Best Laid Plans (Friday Night Lights)

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"Best Laid Plans"
Friday Night Lights episode
Episode no.Season 1
Episode 21
Directed by Jeffrey Reiner
Written by
Produced by
Cinematography by David Boyd
Editing by
  • Scott Gamzon
  • Angela Catanzaro
Original release dateApril 4, 2007 (2007-04-04)
Running time43 minutes
Guest appearances
Episode chronology
← Previous
"Mud Bowl"		Next →
"State"
Friday Night Lights (season 1)
List of episodes

"Best Laid Plans" is the 21st episode of the first season of the American sports drama television series Friday Night Lights , inspired by the 1990 nonfiction book by H. G. Bissinger. The episode was written by consulting producer Kerry Ehrin and supervising producer Carter Harris, and directed by co-executive producer Jeffrey Reiner. It originally aired on NBC on April 4, 2007.

Contents

The series is set in the fictional town of Dillon, a small, close-knit community in rural West Texas. It follows a high school football team, the Dillon Panthers. It features a set of characters, primarily connected to Coach Eric Taylor, his wife Tami, and their daughter Julie. In the episode, Eric makes a controversial decision that could split his family, while Landry tries to help Tyra following her attempted assault.

According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 5.33 million household viewers and gained a 1.9 ratings share among adults aged 18–49. The episode received extremely positive reviews from critics, who praised the performances, character development and set-up for the season finale.

Plot

Before Eric (Kyle Chandler) leaves for a meeting at TMU, Tami (Connie Britton) expresses reservation over moving to another city. During the meeting, the committee asks Eric for an immediate response or the offer will be withdrawn. Eric decides to accept the new job.

Landry (Jesse Plemons) visits Tyra (Adrianne Palicki) to check on her, but she does not want to discuss the assault, and asks him not to tell anyone. Conflicted, he nevertheless discloses this to Matt (Zach Gilford), as well as Tami herself as he is verry worried about her. Tami visits Tyra, and convinces her in issuing a police report, although Tyra herself cannot recall all the events at the Alamo Freeze. After reporting, she insults Landry for breaking her trust and tells him to never talk to her ever again.

Eric announces his plans to move to Austin, Texas, devastating Julie (Aimee Teegarden). Tami proposes staying in Dillon with Julie while he accepts the offer, but Eric refuses as he believes it will separate his family. Eric also appoints Jason (Scott Porter) as the Panthers' new assistant coach, and specifically instructs him in helping Matt prepare for the game. After Buddy (Brad Leland) announces that he and his wife will divorce, Lyla (Minka Kelly) storms off. She visits Jason, finding him hanging out with Suzy (Alexandra Holden). Finally realizing their real status, Lyla throws off her ring, ending their engagement. Jackie (Brooke Langton) tells Tim (Taylor Kitsch) that they need to end their relationship, as she feels it might hurt Bo (Jae Head), which Tim reluctantly accepts.

During a roast for the Panthers, Tami talks fondly about Eric's persona, earning him applause. At the reception, Tyra apologizes to Landry for her words, but Landry is unconvinced. He criticizes her for coming with Tim, knowing they'll eventually get back together and have a sad life despite Tim cheating on her, instead of going out with a man who respects her. Jason tries to make amends with Lyla, but she states that it is clear they cannot be together. At the Taylors' house, Eric thanks Tami for her words at the roast. When he proclaims that things will be good for them in Austin, Tami reveals that she is not going to Austin.

Production

Development

In March 2007, NBC announced that the 21st episode of the season would be titled "Best Laid Plans". [1] The episode was written by consulting producer Kerry Ehrin and supervising producer Carter Harris, and directed by co-executive producer Jeffrey Reiner. This was Ehrin's fourth writing credit, Harris' third writing credit, and Reiner's seventh directing credit. [2]

Reception

Viewers

In its original American broadcast, "Best Laid Plans" was seen by an estimated 5.33 million household viewers with a 1.9 in the 18–49 demographics. This means that 1.9 percent of all households with televisions watched the episode. It finished 69th out of 102 programs airing from April 2-8, 2007. [3] This was a 7% decrease in viewership from the previous episode, which was watched by an estimated 5.68 million household viewers with a 2.0 in the 18–49 demographics. [4]

Critical reviews

"Best Laid Plans" received extremely positive reviews from critics. Eric Goldman of IGN gave the episode a "great" 8.5 out of 10 and wrote, "Like Julie and Tami, I've come to adore the people of Dillon too, so here's hoping Eric decides to forget about the TMU job and stay with the Panthers, where he belongs." [5]

Sonia Saraiya of The A.V. Club gave the episode a "B+" grade and wrote, "it seems like 'Best Laid Plans' is the messy aftermath of reaping whatever plot seeds you've sown. It's a disappointing episode, almost by design: The viewer is forced to contend with a lot of complication, after the romantic, black-and-white morals of 'Mud Bowl.'" [6]

Alan Sepinwall wrote, "I'm a little too exhausted to do tonight's Friday Night Lights the proper justice, so I'll just say that Connie Britton is awesome, Adrianne Palicki is awesome, Jesse Plemons is awesome, and Scott Porter is awesome when he gets to be cocky." [7] Leah Friedman of TV Guide wrote, "The more I thought about it, the more I considered last week's episode to be a high point in an exceptionally strong freshman season. Compared to that, of course, this week was going to be a bit of a come down. Part of it has to do with the fact that we're being set up for the final episode, so while we got many great little moments, something tells me they're saving the bonafide A-material for next week." [8]

Brett Love of TV Squad wrote, "as great as it has been all season, I think tonight might have set a new high mark." [9] Television Without Pity gave the episode an "A" grade. [10]

Jesse Plemons submitted this episode for consideration for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series at the 59th Primetime Emmy Awards. [11]

Related Research Articles

<i>Friday Night Lights</i> (season 1) Season of television series

The first season of the American serial drama television series Friday Night Lights commenced airing in the United States and Canada on October 3, 2006, and concluded its 22-episode season on April 11, 2007, on NBC. The series revolves around the Dillon Panthers and their new head coach Eric Taylor as they deal with the pressure of high school football in Texas and everything that comes with it, on and off the field.

<i>Friday Night Lights</i> (season 2) Season of television series

The second season of the American serial drama television series Friday Night Lights commenced airing in the United States and Canada on October 5, 2007, and concluded its 15-episode season on February 8, 2008, on NBC. While initially renewed for a 22-episode full season, the show ended production for the season after filming the 15th episode, due to the 2007–08 Writers Guild of America strike. The series' future was once again placed in doubt as it did not return to production once the strike ended, and it continued to suffer from low ratings in its new Friday at 9:00 pm time slot. However, NBC announced in April 2008 that the show would return for a third season, with first-run broadcasts airing on DirecTV's The 101 Network. The second season was released on DVD in region 1 on April 22, 2008.

<i>Friday Night Lights</i> (season 3) Season of television series

The third season of the American serial drama television series Friday Night Lights began airing in the United States and Canada on October 1, 2008. It was the first season to be aired on DirecTV's The 101 Network. The 13-episode season concluded on The 101 Network on January 14, 2009, and then began its run on NBC two nights later, on January 16, 2009, and concluded its NBC run on April 10, 2009. The show was renewed for two more seasons in March 2009, with both seasons airing in the same format as season 3, containing 13 episodes each. The third season was released on DVD in region 1 on May 19, 2009.

Tyra Collette is a character in the NBC/DirecTV drama Friday Night Lights, portrayed by actress Adrianne Palicki.

"El Accidente" is the sixth episode of the first season of the American sports drama television series Friday Night Lights, inspired by the 1990 nonfiction book by H. G. Bissinger. The episode was written by supervising producer Carter Harris and directed by Dan Lerner. It originally aired on NBC on November 7, 2006.

"Crossing the Line" is the eighth episode of the first season of the American sports drama television series Friday Night Lights, inspired by the 1990 nonfiction book by H. G. Bissinger. The episode was written by producer Bridget Carpenter and directed by co-executive producer Jeffrey Reiner. It originally aired on NBC on November 28, 2006.

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"Nevermind" is the eleventh episode of the first season of the American sports drama television series Friday Night Lights, inspired by the 1990 nonfiction book by H. G. Bissinger. The episode was written by supervising producer Elizabeth Heldens and directed by Jonas Pate. It originally aired on NBC on January 3, 2007.

"What to Do While You're Waiting" is the twelfth episode of the first season of the American sports drama television series Friday Night Lights, inspired by the 1990 nonfiction book by H. G. Bissinger. The episode was written by consulting producer Kerry Ehrin and directed by David Boyd. It originally aired on NBC on January 10, 2007.

"Little Girl I Wanna Marry You" is the thirteenth episode of the first season of the American sports drama television series Friday Night Lights, inspired by the 1990 nonfiction book by H. G. Bissinger. The episode was written by executive producer Jason Katims and directed by co-executive producer Jeffrey Reiner. It originally aired on NBC on January 24, 2007.

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"Blinders" is the fifteenth episode of the first season of the American sports drama television series Friday Night Lights, inspired by the 1990 nonfiction book by H. G. Bissinger. The episode was written by producer Bridget Carpenter and supervising producer Carter Harris, and directed by Stephen Kay. It originally aired on NBC on February 7, 2007.

"Black Eyes and Broken Hearts" is the sixteenth episode of the first season of the American sports drama television series Friday Night Lights, inspired by the 1990 nonfiction book by H. G. Bissinger. The episode was written by consulting producer Patrick Massett and John Zinman, and directed by co-executive producer Jeffrey Reiner. It originally aired on NBC on February 14, 2007.

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"Extended Families" is the eighteenth episode of the first season of the American sports drama television series Friday Night Lights, inspired by the 1990 nonfiction book by H. G. Bissinger. The episode was written by consulting producer Kerry Ehrin and directed by Charles Stone. It originally aired on NBC on February 28, 2007.

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"State" is the 22nd episode and season finale of the first season of the American sports drama television series Friday Night Lights, inspired by the 1990 nonfiction book by H. G. Bissinger. The episode was written by executive producer Jason Katims and consulting producers Patrick Massett and John Zinman, and directed by co-executive producer Jeffrey Reiner. It originally aired on NBC on April 11, 2007.

"Last Days of Summer" is the first episode of the second season of the American sports drama television series Friday Night Lights, inspired by the 1990 nonfiction book by H. G. Bissinger. It is the 23rd overall episode of the series and was written by executive producer Jason Katims and directed by executive producer Jeffrey Reiner. It originally aired on NBC on October 5, 2007, but the episode was released to stream on Yahoo! on September 19, 2007.

References

  1. ↑ "(#121) "Best Laid Plans"". The Futon Critic. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Friday Night Lights – WGA Directory". Writers Guild of America West . Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Weekly Program Rankings (Apr. 2-8)". ABC Medianet . April 10, 2007. Archived from the original on January 7, 2009. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Weekly Program Rankings (Mar. 26-Apr. 1)". ABC Medianet . April 3, 2007. Archived from the original on June 1, 2009. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  5. ↑ Goldman, Eric (April 5, 2007). "Friday Night Lights: "Best Laid Plans" Review". IGN . Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  6. ↑ Saraiya, Sonia (June 26, 2014). "Friday Night Lights: "Mud Bowl" / "Best Laid Plans"". The A.V. Club . Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  7. ↑ Sepinwall, Alan (April 4, 2007). "Friday Night Lights: Okay, now Tami Taylor might be my favorite human being right now..." What's Alan Watching?. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  8. ↑ Friedman, Leah (April 4, 2007). "Friday Night Lights: This is Ours, Baby". TV Guide . Archived from the original on April 26, 2007. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  9. ↑ Love, Brett (April 5, 2007). "Friday Night Lights: Best Laid Plans". TV Squad . Archived from the original on October 12, 2007. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Friday Night Lights: "Best Laid Plans" – Long Road Home". Television Without Pity . April 4, 2007. Archived from the original on April 21, 2008. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  11. ↑ "2007 Emmys CONFIRMED Episode Submissions". The Envelope Forum, Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 22, 2007. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
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