TV on DVD with Jeff and Emily: Friday Night Lights

It's a new feature! Jeff and I often find TV shows we never watched a give them a shot all the way through. Since I've gotten glowing recommendations from two of my favorite bloggers Steve and Jessica about Friday Night Lights, Jeff and I decided to give it a try. Below is my review through about the first quarter of the first season.

I am so glad I didn't go to a high school like Dillon High School. Where would I be today? Slapping bubble gum, primping my hair and obsessing over a man past his peak, no doubt. I can't even imagine attending a high school like this. My school was no where close to this. Our football team sucked. The cheerleaders were ... not the prettiest girls in school (I was one as a freshman, so I feel OK saying this). We didn't have any jocks, I don't even know anyone from our school who got a scholarship for any sport. You get the idea.

That being said, I get that's how it is in Texas. People obsess over football, in an unhealthy way. There's a lot of pressure on these kids. I don't have to like it, but it's the truth. 

I'm one of those people who can't get past reality when watching a TV show or movie, at least not right away. So for me to enjoy  Friday Night Lights I have to accept the above, plus the following.

1. The fact that all the actors are in their mid-20s and playing high schoolers. That stuff cracks me up.

2. I've covered maybe a 100 high school football games in my lifetime. Do you know how many came down to the last play? Three? And usually it's the team that's down that's got the ball with a chance in hell to tie... and they throw a pick. The average score of a high school football game is usually like 47-3. Seriously. But all of Dillon's first three games came down to the last play. At least they'd be worth the price of admission.

3. Everybody's gorgeous. Again, not my high school, but maybe that's a good thing.

On top of that, the torrid love affairs between these high schoolers rings false to me. Sure, there was always drama in high school, but ... come on. The coach and his wife have very realistic fights, over not planning for parties, not having time for each other, but these high schools are REDONKULOUS. Also, every adult character on this show, aside from the coach and his wife, are EXTREMELY unlikeable. Over the top, obnoxious dirt bags.

But of course you know this is my favorite writing tool. Give you the bad news first. 

I am enjoying it. I liked the movie (and I think Billy Bob Thorton was really good in that, better than the coach here). I'm wondering if this show is suffering for me because I'm watching the episodes back to back in a short series of time so they run a little bit together. And the writing could be better. But the acting is good, its directed well, and it rings true in a lot of ways. The relationship between the coach and his wife is the heartbeat of the show. If they can sustain this story line and not have it play out like Saved by the Bell (exactly how many senior proms can one person have?) then I'll be impressed. I just saw that they added two more seasons on top of the first three. So far, I'm in. 

Jeff's thoughts: "Steve was right. I'm enjoying it thoroughly with the exception of the blonde girl."

Werschaible ranking: I'll let you know.