*Mild spoiler warning. (It ended almost 10 years ago but you never know)*
Recently, I finished the first season of Friday Night Lights and it was quite good. This quarantine in 2020 has got me watching things I would not have considered during normal circumstances. I heard little about the show prior but what I did hear was good. That in addition to a sudden urge to consume a serialized television series relating to sports made this a perfect match. And while the topic of sports (specifically, high school American football) is a huge part of the story, it really acts as a lead-in into the lives of the characters in Dillon, a fictional town in Texas.
The pilot, which is among the season’s best episodes, quickly introduces the main characters which include Coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler), his wife Tami (Connie Britton), and football stars Tim Riggins (Taylor Kitsch), Brian “Smash” Williams (Gaius Charles), and Matt Saracen (Zach Gilford) among many others. There is a decent-sized cast and the most impressive thing the show does is make all these characters sympathetic, likable, and most of all, real. Bizarrely enough, after the first episode I did not find myself liking too many of the characters. Again, I loved the pilot from a narrative standpoint and was invested in how the story would progress, but few of the characters struck me as likable. Perhaps it was the documentary-style filming coupled with the somewhat dated, 2000s-esque vibe and depiction of high school in a rural Texas town which took me by surprise, but something didn’t click. However, as the season goes on, the characters really come into their own and are engaging and easy to root for.
The best example of this was Tim Riggins. The guy was objectively unlikable from the outset (also, can we talk about the supposed beef he had with Smash for, like, one episode that never gets explained and is rarely brought up again?) but soon turns into a genuinely likable, fun, and trademark character, affairs with the neighbor and all. I don’t necessarily agree with every decision he makes, but I can tell he has a good heart and adds a needed presence to the show.
But the award for my favorite character goes to Coach Taylor and by extension, his wife Tami. On their own, these characters are great. Both take an honest shot at balancing doing what’s necessary and doing what’s right when they’re at work. Much of the drama comes from tough decisions where the right choice is different from the easy or preferred one. They are at their best as characters, however, when they are together. Their dynamic as a couple is second to none, with great chemistry along with a real sense of knowledge and respect for each other. They have a mature relationship that is a delight to watch and is a nice break from many of TV’s other volatile and “dramatic” relationships.
Lastly, I would be remiss if I did not mention Matt Saracen, the Dillon Panthers quarterback who takes the place of Jason Street (Scott Porter) after his devastating injury seen in the pilot. Saracen, a likely fan-favorite, is a nice antithesis to the “high school jock” stereotype and it is refreshing to watch someone with his personality handle the pressure from the whole town of leading the Panthers to the championship.
Another thing the show does really well is capture the effect that Dillon has on the characters; almost as if the town itself is a character. This is best illustrated with Tyra Collette (Adrianne Palicki), a character who frequently expresses her frustration of feeling “stuck” in the town. And who can blame her; given all she’s been through. The show also explores the perspectives of the older folks in the town, including Lyla’s father, Buddy Garrity (Brad Leland). People are still proudly wearing their own state championship rings from years past and reminiscing about the good times, almost as though they are a subject in Bruce Springsteen’s “Glory Days”. Additionally, this adds something to the character of Coach Taylor, who sees what kinds of people he’s dealing with and the huge expectations that are laid on him, but it also shows how those people never moved past Dillon, which speaks to the possible inability to escape the town that Collette feels. The way the show addresses that and so many other aspects of life that come from living in Dillon help elevate the show to something more than a high school football drama. All these elements which form the characters and their decisions help create a show with a ton of heart and drama that’s actually fun to watch because the characters are so good.
I came into Friday Night Lights not knowing what to expect but I’m one season down and can firmly say that watching the show is a delight. The characters are well-developed and the drama is interesting. Bring on season 2.
Best Episode: Mud Bowl
Coach Taylor at his best. The football at its best.
Favorite Character(s): Coach Eric Taylor and Tami Taylor
Fun, fleshed-out, and mature characters that are even better when they’re on screen together.
