Saying Goodbye to Friday Night Lights...

Image taken from poptheology.com

Tonight, the series finale of Friday Night Lights airs on NBC, marking the last time I will have the opportunity to write about the show. It's a sad day for all FNL fans --  whether you saw the finale in February on DirecTv, online or waited until tonight, at 8pm eastern, we all say goodbye to Dilon,Texas.

I'll be honest, when the series first started, I was not a fan. I never watched the show and was hesitant to start following another series -- I was in University, working part time, and just too busy! I heard great things from critics and friends and I loved the movie, but for some reason, I could not be swayed.

I only started watching Friday Night Lights (FNL) after suffering an injury two years ago that left me bed ridden for months. I went into HMV and picked up some dvd's and box sets and came across season 1 of FNL. 'Why not?' I thought.

Immediately, I was hooked. If you haven't seen the pilot, you cannot understand how captivating it really is. How the first episode pulls you in and leaves you with an aching in your chest, I was seriously destraught over Jason Street's injury. I couldn't believe that from just one episode, I was forming bonds with characters I had just  been introduced to. I had so many question, I wanted to know so much more.

I watched seasons 1-3 in a week and was extremely irritated that I had to wait an entire year for season 4 to air on NBC. You would think that waiting a full year for a show to start up again would be too long, that you would lose interest entirely. It was the opposite, the longer I waited the more eager I was. I wanted to know what was next, I wanted to see what the characters would be up to. Who would be different? (I'm telling you, this is how ridiculously good the show is, I'm completely aware of how lame that all sounds and I don't even care.)

Over the past five years I have developed my favorites and sadly, some have left the show. The removal of certain popular characters like Tyra, Lyla, and Landry was sad to see, but in the end, it was the right decision. It was obvious that the writers knew they had to remain loyal to the characters dreams and goals in order to remain loyal to the fans. Letting them go off to college was the realistic route, so much so that it was like saying goodbye to an old friend.

I'll admit it, I was never as attached or invested in Jess or Becky's characters  (season 4-5) as I was with Lyla or Tyra (season 1-4) but that's ok, because through all five seasons the core characters remained and that is what kept this series thriving.

Tami and Eric Taylor, played by Connie Britton and Kyle Chandler are the heart of this series. The two of them deserve to take home Emmy's in September because never, I mean never, has there been such an accurate and authentic portrayal of marriage on TV. Regardless of it being a fictitious marriage, I aspire to be in a relationship like that, I think a lot of people do. They bicker, trust me they do. They have had their hiccups but the respect and the love is always there and that to me is key.

And then there's Tim Riggins, by far the most complex character on the show. Like in real life, people seldomly change, regardless of how badly you want them to. Deep down, we know Tim has a big heart and as he ages, his mistakes become fewer, but always more devestating. His past is constantly resurfacing and leaving him in some type of trouble. You're torn between feeling compassionate and wanting to take him by the shoulders and shake some sense into  him. I know you have someone like this in your life, they likely wont be as attractive, but that's besides the point. His character is so genuine and so true-- Taylor Kitsch remains the same Tim Riggins to the very end.

For those who haven't seen the finale, you'll be pleasantly surprised by some familiar faces that have come back to Dilon. The ending is perfect -- you will not have any questions and you will feel as though all is right and everyone is where they should be.

*This is just gossip- I have no proof other than having read it on a few blog sites so don't get your hopes up, but if you do, I don't blame you because I already have gotten my hopes up. Apparently, executive producer of FNL, Jason Katims wants to make a movie about the TV series (which was already based on a movie). Do you follow? Another FNL movie but this time, with all of our favorite characters.  I'd pay to see that! Here's hoping...