» Tim Riggins: Rebel without a Cause (or a Fumble) Options

[jayseyfield]

Let's talk about Tim Riggins, he's drunk in practice, he hates Smash (but not because he's black according to him) and his girlfriend is Tyra Collette.

His position is fullback and he had that wicked block in practice.

I think it was overkill making Tim a fullback. Of the four football characters two are quarterbacks and two are running backs. They should've made Tim a tight end to have a receiver in the main cast as well as completing the Jermey Shockey comparison.

This post has been edited by jayseyfield: Oct 5, 2006 @ 3:28 pm.

[BananasFoster]

I'm OK with Tim as fullback because there is a natural rivalry with the running back position, especially at the HS level. Tim probably got the ball a lot in lower levels, then when Smash came along as a faster, better RB, Tim got moved to FB. He could have been TE, but as FB his main job is to block for Smash and it would eat at him more, and create the resentment we see.

To your other point, I hope they do focus some on a non-glamour position player or two. Within a team, the linemen are just as important to team and lockerroom dynamics, they just don't typically get interviewed by the press.

[mmcdonald64]

I can see your point, jseyfield, but I'm hoping that as time goes on, this will allow more characters to be introduced, like Lost has done. When Lost first began, they focused only on about 5-6 characters, but you always saw more in the background, and then of course, the other survivors were found.

We haven't even heard about any of the defensive players yet. I'm from the Chicago area, and here, defensive players are at least as well known as the offensive ones. Think Dick Butkus, Mike Singletary and now, Brian Urlacher from the Bears. I'm waiting for a tough linebacker to be introduced in the show. Actually, Tim would have been the perfect middle linebacker since he stated that he just liked to hurt people.

This post has been edited by mmcdonald64: Oct 5, 2006 @ 4:21 pm.

[CtLady]

They should've made Tim a tight end to have a receiver in the main cast as well as completing the Jermey Shockey comparison.

As a die hard NY Giants' fan, I second that. I see the comparison, although Shockey's calmed down quite a lot since his rookie season, even though he tends to run his mouth now and then.

[Keely1116]

I was calling Tim "Shockey" until we got to hear his neam. I was a little surprised he wasn't a tight end myself.

Which is good, because while I would hold any other human being on the planet to a much higher behavioral standard, I just kind of love Shockey.

[Slump]

Actually, Tim would have been the perfect middle linebacker since he stated that he just liked to hurt people.

When they first introduced his character, this was my initial thiought. In fact, he reminded me of the guy who played Lattimer in the movie The Program. Although I still think he would make a perfect linebacker,

I'm OK with Tim as fullback because there is a natural rivalry with the running back position, especially at the HS level. Tim probably got the ball a lot in lower levels, then when Smash came along as a faster, better RB, Tim got moved to FB. He could have been TE, but as FB his main job is to block for Smash and it would eat at him more, and create the resentment we see.

this actually makes a lot of sense. Tim could be resentful and bitter because he could believe that Smash took his spot. Maybe this was the angle the producers went for when they had Tim's character in mind.

[stele3]

I love Riggins. That is all.

[SiriuslyLupin]

I love Riggins. That is all.

Yeah, the first episode made it seem as though he would turn out to be the archetypal bad boy with a chip the size of a boulder on his shoulder, but this episode was really formulative in making me interested about the overall dynamics of his character. What drives him? Why does he have this inherently self-destructive quality about him? Does he feel guilty about Street's injury, as if he could have somehow prevented it? etc.

I'm really looking forward to see how his character will develop in the future...

[kaylaw]

I think "Rigs" does feel responsible in some way.

We saw him, Street, and the girls hanging out in the first episode; obviously, they were all friends before the season started. Rigs told Street that, once he made it to the Big Dance and made his millions, they would own a ranch in Texas together eventually. I think he feels responsible in a lot of ways. Like he let his best friend down by not being there.

JMHO.

[babelfish]

I didn't particularly like or dislike Tim in the pilot, but in this episode he really stood out. Like SiriuslyLupin said, he seemed like the stereotypical bad-boy figure, but in "Eyes Wide Open", we got to see his loyalty to Jason, and his anger at not being able to save his friend. Plus, it was nice to see him in something other than brooding mode for a little while: the smile on his face after he kissed his rally girl in the baked-goods montage was cute.

This post has been edited by babelfish: Oct 11, 2006 @ 8:06 am.

[ashleigh12]

The most fascinating aspect of Riggins (to me) is the as-yet unexplored dynamic with his bitter older brother. I think it's supposed to be the role Tim McGraw played in the movie, thought TM played the boy's father. Are they parentless?

[Drunken Bee]

For my part, the most fascinating aspect of Tim Riggins is how goddamned HOT he is.

[babelfish]

This is true. Now if only he would brush his hair so we could see some more of his face...

[BananasFoster]

Oh, shit. The next recap is gonna be 13 pages of Drunken Bee fanning herself.

I think the actor is doing a great job. It is very believable that Tim would be torn up over his friends injury but still not be able to go see him at the hospital.

He really layed one on the Rally girl. I'm sure she melted. And his shit eating grin walking away was nice.

I hope the brooding Tim gets some more fun moments and they deal at some point with his alcoholism.

[Suzie H]

I had this thoughtful post all ready, then DrunkenBee nailed it with the HOT comment.

Damn! I read that Taylor Kitsch was an Abercrombie model. So there you go.

But seriously...what I like is how Tim is basically the mirror opposite of Jason Street.

Jason comes from a home where his parents are obsessed with Jason's football career, Tim's parents aren't even around.

Jason's a good boy who doesn't seem like he'd even consider tasting a sip of beer, Tim's a borderline (or actual) alcoholic.

Jason's girlfriend is the town sweetheart, her daddy the town King. Tim's girlfriend is the town's tart.

If Jason hadn't been in the hospital, you just know he would have been in church that Sunday morning. Tim was out shooting things.

Jason is everyone's hero, the guy all the other guys on the team look up to and respect, and he seems to know them as well (shown by how he explained Matt to Coach Taylor in that hospital scene). Tim is openly hostile to those he doesn't like (Smash) and it's clear that most of the team feel frustrated that his behaviour makes them weaker. He doesn't try to gain their respect and seems to care in the least if he gets or has it.

Jason was being courted by colleges, Tim expects he'll never get out of Dillon.

It's as if Tim realizes how far from Jason he really is, so he intentionally expands the differences between them. They are best friends, but they are the opposite sides of the coin.

Tim is by far my favorite character so far because he's got problems. To paraphrase Tolstoy, perfect guys are all the same; imperfect guys are imperfect in their own way.

And, well, yeah, he's HOT!

This post has been edited by Suzie H: Oct 11, 2006 @ 10:38 am.