Friday Night Lights

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Season 1
Season #: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
User Score
9.1

Universal acclaim- based on 314 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 291 out of 314
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 314
  3. Negative: 17 out of 314
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User Reviews

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  1. MichaelH
    Jan 18, 2008
    10
    This is the best thing on television in a long time...as good or better than the first season of Lost. The writing is just amazing, the directing amazing, the acting amazing. Unfortunately stuck in the Friday night slot by NBC. I would compare it to some of the best pieces of TV "art" like the Sopranos...for that matter many excellent movies. In fact, some of the currently top rated This is the best thing on television in a long time...as good or better than the first season of Lost. The writing is just amazing, the directing amazing, the acting amazing. Unfortunately stuck in the Friday night slot by NBC. I would compare it to some of the best pieces of TV "art" like the Sopranos...for that matter many excellent movies. In fact, some of the currently top rated movies on this site (No Country for Old Men) are different but maybe not even as good as this show.… Expand
  2. CindyB
    Feb 22, 2008
    10
    This is one of the best shows on television. The writing and the acting are excellent. I look forward to watching the show every week.
  3. DavidW.
    Aug 18, 2008
    9
    Literally one of the best shows I have ever seen on a network. Solid acting and often very moving and inspiring.
  4. JoAnnG
    Jan 16, 2009
    10
    One of the few TV shows that I watch. It is very good.
  5. ToriG
    Jan 21, 2009
    10
    This show is like a movie that keeps on going! LOVE IT! I was converted to the show and now I can't give it up:)
  6. TamaraH
    Nov 13, 2006
    10
    Love this show! I'm not even a football fan and I love it.
  7. marcoa
    Nov 20, 2006
    10
    amazing
  8. Will
    Oct 12, 2006
    10
    greatest show on tv period.
  9. EricaM
    Oct 16, 2006
    10
    Amazing show. Sincere, heartfelt and superbly executed on all fronts.
  10. JASIV
    Oct 16, 2006
    10
    This show is truly must see television. The production values are top-notch, especially the photography. The editing felt almost too choppy during the first episode, and I was worried that it might be overdone. My concerns were laid to rest during the second episode where the editing seemed to really find a groove...I now think that it fits the series perfectly. I was suprised at the This show is truly must see television. The production values are top-notch, especially the photography. The editing felt almost too choppy during the first episode, and I was worried that it might be overdone. My concerns were laid to rest during the second episode where the editing seemed to really find a groove...I now think that it fits the series perfectly. I was suprised at the emotional impact this show had on me as well. It is just so well acted, and so well written...there's more true emotion in the first two episodes of this show than most series can muster in an entire season...really. I also was shocked at how accurate this show was in it's depection of high school football. Memories of my own howntown football games from 25 years ago flooded over me as I watched...I could almost feel the cool night air on my face, smell the popcorn and freshly mown grass from the football field, and hear the clattering snare drums! WOW! Check it!… Expand
  11. JoeAverage
    Dec 3, 2006
    10
    I recently caught an episode, and I must say I was instantly hooked. NBC have gotten some decent shows this season, huh? (Heroes also comes to mind) I live in a large (northern) city and have never had much interest in football or religion, so I have no idea if the show's an accurate depicition of life in smalltown Texas. The characters run the gambit of cliches, and you can see most I recently caught an episode, and I must say I was instantly hooked. NBC have gotten some decent shows this season, huh? (Heroes also comes to mind) I live in a large (northern) city and have never had much interest in football or religion, so I have no idea if the show's an accurate depicition of life in smalltown Texas. The characters run the gambit of cliches, and you can see most of the ' BIG TWIST's in the storyline from a mile away, but the show overall? Wow. Maybe its the refreshing earnestness of the whole production. Can't place a finger on exactly why this show leaves all the other's in its desert dust, but definitely a keeper. Too bad about the ratings though.… Expand
  12. kathiej
    Oct 24, 2006
    10
    I am so happy to see Kyle Chandler back in such an exciting show. This is tv at its finest!
  13. JeremyG
    Oct 24, 2006
    10
    Best new show of the season - finally something shot and acted with subtlety and taste. Love it.
  14. TrayC
    Oct 26, 2006
    10
    My husband played Texas high school football in a very, very one flashing light small town. He tried to explain to me just how crazy it was to play high school football in Texas, but, until this show I could never quite grasp it. Now I do.
  15. brianar
    Oct 26, 2006
    10
    it is so beliable!!!!
  16. SBaker
    Oct 27, 2006
    10
    Excellent character-driven show with great touches of reality and true to life humor. A nice mix of drama, sit-com and reality that beats anything else now on TV.
  17. HuongP
    Jan 26, 2007
    10
    Awesome. Could have more football action for the ment.
  18. ErinC
    Feb 19, 2007
    10
    I'm 21 years old and this is the only TV show I make sure I'm home to watch!! I love it!!!
  19. JuileB
    Feb 21, 2007
    10
    The highest praise for Berg and the cast's imuy suave telescoping of high school football, no, make that, Texas high school football, for the tube. This one's gripping, darkly humorous, compassionate. No wonder it's doomed.
  20. DavidK
    Feb 23, 2007
    10
    I can only assume the low star posters above are from extremely jealous network employees of competitors forced to respond here. Anyone who watches this show can tell something unbelievably unique is happening. There will NEVER be a show that captures the emotion and complexity of real life the way FNL does, NEVER! I would give up watching every other program to keep this series going for I can only assume the low star posters above are from extremely jealous network employees of competitors forced to respond here. Anyone who watches this show can tell something unbelievably unique is happening. There will NEVER be a show that captures the emotion and complexity of real life the way FNL does, NEVER! I would give up watching every other program to keep this series going for the next twenty years. I suggest new readers watch all of the old episodes online for free and enjoy the amazing ride. Last weeks show was a masterpiece!… Expand
  21. JoeM
    Feb 28, 2007
    10
    This show is amazing. Every episode is very intriguing and keeps me watching every week. It has an excellent cast and I hope NBC keeps it around because the ratings will eventually come.
  22. AnneS
    Mar 26, 2007
    10
    You don't have to be a football fan to be addicted to this show. It is one of the best written shows I have ever seen .Hopefully NBC will renew it for season 2, move it to FRiday night and keep it in the same time slot .... That would increase viewers Reruns during the summer will help as well....
  23. IriaH
    Apr 11, 2007
    10
    Best show ever, would be a shame if it doesn't get renew
  24. MARYm
    Apr 12, 2007
    10
    The best T.V. show since the Sopranos. Everything about this drama is perfect-Why isn't everyone watching??????
  25. DavidS
    Apr 14, 2007
    10
    Great show. Best on TV.
  26. ArchK
    Apr 15, 2007
    10
    This amazing program only got better as the seaon went on. Where the hell are the "TV has no good family programs" bunch? Rarely has a program earned their respect and support so througly, yet they remain silent. NBC: PLEASE KEEP IT RUNNING
  27. DerekB
    Apr 26, 2007
    10
    The best show on television - No questions asked
  28. WilliamD
    Jun 24, 2007
    10
    This show is absolutely the best on television, and this is coming from someone that appreciates great shows like Lost, The Sopranos, Dexter, and The Wire.
  29. ChrisB.
    Sep 26, 2007
    10
    I honestly thought the premise to the show was hokey, and I hadn't seen the movie. I had however, given the cast and writers a chance and am quite pleased with the result of their work and effort. I look forward to the new episodes every week during the season.
  30. Margaret
    Dec 31, 2006
    9
    This show is poignant and feels real.
  31. Adrian
    Dec 11, 2007
    10
    Jonathan Storm should quit his job since he obviously doesn't know what he's talking about.
  32. danielw
    Nov 19, 2008
    10
    I love the show. I can't wait to watch it every week. The acting is awesome. The coach has such a dynamic character. I hope the show stays on for a long time.
  33. drlowdon
    Feb 27, 2013
    8
    Based on the book and movie of the same name Friday Night Lights tells the story of the Dillon Panthers, a high school football team in a small Texan town where very little else of consequence takes place. With local radio stations dissecting every game in detail and virtually everyone in town taking an interest team members are treated like celebrities whilst new coach, Eric Taylor, findsBased on the book and movie of the same name Friday Night Lights tells the story of the Dillon Panthers, a high school football team in a small Texan town where very little else of consequence takes place. With local radio stations dissecting every game in detail and virtually everyone in town taking an interest team members are treated like celebrities whilst new coach, Eric Taylor, finds himself under pressure everywhere he goes.

    Truth be told many of the storylines aren’t particularly original but the showrunners infuse proceedings with such a sense of realism and intensity that few other drama series can match that this isn’t really an issue. The excellent writing would of course would be nothing without some great performances whether it be from more experienced cast members, such as Kyle Chandler as coach Taylor and his wife played by Connie Britton, or younger stars, such as Zach Gilford as the initially shy Matt Saracen, who suddenly finds himself thrust into the limelight. Importantly the football scenes are also very well shot. Again this helps to maintain a sense of realism to the point where it is sometimes hard to believe you are not actually just watching a real game. All in all Friday Night Lights first season would rank amongst the best of any drama series and, whether or not you know anything about American Football, it is certainly worth a watch.    … Expand
  34. lynninny
    May 26, 2011
    10
    This is just a great show. Amazing, subtle, strong acting and fully fleshed characters that constantly explore the divide between class, race, and genders. It is not just about football (I admit that I am not much of a football fan)--it is about life.
  35. thewirah
    Oct 30, 2012
    9
    Damn this show is tight. I am not really into the whole football culture that they have down there in Texas but that's not really the point of the show. Most of the characters are quite complex and what they have to go through feels very real. I don't remember seeing a show that painted rehab and the consequences of a serious injury like this before. It just felt right. I would definitelyDamn this show is tight. I am not really into the whole football culture that they have down there in Texas but that's not really the point of the show. Most of the characters are quite complex and what they have to go through feels very real. I don't remember seeing a show that painted rehab and the consequences of a serious injury like this before. It just felt right. I would definitely recommend it since it's nearly flawless.… Expand
  36. Tss5078
    Oct 13, 2016
    10
    For five seasons, Friday Night Lights was the number one teen drama on television and I have yet to find a single person who didn't love this show. It's impossible to imagine that a show centered around a football team could be so successful, when TV shows centered around sports almost never succeed on television. Looking back, I can't find a single TV drama that was centered around aFor five seasons, Friday Night Lights was the number one teen drama on television and I have yet to find a single person who didn't love this show. It's impossible to imagine that a show centered around a football team could be so successful, when TV shows centered around sports almost never succeed on television. Looking back, I can't find a single TV drama that was centered around a sports team that lasted longer, so why was Friday Night Lights so successful? The answer is quite simple.

    While the show was centered around the Dillon Panther football team, football wasn't the end all and be all of the show, it made up a quarter of the series. The other parts focused on the town of Dillon, the Taylor family, and the lives of the players. It's this mix that left something for everything. As a sports fan, I loved the football angle to the show and thought that Coach Taylor was on of the most realistic portrayals of a coach that I have ever seen. For the ladies, there is plenty of romance and teen drama involved with the show, surrounding the players, the high school, and the Taylor's young daughter. As for the adults, there is the family values aspect, as the Taylor's truly care and don't just take care of the students they are entrusted with, but they take an interest in helping the entire town that they are a part of.

    The story lines run deep and the character development is as good as you will ever find in any television show. In binging five seasons of this show, I felt as though I knew some of these characters as if they were members of my own family.

    As for the stars of the show, Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton had amazing chemistry, which they used to play off each other and the result is that neither of them have ever been better than this. The Taylor's were career defining roles for both actors and they aren't the only ones. This show also launched the careers of Taylor Kitsch, Jesse Plemmons, and Zach Gilford, all of whom have gone on to some very successful roles following Friday Night Lights.

    If you're thinking that this show is just some MTV teen drama or a show about football, you couldn't be more wrong. This is one of the best depictions of life in small town Texas, Southern youth culture, and the struggles associated with life in a small town that you will ever find. I highly recommend this show for it's drama, it's exciting action, but most important of all for it's amazingly accurate portrayals and lessons associated with real life in small town America.    … Expand
  37. keanex
    Aug 9, 2016
    10
    A bit too focused on high-school and real life drama, Friday Night Lights plays out like a football inspired soap opera. Hell that's probably the point of it. Great show that tugs at the heart, creates excitement in the fictional games, and paces itself nicely. I found myself binge watching, which is rare for me.

    If you liked the movie, you're going to at least enjoy the first season.    A bit too focused on high-school and real life drama, Friday Night Lights plays out like a football inspired soap opera. Hell that's probably the point of it. Great show that tugs at the heart, creates excitement in the fictional games, and paces itself nicely. I found myself binge watching, which is rare for me.

    If you liked the movie, you're going to at least enjoy the first season. It has a lot of parallels. The second season is notoriously weak, but stick with it, it's a great show.    … Expand
  38. thechosenfee
    Mar 11, 2012
    10
    Did I lose a friend? Well that is how I felt after watching the last episode. Friday nights lights and parenthood are the best shows I've seen in awhile.
  39. Phony
    Jul 5, 2012
    10
    A must watch for thoughtful people-----The most gloriously honest, compelling, intelligent show I've ever seen on network TV, and maybe beyond. It's poignantly scripted, unnervingly well acted (UNDERSTATEMENT OF THE CENTURY. Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton are two of the best performers I've ever seen.), and gorgeously shot. I want to scream from the mountain tops about this show. ...REALA must watch for thoughtful people-----The most gloriously honest, compelling, intelligent show I've ever seen on network TV, and maybe beyond. It's poignantly scripted, unnervingly well acted (UNDERSTATEMENT OF THE CENTURY. Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton are two of the best performers I've ever seen.), and gorgeously shot. I want to scream from the mountain tops about this show. ...REAL ART on TV... I didn't know it was possible before FNL.… Expand
  40. oakridge
    Aug 7, 2013
    10
    An absolutely amazing series. I was put off initially by the football theme, but in essence this is just the backdrop to everything else going on. The entire cast are superb, but it is Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton that shine. Britton in particular should be an A list actress of the cinema with her stunning looks. Her performance is full of nuances and she is totally believable in everyAn absolutely amazing series. I was put off initially by the football theme, but in essence this is just the backdrop to everything else going on. The entire cast are superb, but it is Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton that shine. Britton in particular should be an A list actress of the cinema with her stunning looks. Her performance is full of nuances and she is totally believable in every scene. The shows writers are to be commended for the great restraint they show with their characters, and at times the show is extremely moving without being overly sentimental or mawkish. In its entirety (5 seasons) this has to rank as one of the greatest tv shows ever made.… Expand
  41. DolphinGirl
    May 28, 2013
    10
    I loved this series. From one of THE best pilots ever written for television to the much deserved Emmy award winning series finale, Friday Night Lights is show that has a lot of heart and it is not about football.

    It's about being a fly on the wall in the fictitious town of Dillon, Texas. And while the town is absolutely football crazy, it is about adversity and friendship and    I loved this series. From one of THE best pilots ever written for television to the much deserved Emmy award winning series finale, Friday Night Lights is show that has a lot of heart and it is not about football.

    It's about being a fly on the wall in the fictitious town of Dillon, Texas. And while the town is absolutely football crazy, it is about adversity and friendship and loyalty and a town that has to come together after a tragedy. The coming of age stories are told through the prism of high school football. The coach and his guidance counselor wife are the parents we all wish we could have. They have what has been described as 'the best marriage on television,' in that it is a true partnership. This rock solid marriage anchors the show and allows for teenage angst and turmoil to storm all around them and yet the drama is resolved and does not veer out of control.

    There is a famous 2nd season storyline that is highly criticized, but in fairness to the show occurred during a long writers strike and a shortened season when the show was cancelled by NBC and luckily picked up by DirectTV. While on NBC, the show was moved around and not allowed to pick up a core audience.

    Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton are stellar as Mr. and Mrs. Coach. And the younger stars: Adrienne Palicki, Scott Porter, Zach Gilford, Taylor Kitsch, Gaius Charles, Jesse Plemmons, Michael B. Jordan, Jurnee Smollett, and Matt Lauria are outstanding. You will see these talented actors in other roles again and again. Brad Leland, Louanne Stephens, Blue Deckert, Liz Mikel, and D.W. Moffett deserve shout-outs for their portrayals of the town's most flavorful character, as are other guest starts.

    If you haven't seen the show, give it a 3 episode test and see if you don't become as hooked as I did. You won't be disappointed.

    That is why the show is enjoying a much deserved 2nd life on Netflix, Amazon and DVDs.    … Expand
  42. jorgecontreras
    Aug 27, 2013
    10
    i can watch the show over and over and over again. probably one of my all time favorite shows! need more shows like this one. it had everything a good television drama needed
  43. MattArmando
    Aug 3, 2014
    10
    Poignant writing, authentic directing, seamless producing, gorgeous acting, and realism & inspiration are all of the ingredients that make FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS one of the most beautifully executed shows in the history of Television.
  44. DirtyDave
    Feb 28, 2016
    10
    It takes you whenever it wants you to go. From the characters and diolgue that seems more real and fleshed out than real life, to the way they all play off each other in this setting. Nearly flawless experience
  45. kellyjane2911
    Aug 11, 2014
    10
    I really loved this show. I had expected not to like it as much because I thought it would be primarily about high school football. But it;s rich in psychological depth through a number of characters and relationships. It's really well crafted drama.
  46. kixkal
    Jun 14, 2015
    9
    Lovely show. You get engaged with the characters, understand their feelings and their actions and get involved in their daily trouble. From the start point focused on American Football, the show diverges into the character, social status, racism and other topics as progresses, maturing with the time. Even if the focus changes, the quality goes up as the seasons progress until you finishLovely show. You get engaged with the characters, understand their feelings and their actions and get involved in their daily trouble. From the start point focused on American Football, the show diverges into the character, social status, racism and other topics as progresses, maturing with the time. Even if the focus changes, the quality goes up as the seasons progress until you finish the series with the feeling of fulfilment.
    The series achieves transmitting deep emotions, while offering extremely good entertainment.    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

14
#14 Best TV Season of 2006
7
#7 Most Discussed TV Season of 2006
11
#11 Most Shared TV Season of 2006

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 32 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 32
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 32
  3. Negative: 1 out of 32
  1. Arizona Republic
    Reviewed by: Bill Goodykoontz
    90
    The biggest and most pleasant surprise of the season.
    Read full review
  2. Baltimore Sun
    Reviewed by: David Zurawik
    80
    Surprisingly wise and moving.
    Read full review
  3. Time
    Reviewed by: James Poniewozik
    70
    Has the same quick-cut look, crisp dialogue and bone-crunching game scenes [ast the movie].
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »