Until everyone has a chance to see the last episode, I won't say much. But, it looks like things will be taking a turn and I wonder what your thoughts would be on the future of Dillon Panthers and Coach Taylor?

So, it looks like we're wrapping up so much of FNL. All the kids except J.D. are graduating, and will probably be phased out like Street and Smash. So the question is, what characters would you like to see next season? I'm new here, but I have a couple of (ahem!) modest suggestions.

First, I don't think they can concentrate on more than four players. That, plus Julie, plus two other non-players (probably girls), makes seven stories, not to mention the adults. That's about all an ensemble show could handle. In view of that...

I want to see defense! I'm tired of a steady diet of soaring Hail Marys! I'd like to see a character who is a big, fast, tough, dominating linebacker (think Ray Lewis in the early years). I'd like to see an examination of the difference in psychology between those whose responsibility is to make plays and those whose responsibility is to wreck plays. If I may be so bold (ahem! again), the young-looking, 23-year-old, skilled Shakespearean actor Thomas Keegan would be absolutely perfect for the part.

I'd also like to see a lineman, offensive or defensive. What's it like to be the guys who get "the headaches, not the headlines?" It would also be a chance to look at people with less-than-perfect bodies. Linemen tend to be very strong, but usually overweight and not part of a school's social elite.

The other two roles would almost have to be a quarterback (J.D. or someone else) and a running back.

As far as girls, another cheerleader, social elite type seems essential to the show, but what else? Another Tyra? Or maybe a super-brain? Who knows?

That's my $0.02. Like to hear yours.

I did get a laugh about your post because I agree that I don't understand why the show focuses entirely on the offensive players and completely ignores the defense. Maybe in Season 3 they will give defense a try. Same with the lineman. They have had a few minor characters who were lineman (the red-haired kid Bradley from Seasons 1 and 2 and the black kid this year (Solomon?), but again not alot of focus on the lineman. Maybe that will change.

They will definitely have to replace some of the female characters with Tyra and Lyla leaving or having a reduced role. Maybe Riggins will have a new girlfriend or Julie will have a new friend that has get a more prominant role.

I thought I read that Landry will also be a senior next year so he will definitely be back. He may get a larger role next season. I can't see how JD won't be back in some role. He and the McCoys overall were too good this season to replace or leave off the show. I would think the Taylors vs. the McCoys will be a prominent part of Season 4.

The real challenge will be trying to keep Matt and Riggins relevant if they are both staying on the show in a full time role. That seemed to be a struggle in Season 2 with Street.

No one knows what happens yet but here is what I hope. Riggins & Smash play college football, Matt & Tyra go to college, and Coach Taylor & his family move on to somewhere away from JD's crazy family, but plays JD's team on the schedule. Love the show, can't believe people watch some of the mindless shows over this masterpiece of quality entertainment.

Needless to say, I love this show.

I did just want to mention something that my 16 yr. old granddaughter and 19 yr. old grandson points out. It is that there are no teenagers that are overweight, have piercings, tatoos, or dress like the kids do at the schools around Chicago (Aurora) anyway. Maybe Texas is different. It is like the teens in TX are from a different time (which doesn't bother me a bit). They do have their problems and there is one lesbian girl, but none are really featured, and there are no gay guys at all. I know TX must have more Hispanic students. They say its not really like what it is in the schools of today. I know when I see the teens from the school where my granddaughter goes, I am usually a bit shocked coming from a tamer day and age. But, they also love the show and Kyle Chandler.

I am hoping that if they focus on another school, in a more diverse part of town, that they delve into the lives of some teens that are from families a little more in line with the current times. I think that more teens will watch the show and hopefully they can find solutions to some of the problems that the teens of today face on a daily basis from the storyline.

What better person than Coach Taylor to put the point across...I just love him.

Whatever they do, I will be there watching and wanting more. The fourth season is bound to be the best yet. I am so grateful the Lights scored 2 more.

So...I'm awaiting the final episode of a pretty good season of FNL. All the story lines were good, the characters all pretty much ended up where they should, and I'm happy they've renewed it! Now I'm wondering what's next for everyone. What scares and saddens me is FNL getting a whole new freshman cast to fill the shoes of the seniors! I know they basically phased out smash and street and had them go their paths in life but what about everyone else? Of course the Taylors are fine, and the McCoys but c'mon what about the seniors? I really, really hope they tie them into the show. Lyla and Tim's relationship is one of the sweetest on the show...I would really hate if they just let them go altogether. Tim and Lyla go to college and get married and have a happy life. The End. Or phasing out Matt and Tyra. Tyra is one of my favorite characters on the show. She is strong but is also funny and sweet with Landry. I don't know, I just hope they don't phase all these people out. I know that shows, along with cast members move on and change but c'mon would the show really be the same without all these people? On a different note what were your thoughts about this season? I didn't think some of the story lines were as strong. Also, maybe because of budget or because of something else, but did anyone notice the lack of music in the show? They used to have so many moving, quiet scenes with interesting music playing in the background. Now it's a lot of dry banter. I don't know...the effect is not the same. It's not as emotional as last season. Anyway, this is my big ol' post about this season...and all I gotta say is that I love this show more and more each season and it's one of the best television shows on T.V...hands down! Go Dillon!!!

Well, I think they are going to go on and send Tyra and Lyla off to college. I think that Tim is going to go but I have an idea he is going to return to Dillon. It could really be a bad thing for Tim and I hate it for him.

I think that Lyla is going to go to college in Nashville. We won't see her next season, like we didn't see Jason and Smash after their arcs were over. That is the one thing I don't understand because kids come home all of the time. It doesn't matter if they have a lot of money or not. They come home for weekends, holidays and sometimes they just come home to chill.

I hope the writers include visits from Jason and Smash too. It just doesn't make sense that Jason never came back home. What about his parents? Smash should have been in Dillon for that last game. Smash should have been home for the last episode. He should have been out of school for the summer.

I am hoping that in season four, we will see Tim finally grow up and go back to school. He could get hurt during the first games of the season and return home. This could work to keep him in Dillon until the next semester. That is, if he doesn't break his leg in five different places and it will take forever in rehab just for him to walk again. Lyla will return to see him and I think that this is where we will see the end or the beginning of their adult relationship. Tyra and Landry will not say goodbye. I think that Landry will speak of Tyra often and maybe at the end of the season, we will see Tyra back for Landry's graduation. As for Matt and Julie, I believe that Matt is going to end up staying in Dillon for a year. That will allow him to stay with his grandmother and not break up with Julie. It won't hurt him to stay at home because he could never function at school with his mind on his grandmother and Julie.

I am not as sure about the coach and his future. I think it would be great for him to take that East Dillon High job and turn that school into a power house. I think he is going to have some trouble with the kids going to Dillon High because of the way they drew the lines. It may even have to go to court. In the end, I think things will be fair.

From the last episode, I remember Buddy and Tyra's mom seemed a bit too close at the wedding. They could actually end up together. What would that do to Lyla and Trya? It could keep them from ever coming back to Dillon! It would keep Buddy in the show and keep him involved with the team. I am not certain which team. He may give up on Dillon High and he may end up going with CT and starting a big time booster club. That I would like to see.

Ok, those are my predictions at least for today.

• Matt isn't going to leave his grandmother now. He's used to people leaving him, and he's not going to leave the one person who's always been there for him.
• East Dillon looks in bad shape, huh? And this is May that Eric and Tami were looking at it. So the Lions have not had spring practice, tryouts, any weed and feed on the field, or even a coaching staff in place. So can the writers make all that happen over the summer?
• And there are some new dynamics w/ Tami being the principal at DHS and Eric the coach at EDHS. It will be interesting.
• So now Landry and Julie are rising seniors. So they'll have new friends. Maybe "bass chick" will get some more screen time. We assume that Madison will stick w/ JD for a while. And we need new football players
• BUT...as far as adding new cast members, do you add to Dillon High or East Dillon High? Can we effectively follow TWO groups of high school kids in only 13 episodes a season? Tough to think about.

I think the short story arc we saw for Madison Balman was a good one. Of course it was instrumental in firing Joe McCoy up. But I think Madison (and Whitney Hoy who plays her) add an interesting dynamic to the show. And with the expected departures of Lyla and Tyra, there is a need for some strong female characters.

I would like to see Madison's dad have a good conversation with Joe McCoy. Now we didn't see Madison in the season finale, but we didn't see much of JD either, so not really sure where their relationship has been for the spring semester.

But does anyone agree that bringing back Madison is a good thing?

Here's my contrarian and sneaky prediction:

Everyone's jacked up to see Taylor beat Dillon. For one, that won't happen any time soon. EDHS would suck for a few years, and McCoy will be the returning superstar QB for a powerhouse team. How about this angle: When the lines are drawn between Dillon and East Dillon, J.D. lands on Taylor's side, or is somehow forced to play for him. It just feels like something FNL would pull off, a la Adam Banks getting deployed to Gordon Bombay's Mighty Ducks.

coaches east dillon team gets spanked by the panthers early on in the season
but then comes back to meet them in the playoffs
will coaches team win ?

since the show is picked up for 2 seasons they should slow the winning down for season 4. A winless season may be in store for EDHS including a run up the score defeat by DHS at season's end. But through the season Coach Taylor manages to inspire his players. Season 5 then becomes the season of redemption.

I see the next 2 seasons as an opportunity to further showcase issues in the town. Using football as an equalizer and a microscope on issues facing America in general: parenting, education, healthcare, drug use, sex, housing, war, economic disaster. FNL has been fearless thus far, why not continue to explore what makes us Americans in a modern world? Cannot wait for S4-S5.

The writers have a rare, almost unheard of freedom to write the remaining 26 eps with no worry about ratings or cancellation. They never have to compromise story for popularity again, though of course as a commercial venture they still want people to watch, to some extent. This has to be very exciting for the writers.

I was not crazy about the E.Dillon Giraffe idea at first since it is so unlikely an old school would be refurbished and reopened as opposed to closing both schools and sending all the kids to a consolidated county high school. I was also hesitant about it because I think it effectively ends the show as we knew it and begins a much broader, more open show which focuses more on the adult characters.

But with a 26 ep deal, and with at least half of the original cast gone, I now think a re-invention of the show is exactly the way to go. They were never going to be able re-create the magic of the original show just by plugging in new cast members, so why try? And its not just cast, but so much of the off screen talent that is turning over. Katims now has 3 shows to run, and as much as he protests, there is NO way he keeps his hand firmly on the wheel of all three. His two newbies are bound to get the most attention. Pete Berg is launching a new pilot, and his taken lead director Jeff Reiner with him. Add new pilot attachments for producer/writer Bridgett Carpenter, Liz Heldens, and David Hudgins, and it is definitely a good time to find that "new palette" Katims has talked about.

Probably the "character" I will most miss is the original "Devil Town". The central premise of Devil Town to me was the closed-in, almost suffocating feeling, where the Panthers are the be-all and end-all because they are the ONLY game in town. Now it turns out Dillon was actually alot like the island in Lost, teeming with more kids and more loyalities than we ever dreamed possible. Now we will have two schools, teams, coaches, and two sets of kids. Add the returnees, the Taylors, the McCoys, Julie, Landry, JD, Buddy, and possibly two ex-Panthers and their entire families and stories, and you have a HUGE canvas in direct contrast to the intimate feel of the original show.

Because the new canvas is so crowded, I do not expect any of the new kids to be very well-developed and for the center of the show to shift to the adults with the kid characters enabling their stories. I would love to see Smash's sisters, who we already know slightly, to be among the new students. They are going to need some girl characters with both Lyla and Tyra gone.

Obliviously the struggle between CT and the Bad News Giraffes and Wade/JD and the Panthers is going to anchor the show. I can see a battle for the soul of JD at the heart of this story, like in "Platoon" where noble Sgt Elias (CT) and evil Sgt Barnes (Joe) battle over young enlisted man Chris. Perhaps JD and Katie actually want to play for CT and the Giraffes, but of course Joe and his hand-picked Panther coach will not hear of it.

In real life, splitting Dillon into two schools would mean a serious downgrade in classification for both schools by greatly reducing the student populations of each. A demotion to class A or AA would reduce the level of competition and therefore diminish the recruiting attention JD would get. The show is going to have to answer this to make me a believer. Also, I hope they give both CT and Joe some rounding out in the story. Please don't make CT the relentlessly magical "molder of men" and JD the mustache-twirling villain. I always enjoy CT more when he is morally conflicted, as in letting Smash slide on the 'roid use, or being comfortable with the athletic/academic funding disparity. And don't have it all be building to the magical game where the Giraffes come from 4 touchdowns behind to beat the Panthers. Show, you are better than that.

A good way to give CT some "shades of grey" would be to have his complacency with the rigged redistricting, especially the part where he lied to Tami about it, come back to bite him. His lie of ommission is not going to go over well with Tami, whether she is the Principal or the Coach's Wife.

Julie seems to me to be a real problem in S4, since they have done almost everything you can do with a teen character in her three seasons. Rebellion, sexual awakening, adjustment to a new sibling, breakup and makeup with boyfriend, even learning to drive have all been covered. Can't see her college preparation being overly dramatic since she has both the grades and money to go almost anywhere she would like. I can see a good CT/Tami story adjusting to Jules' impending exit from their house, and that's another way I see the story shifting to adult focus. Maybe Julie can play a role in uncovering CT's role in the illegal redistricting (as reporter for the school paper?).

I see similar problems for the Landry character, having pretty much done it all (including murder) and whose biggest college challenge should be deciding which elite university to go to. Since he's a marginal player at best, Landry's decision of which team to play for is not really interesting either.

It seems to be a given that both Tim and Matt will be brought back because of their characters' popularity. But should that matter any more, since ratings are no longer relevant? My hope would be that NO ONE is retained that cannot be realistically and seamlessly fit into the story. One of the big criticisms of S2 was that it felt so disjointed, with characters out in their own story orbit with little connection. In fact, this is often cited as the demise of the Jason character. If we have TWO ex-Panthers to follow, plus the extra characters each bring with them (Billy, Mindy, Angela, Grandma, Shelby) the already broadened canvas takes on huge and seemingly unrelated proportions. As moving as find the Matt/Grandma story, it has zero relation to the Panther/Giraffe rivalry, or anything else.

And I'm calling early and total BS on ANY ex-Panther as an assistant coach on either team! I agree with Zach Gilford, this is too convenient, too obvious, and has already been done with Jason Street. I can see either Matt or Tim coaching Pee-Wee, but again this would have nothing to do with the rest of the story. Just please don't try to sell me another 18-yr old, un-degreed assistant coach for the appallingly obvious reason of keeping them "connected".

Not too much to ask, is it? Work that broader, re-invented canvas but keep it all connected, relevant, and with the signature FNL realism. Don't fall back on cliche or convention to make it happen. Don't bring any character back who cannot be organically worked into the story. And most of all, make me forget how much I am going to miss the original show and cast.

What I think would be genius is for Tammy's rich ex-boyfriend to come back into the picture and help coach taylor in the phoenix project that is the EDH Lions!

Now that would be cool.....

What does anyone think about where Buddy Garrity's loyalties lie? You know he's diehard Panther, but he's also become a pretty good friend of Coach Taylors' too. I'd be curious to know whether his vote was for or against Coach when the board decided his fate as the coach of DHS. Is this the end of the friendship between Coach and Buddy?

I agree it's almost like 2 new story lines now and somehow they have to tie them together between the 2 schools, and 3 if you count whatever happens to Riggins. With the lines drawn in favor of DHS, how can the EDHS football program be anything other than terrible. I guess it'll be Julie, Landry, & JD in one storyline, Coach and some new faces in another, and the Riggins brothers in another. How about if JD revolts against his dad and uses an alternate address so he can attend EDHS? This would almost eliminate the football storyline from Dillon and put it all on East Dillon.

I really enjoy the show, can't wait for season 4. When is the season premier? September?

The show centers around the Taylor household. I know someone said they've done all they can do for Julie...but I'm pretty sure they'll be thinking of something. She'll probably get involved with one of the new characters.

Buddy Garrity gets his groove back, and a major storyline of the season becomes Buddy Garrity vs. Joe McCoy for control of Dillon, not just whatever team. Buddy seems to be a show staff favorite, so this seems like a lock.

Since last season showed the football being more or less a success (a trip to the state championship game isn't a failure), season four will probably show a failure season in terms of wins and losses. Probably while preaching to us that wins and losses arn't what seasons are about. And then showing us that the people of Dillon really only care about wins and losses.

It'll be Dillon vs. East Dillon. Tami's going to leave for East Dillon. You just know she is. A school where she can do it more her way, and not have to fight people over JumboTrons. Dillon's going to get the victories probably (though don't count out the upset--like the kind of upset that keeps Dillon out of the playoffs even if East Dillon has a losing season), while East Dillon gets the moral victories.

You'll see the McCoy's do some internal fighting. A female (though maybe not Madison) will have something to do with this, if for no other reason than to explore J.D. Mrs. McCoy and Mrs. Taylor eventually become friends again.

A focus on the new characters. They'll probably focus on East Dillon players. It's all about Coach Taylor, afterall. Season 4's opener might even be a lot like the pilot. An introduction to characters.

Don't be surprised to see a projected stud player for Dillon decide to go to East Dillon.

Coach Taylor won a state championship, had a winning season, then had a season where he returns to the state championship. By any measure, this is a very successful coach. You get the feeling that the town of Dillon will, by the end of Season 4, see that Coach Wade just doesn't have the level of Coaching kung-fu that Coach Taylor does.

Matt's probably gone. Lyla's gone. Tyra's gone. For sure we already know Smash and Street are gone. The Riggins brothers?...who knows. I've heard the show's staff say they won't be holding onto characters too much once they graduate--with the exception of Tim Riggins. But that's a writer's room decision. This is the same writer's room that made the murder plot, and then had to radically change it and then quickly wrap it up because it just didn't work. But their list of successes are bigger than their list of failures. So here's hoping.

Wouldn't it be odd to see the elder Riggins brother's buisness become a success, and see him become active on the booster scene?

Anyone have ideas for new characters we might see in Season 4?

An unknown kid from a dirt poor family that turns out to be just as good as ol' JD McCoy?

A new pair of brothers; the less talented that gives it his all and the more talented that hardly tries?

A new kid for Buddy to take in? Maybe even a kid that the Taylors have to take in?

Just wondering if people have any interesting ideas.

Her or someone like her is needed, yeah. If for no other reason than so the audience can see different sides of JD McCoy. Because if they don't see the parts of JD we saw when he was agaisnt his dad, he'll become a disliked character with quickness. There was no redeeming quality about JD in the last two episodes. Not a one.

The first thing I hope doesn't happen is another big "jump", a la the end of season two to the beginning of season three. I think it is critical that we see everything that happens between the end of season three and the start of the next football season, even if it is very quickly. For example:

I want to see:
Why Buddy didn't seem to stand up for CET in the job evaluation.
Interaction between Joe McCoy and CET.
Riggins deal with his decision of whether or not to go to/play SA State.
What he and Layla decide to do.
The battle over the line between E.Dillon and the Panthers.

Once we get to football, coach is going to have a tough year next season, if in fact, he ends up at East Dillon. He is going to have little or no talent, Julie is going to be preparing to leave (hopefully with Matt), and he is going to have the McCoys and their coach at the school that he turned into a power.

Buddy will definitely be torn and that will be a continuing storyline.

I don't know what role JD will have. Maybe he realizes that CET was watching out for him as his Dad just becomes more of a terror with no one to reign him in.

Landry may go to East Dillon with CET and help him as a senior leader, who knows.

Too bad Street, Saracen, and Riggins didn't have any younger siblings.

The reason we saw a big jump was because S2 was incomplete due to the writer's strike. FNL writers and powers that be decided not to pick up where the season left off but to continue on with the current football season. They tried to wrap up S2 in the opening scenes of S3 through some of the dialogue between characters.

You all came up with some great story lines. Goalee left a tall order to fill. It will be interesting to see where the writers take the characters.

In relation to the Devil-Town aspect of the show I have to say that I noticed, in the last episode, for the first time the Dillon Base Ball Team. They got very little attention. As a matter of fact, no attention at all. What did I see, one person in the stands? As I have said before, this is so true to life. It happens at almost every big time high school where football is king. Football pays for everything extra. Football will have the stadium running over and the other sports will have none.

Thinking about Madison, I have to say that her character was used, IMO, as a bridge to help us see the differences between the parents. I really don't think Madison was the person for JD. Perhaps she is but for some reason she was way too "old" and it showed.

I agree with Goalee about the different teams actually cutting into the classifications of both schools. That is unless Dillon High had over 3000-4000 students! Hey, don't laugh, there really are schools where those numbers are on the down side. I will admit that those large 5AAAAA schools are in more urban areas and I kind of feel that Dillon is much smaller. Some suburban school are huge too. The schools in my suburban county each are well over 2,000 students each. Of course it didn't start out that way and I go along with Goalee when he says that Dillon and East Dillon would not be large enough to remain in the same districts. When you think about it, you have to remember that Dillon will lose status too! Maybe the boosters and the entire town have not thought about that point.

I think the most horrible realization at the end of season 3 was just how mean and disrespectful the people of Dillon are. I know we have had hints and some actual glimpses of this ugly side of Dillon but the treatment of the coach was horrible. The point is, I don't think football had anything to do with it. I think it was more about money than anything and it is going to come back and bite them.

I do agree that Buddy is going to go with the Coach. I think Buddy does not like nor does he respect Joe McCoy. I think he realizes he brought the snake in the hen house and it didn't turn out well for Dillon or his beloved Panthers.

I believe the directors were brilliant!!!
They have so many options for season 4....
1.Characters to keep.
2.Scenarios to bring new characters.
A)maybe a retired military family moves to dillion with talented son(s) ones A QB and turned away by McCoy...they end up in East..and QB's better then JD

Cant wait to see...

I SO want to see Eric stick it to Wade and Joe McCoy! How DARE they -- whether Wade had anything to do with what happened or not, he has no business taking control. Eric is such a phenomenal coach and a fantastic mentor for those kids -- East High would be lucky to have him. I love this show and, as a teacher myself, while I don't like how they depict some of the characters (for example, Tim's drinking) I applaud the show for having two amazing adult role models in Tammy and Eric. The Taylors ROCK!!!! I coach speech and, while that's obviously a bit different than football, I have taken quotes from Eric and Tammy to remind myself what my focus needs to be as teacher and coach. They have had such a positive impact on so many of those "kids". Hopefully FNL continues to focus on the lives of the students -- although I agree it would be nice to see some diversity there -- and of course have football as the vehicle for life lessons, but more than anything, FNL needs to continue to focus on having Tammy and Eric provide the positive life lessons they've shown in the previous seasons. While I would love to see Eric kick butt against Wade, my hope is that they keep the class act that he's shown through everything and not lose that focus. He is SO much better than Wade or Joe (Joe especially) and he doesn't need to stoop to their level.

Are we 100% certain that Coach goes to E. Dillon? That's what we presume, but Joe McCoy is playing around with the redistricting boundaries in what amounts to a smoke-filled room. Coach Eric knows this is going on but thus far has been an observer rather than a participant. With this card to play, shouldn't it be Coach Taylor sending Joe McCoy packing rather than the other way around?

Anyway, I theorized a few episodes ago that Joe McCoy's wife might pursue Coach Taylor. The last couple episodes this year seemed to indicate that this could 'never occur.' But never underestimate the will of a woman in search of a conquest. It would be a marvelous test of wills (and morals) for Coach Taylor. A far-fetched story arc? Perhaps. But what show would succeed when all the story lines are easy to figure out a year beforehand? I theorize the possibility of Joe's wife pursuing Coach Eric simply because her own marriage is teetering and I think she'd like her own husband to be like Eric.

Bring Madison back!! With the fact that Lyla and Tyra are gone. Everyone should write to NBC or post on the message boards to get Madison back. The kinda fire she has is what the show needs. Plus she is really hotttt! I think her character will further complicate JD's life also!

I don't think Mrs. McCoy is going to make a play for CT. She is not that strong. At least she isn't strong yet. She was angry with the Taylors because they told DFACS. She was angry because she was afraid of Joe. I think it will be interesting to see what she does next season. I don't think it will involve the Coach.

Madison is no Tyra and she is not Lyla. I don't know which way they plan on dealing with JD. You know, they could turn JD into Tim, Jr. or they could leave him just as he is. Right now he is young and fresh. If he actually becomes the leader of the team we may see him run all over Madison and become the next Dillon High School "Lover Boy" and that is not going to set well with Daddy Joe.

I really cant wait for the fourth season of fnl. The season just ended and im already trying to plot out whats going to happen in season four. I hope they show a little of the kids in college, in the begining so we can see how they are doing like they did with smash but then they can move on and introduce us to the new main characters of friday night lights. This season is going to be the talk of the world. I hope coach Taylor leads East Dilon to a state championship and builds a monster team to destroy the mccoys team.

I think that Katie McCoy, played by Janine Turner will stay with the show. Don't you all think that it's time for Buddy Garrity to have a love story line... Katie and Buddy. That would escalate the drama!
Yes, Eric and Tami will be working for different schools and it will put a strain on their relationship.
I am so bummed to be losing Tyra and Lyla... but that's the way it goes. Who will fill the role of the hot girls on the show?
I'm just glad we're not losing Timmy Riggins! What's ahead for Tim? He has matured so much over the course of the show, will he really be able to handle college? I would like to see him succeed, maybe he will find something that he really enjoys studying, that would be a good character twist.
Landry is really a solid character, I think his band should really take off next season. He has proved he is much more than the brainy nerdy type. Crucifictorious RULES! I like the girl in the band-- Devin, she could be a really good addition to the cast, with her own story line... Coming out to her parents, to the school? Tami could get involved... juicy!
Maybe Julie should get pregnant next season... or did Street already get that story line?
Fun fun fun, can't wait.
PS if FNL uses any of these idea I expect compensation!!

Wow goalee, great post. That last line got me though .......I don't think I could ever forget the original, but that is par for the course. I have no clue what the writers will do with Season 4, but it's amazing we're actually even talking about a Season 4 after FNL was on a life-line for a while.
I'm wondering if by having the Coach "transfer" to this other high school the writers can keep a few of the original cast, maybe they can help the Coach, since the school probably cannot afford to pay much. Otherwise I fear they'd be gone like Smash (who I wish they would bring back), and why we have not seen him at all is kind of a mystery to me. Having said all that the Coach mignt not be going anywhere, we'll just have to wait and see. I'm so glad Matt did not leave his grandmother, IMO he'll end up getting a job in Dillon.

this is whats going to happen

the boundries are going to fall in favor of coach taylor
the home of the McCoys will fall under the boundry of East Dillon High
the McCoys will be forced to goto East Dillon
Wade Aikmen and Joe McCoy will be furious and Aikmen will somehow end up Coaching East Dillon
Coach Taylor will be at Dillon High(Panthers) once again!!!!!


woot woot im good at this

Turner has proven she can be a star of a series (Northern Exposure), so unless she picked up another job in the doubt time over renewal she will be back and featured. The seed of rivalry between Buddy and Joe was planted when Buddy told Joe that the boosters decide what's going on and that Joe should have come to Buddy about new player contacts (wasn't that the story line?). Joe wants to call the shots and has displaced Buddy as top booster dog. So, the Buddy/Joe rivalry will heat up and Buddy will lose out and come to CT with his tail between his legs to be an East Dillon booster. Mrs. McCoy is a manipulator in her own right and may cozy up to Buddy temporarily to get back at Joe or to make him jealous. It's time to develop some redemption story line for Buddy.

The show has covered highly successful football programs pretty well. I predict all of Season 4 to be devoted to a losing program, at least for a season. In the new school creations I have seen, there were not senior classes, so the E. Dillon team may have juniors as their oldest players. I also see a court fight brewing over the district line drawing. Part of Buddy's redemption might be to offer evidence against the jerrymandered border. I don't see the McCoys being forced to the E. Dillon side, since their big house was most likely on the more affluent side, the Panther side, of town. The court battle might take a season to complete, though of course time is a relative concept in t.v. If the writers want E.Dillon to be better from the start, they could make redrawing the line part of a preliminary injunction, which would force several good players to E.Dillon.

I hope Matt and Julie stays together forever... And I hope Tyra comes back, or at least make guess appearances... BEST SHOW EVER!!!

I think an interesting direction to take the show would be too have the first few episodes show the building of the team by Eric. If it's done right, it could be very interesting.
While I think everyone's ideas on a losing season would be a cool idea for FNL, I have to disagree that this is what will happen. McCoy and the boosters were frantically redrawing the line, indicating that there is some definite talent over in East Dillon. I believe that the original straight divider will be the restricting plan used, through community vote or Taylor's intervention.
Speaking of boosters, Buddy and Joe will fight for control of the Panthers, and Buddy will realize its not worth it and side with East Dillon, building the boosters and program there.
Although the idea has its naysayers, I think that Saracen as a coach would work well. Julie's role will be diminished though.
Landry will fall on the ED side and will become a standout player, but at the same time will have trouble adjusting to it
Wade Aikmen will be like the coach at the beginning of S2, building the team solely around JD. Mack will not be back for either team, but rather will be on the show to give Eric advice, etc.
East Dillon will begin their season against Dillon, and be crushed. From this point on, losses must happen so to avoid a chliched storyline. Whether it is a losing season or a few losses that are "come together" defeats is beyond me.
The season will end with a victory over Dillon, which may send ED to the playoffs or keep Dillon out. Either way would be interesting.
I think the "All the way to state" storyline needs a break, and that if the season ended with a Sectional championship for the playoffs or a division game that would keep the Panthers out, with dialouge in season 5 telling what happened, it would be fine with me.

Another thought is maybe half of the upcoming football season is done in season 4, and half in season 5. its a stretch, but hey, it'd be cool

I am so glad to hear that there will be next season, that I don't care what happens!!! I have been a huge fan of Kyle Chandler since the first time I saw him on "Homefront".
I think coach will be glad he is at a school where he doesn't have to contend with J.D. and his daddy.
Matt isn't going off to college, Julie will be a Sr. and Riggins will still be around, just not in school. I have to tell you that Riggins has definitely grown on me. He is changing into a man of good character. I don't know how much Lyla has to do with that.

I think most women would like their husband to be like Eric or Kyle....And who's to say that his wife will continue at Dillon? If it was me and they treated my husband like that, I'd quit and go with him.
Coach Taylor is the kind of man I want my son to play for.

I wish NBC would show all the episodes over the summer. I missed a couple of shows right at the start because they kept moving it. And it took me a while to get the characters sorted out. PLUS, I'd love to see Smash again.

A lot of good and interesting scenarios stated here. Will be quite interesting to see how season four starts, develops unfolds and ends. I've just one idea of what "could" happen.

The Panthers will have a good but not great season. East Dillon will have a less than successful season but will show promise. As the "football" season nears an end the Panthers and East Dillon will face off. This will be the pivotal game where the Panthers need this one win to move on to the playoffs. I've got my own idea who will win this game but keeping it to myself.

This is a great show and I see season 4 not full of win, win, win and win. It will most likely focus on story lines around the characters. Their personal conflicts and problems as well as their personal failures and victories. I think season 4 will lay down a wonderful foundation for an even better (best) season 5 that will once again return focus back game more.

Seems unlikely that JD will end up at EDHS by re-districting since daddy wouldn't have it and he lives waaayy over on the right side of the tracks. Although, further fall-out with Jerk McCoy might land JD in Eric's backyard (literally). Great opportunity to showcase race/class conflicts between haves and have nots. Or used to haves, given the economy. I'll miss Lyla (with Tim) and Tyra (on her own) but it's time for them to go. It'll be a challenge to introduce new characters without diluting the themes FNL has focused on so far. I'd personally like to see more sense of local Texas life: shooting, rodeo, whatever stuff differentiates their world from NY/LA based teen crap. Best. Show. Ever.

Someone said it, but i would definatly like to see some more focus on defense next season. We've had two defensive players that we knew by name in 3 years, the first was kicked off the team and the next wasn't in too many episodes. Defense is easily one of the most important parts of football

I was wondering the same thing! He was also instrumental in getting that town 'line' moved.....wonder if he'll help Coach re-align it or if they'll leave it as it is. Honestly though, I'm just so excited this was renewed!! Like another poster said, I can't believe so many others watch all that crap when we have an honest to goodness 'real' show. Real stories, real people...I've loved it since the first epi! I'm kind of glad Coach is being moved too because with everyone graduating we have to have new stories and characters come into play. I think they may still show Matt because he's staying with his Gramma but everyone else is going away to college so I don't think they'll be on,...???

I don't see the writers trying to cover storylines for two schools. I do think they will stick with CT rebuilding the East Dillon program. What about the McCoys divorcing and Mrs. McCoy moving her son to East Dillon to play for CT and his cast of misfits?

interesting idea. I noticed that the McCoys kinda "rallied together" after the whole CPS thing tho. JD went from never wanting to see his dad again to being right back by his side, and Mrs. McCoy did the same just about. it could work tho

Hi,
First time poster in this thread... but it is one of my favorite shows!
Anyway..I was thinking along the same lines as "gmachinej" but I was wondering if they may explore a domestic violence angle here. Joe verbally abuses JD for months, then he hits him, and JD's mom(sorry, her name escapes me right now) tries to protect him and also gets hit. This is the final straw for her and she grabs JD and moves to an apartment across town......near East Dillion..JD plays for Eric..eventually..not right at the beginning of the season but maybe closer to the end. Tammy ends up helping JD and his mom through this.
I don't know...just an idea...

I love FNL. I think coach Taylor will just take the new ones and make them champions.

You can see any episodes you missed on NBC.COM.

I didn't get the same sense that some people did that JD hated his dad after his dad hit him or that this was something that happened all the time. I thought it was pretty clear that this was the first time anything like that had happened (mostly because JD had always did whatever his dad had told him to) and that JD had forgiven him right after it happened. In the scenes with Coach Taylor (asking why he reported it to CPS) and with CPS, it seemed pretty clear that JD was on his dad's side.

So, if suddenly there is a rift in the McCoy family next season it will not be a shock, but it wouldn't necessarily be the natural conclusion based on Season 3.

Hello All!

Here's an interesting Storyline for ya:

Coach Taylor goes to East Dillon High. The new School will also need a new Principle, so Tami Taylor takes that position. His First Season there, he starts rebuilding the program, probably with a 4-6, or 5-5 season. He has to teach his "System" to the new kids, and build on it. Jason, (Who is currently in New York and hasnt been seen for awhile), has been seeing another Doctor there, and finds out he was misdiagnosed and undergoes a new surgery, and will regain full use of his legs. Meanwhile, in FNL Season 4, Buddy and Papa Mcoy, can't stay in the same room together, so Buddy, contacts Coach Taylor about starting a Booster club for the new School, which Coach Accepts. By the end of Season 4, We see Jason leaving rehab and entertaining the thought of playing football again, so he contacts Coach Taylor............So In Season 5, we have The Dillion Panthers, with JD Mcoy, the New coach, and Papa Mcoy, headed towards a Showdown, with EDH, Jason Street as the QB, (He never graduated, and got a medical hardship for his SR Season), Coach Taylor and Buddy. You Have Tim Riggins and Zach helping Jason, at the end of Season 4 get back into shape, and get ready for Season 5 of the show.

I know, kinda far fetched on the Jason thing, But its a "Show" and Miracles happen:)

Any just a thought:)

BTW, when does S4 air in the US on NBC?

S4 should be back in late January 2010 on NBC, after its Direct TV run. I can't wait for all the possibilities!

First off let me say I love this show and it gave my recent deployment to Afghanistan something to take my mind off of things. Now that I'm home and back in the states i ordered season 3 on DVD so i could watch the follow up on the first 2 seasons. I think its a general thought that lyla will probably be gone and Tyra will have a send off similar to Smash and Street. The DVD had some deleted storylines that might answer some thoughts.

One of the story lines that did not air was a conversation between Buddy and Coach Taylor at Billy and Mindy's wedding. Buddy told CT that he loved the panthers but would follow Coach to East Dillon so i agree with the thought of him stating a booster club for EDHS. He also made a comment that him and Angela Colette had made up so i think that they could hook up. I cant see Matt leaving with Grandma and everything and i see him sticking around. I do think Tim goes to college but comes back and stays in dillon and helps coach. I think the Buddy/CT vs Joe Mccoy/CA is going to be an interesting storyline. I also think for storyline purposes Tami stays at DHS and they focus on the conflicts it causes in the Taylor household. If some remember Landry had some decent moments at WR in S/2 and i could see him becoming one of CT better players maybe with Matt's help. That would tie Matt back in. I think we will see a defensive player come in for a story line and the next newer player would be a focus on the QB for EDHS.

I like the idea of Tami's ex bf becoming a booster for EDHS and it not taking up more than an episode or 2 for that storyline. What would you guys think of JD getting hurt and maybe his game back would be his showdown vs CT and the East Dillon Lions? Just a few ideas.

Love this show! Thrilled it's been renewed for 2 more seasons.

What would I like to see or buy?

I'd like to see a good old fashioned rivalry between E. Dillon and Dillon High. Economy should be mentioned. JD and his family may need to fall on some hard times. Buddy's dealership certainly would. Maybe some of the bling will be taken out of football, making it more gritty and back to the basics.

I'd like to see Mrs. McCoy and Tammy become friends again in the end. It could happen. JD's father could snap or escalate. I'd like to see JD need to come to CT for some reason and make amends behind his father's back. Maybe even replace his father as a father figure only.

E. Dillon players will be poor, troubled, criminal even? Julie could either be in danger by one of them or fall for one of them. Buddy will need to follow CT I think. He's the only friend Buddy has.

I want to see CT and Tami remain strong as they've always been. It's important for the show. It's okay for all heck to break loose all around them so long as they are strong together.

Homecoming would be good time to bring some cast back for a visit.

Hard economic times would change or even delay college plans for several of the graduates. Crime would be up in a small town like Dillon.

Some here have mentioned more defense!! E Dillon would have to spawn a terrific defense to check JD McCoy. Defensive stars could be on CT's team.

CT is going to need some help or a break to make this all believable. Good writers could make it happen to take a school from nothing up by its bootstraps.

Can't wait to see what they come up with.