Friday Night Lights (TV): Season 2 Episode 204 (10/26/07)

The fourth episode of season two turned out to be a little more than a bridge for plot lines introduced in last week's episode. With no new or unexpected plot twists to speak of, it was the equivalent of a safe run between the tackles, one that neither produced a touchdown or a first down for that matter. For those who missed their weekly fix of the scrappy team from Dillon Texas, we will break it down for you by story line.

Tyra and Landry:
The opening of this plot line was promising with Tyra (Adrianne Palicki) joining Landry's family for dinner. But the writers of course cannot leave well enough alone, and Landry's dad receives a phone call telling him that they have recovered a dead body. Of course, it's the same body that Tyra and Landry (Jesse Plemons) pushed into the river in the name of true love. Wrecked with guilt (helped along by a church sermon), Landry wants to confess, but once again Tyra talks him out of it. But all is not lost because Tyra has now come under the radar of Landry's protective dad. Too bad, I liked these two together, despite the whole homicide issue that needs to be worked out.

Lyla, Religion, and Redemption:
While ministering at a Juvenile Detention Center, Lyla (Minka Kelly) is confronted by a troubled detainee who questions her faith and intentions. Of course Lyla is not about to brush the incident aside and sets out to redeem the junior convict. We can see where this plot line is headed, and if truth be told, Lyla is better of chasing Riggins. Instead, she gets the young man a job at her dad's car dealership. This is a rather predictable plot line, one which would be better served if the young Hispanic youth turned out to be an honor roll student instead of the stereotypical hoodlum with a troubled path and a heart of gold. If I wanted a story about redemption I would go pick up Victor Hugo's Les Miserables.