Friday Night Lights

[Risa]

Come one come all...lets talk about Friday Night Lights . I have decided that I like this show, which is odd because I dislike football. This show catches my attention though because it is about so much more than football. Teenagers growing up and finding themselves, athletes being humbled, love and serious events. I started watching this show because I had ran out of episodes of everything else to watch. After watching the pilot episode I just had to watch all the rest.

Top three favorite things about Friday Night Lights:

1. The cuties on the football team...enough said.

2. Coach Taylor...I love how he has mastered the annoyed man look. Ladies, you all know what look I'm talking about.

3. Smash's ego getting deflated.

[Jenni Lou]

3. Smash's ego getting deflated.

Yeah, thats always good. Though, to be fair, Smash is a good character for the show because lord knows there are so many athletes just like them and they just have to represent that inevitable side of sports.

It is a good show. Not my fave and I don't think it's as awesome as all the critics have been saying. But I suppose their praise is elevated because they are trying to make people tune in so that the show will go on. (We still don't know if it will now, either.) But you're right...it is definitely about so much more than football.

Coach Taylor is awesome, I will concede. But for some reason I have this huge soft spot for Buddy Garrity. He's a sideline character but he is actually in most of the eps even though he isn't a regular. He's so flawed but you can see that at his core he is a very good man with a strong and good heart.

Riggins has been growing on me over time. And Saracen has been floating from me over time. He's become so hardened. I don't know. Love Landry though!

[Risa]

Smash is a good character but he annoys me so much. Most of the time he acts like he is the only way the team wins. Like he is the team. His ego has definitely taken some big hits and if the show continues I'm sure he will suffer some more ego busting events, just because I think he will deserve. He seems to have been brought up in a decent home, but if he doesn't get his ego into check I see him turning into that football player at TMU that Coach Taylor had to defend for taking gifts.

I also like Buddy Garretty..or however it is spelt. He seems to be a wonderful man who just makes some mistakes. Buddy seems to be one of those people who is willing to help anyone out and give them a chance. He may be a sideline character but he always adds a good touch to any episode.

Riggins is beginning to annoy me with his pursuit of Lyla, but then Lyla annoys me anyway. I hate to see Saracen down in the dumps. He has been one of my favorite characters since the beginning. Landry is such a cutie. I hope him and Tyra work out if the show continues.

Speaking of the show continuing...it better. I have grown to like the show and will be upset if it doesn't continue. There is so little on television nowadays that I want to watch, and Friday Night Lights is a show that I would like to see continue. Maybe if they get it out there that the show just isn't about stupid football, more people will watch it. They just need to go watch a few episodes and I'm sure they will love it.

[Jenni Lou]

Yeah, I will agree that it is nice to Smash take some hits (pardon the pun!) because his arrogance is off-putting, indeed.

And yes, Lyla irritates me too. Always has. And I have not been a fan of the whole Christian storyline of hers in s2 because it seems so--I don't know--forced or something. Like, she feels guilty for what she did in S1 and so she just decides to immerse herself in Jesus. I don't feel like it is a completely honorable spirituality. Well....maybe it isn't supposed to be...but the show sure makes it seems like it is. :/

I would like the show to continue as well. Like I said, it isn't my fave show or anything, but I do DVR it and watch very episode. It is a well constructed story with interesting characters and circumstances. I did, however, read that Taylor Kitsch (Riggins) just signed on to do a part in the Wolverine movie so I don't know if that is good or bad news for the shows renewal.

[Smth_Blue]

We have FNL thread!
Just watched the first season and two first eps of the second one, trying not to be spoiled but also having this rear itching to discuss the show %)
Jenni Lou, Risa, may i ask how real this show is? I've read over the internet, but it is the closest portrait of american school and i find it's hard to believe. I think lots of things in the series are totally shocking for me, i can't believe something like this can happen on everyday basis...

And yes, Lyla irritates me too. Always has. And I have not been a fan of the whole Christian storyline of hers in s2 because it seems so--I don't know--forced or something. Like, she feels guilty for what she did in S1 and so she just decides to immerse herself in Jesus. I don't feel like it is a completely honorable spirituality. Well....maybe it isn't supposed to be...but the show sure makes it seems like it is. :/

Probably i am wrong, after all i was born and raised in Soviet Union where religion didn't exist but still... Lyla follows rules. First she was all good girl and listened to whatever her parents said. Then she found out about his father cheating, parents divorced, so she couldn't follow the rules that so obviously failed her. And being a girl who tries to choose the most sure way and having no wish to think on her own, she decided to follow the rules of God. I dunno, it seams logical to me... Probably i'll change my opinion after watching 203-215 thou.

[Risa]

We have FNL thread!
Just watched the first season and two first eps of the second one, trying not to be spoiled but also having this rear itching to discuss the show %)
Jenni Lou, Risa, may i ask how real this show is? I've read over the internet, but it is the closest portrait of american school and i find it's hard to believe. I think lots of things in the series are totally shocking for me, i can't believe something like this can happen on everyday basis...



Probably i am wrong, after all i was born and raised in Soviet Union where religion didn't exist but still... Lyla follows rules. First she was all good girl and listened to whatever her parents said. Then she found out about his father cheating, parents divorced, so she couldn't follow the rules that so obviously failed her. And being a girl who tries to choose the most sure way and having no wish to think on her own, she decided to follow the rules of God. I dunno, it seams logical to me... Probably i'll change my opinion after watching 203-215 thou.

Sadly enough, Friday Night Lights portrays a rather real image of American schools and their sports, especially football. When you don't live in a big city, the towns have to come up with something to occupy everyone on the weekend. They choose sports. Some choose football, while others choose basketball. It is all very competitive, and they will go to great lengths to win.

The other non sport plots also happen in every day life. Take Buddy for example. Every town where I live has a least one "Buddy". The big prosperous man who talks big and wants to be involved in everything, and normally is. Then you have your bad apples, like Riggins and Tyra. I like this show because it shows what goes on in Southern schools and their towns, without making it look ten kinds of redneck.

[Jenni Lou]

Probably i am wrong, after all i was born and raised in Soviet Union where religion didn't exist but still... Lyla follows rules. First she was all good girl and listened to whatever her parents said. Then she found out about his father cheating, parents divorced, so she couldn't follow the rules that so obviously failed her. And being a girl who tries to choose the most sure way and having no wish to think on her own, she decided to follow the rules of God. I dunno, it seams logical to me... Probably i'll change my opinion after watching 203-215 thou.

No, I can't argue with that. Certainly, the deterioration of her family and her disappointment in her father was a catalyst for her to discover something substantial to put herself into. I think it is logical. I guess all I meant was that I didn't like her storyline in season two....it was very....I don't know, irritating to me.

And I would say that yes, FNL is a pretty accurate representation of small town America. High school football is HUGE in Texas and in some other parts of the country. It depends on where you live, really. But the other aspects of the show are pretty right on too. I like that they have Riggins as a big drinker because there are lots of high schoolers--football players in particular--who are really like that. At least in my experience. My sister was head of the cheerleading team in high school and I spent many a night at keggers with some of the football guys and they were all about kegstands and beer bongs.