Friday Night Lights was both a bestselling book and a well-received feature film before director Peter Berg shepherded the project to television to create an acclaimed series, which had passionate fans but low ratings. In fact, it took an unusual partnership between NBC and DIRECTV to keep one of TV's best series alive for five seasons. Not a routine sports drama, Friday Night Lights focused more on the people living in a small, economically depressed Texas town, defined—for better and worse—by pride in their high school football team. While there is plenty of drama around team-building and last-minute victories on the field, the stories also deal with students struggling to overcome broken families, absent fathers, neglect, and poverty. The 13 episodes of the 2010-11 final season follow dedicated high school football coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler) and his passionately involved educator wife Tami (Connie Britton) at the struggling East Dillon High School, along with a largely new class of student characters, although many of the stars from past seasons also return to wrap up their stories, creating a satisfying sense of closure. High school romance complications mix with sports star ego trips, anxieties, and jealousies, among other teenage dramas in this mature, intelligent, and emotionally engaging series that celebrates triumph while also acknowledging failures. DVD extras include audio commentaries on two episodes, the farewell featurette "The Lights Go Out," deleted scenes, and a "Yearbook" photo gallery. Highly recommended. (S. Axmaker)
Friday Night Lights: The Fifth and Final Season
Universal, 3 discs, 562 min., not rated, DVD: $34.98 June 6, 2011
Friday Night Lights: The Fifth and Final Season
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