Friday Night Lights (2006-)
Season Three (13 episodes)
Kyle Chandler, Connie Britton, Zach Gilford, Taylor Kitsch, Adrianne Palicki, Minka Kelly, Jesse Plemons, Aimee Teegarden
Recently released on DVD, season three of this critically acclaimed TV show returns for another strong season. More than simply a show about high school football, Friday Night Lights is about friendships, family, love, loss, and growing up. Tami (Connie Britton) is the new principal at Dillon High, where her husband Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler) is head coach of the football team, the Dillon Panthers. Britton and Chandler's chemistry is wonderful to watch. For me, Tami and Eric Taylor sit alongside Pam and Jim from The Office and Lily and Marshall from How I Met Your Mother as the best couples on TV.
Some of the other storylines from this season:
Matt's (Zach Gilford) position as starting quarterback seems to be threatened when a new quarterback, freshman J.D. McCoy (Jeremy Sumpter), joins the team. Tyra (Adrianne Palicki) applies to college and falls for a rodeo cowboy. Tim Riggins (Taylor Kitsch) also makes the effort to apply to college with some support from his girlfriend Lila Garrity (Minka Kelly). Landry (Jesse Plemons) appears to be looking for love in all the wrong places. Landry has evolved since season one of this show, and this change is most evident in season three. Quite possibly the nicest guy ever, he is at once hilarious and charming. Plus, he's in a pretty rockin' band.
During the course of the season we say goodbye to graduated players Smash Williams (Gaius Charles) and Jason Street (Scott Porter). I think the moments between Coach Taylor and Smash in the episodes "How the Other Half Live" and "Hello, Goodbye" are some of the most powerful of the season. If you can watch this show without crying just a little you are way stronger than I am.
The end of the season provides plenty of emotional moments (in addition to football action), as Tyra's sister Mindy marries Billy Riggins, Tyra awaits her college acceptance letters, and Matt's grandma and Julie (Aimee Teegarden) prepare for him to leave for college in Chicago. Without giving anything away, the end of season three leaves several characters contemplating some big changes in their lives. Season four, like this season, will first air on DirecTV in the fall and then air on NBC during the winter. If you have not given this show a chance, take advantage of the library's collection and check out this show starting with season one, because Friday Night Lights was recently renewed for another two seasons!
Friday Night Lights (season three): Find it in the catalog!
Friday Night Lights (season two): Find it in the catalog!
Friday Night Lights (season one): Find it in the catalog!
