Friday Night Lights Turns 20
In terms of leaving a last impression there are multiple ways to do that across film and television. Iconic performances, a timeless action sequence or a series that sends a message about humanity. Friday Night Lights does the latter and still to this day has a lot of powerful messages about life.
One big reason is the cast. There are so many recognizable faces among the cast. When the show first came out there was no guarantee these cast members would become amazing stars in various ways. They simply put everything they had into these characters and these performances throughout the show's 5 season run.
Lead by Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton as Eric and Tami Taylor, their undying love for each other is the heart of the series. They are always presented as real. They fight, they argue but they always find a way to come together and support the people around them. Presented as the very definition of ride or die, at some point throughout the series each and every key character has a powerful moment with one of them.
As the show progresses we get a myriad of characters come and go. Some who play football, some who are cheerleaders, others who are extended family of those who are involved in the team. We get glimpses into the various ways of life these characters come from. Matt Saracen, a humble boy being raised by his grandma. Tim Riggins, party animal with a heart of gold who has never had the parental figure he should have had. Julie Taylor, book smart and quiet, led by the inspiration her parents have created for her. Brian “Smash” Williams, confident, in your face and the most talented player on the team. These are just some key examples of the characters that make up a series that relies on the ensemble cast.
Characters come and go after season 3. Which truly is what makes the show special. We always have new people introduced into the mix as students begin to graduate and think about the rest of their lives. Each obstacle these characters overcome feels like watching someone you care about achieve their goals. That is thanks in large part to the beautiful writing this show has. It truly is grounded with realistic scenarios and outcomes.
A show like this feels like lightning in a bottle to some degree. Especially when many of the stars have become notable names including Jesse Plemons, Taylor Kitsch, Michael B. Jordan, Jurnee Smollett, Minka Kelly among others. Of course when this show aired 20 years ago absolutely no one could expect the cultural impact it would go on to have. Everyone knew Football was massive, especially in Texas and the message of hard work paying off was universal for anyone who tuned in.
Friday Night Lights is a character study and a culture study. It is a time piece of American culture before the technological boom in the 2010s. It is set during an era where so many people who love the series had their formative years (Myself included). I would have been in high school at the same time as many of these characters. Perhaps that is why it is so easy to connect with the series. So many of these actors had their careers changed by this series. So many people saw themselves in these characters and felt connected to the stories this series told through amazing three dimensional characters. There are shows that just get everything right from the pilot onwards. Friday Night Lights is one of those shows that will stand the test of time.
