the show continues to get better, but will the ratings catch up to the quality of the show? Will people start watching??? Will NBC give the show a better time slot? That my friends, is up to you.

Bob’s October Movie Preview

By Bob 10/2/2008

Now that we have gotten through the sludge of September movies, it’s time for some Oscar contenders, and movies that think they’re good but not. Halloween is also this month so there is bound to be a lot of random horror movies going on and of course a Saw film to soak in. Whatever happens though, I’m gonna guess that at least one of the following gets some nods come Oscar time. With that, my October Movie Preview:

Cops, Robbers, and Blah

10) Pride and Glory: October 24^th

Movies that Intrigue Me

5) Changeling: October 24^th