Every Season Of Friday Night Lights, Ranked From Worst To Best

Based on the successful 2004 film of the same name, Friday Night Lights is a series many consider to be the best show centered around football. The games were done in dramatic fashion, the characters were complex and mostly likable, it tackled important topics, and on top of it all, it was just a well-written ride.

Friday Night Lights was an instant hit but the writer’s strike caused some issues in season 2. The ratings struggled and it moved from NBC to the much lesser known 101 Network. The show picked back up in the eyes of critics for the final three seasons and cemented itself as a great series. Picking out the best season can be a tall task due to its consistency.

5 Season 2

It is widely agreed upon that season 2 of Friday Night Lights is the show at its lowest point. The writer’s strike could take some of the blame but it’s certainly not the only issue. The show made some questionable decisions almost immediately. Coach Eric Taylor taking a job at TMU meant that he was far away from the other main characters and it made things feel disjointed. The season also had the maligned storyline involving Landry killing a man who sexually assaulted Tyra and then hiding the body. That felt way out of place for a football show.

Matt and Smash bickered about the direction of the team and Julie dumped Matt, which were things fans weren’t interested in seeing. Lyla’s side story where she became focused on church ultimately didn’t matter. That was also the case for Santiago, an entirely new character who debuted, joined the Panthers, and then was never mentioned again after the season. Jason Street becoming an unexpected father also didn’t quite work. For the most part, the season was a fumble.

4 Season 4

Thankfully, the rest of the series is great. Season 4 might rank in this position but for a lot of other shows, it would be one of the best. Following some huge drama at the end of the prior season, East Dillon High was reopened and Coach Taylor was moved there. That meant a huge shift for the show as the Panthers were no longer the focus since Eric now led the Lions into games. It was a risk but also a smart way to introduce new characters after most of the original Panthers moved on from high school.

This also allowed the show to tell different stories about social classes given that East Dillon featured students and faculties that were less privileged than those in Dillon. Talented young actors and future stars like Michael B. Jordan and Jurnee Smollett gave the show Black actors to center around. Matt Saracen also got something of a goodbye in the emotional episode, “The Son,” which followed his response to his father’s death. New characters like Luke Cafferty and Becky Sproles were also met with high praise.

3 Season 3

Season 3 felt like it could’ve been the end of the series. In many ways, it kind of was as it marked the culmination of the Coach Taylor/Dillon Panthers era. The show introduced J.D. McCoy, a star young quarterback who the town wanted to become the starter over Matt Saracen. That QB battle eventually helped lead to the split of the schools and set the stage for the future at East Dillon. The likes of Lyla, Tyra, Smash, and Jason saw this as the end of their storylines, while most of the other regulars also got great moments.

A highlight was “Underdogs,” which saw the Panthers make it to the State Championship. J.D. McCoy flamed out as the team fell behind 27-0. Saracen was reinserted, getting one final run alongside Tim Riggins to lead a comeback, only for the Panthers to lose in a heartbreaking ending. Matt and Julie getting back together was also a welcome sight for fans of the adorable couple. This season also shined a light on supporting characters like Billy and Mindy, who got married.

2 Season 5

One of the toughest things to pull off is to end a show on a high note but Friday Night Lights nailed it with season 5. There were some question marks like the return of Buddy Garrity Jr., a new player for East Dillon in Hastings Ruckle, and Tami’s storyline regarding a tough student named Epyck. However, almost everything else worked. Vince’s dad becoming a nuisance made for engaging drama, the way Billy and Mindy took in Becky was heartwarming, and the football itself was as good as ever.

The thing that truly made this season work was that the series finale, “Always,” was perfect. Faces like Matt and Tyra returned, while characters got the endings they deserved. Luke and Becky had a cute goodbye, Vince and Tinker joined the new superteam, Matt and Julie got engaged, and Jess even became an assistant coach. The best part of it all was that Eric finally took a job based on Tami’s career and not his own, letting her take the reins of the family for once.

1 Season 1

Sometimes, it’s hard to top what you did the first time around. While Friday Night Lights came close on many occasions, season 1 remained the pinnacle. This was such a great season that you got the sense the show could’ve worked as a one-off that never came back and it would’ve been satisfying. Right off the bat, the pilot was phenomenal and hit on an emotional level when Street was paralyzed and Matt threw a game-winning touchdown.

Watching the characters bond and develop over time was engaging, from Matt and Julie’s romance to the Lyla/Tim/Jason love triangle. Everything was so well-written that even plot points that were never picked up again still managed to be entertaining. Having the whole thing culminate with a state championship victory felt like the perfect ending to 22 episodes’ worth of excellent storytelling.

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