Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose! (Friday Night Lights)

Member Name: Wezzo

Product:	Friday Night Lights
Date:	11/04/08 (95 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: One of the greatest TV shows of all-time

Disadvantages: No easy way to see it in the UK without downloading or buying DVDs

In recent years, the States have come to dominate the quality TV stakes. While Britain has tended - admittedly not entirely - to continue its focus on one-off dramas and by-the-numbers procedurals, our friends across the Atlantic have been developing shows that redefine the very nature of television. The subscription cable channel HBO, home to "The Sopranos", "The Wire" and "Six Feet Under", is generally regarded as being at the forefront of this new era; but more mainstream hits like "Lost" and "24" suggest the public-at-large are growing increasingly happy with both depth and breadth in their televisual consumption.

"Friday Night Lights", which began in 2006 and recently completed its second season, is the latest in this increasingly long line of quality American shows. It delivers narrative complexity, an unparalled quality of acting and deep characterisation like few other shows ever have. It will make you cry without forcing the emotion, it will make you laugh without telling a joke. It's superb television, through and through.

"So, er, what's it about?" you're probably thinking. Well, it follows the residents of the fictional Dillon, Texas, and in particular, their local high school football team, the Dillon Panthers. But please, never write this off as a mere show about football. I'm as apathetic towards American sports as most Brits - and I assure you, you need not be remotely interested in those sports to enjoy this show. The team are merely a backdrop to an exploration of the culture of middle America: religion, racism, love and heartbreak are all dealt with in a completely natural, honest manner.

Coach Eric Taylor and his family are perhaps the show's primary focus. Taylor is doing his best to balance family and football in a town that values both. He lives with wife Tami and daughter Julie, both also facing their own battles, in the workplace and at home. The team Taylor coaches is home to the bulk of the show's high-school set: star quarterback Jason Street and his girlfriend Lyla Garrity; nervous but dedicated Matt Saracen; alcoholic Tim Riggins; dedicated but abrasive Smash Williams. All of these characters have a story; all of them get told in a no-holds-barred fashion. Every character has problems, every character struggles to overcome them, from racist abuse to the threat of rape, dying relatives to disability.

But despite their problems and differences on the outside, the team - and town - ultimately share one goal: to prove a success under the football field under the 'friday night lights'. They live by the mantra "clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose!" in a town where faith in God and unbridled passion will usually win the day - although, as we learn as the episodes unfold, they certainly don't always.

To reveal more would be to ruin the show. I don't usually worry about revealing events that happen in a series' pilot episode, but "FNL" is a rare exception: what happens in episode one *is* significant, and to reveal it now would be to ruin one of television's all-time greatest moments, in my book. You'll thank me for keeping quiet later!

The direction throughout the show is flawless, full stop. Worthy of a Hollywood movie. The camerawork is pretty shaky - think "The Shield" - but thoroughly adds to the atmosphere. The writing is impeccable; emotional but never trite, scenes are often dominated by teenage discomfort and self-consciousness rather than consistently focus on the self-confidence shows like "Dawson's Creek" forever relied upon. (I'm a fan of "Dawson's Creek", don't get me wrong, but it's a completely different kind of storytelling.) There's not a single thing to criticise - even the theme tune is spot-on, conveying both caution and optimism, desperation and drive.

But the show's greatest asset is, far and away, the main cast. Even with solid scripts and direction, a show is nothing without good actors. Thankfully, "Friday Night Lights" has them in spades. Rather than pick out "old Faithfuls" to represent the characters, the creative team have tapped a well of thus-far unsung talent, and they are all the better for it. After just one episode, you can't imagine anyone but Kyle Chandler ever playing the part of Coach Taylor. Zach Gilford's Matt Saracen is shy and nervous but never even runs close to cliche. Minka Kelly plays Lyla Garrity with an emotional depth unprecedented in teenage drama. And Connie Britton may just be the best actress on TV today. (Lauren Graham of "Gilmore Girls" runs her close, but that's off-air now, so I'm fairly confident in my statement). It is an ensemble cast of unrivaled talent - even outshining "Arrested Development" and "Seinfeld".

Here in the UK, the show was dumped on ITV4 - usually home to repeats on "The Saint" and "Randall and Hopkirk" - in an 8pm Wednesday slot with absolutely no promotion surrounding it. No wonder it barely scraped 10,000 viewers most weeks; as with fellow US gems "Gilmore Girls", "Monk" and "Six Feet Under", it's the victim of appalling scheduling on a minority channel. What's worse, having aired season 1 in early 2007, ITV4 say they have 'no current plans' to air season 2. Sometimes schedulers make you sick, eh?

In the States the show is aired on NBC, one of the "big four" networks over there. Ratings-wise it hasn't been a huge success but unanimous critical appraisal (seriously - I've not come across one professional review that even remotely denigrates the show) and solid DVD sales have ensured at least a third season is guaranteed.

With no repeats on ITV4 forthcoming, interested viewers will have to look out for DVDs. You can opt for the barebones Region 2 DVD release of Season 1, with an RRP of £34.99, or the Region 1 set, which has a few extras and can be found online for less than £15. Once again, the Brits get screwed - if you have a multi-region DVD player you'd be insane to not choose the US Region 1 set over the UK release. (For those already converted, the Region 1 set of season 2 comes out on April 22nd 2008 - there's no sign of a UK release yet, though.)

The DVD of "Friday Night Lights" S1 is rated 12 for moderate sex references and adult themes. Indeed, it's not a show for young kids. It's worth noting, however, that the usually-conservative Parents-TV.org recommends this, stating "The characters face realistic trials with real world consequences and resolutions [..] while it is not a show to set your young children down to, it is incredibly valuable for families with teens."

Summary: No other current drama can match it. Do your best to seek it out.