January
21 "Friday Night Lights": Character Check

Tami (Connie Britton): Tami's looking at an even cleaner slate than Eric right now. After some honest crisis moments for her character in the past few weeks in dealing with Shelley and Julie, she can focus back on her job.  I sort of feel that the storyline with Julie-intriguing teacher Noah Barnett (Austin Nichols) ended abruptly, but short of that returning, I guess we can expect some new school intrigue.

Smash (Gaius Charles): Smash really made only one critical mistake in the most recent episode, and it wasn't going on the date with Noelle (Jana Kramer) in a white neighborhood or even using his sister Noannie (Nieko Mann) along as an excuse to sneak out. It was that, when Noannie was getting harassed, Smash wasn't smart enough to avoid punching the antagonist. I get that Smash has pride and anger, so it's not that it wasn't necessarily believable, but with his scholarship to TMU oh so close, shouldn't he be acutely aware of how much he has to lose? In any case, Smash will be lucky if the only price he pays is that the trauma undermines his relationship with Noelle.

Matt (Zach Gilford): A few times this season, "FNL" has been guilty of setting a story in motion and not following through. You almost had to feel this acutely when the news came that Carlotta (Daniella Alonso) was going back to Guatemala and would no longer be Matt's girlfriend (much less his grandmother's nurse). It didn't help that the writers wouldn't offer any specifics other than having her repeat that her family needed her.  Didn't Matt deserve to know what the crisis was?  Perhaps this was meant to underscore the fact that Matt and Carlotta didn't communicate much, but it doesn't really make sense that two sensitive people who care about each other and live in the same house wouldn't reach a point where they could converse intimately. What's further frustrating is that, on a show that explores the nuances of a successful relationship like Tami and Eric's so well, "FNL" has now punted two opportunities to do so on the teen level: here and with Tyra and Landry. None of the high schoolers are in a strong relationship right now, and it seems a waste. "FNL" made the contrived relationship between Matt and Carlotta something worth watching — their dance at the quinceanera was positively radiant — but couldn't find the time or energy to actually explore their togetherness. I love the show, but it's a shame.

Julie (Aimee Teegarden): Well, the stage is set for Matt and Julie to reunite and see where that goes.  Julie is certainly primed, having exorcised her Swede and Riggins crushes and coming to terms with Gracie's impact on the house. This season has been nothing but humbling for the precocious coach's daughter. On the other hand, it would seem that Matt would need some time to get over Carlotta, so this reunion might not really begin to play out fully until a hypothetical third season.

Tim (Taylor Kitsch): What a wild and crazy ride it's been for the show's ping-pong ball. Last week saw his latest attempt to grow up wilt like the flowers that are currently lying untended at a Christian radio station. After a week in which he didn't have to worry about where he lived or where the money was going to come from, we should soon see a certain ferret-owning meth dealer coming hard after Riggins for theft. If only it were Bryan Cranston.

Lyla (Minka Kelly): Kind of been a lost season for Lyla, who has been stuck in something of a one-note plot. It's been a useful note — as it's given TV a rare low-key portrayal of someone finding God — but we haven't covered a lot of ground since the season opener. Fortunately, Lyla's budding relationship with her radio co-host might create some useful movement in her character.

Jason (Scott Porter): Jason? Who is this Jason you speak of?  Oh yeah, that guy in the wheelchair who used to get screen time. Fact is, it's got to be hard to find pages for a character who is alienated from the show's central stories. But again, they've come so far with this character, you sort of hate to see the investment wither away.

Landry (Jesse Plemons): Landry didn't go to jail, but I guess it figured he'd do time offscreen after getting more than his share of attention during the hide-the-body story. If anyone's due to find a new love interest, however unrequited, it's probably Landry. Otherwise, there's nothing much for him to do except wait to see if Tyra comes around. In the meantime, it was nice to see the show remember that he and Matt are friends. From a commenter at TV critic Alan Sepinwall's blog:

And the Matt and Landry belated catchup had me wondering if the rest of their conversation went like this...

Matt: So enough about me sleeping with the hot older woman working as my grandma's caretaker, what's new with you buddy?

Landry: Well, I lost my virginity, to my dream girl Tyra.

Matt: That's cool. How'd that happen?

Landry: Oh, you know, I killed this guy who was stalking Tyra, and we just sort of bonded after that. And then I was really guilt-ridden for a while, but I'm over it now.

Matt: Good for you. Wanna go to Applebee's?

Tyra (Adrianne Palicki): The Tyra story is so interesting because it places her relationship with non-GQ Landry in direct opposition to her own self-esteem. I remain eager to see how she reconciles the two, as well as whether she can get herself a future in the seemingly short time she has left to carve one out for herself.

Buddy (Brad Leland): Not that his wife would know or care, but Buddy is growing. It seems fair to say he has an affection for Santiago (Benny Ciaramello) that transcends his football ability — and just developing that amount of caring says something. Too bad it doesn't translate to his dealings with his family. Will he ever be in a stable relationship with a woman again?

— Jon Weisman