Friday Night Lights Review

The Case

I have no idea how I missed this show last season. Not only is it fantastic and about football (which I love), but it's shot right here in Austin! And I missed it! I feel ashamed. But don't worry - I've now discovered the beauty and become a full-fledged fan of Friday Night Lights. And it is awesome!

The Good

Well, it's like this: in the Lonestar State, your three main passions should be Texas, football, and God - in that order. So basically, Friday Night Lights comes pretty dang close to a religious experience for some people. For the rest of us, it's just phenomenal television!

The Premise - Dillon is a small Texas town that lives and breathes football. The players, the students, the coaches, the teachers, the parents, the fans - they all set their internal clocks to the lights on Friday night. Into this atmosphere steps Head Coach Eric Taylor. Dillon's football team is slated to go all the way this year, which means a whole lot of pressure on the new guy in charge. With every eye upon him - and quite a few suggestions whispered non-stop in his ear - Taylor has a lot to prove.

But as the football season kicks off, tragedy strikes, and it's up to Taylor and his team to cope, battle, and overcome as the entire town looks on. New relationships are formed; old relationships are broken; revelations are made; decisions are reached; certain players are forced to step up while others must face a new reality; and, in the midst of it all, an exciting and frenzied season of Texas high school football unfolds.

Why You Should Join The Team - The first thing I need to say is that you do not need to be a football fan to enjoy Friday Night Lights. All you need is an appreciation of three-dimensional characters, complex relationships, great actors, deep storylines, and well-written drama. This show is all about family and community. Football is just the glue that holds it together.

Of course, if you are a football fan, you'll love it even more! The sports action is really good, and the dynamics of individual players, the team as a whole, and the rest of the town are fantastic. Pretty much any type of relationship you can think of is explored here. With Lights, you get it all.

The Bad

This show is deep and moving, and sometimes it's hard to watch. Certain characters are self-destructive, others have no confidence in themselves; some people in the series never cease to annoy, and others are flawed beyond belief. Don't get me wrong, it can be very sweet, innocent, and funny, and it's definitely quality television, but if you're looking for light fare on a regular basis, this might not be the show for you.

In addition, the style in which it's shot can get a bit...distracting. It's almost documentary-style. I think this aids the performances and tension, but it can also make you feel a bit unfocused and jostled. For those of you who have seen the new Battlestar Galactica, the camera work on Lights is very similar to that. I love it in most instances, though. It adds a level of reality.

The Verdict

Five stars! Friday Night Lights is a clear winner - in every sense of the word!