The first day of school brings many changes. (From my TiVo)

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That might be the most depressing episode of any drama I've ever seen. Was there a single person happy (aside from the asshole college football player) in that entire show? Oy.

I'm seriously beginning to hate Julie, and I used to like her. The writers have destroyed her character for me in the span of two episodes.

I don't know what to say about this episode. It was certainly entertaining, the acting was incredible, but maybe it is just me, but the dialogue was hyper. Seemed like everyone was talking extremely fast - for most of the hour.

I just wouldn't have wanted this episode to be the first one a new viewer had watched because it was a little too high strung and hyper and except for a few really good scenes, it wasn't that good.

In the original script for this episode, Julie tried to break up with Matt before she kissed Swede. She showed up at Matt's house right after Carlotta did. She tried to do the right thing, but felt too guilty because he seemed so vulnerable. But of course those f**kers had to take that scene out, and make her look worse. I hate Katims. But frankly, I thought the way she did the break up wasn't so bad. She was honest with him, and she let him know exactly how she felt. It was confusing to Matt, I'm sure, but it was confusing to her too. Break-ups just suck.

Drunk Buddy and the subsequent Tim/Lyla thing was the best thing about this episode for me. And I don't even like Tim/Lyla.

Carlotta's accent was cartoonishly awful. So was her whole schtick, IMO. I'm glad to see she's only a guest star.

I thought the Landry/Tyra fallout was very well-done, actually. And it does seem like the real Landry is still in there somewhere. They handled the kissing very well.

Nothing more romantic than getting away with murder!

Glenn Morshower is a mixed bag. He certainly looks the part, and he did pretty good in that scene, but it's just so distracting having someone I recognize from other acting work (never seen Grey's or anything else Kyle Chandler's been in) in this show that mostly has unknowns, which really helps them seem like real people.

Ok, the reason I will never give up on this show is scenes like Eric with Antoine, first telling him off in the restaurant and then speaking up for him at the hearing. That is the reason this show is so great, scenes like that.

And talk about making lemonade out of lemons? Those scenes with Landry/Tyra tonight were terrific and very very well done. They had me in their corner right up until the end and then there was the grief sex.

I find myself in the same place I was last week, I love the way they're telling the tales, I'm just not sure I like the tales they're telling.

And yet, I stick around for the little things. I just hope next week isn't as bad as it looks because some of those previews were brutal.

Wow, so much going on. I agree, it's a depressing episode. There are so many things that need to be put right and they're just so wrong right now.

These are the kind of episodes that might have worked in the middle of the season, but as season openers, I don't think the show is going to gain any new viewers, which is what FNL needs to do to survive.

That said, as I'm not a new viewer, I'm not turned off, but still really sad.

The separation of Tami and Eric is excruciating. This pair is what made the first season so good. We need them together!

Jason and Smash seem to be some of the happy characters. I wish we could have seen more of them, to balance out the sad. I really did like that scene where Jason told Tami his dream.

I was really kind of confused about Matt's grandma and the tiara for some reason. And how can they afford a live-in nurse?

I love the show, but this is some dark stuff to go through. Eye on the prize - it can only get better from here, right? Things have start to go right for some of these characters.

Well, it feels like an improvement over the premiere, but I can't help but echo Julie's sentiments about "Nothing feels right anymore."

The "I'm in love with you" from Landry to Tyra was actually contextualized brilliantly in the discussion about what it means to be a man, and how Landry can define that for himself despite not being what Tyra considers manly. His question to the rally girl about evil shows the true Landry is still in there despite the Panther togs and the murder crap. Thank the gods.

And of course it was brilliant that at the end of the ep., Tyra tells Landry that he's the best man she's ever known, having rethought what "being a man" means. Not to suggest that being a man involves murder, but rather standing up for someone despite the consequences. This is by no means going to let Landry off the hook, but I bought the rationale.

I even bought the make-out session.

More thoughts later.

Mr. Clarke is great, Tandry's even better, and doggone it, if Lyla doesn't want him, he is ALL MINE. Ha ha. XD

Julie is really messing up and setting herself up for a HEARTACHE!!! Matt needs to just ignore her. The Swede is so douchy! First of all if he is out of hs then why is he hitting on Julie? She's gotta be at least just a junior. I know she kissed him but he is only messing with her because he knows she likes him.

Anyway, I waited all week to see what would happen with Landry and Tyra and I have to say that I didn't really like it. I will say that it is totally realistic that Landry's dad would want him to play football. I know from my own family experience which mirrors Landry's situation a lot, actually (with the exception that no one in my family is a murderer. lol) So, I buy that part of Landry's arc and maybe it has to do with how his dad will react once T & L are found out. (You know THAT has got to happen.)

I liked the episode. It was depressing, but I have a feeling they all have to hit rock bottom before they start getting back to normal. The ones we see having a horrible time are the ones who pretty skated through season one (with the exception of Tyra.) Buddy didn't really have any consequences until the end of the season, and then his beloved Panthers won state so he was temporarily happy due to that.

Matt did have some turmoil, but in the end, he won the game and got the girl.

Landry was the funny sidekick.

Julie had a storybook romance with the sweetest guy at school. Tami had a lot going on around her, but this is her first real storyline.

Hmmm...you know, nothing will be right until CT comes back. The town needs him. :-)

I LOVED that they showed one of Matt's drawings, it was something I missed since episode 2 of season 1. However, I'm getting Madison Everwood flashbacks from season 2 of that show. You know, when a 'young 20 something sassy' caregiver (Everwood - babysitter, FNL - nurse) throws the teenage boy's house upside down listing all the things that is wrong with it, is extremely judgmental, and he hates her at the beginning. Of course, she ends up taking his virginity. I so don't want the show to go that way. No, I'm not spoiled - this is just spec. I stayed spoiled until I heard about that part being cast and decided to give up. The way this season is going, I might have to read spoilers just to brace myself for it. I so wish Catalina Sandino Moreno were playing that part, but oh well.

It's funny - the storyline I liked least last season was Tim/Lyla. They weren't my favorite actors nor my favorite characters. But I felt their storyline tonight along with Buddy Garrity was the only thing handled with honesty and the old FNL flavor I sorely miss in everything else.

Even the Eric plot at the college, while something I liked, I didn't really care since I knew nothing about that character.

Connie Britton's amazing but I'm just biding time for Coach to come back. I just don't think this show can last with him gone for much longer.

There is no doubt JP and AP are great actors, but just because they are great actors should not give the tptb authority to come up with such an extremely stupid plot. There are so many other ways to bring those characters together romantically, and the fact that they chose the way they did as they consider the "only" way to do so is just terrible.

I completely disagree with Ausiello that it makes it worth it. It gives them an excuse that it's "tolerable" which is not the same thing.

I also love Aimee Teegarden but they are assassinating her character. And the Swede is nasty. You know? The Swede and The Nurse should get together.

Much better than last week but this episode is probably up there with the most depressing I've ever seen. Julie doesn't do much on the likability scale. The season is starting out very worryingly.

Exactly my immediate reaction. You know how the show was called "eat your vegetables" TV last year because at times it was so good but so hard to watch? Well tonight seemed like "eat the dirt, the peebles, and all the worms in the vegetable patch TV" Man was that dark, and I usually love the angst-factor. But his was just wrenching to watch. Not for the faint of tear duck.

Glad they gave Coach something to do, I thought he'd just disappear from the picture except for long distance phone calls and special events. I'm interested in seeing how this stuff at TMU develops. Looks like his tough love methods just won't play in college football.

So what...er...level, let's say, of football is Landry on? Is he gonna be warming benches Friday nights so soon?

I seriously hope they add some dimensions to Coach Hillbilly in the near future. I mean, if they can give freakin' Buddy Garrity some humanity, why not the new coach as well, rather than having every coach that combs his hair be an asshole? 'Cause I sure was feeling some asshole-y vibrations from the top coach at TMU.

As for the Storyline From Hell, I'll dare say they're treating it fairly well for now. Heh, Landry was all paranoid about his watch. Which of course will turn out to be relevant once the body is found. I think Dad's gonna have to do some covering up...

Great stuff with Tami and Grace, and interesting bit with Jason. And poor Matt. I hope Julie wakes up and sees her big mistake soon. But the magazines under the bed were funny.

Speaking of Julie, she sure was rockin' that dress, what with the swimsuit marks and all.

Right now, for me, the shredding of Julie's character is making me so mad I can't see straight. And yet she's right, as Vache said. Nothing feels right anymore, and the town makes too big a deal of football, and everyone feels trapped to some degree. She's the messenger, and it really isn't fair to shoot her. I still like her.

Okay, some things I can say now that I've thought about them.

Connie Britton was friggen BRILLANT. She brought it in every single scene. Fantastic.

Coach needs to come home. And fast!

Tandry!!!!! Oh man. I loved that Landry told her flat out, "I'm in love with you, and don't give me that look because you've known since day one." They had some powerhouse scenes.

While Julie was a little bitchy, I am sooooooooooo glad she told Matt the truth, about her feeling trapped, and turning into her mother, and her parents being split, and the Swede, just everything. I was so worried they were going to have her turned into a bitch and do it the wrong way. But poor Matt. He looked like he wanted to cry. UGHHHHHHH.

Tim wants Lyla. It's written all over his face. I did like their scene at the end.

They guy who plays Glenn isn't bad. I really liked him.

That's why I can't hate her. I don't like her as much as last season but I don't hate her. She's just trying to see what's out there and not corner herself at this point of her life (if you get what I mean).

I really liked the scene with Jason and Tammi. Tammi had that look on her face like "oh, honey. you're not gonna walk again but I don't want to burst your bubble." And who else thought Jason was gonna say something different when he said she was in his dream? (You know he's thought about it! Tammi is hot!)

I really like Scott Porter. He really breaks my heart so many times.

Oh and HERC!!!!

I know! Are we allowed to discuss previews on here?

(Preview discussion belongs in the speculation thread. If you have a question, please ask it in the Ask the Mod thread, not the episode thread. --Barnes)

I thought the episode was a little erratic but I thought it turned out very good. Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton continued their usual fine work and I was glad that Jason Street got more time this episode. His scenes were very good. I still don't like the Landry/Tyra muder storyline but both Plemons and Palacki are doing a very good job and had some good scenes. Poor Matt. I'm glad at least he knows it's not his fault. I thought Buddy's storyline and Tim/Tyra was handled well too.

I cannot stand Julie. She's become an insufferable little brat. I was so happy when I saw the preview last week. Not sure if we're supposed to talk about previews here yet.

I liked the episode, though I actually think I liked last week's better as an individual episode. I like this one a lot in the context of a larger season, though (or, I'm hoping it'll fit in well in the context). Depressing, definitely, but it's a fine line the writers walk with this show, and I'm okay if they occasionally fall to the side of depressing.

Connie Britton's big scene last week didn't do as much for me as it did for others, but she killed me tonight, especially in the hospital. She's an amazing and honest crier. I never feel like she's acting sad. And I like her relationship with the new guidance counselor since it seems like he very clearly knows the boundaries of the relationship. I can't see this going into cheating-wife territory. Also, I loved when Tami put Grace on the phone with Eric. That's perfect.

Her scene with Jason was really incredible, too, and I loved how she conveyed a mixture of happiness and sadness all at once. It's great to be appreciated and thought about, but she's got so much else going on, and she can't be a part of that at the moment. You know that it just has to be scary and horrible.

Coach's stuff with Antoine was really awesome, and I loved the way he was able to pull on what he'd learned at Dillon to fix the situation. But it's only a temporary fix, and he knows that. This kid doesn't need Eric like someone like Matt Saracen does. Eric belongs at Dillon, and he'll soon realize it.

And if he doesn't get back soon, Julie may go insane. She's being a horrible brat, and I find her completely unlikable right now, which, to me, makes her a very well-written and true character. Much like Amy during season two of Everwood, her choices are horrible, but they're well-acted and very in-line with what I expect from someone who's at a very rough patch in life. The Swede is utterly creepy, and I don't think I like him (though I like him more than the nurse), but we'll see how it all plays out.

Glad that Matt got some help in the house (even if I don't like the nurse yet) and I really loved the tiara scene, although it was definitely sad. Also, it's hard to see Matt getting help in house while his life on the field and with Julie is crumbling. Really tough break-up scene, although I loved his conviction that he knows it's not him. It's Julie.

I loved Buddy/Lyla/Tim, and while Tim/Lyla always struck me as odd last year, I liked their chemistry, and I loved it tonight. It was awesome to see Tim step in and help, especially since you know that he's familiar with drunk dads, and I think he got scared that he might end up like Buddy in the future -- drunk and telling state championship stories.

Buddy's a really interesting character now, and I think the actor is just nailing it. He's really sad and pathetic, but now that he realizes what he's lost, it's excruciating (and awesomely good TV) to watch. I didn't think I'd ever sympathize with him, even though I always enjoyed him. He's truly awesome.

Still not sure what to think about Tyra and Landry, although I loved the conversations about being a man, and I liked that the show wasn't trying to push that Landry's "heroic" action was manly. It's a much more complex issue. I don't know if the show can balance the funny Landry with the killer Landry, but Plemmons is so amazing that it might just work. That final scene was killer, and I really wish it'd ended on them hugging and crying. Man, that killed me.

Oh I loved the cameo by Mark Zupan. I loved that it was a simple scene and that was it. I almost completely forgot about Jason's scenes in this episode. I really hope they give Scott Porter more to do - I miss him.

I just can't watch the show anymore without the stupid murder plot looming. I don't think I would mind some of the other storylines if they had the steadiness of Eric and Tami Taylor to balance it out.

I know that everyone loves Connie and praises her acting on this show (which, duh, rightfully so), but I never fully realized just how powerful she is until tonight. I TIVO'd the show and turned on my live TV at about 9:50 for background noise while I was getting ready. I wasn't really paying attention to most of the scenes and I had no idea what was going on in any of the storylines, but all I needed was to see the scene with Tami on the phone with CT in the hospital to just lose it. Tears streaming down my freshly made-up face. She is so good it hurts, y'all. That thing she does where she's trying so hard to fight back the tears and stay strong and composed? Killer.

Julie definitely needs to get some sense knocked into her! Hopefully once Eric comes home he can help settle her down. But, Julie is making the same mistakes a lot of girls make. She is afraid of being trapped and right now Matt is making her feel trapped. She's afraid of commitment so she's chasing after "some boy" who she knows is just a wild fling. Sure, she doesn't want The Swede* to reject her, but at the same time deep down she knows that he is not a long time deal.

And if Aimee T. acts these scenes the way she acted the scene with KC in the car then that will be worth watching. It's so heartbreaking to be young and going through all that for the first time.

*BTW, do we know yet why he's called "The Swede"?

Why is the Swede called the Swede? He doesn't have an accent or anything. Is he really into Ikea and meatballs and ligonberries or something?

What makes me mad about Julie is that part of the reason her parents are split up right now is because she so badly wanted to stay in Dillon to be with Matt. Now that she's done with Matt, and her mom also realizes how much harder it is to be apart, wouldn't the realistic conversation be to move the family to Austin after all? But, for the sake of the show, we'll see Coach come back to Dillon instead, I guess.

I really, really don't want Landry and Tyra to get caught. Aren't there people who get away with murder all the time? Wouldn't it be the braver choice to have that happen in this case.... sigh. I was really hoping Tyra was showing up with his watch in that last scene....

THANK YOU. Everyone keeps talking about how awful she is and all I can keep thinking is "I acted a lot like that when I was 16". She's a teenage girl, and most teenage girls DO go through that horrible snot-ass period of thinking that the entire world revolves around them. I certainly don't like most of what she's saying or doing, but the character seems pretty honest and true to me.

I liked this episode much more than the premiere. I'm still holding out hope for the season, stupid murder plot be damned.

I mentioned on her thread that I think she is the new Emily Vancamp - she's playing a very unlikeable teenage girl but a realistic teenage girl. This is how her acting makes it worth it because it's something realistic not the stupid murder plot which is just not realistic to me at all.

The splitting up of the family was Tami and Coach's doing. Tami wanted to stay for her job, not just for Julie. Julie was upset about moving, but she had no control over it. The adults made the decision.

They've absolutely nailed new-mom angst with Tami. It's a difficult first few weeks even with help, and she's going through the hormones and the sleeplessness alone, and the waves of anxiety and fear of being judged incompetent coming off her are just heartbreaking. I love that exchange with Jason about his dream--she so clearly needed a reminder that she was appreciated in some way. Someone on the writing staff has got to be a new parent.

Julie's acting like a teenage girl. It would have been nice to see a little more conflict in her, since last season made a point of showing us she's a basically good kid, but even good teenage girls pull crap like this. I trust the show's going somewhere with it but yikes, it's painful.

I don't know why they call him The Swede. I don't think they've established that yet.

I think the actress who plays Julie is doing a very good job. I'm not saying that Julie doesn't have some problems with her father being absent and with not being the focus of attention with a new baby. But I think she's mostly manufacturing problems for herself like a lot of teenagers do today.

I was one of those people in the cautious but trusting the writers camp about the murder storyline, and I'm still in that camp after this episode. I thought the Tyra/Landry story was strong and especially liked the handling of his "dramatic declaration of love" with the clearly stated context that it was not really dramatic or surprising to either of them. I even bought the grief sex at the end, though again, it's with some caution about the way it will be followed up. So I continue to reserve judgment on the larger arc because so far the handling is good.

When Julie said that nothing felt right anymore I felt that she was the voice of the sort of theme of the show thus far this season. Coach Taylor's character was an anchor for the team, for the boys, for his family, and the anchor is missing, and you feel it watching the show - but that puts you in the same boat as the characters.

Brad Leland is doing a great job with Buddy Garrity. I thought that was a really compelling story tonight, and a decent way to bring Tim and Lyla together, although I am in the minority that thinks that is a terrible coupling (granted, Taylor Kitsch could probably have sexual chemistry with a doorpost, but I just don't get any sort of vibe of deeper connection there).

I don't think Julie is hatable or being assassinated as a character, personally; I think she comes across very much like a smart sixteen year old girl trying to figure out who she is and exert some control over her world. That scene with the Swede where she kisses him and then leaves - she just seemed so pleased with herself, it was like I could hear her thinking, See? I can be somebody different. And that feels right for her age and circumstances to me, even if she's not as lovable and sweet anymore.

Edited because I can't believe I forgot to mention Connie Britton's insanely excellent portrayal of a new mom who loves her baby but is struggling to handle it all, maybe with a touch of PPD as well . . . God, those first few weeks are so surreal and she is so damn good at showing it that I can't believe she has never been through it herself.

I think the depressing "nothing feels right" vibe is intentional... showing how off-balance and out of kilter so many people are without CT there. I am unspoiled but of course I assume he is coming back soon - bringing a nice arc of fixing at least some of the shit that's going down. Before the bigger problems start.

Anyone have a weather report from hell? Something's up - because I feel sorry for Buddy Garrity. I loved that Tim stepped in to help (and called him Champ! Aww! Tim Riggins - drunken debaucher with a heart of gold!) - and that Lyla let him. Those two are HOTT together. *fans self*

Also and always love Scott Porter.

Hate the nurse - what crap. Not realistic at all - I work with many home health aides. Laughing at the porn = beyond unprofessional. Hate. Hate the science teacher / guidance counselor. Yuck. Please God don't let there be a brewing romance between him and Tami. Hate Julie after merely disliking her self-centered spoiled bratty little ass last year. Wanted Matt to smack her when she was talking about her problems. Look at his!

Still HATEHATEHATE the beyond-ridiculous murder arc. *gag* But loved Tandry tonight. I may have cried. *sniff*

Hee.

It was a depressing episode, but less because of the content than because it's further evidence of how badly the writing has gone downhill. It was all about loss. Landry lost his wristwatch, the writers have lost their way, and I have lost heart.

I still don't get what Julie sees in that greasy-haired messy looking "Swede". Actually, when I first heard "The Swede", I was expecting some hot blonde guy, not this thing that looks like he rubs McDonalds fries all over himself.

Yeah, I think the TMU's coach comment to him about how Eric must have a been a helluva highschool coach really hit home with Eric. He was a great highschool coach. And he was reaching the kids when they needed it most, before they become jaded.

However, like Tami and Julie, I missed CT this episode. Yes, he had scenes, but not enough of them. But, that works for the plot, so I'm okay with that. Lasty year's Homecoming episode was my least fav because of lack of CT and the Taylor family interactions, but that time, there didn't seem to be a real reason. Just lack of time.

I was meaning to mention that. Is it just me, or was Herc really deformed/recast? It really caught me off-guard and snapped me out of the scene.

This season is going to be incredibly dark. So dark, in fact, that I think the Panthers might not even win State this year. Maybe art will mimic life a little more this time around. Coach's departure is really gonna fuck the team up. And then the power play between the Tennessee Tyrant and Coach whenever Coach decides to go back to Dillon is gonna mix things up even further.

And yeah, I think the season's theme is starting to surface already, and it goes all the way back to "We will now be tested."

I just feel like my show is broken (TM Colin). I hate the murder storyline; I wish that I could just edit those scenes right out and then my show would be perfect again.

One moment I found really interesting was the TA&MU Coach saying to Coach Taylor "You must have been a great high school football coach" or something to that affect. While CT was his usual gracious self, I couldn't help but wonder if that wasn't really meant to be a compliment. Along the lines of: that goody two shoes crap might fly in high school, but not here.

Agreed with all above that Connie Britton is hitting this out of the park in every scene. The tension and anguish are just so real... you see it in her facial muscles and in her neck.. it's unbelievable.

Julie will get her comeuppance... it happened to the best of us know-it-all teenagers. I have faith in that.

I'm sure I'll get corrected on this, but I *think* that Swedish families, for some reason, were among the many who moved to Texas to work the oil rigs. Kind of like the Scots/Irish who swarmed out to the West for the Gold Rush.

And their heritage just marks them as part of that influx.

I could be entirely wrong, but something in my gut from Social Studies or a History Channel special or something is telling me this.

To the rest of the ep, I'm also still on the fence about a lot of the atmosphere -- too much shouting, too much angst, not enough Explosions, too much Tandry. Kind of hard to take on a Friday night.

Eric was awesome, though.

And spending time with Jason again felt like the cool breezes that have been washing the stale air out of the Washington DC area for the past day or so. Very welcome. Very refreshing. He felt like a very old friend who put me immediately at ease when I saw him again. Because, of anyone, he was still Jason, thank God. Still hopeful. Still idealistic. Still wanting to do the right thing and, if he does, maybe the right thing'll happen to him.

ETA:

Someone mentioned this earlier. That actually wasn't Herc! That was Mark Zupan, who is a real quad rugby star and star of the indie film, "Murderball," which brought a lot of national attention to him and the sport. He's the real deal.

That wasn't Herc. That was Mark Zupan, a real quad rugby player depicted in "Murderball." He was the real life inspiration for Herc.

Confession: When I first saw him I was thinking "Is that Herc?" But Herc has red hair and so I thought "Yeah. He just grew a beard. A really long beard." But then his personality was so earnest and well, calm, that I almost didn't think it was him. But then I decided it was him. Thanks for clearing that up.

So, are we gonna see any Herc? Because I really liked him.

I don't know about the Swedes so much, but central Texas has a lot of Czech and German immigration roots. You got a lot of polka down there.

Tim reaching out for Buddy, and then telling Lyla that he'd seen a lot of drunks but that Buddy wasn't one broke my heart. And the science teacher's brickbat about the state of the house was just "Oh, you didn't!"

I didn't think that was Herc. That's cool that it was Mark Zepan. But I have to admit, I miss Herc!

Not liking where the storyline with the sciene teacher could go but he's another fun character.

If I watch the Tami/Jason scene on repeat for 40 odd minutes, then I can almost recognize my show.

Last season, Julie (while still being a typical teen) was capable of empathy. This version of Julie thinks only of herself and it's killing the character. Let her be egocentric, fine. But don't let her be cruel.

Edited to add: It may be the acting choices, but I found Julie to be flippant and dismissive with both Matt and her mother. I do blame the writing, too, though. Julie's magically appearing "trapped" feeling is ridiculously self-actualized for a teen. A handy excuse for DRAMA. Show, don't tell.

I think CT knew it wasn't meant as a compliment either, but he stopped and thought about it a moment, and was like, "Hell, yeah, I was a great highschool coach! So, what the heck am I doing here?" So, in his reply, he chose to acknowledge that graciously--which then made the other guy look like the ass that he is.

To the previous poster who mention the deliberate lack of CT. I had made up a post saying almost the same thing, but then revised it. My post had some spoilery stuff in it, so I just chose to omit that part. But I totally agree. It may not be good for new viewers though, who don't realize that CT is the glue that holds his family, and maybe even his town together.


One other thing, not CT related. I actually like the new guidance counselor. I thought he had one of the funniest lines in the show. It was something about how the kids were coming at him like ninjas. Hee! It was one of the few funny moments of the episode.

That scene in his/Tami's office was kind of oddly filmed. It moved too fast, but I wonder if that was deliberate to show us Tami's heightened tension/ fragile emotional state?



I don't think it's heading towards a romance direction at all. I think it'll be more like a good friend. He seemed very respectful of Tami and obviously could tell that Coach was talking about coming back to be with Tami, but that Tami put on the brave front and said no. He's the one who questioned the wisdom and made Tami voice her doubts about the whole arrangement. He's just what she needs right now. And, Antwone, in his own irritating way, did the same for CT.

She's only being cruel to her parents. She told Matt straight up what was wrong. She wasn't a bitch about it, she wasn't cruel to him, she did nothing wrong in that situation. I was preparing for it, but glad it didn't come.

And yeah, she's a little "ego-centric" with her "ME ME ME" phase, but all teenagers do it. I did it, everyone I know did it. That's what teenagers do. And Aimee is playing one prefectly.

And if the preview is any indication, Julie's gonna learn her lesson the hard way.

How was Julie being cruel? I saw her as being self-absorbed but not cruel. I do think it's possible that's she's been having to help with other people's problems (Matt, mainly, but also her mother with Coach gone), and now she's going through this "me" phase. The teen years are the time to do it, because you can't later.

Well, Joe, yes, she is being dismissive and bitchy with her mother. I don't know if cruel is the right word. But I felt she was honest with Matt. He knew what was coming, you could tell. At least he has Carlotta now.

I actually really liked the episode. Just about the only thing I find depressing are things that are badly done, and even though the storylines were darker and the angst was angstier, it was well done, so I find that not depressing.

About THE storyline, I agree with those who've said that while the storyline itself is still troubling, I enjoyed the way it was being handled tonight. That Landry/Tyra scene under the stadium was really strong, and focused on things that you wouldn't expect in a cheesier, more melodramatic show. And I LOVED that they cast Glenn Morshower as Landry's dad...not only is he a great character actor but he really looks like he could be Landry's dad.

Julie is yes, being kind of unlikable, but isn't "unlikable" pretty much the short definition of "teenager?" And you can see she isn't totally beyond the pale...she still tells her mom she loves her, which is more than a lot of teenage girls can get out of their mouths, and I've said before that while the M/J breakup fills me with WOE, it's totally realistic.

I may be in the minority here but I liked Carlotta. I thought she up-front and take-charge and that's kind of what's needed there.

Poor Buddy. And I'll take "Things I Never Thought I'd Say" for $200, Alex.

Tim came off very well in this episode, too. I sense a Tim/Lyla storyline coming down the pike.

Jason's scene with Tami KILLED me. That little near-sob she did as he left was killer, it was a mixture of her being touched that he'd imagined her that way and destroyed that his dreams and wishes will probably die and his hopes will be crushed.

Connie is amazing, blah blah blah Emmycakes. She's so great. What more can I say? Great, great, great.

Oh, I can't believe nobody's mentioned Grandma's Tiara! I was feeling sad and amused at the same time. Her joy at it was so sweet and fun to watch, but heartbreaking too, because she is so going downhill. I just wanted to hug her and I was glad that Landry played along with her--especially since he was kind of freaked about her last season.