"Lights" Highlights

Season 2, Episode 13, “Humble Pie”

My highlights from last night’s episode:

Jason the car salesman: Who would’ve thought Jason peddling Chevy’s – and with such blatant product placement – would be so satisfying? I certainly didn’t, but I knew I would like this storyline from the very beginning of the episode when Buddy – in his smarmy, self-serving way – asked, “Jason, did you ever think about selling cars?” Buddy and Jason have such an interesting dynamic, and it was nice to see them interacting without Lyla in the middle of it. The highlight of the episode for me was Jason inspiring/browbeating indecisive customer Gerald into buying a car he’s been pining after. “Gerald, life is too short, man,” Jason advises. “Things change in an instant. Take it from me, OK. Take control of your life. Be a man. Buy this car.” Scott Porter really brings it, and every episode he’s been in this season has been a favorite for me. Plus: Jason and Herc’s domestic life together = hilarious.

Tyra the volleyball-playing badass: Tami recruits Tyra to play on the volleyball team after realizing how tall she is. 5’11! I knew she was tall, but 5’11! That’s almost a whole foot taller than me. Remind me never to stand directly next to Adrianne Palicki. Anyway, Tyra’s got the height, but she doesn’t have the passion to destroy until Tami tells her to think of something that makes her really angry. And there stands Tim Riggins. Fueled with her Riggins rage, Tyra becomes the all-star of the volleyball team and they finally win a game. Tyra might also have been imagining Landry’s new dreaded lady friend as she spiked that ball. If things keep pissing Tyra off, the volleyball team might have a better shot of making it to states than the football team. Speaking of…

Smash the criminal: Smash is arrested for the incident at the movie theater where he beat up a racist jerk who was harassing his younger sister. Smash swallowed his pride and apologized only to take it back (in a big, angry, public way) on TV when the jerk bad-mouthed him and his sister. Smash was suspended for the last three games of the regular season, leaving the team’s prospects of making states pretty bleak. This storyline showcased Smash balancing his ego with his love for his family and his team. His scenes with his sister in particular were very touching.

Riggins the human punching bag: Again, Riggins really can’t catch a break. He confesses his love for Lyla only to be shot down icily in favor of her new boyfriend, The Good Christian (so nice to have you back on my TV screen, Matt Czuchry). And Tim made chicken and everything! But maybe Tim should be worrying less about Lyla and more about drug dealing Ferret Guy, who beats him up for the $3,000 he stole. Although Lyla rejected Riggins, she gives him a consolation prize of $3,000 to pay back Ferret Guy. Tim and Billy pay him pack, and all would be good except Billy’s big mouth leads to Ferret Guy pulling out his big gun. Just a guess, but I’m thinking we haven’t seen the last of Mr. Ferret.