It's a TV show that's based on a movie that's based on a book that's based on an a real-life Texas high school football team. Don't worry, that's about as complicated as this show gets. The rest of the show is straight-forward and even relatively predictable, but in an endearing way. Friday Night Lights is an entertaining hour of television, with action scenes that deliver enough to please your average football fan, along with enough heart to please your average television drama lover.
Premise:
Friday Night Lights follows the exploits of the fictional Panthers, located in Dillon, Texas (rather than the real-life Permetian Panthers from Odessa, Texas detailed in the movie of the same name). Dillon is a small town who's athletic heart beats around the exploits of their high school football team, so much so, they've built a stadium that seats over 35,000 people -- larger than many college teams can boast.
New head coach, Eric Taylor, is met with exceedingly impossible demands when his star quarterback is paralyzed in the first game of the season, and he must win with a complete novice at QB, Matt Saracen. The struggle to be a good coach, father, and mentor while pleasing an ever vocal and negative town hell-bent on winning every game is the defining theme of the show.
What's Good:
The show does a great job of capturing the passion and obsession of football in a small town. The football action is at times overly melodramatic, but it never fails to suck you in until the final whistle.
What's Bad:
As mentioned, the plotlines on Friday Night Lights are very straightforward and at times predictable. Preachy at times, it is what it is -- a solid, entertaining football show. If you're looking for more than that, you've come to the wrong place.
Breakout Character:
Matt Saracen, former geek now starting at quarterback for the mighty Panthers, learns to balance learning the game of football, building relationships with doubting teammates, a Dairy Queen-type job, an Alzheimer's afflicted grandmother, and a father who's stationed in Iraq -- all in a day's work for your average high schooler.
Newcomer Zach Gilford does a great job of capturing the dueling emotions that Saracen faces as he grows from a quiet teen to a confident starting quarterback.
Overall Recommendation:
I like it. I like it for the same reason I like Snickers bars. They're satisfying when you're in the mood for something sweet and simple. It's a nice change of pace from the Lost's of the world. Watch it. Soon... before it's gone.
On the Salinger scale, where a party of five is the highest rating, I'm saving a seat for Bailey, Charlie, Julia and a half Owen.
3.5 Salingers
Friday Night Lights airs Tuesdays at 8pm on NBC
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