MovieChat Forums > Friday Night Lights (2006) Discussion > Did this show jump the shark in the firs...

Did this show jump the shark in the first season?

posted 9 years ago by ZeeEnds
19 replies | jump to latest

I was super into the show, and it quickly started going the route towards absurd. In less than a year, someone gets paralyzed, goes through physical therapy, tries out for a murderball team, doesn't make it, and then scores a job coaching. At what point did he graduate from high school? I feel like I missed something.

And what's with all the sleeping with much older people? It's like everyday people (teachers, businessmen, working mothers, nurses) just ignore the fact that these kids are in high school. This is why casting actual teenagers might have helped: it would demonstrate how absurd the pairings are.

And what happened to Waverly? And that chick who dug paralyzed guys? People keep disappearing.

[–] faulknerster 9 years ago

Nah, season 1 is great, flaws and all. One of the best seasons of any TV show. But if you found season 1 too soapy you'll definitely loathe season 2, which is by far the weakest, most ridiculous season of the series, though it still has great moments.

Yes, teenagers sleep with older people all the time. But the age thing and the inconsistencies is just something you're gonna have to get used to. It never bothered me as much as some others. Street doesn't become a coach and he does graduate. The actress that plays Waverly left the show for another one.

[–] Kazzle77 9 years ago

I agree with faulknerster that the shark jumping was in season 2.

In both seasons plot points go unresolved and a few characters that seem semi-significant drop off the earth.

Still a good show.

[–] ZeeEnds 9 years ago

i'm going to have to skip the second season it's so bad. The whole Landry/Tyra storyline is just absurd and annoying.

[–] Kazzle77 9 years ago

I kind of liked Tyra falling for Landry because he's the first guy who doesn't flat use her. I agree the season had some good moments. But it was bookended by shark jumps: the murder in episode 1, and in the last episode of the season where Jason Street's one night stand seemingly gets talked into keeping his baby.

Just skip those 2 episodes and that will improve the season considerably.

[–] faulknerster 9 years ago

I've re-watched this show three times now and have always skipped season two. Compared to most television it's watchable and has a handful of great character moments (particularly for Tami and Matt). But it's pretty apparent that the writers had no idea where to take the story and these characters after season one and got caught up in trying to make the show more appealing for a broad audience. Though you'd miss a few good episodes there's nothing wrong with skipping season two, and with the writer's strike cutting off the season they pretty much hit the reset button with season three. So, the whole series flows a lot better and makes more sense sans season two.

[–] ZeeEnds 9 years ago

There are too many adult/child relationships. I felt like I could give them a Tim Riggins/Hot mom hookup (seems inevitable in teen shows with adult writers), but once they added Julie + teacher and Matt + Tattoo artist, AND Jason + random tattoo lady (and Tyra + business man already happened) I was just plain annoyed. It really doesn't seem like they know what they're doing in season 2, and the more it goes on the more painful it gets. I'll skip to season 3 and see if it recovers itself.

[–] evansego 9 years ago

If you dont like season 3, definitely watch Season's 4 and 5. Personally I didn't care for Season 3 but Season 4 and 5 is great.

[–] faulknerster 9 years ago

I've come around to appreciating season 3 more than I used to. It's the quietest, most low stakes season but in a way the show's most hopeful yet restrained season. But yes, I still don't think it's on the level of one, four and five.

[–] ZeeEnds 9 years ago

I wasn't feeling season 3 either, so I skipped to season 4...and I love it again. The storyline is a lot more compelling. Still, as someone who regularly defends female characters and almost universally loves them (even the hated ones) I have to say that Julie is the worst character. I don't know if it's how the actress plays her, or the character itself, but pretty much every time she talks I have to fight the urge to fast forward. She's the worst.

[–] faulknerster 9 years ago

I hope you at least watched the final two episodes of season 3 before you skipped ahead. Those are two of the show's best installments and sets up much of season 4.

[–] ZeeEnds 9 years ago

I watched about half of season 3, and then got kinda bored with the whole new quarterback/bad dad setup (as well as every scene with Julie). I felt eager for new characters, as what they were doing with the old ones was a mixed bag.

[–] Joshy1990 8 years ago

"Julie Taylor is a slut! Julie Taylor is a slut!"

[–] Julie_Julii 9 years ago

Lots of crazy implausible and nonsensical things happened throughout this show's run but season 1 remains flawless and perfect and the best TV we never knew we needed.

[–] CranberryNoVodka 9 years ago

It's a small town, so I can see people sleeping with anyone who is willing. I've seen it happen too many times unfortunately. There are some inconsistencies, which is partially due to the writers strike and strange writing in general, but overall it's a really strong show. If I'm not mistaken, the actress who played Waverly was dealing with some serious family issues and left.
If Jason Street hadn't been paralyzed, then I feel like nothing really happens. That event sent off a major chain reaction and certainly unsettled me. The first time I watched the show I swore that he'd find a miracle, but then the rest is history.

A bit of the old ultraviolence...

[–] guanzilla 9 years ago

I love Tyra, but she was also really annoying and that whole Landry thing throughout was just cringeworthy to watch.

[–] lesleyemclain 8 years ago

I just assumed he (Street) got his GED, because he was talking about it to Tammy Taylor. It seemed like a lot of mostly minor plot points were skipped, but the one that irritates me is Lila smashing up her dad's dealership. No ramifications? Then there was no explanation of how he jumped from owning a car dealership to bar owner. Were sales that bad? Was it in West Dillon and people shunned him and his business?

One thing that I love about the show is how Eric calls Landry Lance throughout the entire show and Landry just goes with it. And how did they find kids who resemble Buddy Garrity so much that I could have sworn they were his IRL bio kids (except for Minka).

[–] streetog 8 years ago

One thing that I love about the show is how Eric calls Landry Lance throughout the entire show and Landry just goes with it. And how did they find kids who resemble Buddy Garrity so much that I could have sworn they were his IRL bio kids (except for Minka).

Actually, when Buddy picks up Buddy Jr at the airport and they are driving back to Dillon, they pass the dealership. Buddy Jr looks over and sees car trucks loading up the inventory and he looks over at Buddy Sr. and says "Wow, you can't make anything work, can you?" or something to that effect. Buddy lost the dealership due to low sales, the economic crisis, and the fact that his reputation was pretty much destroyed after he cheated on his wife, was exposed at church, got drunk, fought, and fell flat on his face at that party thrown by Joe McCoy over at Wade's ranch.

Buddy's reputation was tarnished and his last resort was buying the bar and running it; hence it becoming the after-game den for the teams once the aforementioned party concluded.

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Just a theory, but worth pointing out, nonetheless.

[–] forksforrests 8 years ago

I would DEFINITELY agree that it jumped the shark after the first season because s2 was abysmal and s3 was SOO damn inconsistent that I couldn't even appreciate it's return to its s1 roots. S2 was embarrassing, with what the murder plot, the multiple counts of cheating, the discrepancy in ages, all those missing characters. I had no idea why people liked this show, much less hailed it as a great drama.

But s4&5 reinvigorated the affinity I had for the show. They were truly amazing seasons of television, with a good approach that actually looked at broader contexts outside of football and threw in a new cast but gave them all high stakes.

A rose is just a rose.