I Knew You When (Friday Night Lights)
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Episode 1
| "I Knew You When" | |
|---|---|
| Friday Night Lights episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 3 Episode 1 |
| Directed by | Jeffrey Reiner |
| Written by | Jason Katims |
| Cinematography by | Todd McMullen |
| Editing by | Angela M. Catanzaro |
| Original release dates | October 1, 2008 (DirecTV) January 16, 2009 (NBC) |
| Running time | 47 minutes |
| Guest appearances | |
| |
"I Knew You When" is the first episode of the third season of the American sports drama television series Friday Night Lights, inspired by the 1990 nonfiction book by H. G. Bissinger. It is the 38th overall episode of the series and was written by executive producer Jason Katims, and directed by executive producer Jeffrey Reiner. It originally aired on DirecTV's 101 Network on October 1, 2008, before airing on NBC on January 16, 2009.
The series is set in the fictional town of Dillon, a small, close-knit community in rural West Texas. It follows a high school football team, the Dillon Panthers. It features a set of characters, primarily connected to Coach Eric Taylor, his wife Tami, and their daughter Julie. In the episode, changes happen across Dillon in the aftermath of the previous football season.
According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 4.54 million household viewers and gained a 1.6/5 ratings share among adults aged 18–49. The episode received very positive reviews from critics, who praised the episode as a return to form following the previous season.
Eric (Kyle Chandler) is questioned over a press conference, which reveals that the Panthers lost their first playoff game and now Smash (Gaius Charles) has graduated. While the team still has Matt (Zach Gilford) and Tim (Taylor Kitsch), some are speculating that the new arrival, J.D. McCoy (Jeremy Sumpter), could be the new quarterback.
Tami (Connie Britton) now works as the high school principal, but she is overwhelmed by the amount of tasks and the lack of funds are forcing budget cuts across the school. She is also frustrated that Buddy (Brad Leland) wants to use some of their funds for an expensive jumbotron. Eric continues training Smash, as he wants to give him good tactics before he leaves. Eric is also visited by J.D.'s father, Joe (D. W. Moffett), who tries to buy J.D.'s participation with gifts, which Eric refuses. Tim and Lyla (Minka Kelly) have resumed their relationship, although Tim is annoyed that Lyla wants to keep it a secret at school. She finally admits it is because she is scared by his unruly lifestyle and his never taking anything seriously, thus still feeling they cannot have a real relationship.
Landry (Jesse Plemons) and Tyra (Adrianne Palicki) have broken up, but remain close friends. Tyra is informed that her poor GPA won't get her in a top state school, and that she might have to try to get into the local Dillon Tech. When Landry informs her that her incoming semester won't be enough to change the status, she is upset with Tami, who said she didn't have to worry about it. When her sister accepts to marry Billy (Derek Phillips), Tyra asks for Tami to help her in her grades, as she doesn't want to have a life like her sister and mother.
On Friday, Smash tells Eric that he will stop coming to train, as he feels his future is not as bright as he thought due to a knee injury in the playoff game killing his scholarship. During their first game, the Panthers easily dominate over their competitors. At the third quarter, Eric decides to replace Matt with J.D., who surprises the crowd by throwing a perfect 70-yard pass. At the celebration, Tami informs Buddy that she will reallocate the funds for the jumbotron in order to get more academic needs for students and teachers. Tim tells Lyla that he thought about her statements and resolved that he wants to seriously commit to her, to which Lyla finally gives in and makes their relationship official by kissing him in public for the first time. Eric gets Smash to play racquetball, telling him that he needs to get his interest in football back.
Production
Development
In September 2008, DirecTV announced that the first episode of the season would be titled "I Knew You When".[1] The episode was written by executive producer Jason Katims, and directed by executive producer Jeffrey Reiner. This was Katims' sixth writing credit, and Reiner's 14th directing credit.[2]