The Son, a Recap of Friday Night Lights for June 4, 2010

OK. So this episode of Friday Night Lights was super sad. This season is depressing, but I still prefer it over season three. Season three was rather dull for me, though I know a lot of you out there will disagree and say season two was the worst. I actually liked season two. Bratty Julie got on my nerves, but at least there was good drama between her and Tami and between Tami and her sister, Shelly.

Fast forward. We're in episode five of season four already. God, I wish they could have longer seasons. They deserve at least twenty episodes!

Anyway, at the end of the last episode, Julie tells Matt that his dad was killed in Iraq. We haven't actually seen Matt's dad except that one time he comes home on leave during season one.

J.D. and his dad have the nerve to come to Matt's house during the wake. Matt slams the door in their faces. I stand up and cheer. I can't stand Daddy McCoy. I've always detested his smug smile.

Most bloggers who do recaps of this show seem to love the scene where Matt shows up at the funeral parlor with the Riggins boys and Landry. He asks the director to let him view his father's body, and when he sees it, tears come to his eyes. I like that scene, but my favorite of the episode is the part where Matt loses it at the Taylors' dinner table. He says he put all his hate on his father so that he didn't have to put it on anyone else. He says he wants to tell his father that he hates him, but his father doesn't even have a face anymore. I wanted to cry. His words sum up everything we've known about Matt Saracen since season one. He's resilient and he thinks of others first. Beneath it all, he's a scared kid who needs a good cry.

Zach Gilford should definitely get an Emmy nod for his work here, but how much do you wanna bet that he doesn't? This show has been ignored for three seasons now, and it's hard to believe they'll sit up and take notice now, no matter how excellent the writing and acting are.

Meanwhile, Vince's druggie mom has passed out on a bench at their apartment complex. Inside the apartment, Vince and his mom have no electricity or water. I wonder if Vince's mom even has a job. I wonder how they make ends meet. I hope she's not a stereotypical crack whore, but she probably is. It makes me feel sorry for Vince and for anyone who has to live through that shit.

Vince and J.D. are awarded as co-players of the week. Vince accepts the award in front of a group of pee-wee league players. He gives them the same advice given to him by a man who taught him to steal cars, "Don't Panic. Be Cool. Get Paid."

Becky won second runner-up in her beauty pageant. Her dad didn't show up. We got to hear her mom curse him out via cell phone. Where is the guy? Will we ever meet him? Is he still married to Becky's mom?

Becky tries to make out with Tim. We all saw that one coming. He's a big man about it and refuses her. I know he's only about three years older than her, but experience-wise, he seems old enough to be her grandfather.

Stay tuned...

Friday Night Lights airs Fridays on NBC at 8 pm/EST.