Friday Night Lights: Season 4

The writers had quite a task in Season 4 in a short 13-episode season. Unlike so many of the teenage shows, FNLs actually allows its key young actors to move on, sometimes come back ... just as in real life. And it introduces new characters into the lives of the people of Dillon. This coming and going of people in their lives is just as it is in high schools across America.Season 4 centers around Coach Taylor's exile to dilapidated East Dillon High school, while his beloved wife, Tami, remains Principal of Dillon High. The re-districting creates a schism between the Taylors, the Panthers and the Lions, the students of the 2 schools, the Boosters, and the town make for some interesting story-telling. It also creates a further schism between the races and economic classes ... the "haves" and the "have nots." This season mirrors the Great Recession where everyone but a very few struggles. Tami is now the major breadwinner in their family, Coach is still out on a 2 year "non-compete" from his contract with TMU, there are no jobs in Dillon. Buddy is no longer the richest man in Dillon, as his car dealership struggles. The richest man is now Joe McCoy, the Stud of Suds. (In real life, beer sales are in fact at an all time high during this recession ... so this seems very fitting). McCoy is oblivious to the suffering of others, as his family is unaffected and his eye remains on making his son the greatest quarterback in the history of Texas.This divide is going to cause the same conflict that so many re-districted towns experience ... all anchored this season by the Coach and his family. The writers throw everything but the kitchen sink at Taylors this season(as well as some other key characters). As Coach said in the Pilot episode, now, they will all be tested. In the backdrop of this unrelenting economy ... I thought the writers did an excellent job of tapping into what is happening in America today ... how we are all being tested.This season plays special homage to Matt Saracen and Tim Riggins, in the same thoughtful way that Smash and Jason Street were showcased in special episodes. Compelling new characters are introduced, most noteworthy: Vince, Jesse, and Luke. An episode called "The Son," is one of the stand out episodes of the entire 4 years of the show.This was a lot for the writers to take on in 13 episodes. For the most part, I thought they were very successful! In fact, I put this season on par with Season 1 in terms of story-telling, acting, casting. In my very honest opinion, Kyle Chandler, Connie Britton, and Zach Gilford (for 'The Son') are deserving of the Emmy for their performances in Season 4 ... not the nomination, but the actual statues themselves. They turned in outstanding performances, time and time again. Taylor Kitsch, Brad Leland, and Amy Teagarden also turn in some very, very fine performances.

love this show Thanks

Another well written, very well acted season of FNL! It's interesting to watch how Eric has to deal with coaching a team at poorly funded East Dillon after the success he had at gifted (West) Dillon. My only problem with the season was how they wrote off Matt "ending" his relationship with Julie.SPOILER: He calls his mom and grandma right after he gets to Chicago, but NOT Julie? That's not very Matty-like. END SPOILERThat said however it made for some excellent acting by Aimee Teegarden in the episode after Matt leaves, she makes Julie's heartbreak so believable, particularly to people who have dealt with similar losses. The new characters introduced are great, and the actors who portrayed them are even better. FNL doesn't miss a snap, my favorite episode, like most people, was "The Son". Props to Rolin Jones for that emmy-nominated script and of course to Zach Gilford for how he portrays Matt though the grief he's forced to confront. It all leads to an excellent finale and the perfect(SPOILER ALERT) swan song (as it turned out) for the McCoys. END SPOILERIt helps to see the prior 3 seasons first since this is a serial drama, but there's no question this season will intrigue viewers even if they've never seen an episode before. Very emotional, very raw, but to get the full effect you should watch the first 3 seasons. Well deserved emmy nods for Britton and Chandler. Excellent 4th season!Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can't Lose!

Friday Night Lights continues to deliver quality shows each and every week. At first I did not think I would like the new characters and was disappointed by the loss of Tyra and Lyla. However, I think this was THE BEST SEASON. While I hate the way our world is going, it is a fact of life nontheless that gang violence is on the rise, kids who would otherwise be good kids, get caught up in it because of living in poverty and I think the story line with Vince was excellent. I too wanted to hug that kid. I really hope that Direct TV and NBC will continue to allow it to be on the air alot longer. I was so sad when it ended last week to know I must wait another year to see it again. Coach Taylor and his wife are such a great couple. I have always been a Kyle Chandler fan though and will watch whatever show he stars in. I have loved him since Homefront. (also an excellent show that was cancelled before it's time. Seems like they will go all out for ridiculous reality shows but quality shows don't stand a chance). Sad... They don't advertise FNL enough...I haven't seen any real previews for it this year. Though it makes sense to put it on, on a Friday perhaps it could be rerun on another night to give it more exposure. Just a thought.

Second time I have watched this series. Its so good. The football stuff is fun but the drama of teenage life and family strugles is even better. Great acting and filming. I really love shows that actually show what real teenagers are dealing with. I would put it up with Madmen, Soparanos and Mash as all time favorites.

Love it. What a great deal for this show! Highly recommend this box set at this price!

la série sous estimée par excellence, pas nécessaire d'être accro au foot américain pour aimer cette série, mais plutôt d'en chercher une sur un bled américain bien paumé, pas grand chose à faire, à part le match du vendredi soir. A partir de là, on suit la vie de cette communauté, caméras à l'affut, le sens du cadrage, de faire vivre chaque situation, une musique sublime, des histoires de jeunes dans un cadre très formaté province américaine, un entraineur très charismatique, sa femme aussi, quelques acteurs que l'on découvre et qui font carrière depuis (Taylor kitch, kyle Chandler, connie Britten, ...), bref, cette série de Peter Berg fait partie du TOP 5 des années 200/2010 !

having seen seasons 1, 2, and 3, and having fallen in love with absolutely everything about FNL, wanting to see Season 4 was obvious.

Continues the Texas drama of Coach Taylor, his family, friends and especially the football team. Action, drama and romance in a small town.

For those who are familiar with FNL, series 4 picks up on the begining of a new era. Dillon High has been split into 2 schools. West Dillion which is regarded as the affluent, successful school with the Panthers as an established football team, and East Dillon which is seen as the poor relation. Many of the established previous characters have moved on, although some have stayed and some do come back in a few episodes.Coach Taylor is now in charge of the East Dillon Lions, effectively having to start from scratch to select, train and motivate a new football team. Tami is facing the pressures of Joe McCoy running the Panthers far more politically than was ever the case before, even with Buddy, and there are pressures on the Taylors from being split by their schools.The other storylines are based around the established characters (Tim, Julie, Landry and Matt) but there are plenty of new interesting characters who are also involved.FNL series 4 follows the formula that has made it always so succesful; great and complex characters, a compelling script and beautifully shot using the Texas countryside as a great backdrop.Fans of the FNL series will definitley not be disappointed with series 4 as it stays true to the storyline, the only downside is there are only 12 episdoes in this series and it continues to only be available on region 1 DVD.