Friday Night Lights, so named after the football games held every Friday, directs its spotlights onto the playing field giving you nowhere to hide from your fears and mistakes. All the while the Texan town of Dillon is keen and ready to question you’re every move, and that’s if you win, let alone lose. Feeling the heat, the show explores the lives of those that form an integral part of the high-school’s football team, known as the Panthers, and in particular the new coach and his family the Taylors.
Presenting a realistic view and somewhat fractured culture of small-town America, from its community and strengths, to the problems faced; teenagers forced to be carers, grief, alcoholism, drugs, young pregnancies, crime pressure and a peer hierarchy that marks your place in society – not just for those in school, but also for the adults in their community. To larger themes with highly religious tones; everyone is seen and expected to attend church, to pray openly, or at least publicly have faith. At the same time highlighting the divide of poverty, and an existence of racism not far from the surface.
The only thing that unites the town and its residents is the game of football, with everyone seeming to live, breathe and sleep it; shops close early for a game, while the mayor, businessmen and officials seek an active involvement in the team – seeing the Panthers as theirs. There’s this constant pressure of being successful in football. Its players revered as celebrities and almost Gods, with young girls “literally” throwing themselves at the players – seeing them as their ticket out of town.
In a scene that’s as endearingly sweet as it is frightening, young children are lined up to play with the high school heroes, the Panthers, and in the children’s eyes you see how they worship the football players, and aspire to be them. But it’s not all light-hearted, for behind the children are the watchful and furiously keen parents who push them forward, even as they cling to their cuddly toys. The pressure here being paramount – you will do this, you will succeed, you will be what we expect of you, with all the characters seemingly united in feeling this, whether it’s from the community, partners, teammates, family or, more importantly, themselves.
Added to this powder keg of demands come sexual tensions, infighting, conflict and a lot of teenage jealousy so you know it’s going to be explosion after explosion. But in equal opposition are the smaller signs of this close-knit community, with players for example holding hands in a moment of solidarity – they’re not asked to do it, it’s just natural for them to be there for each other.
The first episode is predictable in its run through; there’s the perfect quarterback Jason Street (Scott Porter) – kind, loved by all and great at the game – with everything riding on him. Then there’s the new head coach; Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler) who’s just stepped into the captain’s chair for the first time, has everyone breathing down his neck and is throwing all his faith behind the star quarterback – who he sees like an extension to his family. But in the shadows, ignored, shy, quiet and fulfilling the usual stereotype of an underdog, is Matt Saracen (Zach Gilford) – the back-up quarterback, he doesn’t know the run throughs, doesn’t train with the others, but just sits and watches them. Oh if only he had a chance to show what he could be made of…..(obvious setup approaching).
Friday Night Lights uses the setting of a high-school football team to look at the difficulties faced by people today; socially, economically and politically. This is largely seen through the Taylors, who are the show’s predominant characters appearing in all five seasons. There’s Tami Taylor (Connie Britton) who gains a position within the school system; both as a counsellor and later as a principal – she therefore sees the students’ worries at first hand, the results of their actions and the state’s response in helping – which is nothing, for their hands are tied economically. The other side to Tami’s experiences is Eric, who, as the coach, sees the more personal aspect to the players’ lives; they open up to him, while the community literally invites him into their homes, and in this he sees more on how they live. However, both Eric and Tami provide a somewhat removed insight, while through their daughter, Julie Taylor (Aimee Teegarden), we feel the personal consequences, with her providing a first-hand account – along with her peers – of growing up in America’s twenty-first century.
Highly acclaimed, the series boasts a well-ensembled cast that includes star-studded names such as Michael B. Jordan and Taylor Kitsch, with their characters and other football players showing the tough and most moving aspects both in the game and behind it. The players often missing the parental support they need, and though Eric and Tami try to provide this, it’s not always them that they need the help from – and when it does comes, it’s too little too late, with the teenagers having to deal with the fallout and repercussions.
Friday Night Lights brings the drama out from behind America’s great game, and shines a reality torch directly onto it.
Creator: Peter Berg
Other notable works:
- Wind River 2017
- Patriots Day 2016
- Deepwater Horizon 2016
- Hell or High Water 2016
- The Leftovers 2014-2017
- Lone Survivor 2013
- Friday Night Lights 2004
Based on the non-fiction book Friday Night Lights: A town, a Team and a Dream by Buzz Bissinger (1990).
