That second season was easily the worst thing the show has done, particularly an absurd murder plot and then an appearance by Coach Taylor's wife's ultra-successful ex-boyfriend (played by the show's executive producer, Peter Berg). Perhaps not being able to finish the season because of a writer's strike was a mercy killing, even though other great stories were threaded in beside the lunacy. Still low-rated but championed by critics and a loyal fan-base, a game-changing deal was struck between DirecTV and NBC in which DirecTV ponied up some costs to produce the show. DirecTV got the rights to air the show first, with NBC effectively getting the rights to re-runs. As FNL was one of the cheapest dramas being produced on network TV, it made sense to keep it around on a network as poorly run and starved for programming as NBC was at the time.
Seasons three through five took the bold steps of saying goodbye to graduating, popular characters, establishing new ones, and even forcing Coach Taylor out of his job and into the miserable situation of having to rebuild the football program at a neighboring, rival school. The show kept plugging along, reveling in small victories and rich, believable characters, not all of whom were always likable. Again, the football remained largely a secondary pursuit in the drama and something the writing staff clearly struggled with at times. The Dillon Panthers and the East Dillon Lions each won far too many games on dramatic plays in the closing seconds, but, like a girlfriend who takes too long to get ready to go out, some things you learn to forgive.
Until FNL, my favorite familial relationship on television was the father/daughter dynamic of Veronica Mars and Keith Mars, though with all the murders and various other crimes on that show, I don't know if one can argue that it's a realistic relationship. But Eric and Tami Taylor are nothing if not realistic. They deal with budgeting issues and pregnancy and a misbehaving teenage daughter and conflicts brought about by their jobs (Tami, at various times on the show, works as school principal and guidance counselor) with a dignity and grace. They don't always agree and they may argue, but one never doubts their love and commitment to each other and their family. Besides the show's lynchpin central relationship, it did a good job of dealing with a variety of issues during the show's run: racism, class issues, sports injuries, absentee parenting, addiction, mental illness, et. al. It also presented maybe the best television episodes I've ever seen about teen sexuality (when Matt Saracen and Julie Taylor choose NOT to have sex) and the domestic cost of war (Matt Saracen burying his dad). Maybe I just like Zach Gilford as Matt Saracen, the kid who is a fair football player, but not good enough to get a college scholarship. I also love Adrianne Palicki as Tyra Collette, a smart, willful girl who may or may not have a future as the town slut; Jesse Plemons as Landry Clarke, the always-entertaining smartass best friend; Michael B. Jordan as Vince Howard, the street kid who thrives under the structure of football; Brad Leland as Buddy Garrity, loud-mouthed booster with too much influence; and Scott Porter as Jason Street, the golden boy who loses it all and gains some of it back. I even came to appreciate the hated "secretly sensitive bad boy," the oft-shirtless Taylor Kitsch as Tim Riggins.
Sadly, this is the kind of show that could have lasted a decade and still been vibrant and interesting. The fact that it made it five years and still remained the most consistently good show on network television despite terrible ratings and the curse of being "critically acclaimed" is a minor miracle. But I happily anticipate a few years from now when I'll take a few DVDs down from the shelf and cue up a streaming service for the rest, and I'll watch the whole series again from start to finish. Honestly and truly, Friday Night Lights is one of the best damn shows I've ever seen, and it may be the best show ever done about both high school and sports. I may keep tonight's final episode on the TiVo for a few days before I finish it off, because when it's done, there shall be no more. I doubt that I will cry, but I may well feel like it.
Farewell, Friday Night Lights. It was a pleasure.
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As an aside, the ESPN Classic network has bought the rights to rebroadcast Friday Night Lights from the beginning, and Bill Simmons' GRANTLAND web venture has an entertaining oral history of the show just posted. Both are worth your time.
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