Slate had an ongoing conversation going on (ala the "Breakfast Table") about FNL for the last two seasons, so it is not surprising that a lot more can be said about the first half of last season alone. Just watching the episode after Matt leaves (or parts of it) brought up made things to say. This is the charm of the show: it has so many layers and moments. The actors, writers, camera work (you can see the grainy nature of the hand-held cameras) and more all are involved here. As I said, the opening music (and montage) is key as well.
For instance, a minor character from the team, Tinker, has a few good moments in that episode with Luke in the cafeteria and later helping him fix his fence, since Luke (who had to go to East Dillon since Buddy ratted him out to Eric, the whole school issue also a subplot) was a good teammate. Helping him here is helping the team. The team is a major aspect of this show, including Eric's role as a leader of young men. Football is a sort of religion in Texas [see also, Whip It, where a lawn sign for the player who lives there played a part as well] and the reaction (in public and private) of Vince when he is made quarterback underlines a reason why. As does Tinker helping some white kid fix a fence. And many more things. I say this as a fan too.
One important aspect of the show is its addressing of class and income. Tami confronts a funeral director who was charging Matt's family a few more thousand than necessary -- for some, that would not be an issue. It is for him. Luke's dad had to keep him out from school because of lack of funds to pay for help. Tim's brother repeatedly broke the law to have money for his family (in particular, his new wife and upcoming kid). Maybe if we had real health care in this country, caring for his pregnant wife wouldn't be as perilous. High school jobs weren't just for pocket money. And, we see the differences of funding for East and West Dillon.
There are as noted a lot of good moments and interactions, including stuff like Matt's internship with a talented but somewhat loutish local artist. Him about to berate him for upsetting Julie but then staring in awe at a sculpture he made was a powerful moment. Tami dealing with various conflicts. Matt's proposed eulogy: "Here lies Henry Saracen. His mother annoyed him. His wife couldn't stand him. And he didn't want to be a dad so he took off in the army, because that's the only way he could come up with to ditch all his responsibilities." Becky's mom berating her dad on the phone: "I don't care if you're hauling pieces of Jesus' cross back to Bethlehem." The goofy assistant coach asserting himself when the Dillon QB harassed his players at Sears. And, those freckles -- Tami and Julie are both so cute.
I will probably say a bit more about the abortion subplot but one additional issue last season was race. East Dillon is a primarily minority show, and as the Slate discussion notes, that means black here. [There was an earlier incident that also addressed Matt's new role in the team at the time involving a Hispanic player alleging someone called him a wetback, when it was in fact another black player.] There does appear to be Hispanic players, but that is one issue the show does not address too much, though Buddy going to the Spanish radio station underlines that it is an issue. The show is on dangerous ground with a possibly stereotypical character like Vince* though Jess (she also had a few good moments in deleted scenes), Tinker and others suggest the complexity there. And, though the Vassar background of his now drug addicted mother is a bit much (so noted Slate, but I missed that tidbit the first time around), I think Vince is handled pretty well in all respects, including the performance itself.
The moment where Eric decides to try to address the needs of a park in a black area didn't work that well. But, the season did cover some ground here, including when former East Dillon players Eric calls in to help doesn't trust him. Showing a possible means of unity, Buddy saves the day, his arrival finding a common denominator based on football (he played on the rival team, but they still respected him for his ability). Landry and Jess had an uncomfortable moment at the dinner they had at his place. It calls to mind the problems Smash had with his white girlfriend, race also being an issue for the team -- recall his boycott over comments made by an assistant coach.
Maybe, we will see more in the fifth season, Tami going to East Dillon suggesting more singular focus on that one locale.
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* Among the deleted scenes, in fact, is one involving him and a friend being taught how to steal cars and later stealing one -- did they want to tone that down a bit? The implication in the finished product was that Vince went back to doing things like that when he (health care alert again) needed money for his mom's drug addiction treatment. The car ring connects with Tim/Billy running a chop shop. These characters are all so interconnected, aren't they?
[I edited this point after finishing this post, adding the Spanish speaking radio bit plus the Sarah Vowell reference to the last post. This just underlines all the different things that can be said about the show. I guess I will just leave it be, knowing more can be said, even on the topics addressed.]
For instance, a minor character from the team, Tinker, has a few good moments in that episode with Luke in the cafeteria and later helping him fix his fence, since Luke (who had to go to East Dillon since Buddy ratted him out to Eric, the whole school issue also a subplot) was a good teammate. Helping him here is helping the team. The team is a major aspect of this show, including Eric's role as a leader of young men. Football is a sort of religion in Texas [see also, Whip It, where a lawn sign for the player who lives there played a part as well] and the reaction (in public and private) of Vince when he is made quarterback underlines a reason why. As does Tinker helping some white kid fix a fence. And many more things. I say this as a fan too.
One important aspect of the show is its addressing of class and income. Tami confronts a funeral director who was charging Matt's family a few more thousand than necessary -- for some, that would not be an issue. It is for him. Luke's dad had to keep him out from school because of lack of funds to pay for help. Tim's brother repeatedly broke the law to have money for his family (in particular, his new wife and upcoming kid). Maybe if we had real health care in this country, caring for his pregnant wife wouldn't be as perilous. High school jobs weren't just for pocket money. And, we see the differences of funding for East and West Dillon.
There are as noted a lot of good moments and interactions, including stuff like Matt's internship with a talented but somewhat loutish local artist. Him about to berate him for upsetting Julie but then staring in awe at a sculpture he made was a powerful moment. Tami dealing with various conflicts. Matt's proposed eulogy: "Here lies Henry Saracen. His mother annoyed him. His wife couldn't stand him. And he didn't want to be a dad so he took off in the army, because that's the only way he could come up with to ditch all his responsibilities." Becky's mom berating her dad on the phone: "I don't care if you're hauling pieces of Jesus' cross back to Bethlehem." The goofy assistant coach asserting himself when the Dillon QB harassed his players at Sears. And, those freckles -- Tami and Julie are both so cute.
I will probably say a bit more about the abortion subplot but one additional issue last season was race. East Dillon is a primarily minority show, and as the Slate discussion notes, that means black here. [There was an earlier incident that also addressed Matt's new role in the team at the time involving a Hispanic player alleging someone called him a wetback, when it was in fact another black player.] There does appear to be Hispanic players, but that is one issue the show does not address too much, though Buddy going to the Spanish radio station underlines that it is an issue. The show is on dangerous ground with a possibly stereotypical character like Vince* though Jess (she also had a few good moments in deleted scenes), Tinker and others suggest the complexity there. And, though the Vassar background of his now drug addicted mother is a bit much (so noted Slate, but I missed that tidbit the first time around), I think Vince is handled pretty well in all respects, including the performance itself.
The moment where Eric decides to try to address the needs of a park in a black area didn't work that well. But, the season did cover some ground here, including when former East Dillon players Eric calls in to help doesn't trust him. Showing a possible means of unity, Buddy saves the day, his arrival finding a common denominator based on football (he played on the rival team, but they still respected him for his ability). Landry and Jess had an uncomfortable moment at the dinner they had at his place. It calls to mind the problems Smash had with his white girlfriend, race also being an issue for the team -- recall his boycott over comments made by an assistant coach.
Maybe, we will see more in the fifth season, Tami going to East Dillon suggesting more singular focus on that one locale.
---
* Among the deleted scenes, in fact, is one involving him and a friend being taught how to steal cars and later stealing one -- did they want to tone that down a bit? The implication in the finished product was that Vince went back to doing things like that when he (health care alert again) needed money for his mom's drug addiction treatment. The car ring connects with Tim/Billy running a chop shop. These characters are all so interconnected, aren't they?
[I edited this point after finishing this post, adding the Spanish speaking radio bit plus the Sarah Vowell reference to the last post. This just underlines all the different things that can be said about the show. I guess I will just leave it be, knowing more can be said, even on the topics addressed.]