Friday Night Lights - Spoilers

[stoney321]

Okay, I FINALLY got to re-watch the season premiere of this show, and I may have watched the best pilot of a show ever. So, I'm Texan. Big shocker, I know. Man, they NAILED it. They. NAILED. it.

The whole town weighing in on the game. The signs in everyone's yard. The "Gone to the Game" signs on business fronts. Yep. High school football is almost as important as religion here. In some circles, it's more important. (I'd point to the "House Divided" bumper stickers/decals as proof.) The feeling of perfection witnessed when that perfect spiral is released and an entire stadium holds their breath, hoping the receiver catches it.

How everyone knows each player's name. All the way to third and fourth string (if larger than 2A.) Now granted, I was 5A. In fact, I was State Champion 5A, I thank you. But I live in a 2A town now, my dad grew up in a 1A, and I love high school football. I frickin' LOVE high school football. NFL wears me out, but lord, I love high school football. (And Pee Wee football makes me "awww!" with the cuteness, but I digress.)

I teared UP when those kids held their hands up with fingers crossed? GOOD LORD, I have done that in a game. Do y'all do that outside of Texas? Does the opposing team kneel down in respect while the EMTs check out the injured player? 'Cause we do that here. I remember my cousin's football team his senior year. He was a running back, his good friend Tyler was the QB. Tyler was gonna be Heisman material, had a full ride to BYU, which was the SHIT in the early 90s. Tyler got hit just like on this show. Tyler was paralyzed. Tyler's girlfriend, the head cheerleader, stood by him and married him. I think they're still married. Okay, that was just a random remembrance.

ANYWAY. I have two quibbles, but they're teeny tiny.

• If this is in West Texas, half of that cheer team would be Hispanic girls with impeccable hair. And flawless makeup. Not one to be seen! No way, people. Hire some Latinas and gain credibility.
• Also, if this is West Texas, not even Midland nor Odessa is large enough to support a Dillards [eta!](Yes they are! But I still stand by the fact that small towns like "Dillon" where the coach's wife is excited about his and hers closets - the kids wouldn't be wearing several hundred dollar outfits.) Those kids dress WAY too nice. Some of them were right, but it's a LONG drive to Amarillo or El Paso, and even then, you're looking at JC Penny's and Bealls' for your high-end store, especially on a small town income. I wish TV execs/costumers would go realistic in the clothing department on shows like this.

Like I said. TEENY TINY quibbles. The characters feel real. They talk right. Hell, they got the West Texas accent down. *cough* George STILL doesn't have it all the way. Heh. OH! And I feel very strongly that in Real Life, the coach would have brought that grieving mother the game ball. Signed. By every member of that boy's team.

If they have every one in the HS hanging out at Sonic, parked on the "cool side" (and if you don't know which is which, I'm not telling) I may freak out with the accuracy of small town life. And there would be a bonfire before the game, too. One the whole town turned out for. (Or the night before. I'm just saying.)

This may be one of the best sports TV shows ever, and one of the best new shows of the fall lineup. If you aren't watching, you should fic that! It comes on at 7/8pm C/E tonight on NBC. Or hell. I'll upload it to YSI if you missed it and wanna watch. Just say the word.

BEST FRIENDS! BOYS HOLDING HANDS! FATE OF THE WORLD TOWN RESTING ON A FEW YOUNG MEN'S SHOULDERS! *bawls* It has EVERYTHING. brandil? YES. Yes. It's the BEST. And where are the ICONS, omg??

*cough*

Comments

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

I didn't see the movie this was evidently based on, so I was only hoping it wouldn't be a PAX/Hallmark type schlock fest, you know?

But yeah. Him saying "Thank you." His manners. That is how a QB is groomed. How an upper echelon player is groomed. I hear all of this negative talk about TO (and deservedly so) but I can tell you that boy got his ass handed to him by Jerry Jones and told how to behave. I loved that the PeeWee football kid said Street could be better than Staubach and Aikman. :)

For me, it was the way they dressed the Mayor, her Marlboro voice, and her telling Street to quit being nice, because that's not how you win games. Then telling him to listen to early Black Sabbath to get into winning mode. :)

[brandil.livejournal.com]

You should see the movie, I will send it to you if you need me to.

Street was everything they said he was, I hope he continues to be.

::sniff::

[sweetumms33.livejournal.com]

I loved the movie version of this. It was just powerful in the simplicity of it all, and it managed to not be cheesy, which is honestly a feat in its own. I'm from Western PA, so while we aren't as hardcore as the Texans, highschool football is a way of life here too. I was wondering if you knew anywhere I could get the pilot from, so I could see it.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

I didn't see the movie, and now I'm thinking I need to...

You can get it from this torrent: http://www.torrentportal.com/details/727265/Friday.Night.Lights.S01E01.HDTV.XviD-LOL.avi.html

It's being heavily seeded, so it should move FAST.

[moosesal.livejournal.com]

OMG! You have to see the movie, Stoney. You have to! Dwight Yokum is in it and I did not expect him to be good at all, but he's amazing. The movie will probably better address your issues with the clothing/money issue. It's based on a book (true story, I think) about Odessa's team.

[moosesal.livejournal.com]

There is so much fic potential. I know there's fic for the movie, so I've no doubt there will be fic for the show. It'll be interesting to see how this fandom grows compared to SPN which just exploded last year. And yes, where are the ICONS?????????

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

If I knew how to take images out of VLC player and get them to save in PSP, I'd whip up some. I'm surfing... If I find some, I'll hook a sistah up.

[brandil.livejournal.com]

I've been searching for icons all day. If you make some or find some hit me up.

And I am SO glad you loved this! More people read you than me and the more people who know how fabulous this is the better.

I watched it again tonight too.

::loves::

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

*points you to the cough, if you want a re-watch*

[sarahj2222.livejournal.com]

I saw it tonight and LOVED it. Didn't know anything about it so your
conversation is fascinating,. Thanks. Sarah

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

*waves hello!*

Isn't is GREAT?? I want the next episode NOW. Just fantastic and compelling storytelling.

[dlgood.livejournal.com]

Yup. It's great. Like I said - we'll see how good a job Peter Berg does of keeping up the intensity throughout the season. WIll it be 1 game a week, and then what do they do after week 14? Don't know. But it's great.

And yeah - you've got to read the book. None of the Odessa Permian players made NFL -- but the team they played in the state title (Dallas Carter) had a bunch of college stars notably U of Miami and NFL All-Pro Jesse Armstead.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Apparently I HAVE to read the book! I've added the movie to my Netflix queue. Saturday is book day, so I'll hunt around for it.

Any reason why none went NFL? I mean, granted, it's not easy. But State Champions? You'd think one of two'd get picked up by a Conference school and at least pull a Vince Young...

[chrisleeoctaves.livejournal.com]

I caught the repeat of the season premiere last night because everyone was yapping about it. High school football isn't a big thing here on the East Coast of Canada....we're all about hockey, don't you know (and even that isn't like football)...so I can't say that I am invested in the game...except that I *so* wanted the team to win and I *knew* something bad was gonna happen to the QB...how sweet was *he*? (Talking to those little guys about the game...such an incredible role model.)

Mike was sorta watching and he said that people in the States treat high school football players like Gods. He thought it was totally realistic.

What I liked was the way it was shot...the small details the camera caught...the uniformly realistic performances...almost like watching a documentary...and then some of the details you pointed out, Stoney- the team mates holding hands, the crossed fingers, the big dreams...the big hair! *g*

So, not a football fan, but I liked this well enough that I'll watch again.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I don't think you'll have to understand all the SPecial Team plays, etc. to be able to get the show - football is definitely a metaphor. BUT. Chris, I can't stress how awesome all of those little details are to someone who grew up around that.

It felt SO REAL. The kids. The grownups. The way they treated each other. So great. You nailed it with the doc feel.

Little point: the head cheerleader (that was dating the QB?) her dad owned the biggest car dearlership in the town. Bingo. And she was dating a boy from a modest income (which would be frowned on by her daddy) EXCEPT: he was the best QB that school had ever seen. So that made it okay. Little things like that. :)

[crazydiamondsue.livejournal.com]

I HATE FOOTBALL. Most sports, really, with the exception of hockey and Olympic ice dancing (is too a sport.)

HOWEVER.

I love sports movies (started with The Natural and I've seen everything thing since.)

I watched FNL this morning and I was on the edge of the couch. I realized I was on the edge of the couch, became self-concious, and scooted back. Then - right there on the edge again. The casting was perfect (except the cheerleaders - good call) and dude - I could smell the concession stand and feel the band throught the bleachers, know what I mean?

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

I laughed myself sick when I was in Ann Arbor while U of Mich played Notre Dame and all of the "Rudy Sucks!" t-shirts came out. Hahahaha! Oh, Sean. You got so weird after you played a Hobbit.

And SERIOUSLY. Was it so true to life? I could feel Mike Lee's arms around my waist while I snuggled into his jacket and everyone was cheering the team on all around us. I personally would like them to turn the sound up on the Drum Corps, for that is the sound of HS football.

[beadattitude.livejournal.com]

I just love you. I do. ::snif::

I miss the South.

And thank god they got most of it right, because OMG, it could have been "Dukes of Hazzard" play football.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

"It could have been 'Dujes of Hazzard' play football."

And not in a funny way. Go deep, Cooter!
:D (yeah - it's GOOD TV!)

[usedtobeljs]

Hi, here from friendsfriends --

I grew up in Midland, and just visited again last November. They've totally got a Dillards. ;-)

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Do they?? I guess I don't remember seeing that when I've been through there, so mea culpa! *ammends post* (I remember having to replace my bathing suit at Bealls, you see, because that's all we could find.)

[momentaryxthing.livejournal.com]

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

deleted the previous comment for obvious reasons. (The "Fight Club" rule.)

See you soon!