Cobra's dad is dead. No, wait, I know I shouldn't use Tim's nickname for Matt, but it's just funny. But still, the big story on Friday Night Lights last week was the death of Matt's father, fresh from duty in Iraq, and for someone who's had a lot of pent-up feelings for him -- abandonment, hate, whatever -- it is a whirlwind, having to address it.

Like, suddenly you're the man in the house. You taking care of your grandma, and maybe your mom, well, it's now official. But you also have to confront whatever your dad did while he was on duty. Father was a funny man, and son didn't believe it. Thankfully everybody was there to see him through, but in the end, Matt himself had to do the dealing, and he did just fine.

The last scene, I must say, is unexpectedly poignant.

We all have to move on -- that seems to be the theme in this week's Friday Night Lights. As Matt continues to deal with the death, Eric now returns to the team he's coaching. A bout against a huge opponent's coming up, and he's got to make a strategy to win this game -- they have to win, note, but scoring 14 points last week is a good, good development. Would he be able to get the team together, now that Vince is slowly considering car robbery as a side job? And, back at home, Julie will shake things up. I know, complications.

The other big story focuses on Tim -- Lyla, after all, is back, visiting after Matt's dad's death, and they reconnect. So, yes, I smell Becky feeling betrayed, again. But last week we saw the seed of something between Becky and Matt develop. Which one? Friday Night Lights returns tonight at 8pm on NBC.

(Image courtesy of NBC)