There are two kinds of TV dramas: Those that primarily make you think, and those that primarily make you feel. If you are drawn towards the "feeling" type, then "Friday Night Lights" should rocket to the top of your TV-watching list.
For a basic plot summary, "FNL" tells the story of Dillon, TX, primarily focusing on the high school football team so revered by the community. When a new coach is hired and the star QB goes down via injury, the team is tested on the field as never before. But off the field, a cauldron of other issues exist (all somehow tied into the football team) that shapes and molds all the citizens of Dillon.
The easy criticism of this show is that it is unrealistic in its portrayal of over-the-top football action, teenage sexual relationships, and just an overall level of drama that might seem a tad overblown in light of reality. While those criticisms are most certainly valid, "FNL" overcomes them with a steady dose of the one "X-factor" that can cure a lot of dramatic ills: heart.
The showed is keyed by four "main characters": Coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler), wife Tami (Connie Britton), daughter Julie (Aimee Teegarden), and new starting quarterback Matt Saracen (Zach Gilford), who just happens to be Julie's boyfriend. Those four characters provide a solid emotional backbone to the show, touching on issues that are quite realistic and emotions that are familiar to all viewers. When these four characters are on the screen in any combination, "Friday Night Lights" is at its very best.
"FNL" is an ensemble show, however, and the auxiliary cast is more than up to the task of providing even more avenues for drama and emotion. What's so great about these roles is that, in the Pilot episode, it seems as if they are going to be little more than "stock" characters: the injured football star (Scott Porter), the peppy cheerleader (Minka Kelly), (Adrianne Palicki), the guy who doesn't care about anything (Taylor Kitsch), and even the over-enthusiastic Dillon booster club leader (Brad Leland). Within just a couple of episodes, though, it becomes clear that nothing everything is as it seems, and all these unique characters have some depths to probe.
On another note, the football scenes in this show (while admittedly a bit over-the-top at times) are very emotional and inspiring, adding a competitive, feisty aspect to a show that (from time to time) gets bogged down in some pretty heavy drama. In fact, the only time this season that "FNL" sags even the slightest is during a midseason stretch of episodes that lacks at least some football action.
Overall, the first season of "Friday Night Lights" is remarkable in its ability to turn stereotypes on their head and provide some real-life drama (even if sometimes the situations aren't necessarily indicative of high-schoolers). You don't even have to be a football fan to enjoy this type of show (although it will only heighten the experience if you are!). It simultaneously is both innocent and yet complex on differing levels, a combination that makes for high drama/emotion that will carry you through episode after episode.
For a basic plot summary, "FNL" tells the story of Dillon, TX, primarily focusing on the high school football team so revered by the community. When a new coach is hired and the star QB goes down via injury, the team is tested on the field as never before. But off the field, a cauldron of other issues exist (all somehow tied into the football team) that shapes and molds all the citizens of Dillon.
The easy criticism of this show is that it is unrealistic in its portrayal of over-the-top football action, teenage sexual relationships, and just an overall level of drama that might seem a tad overblown in light of reality. While those criticisms are most certainly valid, "FNL" overcomes them with a steady dose of the one "X-factor" that can cure a lot of dramatic ills: heart.
The showed is keyed by four "main characters": Coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler), wife Tami (Connie Britton), daughter Julie (Aimee Teegarden), and new starting quarterback Matt Saracen (Zach Gilford), who just happens to be Julie's boyfriend. Those four characters provide a solid emotional backbone to the show, touching on issues that are quite realistic and emotions that are familiar to all viewers. When these four characters are on the screen in any combination, "Friday Night Lights" is at its very best.
"FNL" is an ensemble show, however, and the auxiliary cast is more than up to the task of providing even more avenues for drama and emotion. What's so great about these roles is that, in the Pilot episode, it seems as if they are going to be little more than "stock" characters: the injured football star (Scott Porter), the peppy cheerleader (Minka Kelly), (Adrianne Palicki), the guy who doesn't care about anything (Taylor Kitsch), and even the over-enthusiastic Dillon booster club leader (Brad Leland). Within just a couple of episodes, though, it becomes clear that nothing everything is as it seems, and all these unique characters have some depths to probe.
On another note, the football scenes in this show (while admittedly a bit over-the-top at times) are very emotional and inspiring, adding a competitive, feisty aspect to a show that (from time to time) gets bogged down in some pretty heavy drama. In fact, the only time this season that "FNL" sags even the slightest is during a midseason stretch of episodes that lacks at least some football action.
Overall, the first season of "Friday Night Lights" is remarkable in its ability to turn stereotypes on their head and provide some real-life drama (even if sometimes the situations aren't necessarily indicative of high-schoolers). You don't even have to be a football fan to enjoy this type of show (although it will only heighten the experience if you are!). It simultaneously is both innocent and yet complex on differing levels, a combination that makes for high drama/emotion that will carry you through episode after episode.
