Texas Forever

In a rare case of fixing what wasn’t broken and actually making it better, my beloved Friday Night Lights, now full swing into season four, has as part of its dramatic restructuring done something that few shows are capable of: adding characters who are so instantly vital and well-drawn that it’s difficult to imagine they haven’t been there along.

Last night’s episode was a showcase for the three fresh faces introduced over the past few weeks. Troublemaker Vince (Michael B. Jordan) stole recent East Dillon Lions transplant Luke’s (Matt Lauria) wallet, leading to roadside fisticuffs being broken up by the police. With Vince about to be carted off to juvie, it was Coach Taylor (Kyle Chandler) to the rescue, having Luke take the fall to avoid punishment, then dropping both of them off far from home and making them walk back together as they develop a better understanding of how to be civil. It might seem cliché for two guys to bond over fighting, but because FNL does it in such a subdued fashion, it doesn’t feel the least bit pedestrian. Both Vince and Luke carry a lot of weight on the Lions squad, so a mutual respect between the two will no doubt go a long way toward boosting the entire team's morale, maybe even getting them a little bit closer to scoring their first win (something that will also be aided by the effort Coach Taylor put into organizing a pep rally).

Meanwhile, Jess (Jurnee Smollett) is making Vince jealous by flirting with Landry (Jesse Plemons), which flirtation is sealed with a kiss by episode’s end. One of the things that FNL has always done so well is capture the interplay between men and women in the most natural manner possible; it never seems strained or contrived, and Landry and Jess are another shining example of this.

The episode was capped by the news that Matt’s (Zach Gilford) military father had been killed in combat, with The 101 Network’s promo promising that the next installment (airing December 2 after a week off for Thanksgiving) will be “the most powerful episode ever.” Anyone who’s been a loyal viewer of this magnificent show over the years knows that, in the world of Dillon, Texas, that’s saying an awful lot.