Friday Night Lights: Thanksgiving, indeed

Last night was the network season finale of Friday Night Lights on NBC. Our friends who have DirectTV already know how the gang in Dillon fared, since they saw it last fall. For my cable friends who have yet to catch the episode because they were out enjoying last night's spectacular summer evening, stop reading now. Starting in the next graph, there are spoilers galore.

OK. Seriously. Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose? My eyes were full last night, friends, full and then brimming over, as storyline after storyline was wrapped for what is likely this drama's penultimate season.

I want to get to the most emotional one first, our dear sweet Tim Riggins, but I'm going to save that for last, because that's what seems like the right thing to do.

So let's start with football, OK? The Cat Collision or the Cat Crash or the Cat Fight, whatever they were calling the Lions vs. the Panthers, the ramp up to the big Friday night game - the day after Thanksgiving - that was all great. Vince's self-doubt, Coach Taylor's super-steely resolve, Luke, the continuous shots of the pillaged Lions' field, the Thanksgiving morning practice. Fabulous.

And then the game. Tanker's touchdown hearkened back to Coach Taylor's Hail Mary days during Season 1, when Dillon won the state championship. Bringing Luke in. Landry and the failure followed by the epic success. I guess I knew in my heart that good (Lions) would triumph over evil (Panthers) but still ...

Now let's have Thanksgiving. The awkward dinner hosted by the Taylors, which was like The Ragamuffins Get-Together, was solidified beautifully by Billy's even more awkward "toast," which was really an apology, to Mindy and most especially to Tim, for being the big dumb stupid loser that he is. You could watch the wheels turning in Tim's head through this entire episode, a testament to Taylor Kitsch's acting ability.

Matt comes back, makes amends, Julie makes the first grown-up decision of her life, and Landry finds a way out of town. Poor Landry. I know in Chicago he will meet the right girl.

Jess loves Vince, Vince loves Jess, Vince succeeds at football, Vince's mom is clean. But I'm guessing there's more trouble around the corner for these folks.

Tami doesn't sell out, she finds a way out, Mr. and Mrs. Coach will be working together again, they are awesome, awesomer, awesomest as a couple, God I love them. I was worried for them this season, but strong and silent prevailed.

And then Tim. Dear sweet Tim, who always does whatever his friends or his family need him to do; the king of stepping up to the plate and then somehow stepping in something bad on the other side. No matter who it's been, Jason, Lyla, Tyra, Matt, Billy ... Tim does the right thing. Last night, he sent himself to prison so Billy could be with his family.

Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose. Full eyes, clear hearts, can't lose. Amen, Friday Night Lights. Amen.