The show Friday Night Lights has long been a favorite of our family. It has never taken off with the public the way that we expected it to, but it also never received prime placement by the networks.
We are a a DVR family and almost never watch anything live. We choose our television based on
reviews and if we watch it, and it makes the cut, we add it to the recording list. I am sure we miss a lot of entertaining television that way (or not!), but we see most of the shows that are critically acclaimed--at least the first couple of episodes.
We were hooked on Friday Night Lights from the beginning. As James Poniewozik, describes in his article in Time Magazine this week, America's Game, the show is about life in small town America. It has drama, beautifully flawed characters, controversial issues, strong community focus and a heartbreaking, if seemingly realistic, focus on football as the most important thing in the lives of the characters. I love Mr. Poniewozik's contention that what makes the show so great is the pervasive theme of RESPECT. And couldn't we all use a little reinforcement about the importance of respect?
If you have never seen the show, and many people have not, I encourage you to rent the first season and give it a try. Like most shows, it starts out a little wobbly, but I bet that be the 3rd or 4th episode, you will be hooked.
Let me assure those of you who are thinking, 'but I don't really like football that much,' that this show is about so much more than football. Somehow the football seems to enhance and parallel each story line, but the football is not the main star of the show. The characters are what makes this show great.
Every time that Coach Taylor leads the team in the team motto, "Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose," my eyes well up...it is just such a beautiful phrase to associate with such a rough game.
We don't subscribe to DirectTV (where the final season is currently being shown and will end soon), so we are waiting patiently for the final season of Friday Night Lights to air on NBC later this year. This is one show that our family will be very sad to see come to an end!
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