Warning do not read unless seen episode.
This is a good episode if not my favorite and a little something different as it takes a break from the Lubbock babes and its Graham taking center stage. I sometimes like episodes like this because it shows how central characters not the only one's that inhabit the world they're in and that even the characters that don't get much attention have their stories to tell.
This one is on Graham whom I feel a little at his dramatic best as he has a dilemma he must face where his star quarterback unfortunately flunked his test and has to enforce the standard protocol when a player's grades aren't up. He's of course conflicted because the big game is coming up and he really wants his team to win (well all coaches want their team to win every game) along with half to all the populace in the school. It's understandable as we see Graham is under tremendous pressure, a lot of coaches and teachers have faced this, but what's important is to do the right thing no matter what.
I'll admit like Graham I was a little supposed the Murphy would be the one that deliberately failed the test, he seemed like a good guy that had it all together but I guess I was wrong; but it just goes to show why you should take anyone at just face value let alone due to Murphy not being in the show much we really don't know a lot about the guy.
It's true that Graham by benching Murphy he will lose the big game, but we also know that if he doesn't then Graham will lose a lot more, as he will risk a suspension or worse getting fired. We see Graham is desperately seeking advice but unfortunately their all wrong as it's really all about their own gains from the big game. The only person that is really on Graham's side and gives the right advice is his wife Elizabeth, you can say this episode shows why you should listen to your significant other more often because most of the time their right. And knowing Elizabeth and her sense of ethos she is.
The big game arrives, and we see Graham get dangerously close to doing what's wrong but then Graham changes his mind and does what is right by benching Murphy and replacing him with Dozzler. I'll admit replacing him with Dozzler is strange, how the heck that guy is even on a Football team is anyone's guess but oh well he is. And of course, with a guy like Dozzler, you know before the whistle is blown what the results of the game will be, if you can call it that from the way that guy plays.
In the end we see Murphy just coldly dismiss Graham when he says something that I'll admit just made me lose respect for the guy. But Graham retorts with a quote that one of my favorites in the show "I was hoping you learned yours."
I really like this moment because it just showed that Graham wasn't the one that lost the big game it was Murphy. Yes, you should do your best in sports, however it's even more important to do your best in life, and part of life is to keep your learning and work ethic up which demonstrates strength of integrity. The fact he deliberately failed the test and didn't learn anything shows he has no integrity. So therefore, it really wasn't Graham that let the team and the whole school down it was Murphy and worst of all himself.
The last minutes are touching as we see despite not winning the big trophy for the big game, he gained something more valuable. This episode shows the importance of maintain a strong ethos but also reminds why we like this character and there truly needs to be more people like him, for we could use more like him right now.
Nothing would be right in the world without Graham and people like him.
Rating: 3 stars.
This is a good episode if not my favorite and a little something different as it takes a break from the Lubbock babes and its Graham taking center stage. I sometimes like episodes like this because it shows how central characters not the only one's that inhabit the world they're in and that even the characters that don't get much attention have their stories to tell.
This one is on Graham whom I feel a little at his dramatic best as he has a dilemma he must face where his star quarterback unfortunately flunked his test and has to enforce the standard protocol when a player's grades aren't up. He's of course conflicted because the big game is coming up and he really wants his team to win (well all coaches want their team to win every game) along with half to all the populace in the school. It's understandable as we see Graham is under tremendous pressure, a lot of coaches and teachers have faced this, but what's important is to do the right thing no matter what.
I'll admit like Graham I was a little supposed the Murphy would be the one that deliberately failed the test, he seemed like a good guy that had it all together but I guess I was wrong; but it just goes to show why you should take anyone at just face value let alone due to Murphy not being in the show much we really don't know a lot about the guy.
It's true that Graham by benching Murphy he will lose the big game, but we also know that if he doesn't then Graham will lose a lot more, as he will risk a suspension or worse getting fired. We see Graham is desperately seeking advice but unfortunately their all wrong as it's really all about their own gains from the big game. The only person that is really on Graham's side and gives the right advice is his wife Elizabeth, you can say this episode shows why you should listen to your significant other more often because most of the time their right. And knowing Elizabeth and her sense of ethos she is.
The big game arrives, and we see Graham get dangerously close to doing what's wrong but then Graham changes his mind and does what is right by benching Murphy and replacing him with Dozzler. I'll admit replacing him with Dozzler is strange, how the heck that guy is even on a Football team is anyone's guess but oh well he is. And of course, with a guy like Dozzler, you know before the whistle is blown what the results of the game will be, if you can call it that from the way that guy plays.
In the end we see Murphy just coldly dismiss Graham when he says something that I'll admit just made me lose respect for the guy. But Graham retorts with a quote that one of my favorites in the show "I was hoping you learned yours."
I really like this moment because it just showed that Graham wasn't the one that lost the big game it was Murphy. Yes, you should do your best in sports, however it's even more important to do your best in life, and part of life is to keep your learning and work ethic up which demonstrates strength of integrity. The fact he deliberately failed the test and didn't learn anything shows he has no integrity. So therefore, it really wasn't Graham that let the team and the whole school down it was Murphy and worst of all himself.
The last minutes are touching as we see despite not winning the big trophy for the big game, he gained something more valuable. This episode shows the importance of maintain a strong ethos but also reminds why we like this character and there truly needs to be more people like him, for we could use more like him right now.
Nothing would be right in the world without Graham and people like him.
Rating: 3 stars.
