While last week's penultimate episode for seemed like a metaphor for FNL facing cancellation, the finale cleverly plays it both ways -- providing a sense of closure while also setting up compelling story opportunities for next season. It wasn't until the final few minutes of this episode that I would've really felt angry if the series had failed to get renewed. Thank goodness for DirecTV ex machina.

See photos from the series.

So much of last week's anxiety for the future carries over with "Tomorrow Blues," even with the five months or so that have passed in Dillon since the football season ended. Seniors Tim, Lyla, Matt, and Tyra all have plans to go to college, but personal choices and external forces put these plans in doubt. Having everyone's future settled within the setting of Billy and Mindy's wedding was a nice way to tie the episode together, marriage being a symbol of new beginnings. The most controversial choice made, I think, is Matt deciding to stay. Yes, the scene of him moving his grandma into the nursing home was heartbreaking (set to Gary Jules' "Beautiful"), and it's understandable why he's pulled back, but from the first time we met him in season one, college seemed like the goal line for the "artsy" QB.

Meanwhile, we've been suspecting that Tim might wuss out on getting out of Dillon all along, and between the dream of Riggins Rigs and Lyla's change of plans, he has just as good a reason to stay. But unlike Matt's grandma, Billy is not having it and gives the FNL Emotional Speech of the Night(TM) to get him back on track. But does he go? Who knows, but having Taylor Kitsch back would be a bit like the steer in front of Riggins Rigs, something to draw prospective viewers in. The scenes between Billy and Tim were highlights of the episode, and much of this season, but with Kitsch set to be a movie star, the writing's probably on the wall. We already know that both Minka Kelly (Lyla) and Adrianne Palicki (Tyra) are only going to be back for a handful of episodes next season, so their stories seemed set in stone, but that did nothing to lessen the joy of Tyra getting her acceptance letter.

So, as Coach and Mrs. Coach survey the dilapidated field of season four dreams (East Dillon Lions!) it's easy to find yourself entertaining all the possibilities of having another team to root for. Having Coach Taylor build a team from scratch is golden enough, but you have to love having the Panthers now as rivals, as nothing writes itself like a story of revenge. Meanwhile, like the series and the town of Dillon, the Taylor household will be divided, with Tammi still as principal and Julie still as student. The new school and team will also give the series a chance to bring more minorities into the fold, as the East Dillon Lions are on the "other side of the tracks" from the McMansions of the McCoys. Speaking of McCoy, Joe not only pushed Eric out, but Buddy seems to have lost his King of All Boosters crown, so one imagines he'll be putting his weight behind the Lions going forward (which will no doubt be a heart-wrenching choice for the Panther alumnus).

There wasn't really much music to analyze here ("Baby I Love Your Way" as wedding music!) but I can tell you I heard Pavement's great song "Lions (Linden)" when I saw the East Dillon mascot reveal. The song is about a high school football team, the Lions, and their close in proximity rivals, and with a song from singer Stephen Malkmus appearing last week, it's only fitting to bring him back:

Twenty miles westwards
Home of the Redbirds
Team colour's crimson blue
Open up your purses
For the boys to reimburse us
With a goal line stand on 4th and 2
And that goal line stand ... Ha!

Playlist: Friday Night Lights - Episode 3.13
1. "Something Good This Way Comes" - Jakob Dylan - Opening montage
2. "Low Rider" - War - Buddy drives Eric out to visit a prospective player
3. "Beautiful" - Gary Jules and The Group Rules - Matt moves Lorraine into an assisted living facility
4. "Baby, I Love Your Way" - Peter Frampton (originally by) - Billy & Mindy's wedding
5. "Bridal Chorus" (from 'Lohengrin') - Wagner - Mindy walks down the aisle
6. "Car Wash" - Rose Royce (originally by) - Wedding reception
7. "Fooled Around And Fell In Love" - Elvin Bishop (originally by) - Lyla tells Tim of college plans
8. "Waltz Across Texas" - Ernest Tubb and Mel Tillis (originally by) - Eric has a drink
9. "Mustang Sally" - Wilson Pickett (originally by) - Matt watches Julie dance / they talk
10. "When A Man Loves A Woman" - Percy Sledge (originally by) - Couples dance

Previously: Tale Wags the Underdog (Episode 3.12)

drake lelane
curator of the music/soundtrack blog thus spake drake
clear eyes, full , can't lose

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