Photos
Video
RSS'Friday Night Lights' finale: Wait 'til next year
When word started leaking out that NBC and DirecTV were looking at a two-season pickup for "Friday Night Lights," I expressed my ambivalence about its possible return, if only because I so loved the way this season ends.
Now that it has ended on NBC -- and I've rewatched the finale -- I'd like to retract that. Heck yeah, give me more.
Spoilers coming right after I get off the wait list.
There were lots of great/bittersweet moments in the finale -- Tyra getting into UT, Matt's impulsive decision to stay in Dillon, Tim telling Lyla to go to Vanderbilt -- but I haven't been able to get that final scene of Eric and Tami standing on the barren East Dillon field out of my head since I first watched the finale a couple months ago.
For starters, it's just a beautiful shot, with the amazing light shining on the broken-down facilities at what will soon be Eric's new home. Add in the look on the Taylors' faces as they survey it -- and the multitude of possibilities it opens up for the next two seasons -- and I'm seriously thinking about getting DirecTV so I can see the episodes without having to wait for NBC.
"FNL" has done a lot of brilliant work over its three seasons, but that one shot has stayed with me more than just about any other. I still get goosebumps.
Other thoughts on the finale:
Tyra's acceptance to UT may not have been the most realistic thing in the world -- acceptance letters still come with fat packets of stuff, don't they? -- but no character on the show deserves a happy ending more than she does. She has grown probably more than anyone else over the course of these three seasons, and because of that the slightly fairy-tale nature of her heading off to Austin feels really well-earned.
When I first watched the finale I was a little disappointed in the decision Matt made to stay in Dillon and take care of his grandmother -- who had been written as a little bit shrill and selfish for a lot of this season -- rather than head off to art school in Chicago. Watching it again, though, it's awfully hard to argue with his reasoning: "You're the only one who never left me." I think he also wants to stay close to home so he can continue his relationship with Julie.
Both Riggins boys acting like grownups -- will wonders not cease? First Tim tells Lyla that she needs to go to Vanderbilt -- lest she end up resenting him for getting stuck at San Antonio State -- and then Billy beats some sense into Tim by telling him that he needs to go to college so that they can do better by their future children than their parents did by them. Just great stuff.
"Friday Night Lights" has, for me, completely redeemed itself for the off-the-mark second season with this finale, which is easily one of the best season finales of the past couple years. What did you think of it? And how long are these next several months going to seem until the show gets back on the air?
Related:
Post a comment
Zap2it Twitter Talk 
The only thing I am disappointed about the show coming back for 2 seasosn is that it's only 13 weeks each. I just can't get enough of this show. I have DirecTV and saw the episodes when they came out in October and I watched them again on NBC.
Watching them again gives you more of an appreciation of the show. The way these characters have grown over the past three seasons is nothing short of spectacular.
Already can't wait for next year.
I'm an avid avid fan and have loved all 3 seasons. I have to disagree with Rick Porter though on Season 2. I love Season 2 the most. Season 3 has had too many out-of-character moments for me for many characters that stretch plausibility. One of the best scenes thus far, however, was in Season 3. It was the mother-daughter sex talk between Tami and Julie. It was so real and so much the right thing for a mother to say. So happy for 2 more seasons!
Easily the best show on TV. And I agree - that final shot was shattering and beautiful. I don't want to sound like I've lost my senses, but seriously, these people seem so real to me. Amazing show.
This show is spectacularly beautiful. The writers, actors, directors etc are deserved of so many accolades that they just dont receive. there is not one person I have told to watch this show that did not instantly love it. and yes the characters seem real because the cast and crew make you care about what happens to each of them. this finale reminded me of the beauty of the first season finale when they played devil town. i know nothing about small town life but this show has made me fall in love with idea of it.
Let me count the ways I love this show - wait, I can't! There are just so many amazing things about it. I will say that Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton are definitely overlooked as Emmy time. They basically had a whole conversation just by looking at each other. No dialogue necessary - you just knew exactly what information was being exchanged.
I'm very excited about the two new seasons- I just hope they can figure out some way to keep the Riggins boys on the show. They've grown into two of my favorite characters. I'm also very interested to see how they take the show in it's new direction - I see all kinds of potential conflicts arising.
I really love this show! I never saw season one (just ordered it on dvd though); I just finally gave in to the critical acclaim and started watching at the beginning of season two, which I really enjoyed (OK, the Landry murder story, not so much).
I adored this season, but it was too short. I only have two complaints with this show: 13 episodes isn't enough; sometimes there's not enough build. The 5 month jump between last episode and the season finale made a lot of stuff happen rather quickly. My only other complaint was this: what the heck happened to Santiago? I don't know if the public didn't take to his character or what, but I really liked him and the actor who played him and at least some closure on him would have been nice... Seriously, he simply disappeared.
Other than that, I think this show is damned near perfect.
I've never really liked Kyle Chandler (Early Edition) or Connie Britton (Spin City) in their previous work, but I find them *amazing* in general on this show and especially when working together.
I'm really looking forward to what they come up with next season - how Eric will transform East Dillon, how the re-districting will play out (there's a chance that the original "straight line" through the town could leave Eric part of the Panthers...) and what characters stay or come back and who will become the central figures on the show for the next two years...
I almost want to get directTV too - I don't think I can wait till next January to see the show again!
Can't wait to see Coach Taylor with a ragtag group of players from East Dillon. He's been on top up to this point, so:
What will it be like to be at the bottom?
Who will his ex-players support, their coach at his new school or their alma mater, whom they played for for four years?
Will Julie stay at Dillon with her mom is principal, or go to East Dillon where her dad is coach (I'm ***uming mom stays at Dillon, she may change schools with dad)?
And of all those moving on, who will stay a regular on the show and who will make guest appearances aka Smash and Jason Street?
PREDICTION FOR SEASON FOUR FINALE:
Dillon vs. East Dillon in an exciting David vs. Goliath showdown.
I absolutely loved this finale - I was beyond happy to know it wasn't the series finale! Although if it was, I would have been happy as well.
I honestly can't believe how much I truly care for each of these characters! I am excited for the next few seasons and will definitely be purchasing season 3 (to add to my first 2!) when it becomes available on DVD!! :)
i am 68 yrs old i love this show from the very beginning i love the way it is so real and the way it is shot. this is the only show that doesn't have all the cop shows, cis, and all those programs that give all the sickies in the world come out. i loved friday nites because of the realist life and also shows ups and downs we go through live with our kids. it makes fiday nite to look forward too. my daughter 48 my grandsons 19 and 24 we all enjoy the show. don't take if off ple***sssssssssssss we loved vegas and thy took that off we miss that one too.