Excellent comment, thanks. The theme of lost fatherhood and how this stunts/forces growth is so poignant. We all can relate on some level. There are lost mothers in Dillon, too. Coach and Mrs. Coach do more than their share of surrogate parenting.

EP 12 fave moments:

No that happened a few eps ago.

Oh, I love that scene!

Hahahahaha! Watched the whole thing.

He sings, too. Quite well.

Oh wow. I look forward to that.

Yes. As Tyra says to Riggins: "ANYONE but her!"

That scene was painful/funny. I wanna know what Coach whispers to that kid who brought it up in the first place, just before the kid evaporates. I reckon it was a graphic threat of some kind. Balls in a blender or somesuch.

“Oh my goodness, my boy is growing up! … Of course your ding-dong went soft—it was tryna protect you!” God, he's good. I mentioned this line in the previous comments. Surprised no one pointed out I was on the wrong episode.

Lara, your comment posted 2x. I am really enjoying Coach's challenge to trust any young male with his daughter. Too much fun. Mrs. Coach: You're an idiot.

Well, he kind of went with the "young missionary" thing. In his fantasy, Waverly was following in his footsteps. Not so much in real life.

The flag pin.

Right. I like the actor who plays Brittney's dad, though. So sad to watch Buddy discovering the site. I am sure it was taken down, they just omitted that part. I would have liked to see a meeting of parents and teachers to demand the site's banishment and make a statement to the students, threatening consequences…

"The song playing over Riggins’ mid-rain plea to Lyla to go cheerleading is José Gonzalez’s “Storm.” And do I wish I could offer some explanation or meaning for that scene, which is probably the most important scene in these two episodes?"
Excellent music choice. A good song and rain make any scene better. Ask John…

Julie: I want my own car.
Coach: She wants her own car. Heh heh heh heh! Dream on, kid!

Coach: Don't 'barrass me. Don't 'barrass the school.

"Lyla’s whole life has been about being the good girl. When she says to Street that she made one mistake, she literally means it." It wasn't a mistake so much as a moment of abandonment, which is rare in a prissy good girl's life. Yet this fall from grace, her inability to recover what was lost—and other trials and…

Matt's dad seemed so lost. I didn't hate him, but I could see how hard his visit was for Matt, who was in need of support and got the opposite of support. In a way, this glimpse of Henry shows that the son is made of finer stuff than his father. I agree with Bigtits that the father was damaged. And I agree with clytie…

Love that billboard sign. So Bible Belt small town. It always troubled me that Waverly's dad was a minister and such a glib liar, spinning that yarn about Africa.