There’s a hole in my bucket, dear Liza, dear Liza
There’s a hole in my bucket, dear Liza a hole.

And with that unguarded, completely vulnerable moment, Herc and the Riggins boys know what’s at stake. This isn’t about Jason making money; it’s about Jason being a father. The reaction shot of Herc was a given, as Kevin Rankin brings such a sweetness to his role Herc would obviously be taken by Jason opening himself up like that. The more significant shot for me was of Billy. Billy knows what a loving, doting, caring father is: he just has to look in the negative space around his own deadbeat dad. Billy’s not going to be screwing around on this project anymore, even if it means putting up with Jason’s work list.

I have to admit to having been confused by Jason and Erin last week. I took her reluctance to move in with him to be more than financial, thinking instead that she wanted to keep their relationship platonic as they raised the baby. Clearly, it’s more than that. As Erin puts miles between herself and Dillon, it’s clear she misses Jason as much as he misses her and the baby. Something has to give there, and since Scott Porter’s on his victory lap, I’d imagine it’s going to be Jason. ((I actually know more than I’m letting on, having read a great interview Chris Littman did with Taylor Kitsch, but I’m keeping it to myself. Read the interview if you want some spoilers.))

In an echo of the past, Landry’s got himself a little nerd-girl, this time one who plays bass. ((But isn’t named Kim?)) When Tyra *finally* figures out that Cash lied to her about that being his baby-mama and she runs back to Landry, I think her heart might finally break. Which hurts me, because this season I totally recognize Tyra as not just a real person ((As opposed to season 2.)) but as akin to the long line of pretty, foolish, self-destructive blonds I once suffered for. That’s right: I was a Landry. ((Grew up into a less attractive Barney Stinson, but that’s neither here nor there.)) And now I remember why: it physically hurts me to watch these girls who deserve better, who are worth so much more, throw their lives away with stupid decision after stupid decision. Hurts so much I want to save them.

Tyra’s willingness to believe Cash and any other two-bit, worthless piece of trash who gives her a big smile is her mortal weakness, handed down from her mother and nurtured by her mother and Mindy. She’s so internalized the belief that she’s only worth the man she can hold onto that she doesn’t see it. She doesn’t realize it’s her mother’s voice and her sister’s voice in her head telling her she could do better than Landry and pointing her in the exact opposite direction of “better”. She can go through the motions of applying herself and applying for college, but it will take a miracle for her to truly believe she can succeed. A miracle to believe success isn’t measured by the size of her man’s belt buckle.

On the QB front we’ve finally gotten some time with JD McCoy. I’ve been touting Jeremy Sumpter all season; tonight we saw a taste of what he can do. If FNL gets a pickup for season 4 – no sure thing until we see NBC’s numbers next winter/spring – the show is going to rest on JD’s shoulders more than it has on any one of the first class of young cast members. The very fact that he alone has been introduced means that any other new kids on the team are going to be secondary for at least the first third or half of next season. It’s a good thing that Sumpter can carry it. ((Y’all might disagree for all I know. But I think he’s got as much talent as Zach Gilford and Scott Porter.))

I loved the naked mile and loved that it was more than basic hazing. I’d agree with Coach that it was downright foolish to do that to the new and emotionally fragile starting QB, but then again I’d never have made the emotionally fragile kid my starting QB. That’s really all on Coach. Still, sending *Tim Riggins* in to fix the situation makes starting the questionable freshman look like a genius-level move. What did Coach think Tim would do?

I’ll grant that loosening up JD and getting him having fun was probably good for him and good for the team, but encouraging this emotionally fragile and sheltered freshman to go carrousing with Tim Riggins…it’s downright irresponsible. Which is why, of course, it bugged me. It wasn’t something Coach would have done. Coach would have had Matt intercede, even knowing full well how much that would hurt him. Coach wouldn’t have done anything so dumb as using Tim, but the writers needed to speed up the reveal on Joe McCoy: Overbearing Father.

And boy, he sure is overbearing.

What the hell is that, coming into the locker room after a game? And dragging your son to Applebee’s ((There is nothing good about Applebee’s.)) when he should be celebrating with the team? And…it was just me, I’m sure. And it was probably just because I’m still reeling from the mixed election results last night, but at the breakfast table I kept looking for a sign that JD was feigning interest in girls for his mother’s benefit at the same time he was denying too much interest for his father’s. I’m pretty sure the writers aren’t planning on picking up the gay slack that Grey’s Anatomy is leaving in primetime, but I was looking for it.

This kid is wounded and afraid of his own shadow. No, he’s actually afraid of sticking out because of that horrible cliche about nails that stick out. The only place he’s comfortable is on the gridiron where he can hide behind his mask and his talent. Off the field, he’s a bundle of insecurities far greater than the average load of a 15-year old.

A few other thoughts:

• As opposed to the massive buildup to nothing of season one’s “I Think We Should Have Sex”, Matt and Julie finally consummated their relationship the way most relationships are: off-screen. Sex isn’t dramatic most of the time, even first times; it happens *over there* and then it’s done.
• Not since Crocodile Dundee has a bidet been used to such humorous effect.
• Herc with the sledgehammer was one of the funniest things I’ve seen in a while. Just the glee he was taking with every stroke cracked me up.
• Mindy’s dress was *awesome*. She looked less like an angel than a cos-player with those fairy/butterfly wings.
• USF? Tyra doesn’t have the grades for A&M and she thinks she can be a Don? Do they *have* guidance counselors in Dillon? And even if she did somehow get in – maybe on the Eddie Sutton plan ((No, I don’t know what I really mean by that. But I wanted to get in a dig at Eddie for his cheap publicity stunt with USF last year.)) – how the *hell* would she pay for it?
• I’m befuddled by how time works here. It’s like the writers spent time in the Heroes writers room. Landry’s got band practice in the middle of the day. Tim cuts school but goes to practice. We barely see any practice time. Huh?
• Lyla shore is pretty. But, uh, did she *do* anything other than be pretty and help Tim carry JD out of the party? Is there a plan for Lyla this year, or is she just there because Minka Kelly’s still under contract?
• Man, I remember high school. No one had a pierced nose in my freshman year. ((If only.))

What did everyone else think?