Nov 06,2010
Friday Night Lights Fan Podcast #44
Posted by Amy with 13 Comments
Kaitlin and Amy discuss Season 5 Episode 2 “On the Outside Looking In”.
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Hooray! I had a chance to catch this episode. Great podcast ladies! I agreed with almost everything you said, but I respectfully part company on two items: the significance of Kyle Chandler/CT in this ep and the episode rating. This is long, but please hang in with me …
It was a slow awakening for CT to even ‘get it’ that he was on the outside. He was so busy telling everyone to stay focused and not to worry about the rankings, until he went to talk to Mac. That scene was awesome. Those two coaches have so much respect for one another. But it was sad for ‘always the insider’ Mac to have to explain to Eric that he was not (and probably never was). (I saw the same level of respect between Mac and CT last season when they were sitting across the table from one another during the meeting about where the Lions/Panther game would be played. They both “knew” what happened to the Lions’ field and shared a mutual look of disgusted knowing at how Dillon football had sunk to a new, all time low. No words were even necessary.)
But even after talking with Mac, CT still didn’t *truly* get it even when Luke was suspended … not until he went before that football governing board to find out that they were putting him and his team in their place (yeah, a racial/class difference undertone) for winning that first game he shouldn’t have one. (Just like he wasn’t *supposed* to take the coaching job at East Dillon.) They now perceive CT to be an “uppity” outsider. These are the same Powers That Be who also railroaded Tami. These guys fight dirty.
When the last CT scenes showed Eric on the field before the game, looking up at those Lions fans in the stands and the Lions Boosters who were not even there a year ago, he didn’t know what he was going to do or say to his team when he walked into the locker room. They had come such a long hard way, only to be told to ‘go stand in the back of the bus.’ It wasn’t until he really looked at his team, a team that was also not there a year ago and suddenly decided to really piss these Good Ol’ Boys off the only way they could understand … go all the way to ‘STATE.’ From an acting/writing standpoint … that no dialogue ending scene was far, far more powerful than any speech CT could have ever given. I LOVED it. Bravo!!!
I’d give this ep a 9 to a 9.5. I LOVED it, totally understood the connection to the title. The best part was the white board scene and the reactions afterward. Kyle Chandler can do more with no dialogue than any other actor on television. This was his episode. It sets the stage for the season, just as last season’s uniform burning ep set the stage for Season 4. This ep could very well be Kyle’s Emmy submission for the final season.
PS … Did anyone else catch Mac on The Practice last night?
Dolphin-
Thanks for your response! After hearing all of your points as to how CT felt throughout the episode I’m thinking I need to re-watch it immediately. While his frustration was obvious, I didn’t completely *get* his outsider status until half way through the episode..or perhaps I knew he was an outsider for the past 2 seasons, but I didn’t realize CT wasn’t aware of his own outsider status until now.
Agreed, the “STATE” presentation was a moment that will resonate for the final 11 episodes and was quite possibly the best “FU” to the good ol’ boys that are trying to bring Eric down. Talk about a damn the man moment! I only wish that Buddy had been in the locker room to see that white board!
And yes, I saw Mac as a cop on Private Practice. It was funny!
Hi Kaitlin. Perhaps he “knew” he was on the outside last season, but I don’t think he realized the extent of how far removed he was until this ep. CT lives by the rules, fair play, and the sportsmanship of football (metaphor for life). These Good Ol’ Boys refuse to play by the rules he works so hard to instill in his players or even worse, they make them up to suit their agenda.
Ha! Just when I thought CT’s team was crawling back from their underdog status, I find out it’s worse than I thought. I love these writers. This football season could become nastier than we’ve ever seen it get. The stage has been set, and this season is going to be soooo good. I’m excited!!!
PS. Sorry to belabor this point, but I think it’s important. I didn’t get that CT was so far on the outside either until the meeting w/Mac (about half way) and then the 2nd meeting about Luke’s suspension. I was following along from Coach’s POV, and that’s when he started to get it. It was sort of a ‘reveal.’ Super subtle, super cool.
I definitely didn’t get the outsider part. Really need to watch again.
The title of the episode (outside looking in) seemed very relevant to me:
1) Tami is an outsider to the other faculty members; she’s also on the outside looking in when it comes to Epic (Tami is a stranger trying to help and get through to a girl who had a hard life)
2) Julie is an outsider at college
3) Becky is an outsider in the Riggins’ household
4) The Lions not being ranked proves that they are outsiders in Dillon
5) Jess feels like an outsider in Vince’s life in some ways because, as she stated, during the summer she would help him practice, but now that the football season started he is swept up in all the hoopla of football and football practice and she feels left out.
6) Heck, even Luke is somewhat of an outsider in Becky’s life and he wants to get close to her again (hence his longing stares from across the room when the rally girls were being assigned players). Also, the fact that he wasn’t recognized by that man in the restaurant while Vince was recognized proves his outsider status in some way.
the outsider refers to a lot of the characters, luke feels on the outside of the ream, tami feels on the outide of the teachers, and julie feels on the outside of her school
the outsider refers to a lot of the characters, luke feels on the outside of the ream, tami feels on the outide of the teachers, and julie feels on the outside of her school
I totally got the feel of “outside looking in”. The Lions have always been considered the misfits of Dillon & they are finally realizing their true potential. I also felt for Tammy T, who was the go-to gal in the past, struggling to fit in with peers & WHO wouldn’t want to be friends with Tammy T! I so see both Taylors outgrowing Dillon by seasons end & maybe fittingly we will be able to come to grips with them moving on & this wonderful show ending…..though I have stocked up on Kleenex & expect my heart to hurt when it does.
We should ALL buy stock in Kleenex!!!
Absolutely. The podcast covered all the others on the outside really well. That’s why I went on so about CT. He (and by extension, his team) have a big ol’ Outsider Target on their backs this season. Thanks for indulging this die hard fan and her “aha” FNLs moment. Wish I could have been more succinct.
I hope they say something about Joe and JD McCoy this season. And how his influence ($) worked (or maybe doesn’t anymore).
Oh my goodness this was the best episode ever!! and I’m so glad that y’all liked Becky in this episode, because I loved her!
great podcast too 
another great podcast to go along with a great episode. I agreed with everything said on the podcast. I’m very glad to see a less annoying Becky.
I thought the switch with Laurel siding with Tammy (I think that was her name) was out of the blue too. The only thing I could think is she had something to do with the drink spilling on Tammy and after she saw her reaction, she immediately felt bad about it which is why she went after her to apologize. I think she decided to help with the after school program because Tammy mentioned that she was trying to fit in and wanted to help the kids. I guess helping Tammy with her program was her way of making it up to Tammy.