Friday Night Lights

I am confident declaring this the best drama on TV. One of the best ever. Laugh if you must, but it rivals The First Season of the OC in sheer perfection. The show shines, however, in the completely opposite light of my previous favorite show. It's not a fantasy world. It's a really shitty town and the show in insufferably depressing. Not a positive thing goes by without 4 soul-crushing happenings to follow. So while it's not an easy show to necessarily stomach, it's impossible not to watch once you're hooked.

It's the characters that drive this show. I haven't had this much invested in a fictional set of people since...season 1 OC. But this show feels like real people. Every character has multiple dimensions they're forced to deal with, and nobody is getting it all right. On the OC, the most satisfying moments were when everything came together perfectly. The perfect line was said, the perfect moment was formed, the perfect song swooped in at the perfect time and you couldn't have hoped for anything better. This show can't pull that off. The citizens of Dylan, Texas are not generally the most articulate people. The characters have way too many faults to believably create a perfect scene. And, if this is making any sense, this makes it all so much more satisfying. It makes watching Matt Saracen stumble through an emotional monologue just seem so spot on. A kid like that wouldn't nail his lines in real life, and he can't on the show. Same goes for Tim Riggins, who has blown so many scenes this season you have no choice but to feel bad for him, but the characters respond as he's blowing it as well. That's who he is on the show. A guy who just can't get it right. I have no clue if that guy is actually a good actor or not, but how he's playing that role, it fits perfectly.

And as far as the old TV drama cliche that everyone is unrealistically good looking? Sure, the star QB, his cheerleader girlfriend, his football playing best friend and his ex-GF are all extremely beautiful people. But I don't think that's too big a stretch for a sleepy town like this. Saracen is as normal as a guy can get. His best friend Landry is less than normal looking and plays the perfect Seth Cohen role Adam Brody could have pulled off if he wasn't so darn cute. Most of the time when they show background or supporting characters, they're shown as plain, emotionally sheltered and generally insecure. Not unrealistically detached, vain or...perfect. I'll bend to say the Taylor family is a little bit on the too perfect side to be completely sold on, but they are surrounded by so many other characters that manage keep them seemingly on the level. The way the OC was so on point by showing one end of the American dream spectrum, this show so masterfully nails the other side of things. It's not an easy thing to watch.

If the show itself wasn't strong enough on the writing alone, not even getting into the cinematography and direction, the music is ON POINT. (lemme just say tho, it's got the most realistic football scenes, at least up until the "last play." When they zoom out and show from the TV camera, it's so good it totally throws you off. Anyway...),  The endless sweeping Explosions in the Sky epics, the right songs in the right times. Wolf Like Me made an appearance. As did Black Parade. I love it.

(This wasn't on the show, but it's a new EtiS track that's pretty rad.)

Explosions in the Sky - What Do You Go Home To? (mp3)

There is so much going on here I can't even begin to scratch the surface on all my thoughts, and I think skimming over the details like I just have might actually do the show a disservice. But it really needs to be seen be believed. NBC is not giving up on the show, thankfully, despite serious ratings issues. They've even made every back episode available on their website to stream for free. If you've never seen, please watch. At least check out the pilot and give it a shot, regardless of what you think about sports. This is as much about Football as The OC was about going to High School. It's there, but it really only acts as a framework to define the characters, rather than something you have to care about to enjoy. Just watch.

The opening credits are even sort of amazing on their own. Watch below if you'd like.

Comments

[SoundBitesNYC]

I agree, Jeff, it's a great, great show. I've tried to convince friends of this but they're all "I don't like football." Well neither do I.

Last night's episode was the first weak episode, I thought, but everyone's allowed one bad game.

As good as the kids playing Sarencen, Riggins and Landry are (really good), don't leave out Kyle Chandler as Coach Taylor. He's awesome. That scene when Sarencen showed up wearing a Members Only jacket for his date with Taylor's daughter... perfection.

[Jeff]

Yes, last night's ep was probably the worst of the season so far, even tho there were still some great moments. Agreed. And yes, I think everyone on this show is superb, not just the ones mentioned. Coach's family interactions are some of my favorite moments.

[JK]

Couldn't agree more, i rarely watch drama on tv (aside from HBO) and I never watched the OC but this show is riveting. I'm completely hooked and with The Office and 30 Rock, NBC has some outstanding programming. Last night's show was fine but the storyline involving Riggins' old girl (the blond one, can't remember her name) was pretty weak.

[tom]

How about the episode that ended with Pearl Jam's "Comeback." Really just fucking great TV. The scenes with hired gun que=arterbacks, slimy boosters...good stuff...great book too for anyone who hasnot read it.

i have never watched the show. what's the target audience on this show? 18-24? Lower? Higher?

I thought last night's episode was quite good. I agree that the Tyra storyline didn't fit in, but the actress still nailed it. But last's night show did have a different feel from the previous ones: a little tighter, more conventional.

[Jerry]

I completely agree that this is one of the finest shows on tv. It's too bad that so many people won't give it a shot, simply because of the football backdrop. I really love the complexity of each character. The writers really do a great job of fleshing out each person and giving them pluses and minuses. I've even started to like Riggins a little, after they paired him up with Landry on that book report. I really do hope (pray) that other people come to realize that FNL is so much more than just a show about football and give it the ratings support it so desperately needs to keep going.

[Craig]

Love the show! I'm a 46 year old guy who isn't crazy about football, but I'm crazy about this show. That could be my high school.....I can see most of my high school friends (and enemies) in the FNL characters. Rarely can I relate to a show like I relate to this one (and, like I said, it's definitely not because of the football).

[Ryan]

Does anyone know what the Song in the Opening Credits is called..i think its by Expplosions in the Sky but i cant find the song? Please Help

[christi]

An amazing show. I just started getting into it before Christmas and have caught up on the episodes by watching them on nbc.com.
NBC don't give up on this show. It will find the audience in season 2 or before!!!

[Tom]

Best Drama of the Year, vividly honest, great writing/acting.....the list of superlatives can go on and on about Friday Night Lights. What concerns me the most right now is making sure this gets picked up. Has anyone heard any news on whether it will be or if there is a place on the web to fight for it? Please let me know. It would be a very sad comment on our society if this show gets thrown away after one season. RIP Arrested Development.

[fred]

the song in the beginning that starts out WHEN I WAS A YOUNG BOY MY FATHER TOOK ME INTO THE CITY TO SEE A MARCHING BAND is called WELCOME TO THE BLACK PARADE by MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE , the one by EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY is called REMEMBER ME AS A TIME OF DAY , its all music no words

[le]

What song is playing in the background of the youtube video you posted? The one with the opening credits? I've listened to "remember me as a time of day" and while it's really similar, it's not the same... am i missing something?

[SoundBitesNYC]

Renewed!

http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/TVGuide-Editors-Blog/Ausiello-Report/Just-Friday-Night/800014775?rssDate=12345678

[Kathy]

Does anyone know what the name and artist of the song played during the "blinders" episode was called? It played when the black football players went into the church for their planning session. Some of the lyrics went "Lord, It's been awhile since we talked. it is getting hard to walk the talk, I know you haven't left me but I feel so all alone."

[BrapBiork]

At Halliburton/KBR, sexual assault is just part of the workplace experience for women Like many viewers, I watched this ABC 20/20 report when it first aired in December with jaws-open, eyes-bugging horror. It told the story of two women workers for Halliburton/KBR who had been sent to Iraq. There, one, Jamie Lee Jones, a young computer tech, was gang-raped on her fourth day by coworkers after being drugged; the other, Tracy Barker, was sexually assaulted by a State Department employee. Both immediately reported their assaults, only to have KBR first lock them in isolation, then question their accusations. In the case of Jones, it even "lost" the medical report that documented evidence of gang rape.
Click on a small picture to see shocking photos:

[daisy]

This is a show about relationships and growth, and it is beautifully written.Characters are well designed and have done distinguished job..Well done!! Catch all eps Watch Friday Night Lights Free here..

[shalini]

Friday night lights is a wonderful show and has amazing actors. It is by far the best show there and reality shows suck. enjoi all eps Download Friday Night Lights free here...

[Jake]

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[Cable Cutter]

I really love the complexity of each character.

[uvip]

That’s something,That's what I was thinking.Brilliant idea.

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Nothing is able to fulfill, as long as confidence. Everything is difficult at the beginning, is now at the beginning of the show that you have succeeded in half.

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Last night's episode was the first weak episode, I thought, but everyone's allowed one bad game.