SexualPudding

LMAO. I noticed that too, but didn't want to say anything. She definitely had some extra "bounce."

movieking

I didn't notice. I'm all about her mother though...

Michael Corvin

I wouldn't go that far, but they need to turn things around ASAP. I'm guessing it will happen when coach returns and/or they add some football.

I can understand why they started the season early (in show time, a couple weeks prior to the first game), because stretching a 10 game season out to 22 episodes was a stretch the first season. Playoffs and a state final helped pad it out, but it would be quite dull and predictable if they made the playoffs/final every year just to pad the show out.

Ayre

The football scenes were reduced this season to attract more female viewers, so I wouldn't expect more football.

I have mixed feelings about this season as well. My biggest gripe is the pacing. It seems hurried and the dialog is snappy and overly dramatic. The show has lost some of that slow development that allows the viewer to unravel the scene along with the characters. Another missing piece are the moments where we watch the characters in their environment without any dialog.

One of the great aspects of the writing in FNL are the small slices of time where the viewer watches the characters as a voyeur. The camera will be out in the hallway peeking through a partially opened door, while the viewer listens to a private conversation.

I am not sure it is the same show. I enjoy it, but not nearly as much as last season.

JediMindTricks

this was mentioned earlier, but to me, what's really missing are the coach/coach's wife scenes. this, to me, was what made the first season stand out so much because the interaction, dialogue, body language, and looks were so real.

BamaDan

Why didn't they take the opportunity t ointroduce new characters. I don't count The Swede, but it would have madde it a lot easier to send off upperclassmen if they had some sophomore help. As is, they're writing for a 2 year run and this is simply the victory lap from last year.

mwbmis

Matt, Julie, and I assume Landry were sophomores last year. They never outright said what Tyra, Lyla, and Riggins were so if they really wanted to fudge it they could pretend they were sophomores. That would be stretching believability though. It was bad enough last year when they had those two adult characters (the banker from LA & Riggins neighbor) hooking up with HS juniors. Plus, wasn't Lyla cheerleading captain? That's not usually a position bestoyed on a sophomore.

fujishig

Yeah, i don't think they can pull another year out of Riggins, Lyla, and Tyra, and Smash was already confirmed as a junior last year.

Of course, realistically would they hire a guy as an assistant coach who had just dropped out of school as a senior and had no previous coaching experience, not to mention conflicts of interest with his friends on the team? I guess it's better than having cameos of Riggins working the drive through after graduation, though.

mwbmis

In addition to that, they didn't have enough money in the football budget to hire an additional coach earlier in the season when the ex-Panther came to town for homecoming. What changed?

Honestly, I thought the Street storyline was the weakest last year. Between his getting paralyzed in the first game and being a coach by the end of the year. HS football seasons just aren't that long, and he had a whole other arc in the middle. His rehab went pretty quickly too. It seems that they didn't really have a season long plan for his character. They adapted well for some of the others, but Street seemed forced.

Of the 3 unspecified characters I think Tyra is the most likely for them to pull off another year if necessary. Her relationship with Landry would help that.

Michael Corvin

Well he did throw them a bone and basically toss out the lawsuit. Giving him a minimum wage job coaching for the team was the least they could do.

Has there ever been a show where the school remained the constant while the students came and went? The norm is to follow the students past graduation to college or other endeavors. Easier to stick with characters people love than trying to develop new ones. The only show I can think of is Head of the Class. The school and teacher remained the constant and students actually graduated and new ones were ushered in.

JediMindTricks

boston public could have been that kind of show. unfortunately, it didn't last long enough.

Big Boy Laroux

Somebody still watches hockey? Alert the media!

fujishig

But the show is called Friday Night Lights... it's about high school football (though I think UH played last friday).

Ayre

If this were a show about high school football it would be an extremely boring documentary (IMO). FNL is a show about a small Texas town, whose lives revolve around high school football. They don't have to show any football at all, its just the glue that brings them together. Landry & Tyra have little connection to football other than having friends that are connected to football.

Dr. Henry Jones, Jr.

Well, and Landry being on the football team. That's a pretty close connection.

Michael Corvin

And a forced one at that.

Dr. Henry Jones, Jr.

From this week's AA column:

Question: Should we be worried about Friday Night Lights' second-week ratings drop-off?— Tim
Ausiello: Depends. If you like the show in its current Friday time slot, then yes, you should probably be worried. If you'd prefer it air, oh, say, Mondays at 10 pm after Heroes, then you should be thrilled. You see, according to card-carrying Aushole Lauren, the Peacock recently sent out a reader survey and one of the questions was, "Would you be more likely to watch Friday Night Lights if it followed Heroes on Monday?" Hmmm….

jonw9

It kinda seems to me that a large part of the FNL fanbase are actually playing football on Friday nights! It seemed odd to me to place it in that timeslot.

Ayre

And the explanation for the 22 episodes in the first season would be?

movieking

She was a hot chick out of his league that he idolized who he ends up killing a guy for before nailing her. Who amongst us hasn't been there?

GoldenJCJ

Is it any more odd than say, placing FNL on Monday where a large part of their fanbase is watching MNF?

SexualPudding

I think the Friday timeslot isn't really that bad. FNL at its core is a perfect family type program. I just think a lot of viewers haven't been able to look past the football angle and haven't given it a fair shot because of that.

dvd182

Really, if you go by the "football fans will watch it" reasoning, Monday isn't that good either, with the NFL game that night and all. I don't think Friday is that bad, and I actually kind of like it there. Gives me something to look forward to at the end of the week when there is nothing else on.

Dr. Henry Jones, Jr.

It's not a bad timeslot and I don't really get the criticism of putting it on when friday night games are. The season started in october, and there are probably 4 episodes max that air against friday night football games. And besides, I wouldn't really say that those people are the primary audience anyway.