Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can't Lose!
Last year, about this time, I took a lovely trip to Texas to fete the marraige of my lovely cousin. (Happy anniversary C&C!) You may recall in my post about the trip that I love Texas, and I often think about heading straight to Austin when I'm done with this city. I wanted to go back to Texas this year, but with a limited income and no vacation days I had to stay here. However, I did manage to get to Texas another way--via a marathon of Friday Night Lights episodes on Hulu.com.

After watching two entire seasons of the critically-acclaimed football drama, I have just one question for you: WHY AREN'T YOU WATCHING THIS SHOW? It has to be the best show on television, and if you can only choose one drama with which to devote your limited tv time, this is the one to watch.

Oh, I know what you're thinking: I hate football or I hate teen dramas, so please allow me to refute your arguments. First of all, I hate football. I don't follow it, and I only watch the Superbowl for the food. I also don't care for teen dramas. I've never seen an episode of The OC and I make fun of the others.

FNL is just different. Basically, the show is about a fictional high school football team, the Dillon Panthers, in a small Texas town with a strong football tradition. While the tv show is fiction, it is inspired by Odessa, Texas' Permian Panthers--the subject of the book and film, Friday Night Lights. (Yes, I am currently reading the book.) In the late 80's, when the book was written, the Permian Panthers had the best record in the nation, including college and professional teams. The book not only explores the team's success in the stadium, but also the town's devotion to them and the dramas of high school students growing up in small-town Texas. The show does the same thing.

While shows like One Tree Hill may have their "very special episode" about racism, drugs and teen sex, they lack the authenticity behind FNL's handling of those types of storylines. I am not sure how their formula works, but I suppose it is because the characters are not spoiled, rich kids who are aspiring fashion designers or have other posh goals, with the token minority and geek. The teens of FNL range from Applebee's waitress, born-again Christian, smart kid, parapalegic, and the kid who takes care of his grandma with Alzheimer's because his dad is in Iraq. Sure, all the kids are pretty, and a handful of them are football stars, but I never feel a lack of sincerity when exploring tougher storylines. It could be the cinematography. No soft lights and still cameras here. The filming style of the handheld cameras help show a peek into the lives of Dillon residents, instead of staged representations of the issues.

Another aspect of the show that I appreciate is the parents. This show has "real parents"--parents who don't try to be their kids' best friends, parent who act (and are) smarter than their teenage kids, and most importantly, they are parents who aren't afraid to discipline--even when it could make a relationship with a child a little chilly. (Disclaimer: there are a few bad parents on the show, but main characters Coach and Tammy Taylor are examples of good parenting. "Smash" Williams' mom is another fine example.)

I actually like the football on this show. I even stood up and cheered when Santiago smashed into the opposing team's QB. Someone once suggested that I enjoy Dillon Panther football because I have become friends with members of the team. This is probably true, although I hate thinking that I have a relationship with people on TV. It makes me feel like a recluse.

Friday Night Lights is good tv. It is smart tv, and I think you should all watch it. The third season starts this fall and you have plenty of time to catch up on past episodes through Hulu.com and NBC.com.

If you need one more reason, check out the following picture of QB1 Matt Saracen (brilliantly played by Zach Guilford). Isn't he reason enough?