Product Details

• Actors: Kyle Chandler, Connie Britton, Taylor Kitsch
• Format: AC-3, Box set, Color, Dolby, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 5.1)
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 3
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Universal Studios
• DVD Release Date: April 5, 2011
• Run Time: 580 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (174 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B003L77GCE
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,533 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Saying goodbye to Dillon, Texas, won't be easy for those who've been with Friday Night Lights from the start--especially those who read the book or saw the movie. Over five years on NBC, students graduated, the high school changed (from West to East Dillon), and Eric and Tami Taylor (Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton) and Buddy Garrity (Brad Leland) remained constants, sometimes making mistakes, but always trying to do right by their kids--biological and otherwise. And few shows offered more believable relationships, from Coach and Tami to Luke (Matt Lauria) and Becky (Madison Burge), who rekindle their romance in the final season.

If the fourth year marked the end of an era, the fifth revolves around new beginnings: Tami returns to her role as guidance counselor (after a controversial reign as principal), Buddy takes his wayward son under his wing, Julie (Aimee Teegarden) has a rough start at college, Billy (Derek Phillips) becomes assistant football coach, Becky moves in with him and his wife, and quarterback Vince (Michael B. Jordan), who continues to see Jess (Jurnee Smollett), tangles with his recently paroled father, Ornette (Cress Williams). Naturally, there are a few new arrivals, but they don't make the same impact as returning Dillon veterans Landry (Jesse Plemons), Jason (Scott Porter), Matt (Zach Gilford), Tyra (Adrianne Palicki), and Billy's younger brother, Tim (Taylor Kitsch), whose adjustment to life after prison parallels Ornette's experience.

This 13-episode arc traces the road to the state championships and marks the end of one of television's most emotionally involving shows, always operating on the principle that everyone can change, and that there's still room on network TV for semi-improvised, documentary-style filmmaking. Deleted scenes, commentary tracks, and a featurette offer a comprehensive look back at a stellar series, truly one of the medium's very best. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Product Description

For four years, the residents and students of Dillon, Texas, have faced difficult choices on and off the field with courage, passion and perseverance. Now the time has come to find closure for problems of the past while pursuing new possibilities that will lead many beyond Dillon city limits. But, will everyone be up to the challenge?

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

69 of 72 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars When the Lights Go Out... January 31, 2011

By Reconnecting To My Childhood

Format:DVD

The lights have gone out on this fantastic series but it will continue to shine on DVD. Without any spoilers I will say the final season was a great season to go out on. They say that lights shine the brightest right before they burn out and the finale truly proved it. I'm sure many if not all of the fans who have watched it agree (if you haven't been able to view it yet you are in for a treat).

This season was jampacked with stories. I can only imagine how great it would have been had they had 22 episodes like the first season, but the 13 episode season has been as satisfying as any fan could hope for, especially with the beautifully done series finale. Connie Britton and Kyle Chandler continue to ground the show with their amazing performances and all around the acting is terrific. While, as another reviewer said, there is a noticeable lack of football games that we actually get to see there is no shortage in writing quality or character development. Not only are they doing great service to the new cast that was introduced last year, giving them each a chance to really grow as actors and characters, they are calling back and giving each of the original characters a curtain call of some kind.

We get to say farewell to Landry and Grandma Saracen and not to spoil anything but Jason Street and Tyra appear in key moments this season. Matt Saracen makes a brief and welcomed return and Tim Riggins (despite going to jail at the end of last season) does get a chance to finish his character arc. On top of that Smash and Lyla even get nice mentions to show that the writers and the characters haven't forgotten about them. Truly a nostalgic season that has kept true to the spirit and heart the show has always had....

The fifth and final season is made up of the following 13 episodes for those interested:

Expectations
On the Outside Looking In
The Right Hand of the Father
Keep Looking
Kingdom
Swerve
Perfect Record
Fracture
Gut Check
Don't Go
The March
Texas Whatever
Always (An extended hour long finale)

The episode "Always" was truly the best most complete series finale I have ever seen. Simply amazing.

That's 9 hours and 40 minutes in your favorite fictional Texas small town. Presented in Anamorphic Widescreen format as always with English Dolby Digital 5.1 sound and English subtitles.

Special Features:

Deleted Scenes

Featurette - When the Lights Go Out: An emotional and entertaining journey through all five seasons as cast and crew say goodbye. (Having now watched this feature I can say it is excellent, fans get what is really a 30 minute documentary into the life of series and then the work that goes into making episodes. It all ends with the filming of the final scene and is full of interviews with Jason Katims, Peter Berg, all the key actors who appeared this season and the people who help create the show. Worth the price of purchase for me).

Commentaries - Don't Go commentary by director Michael Waxman
Always commentary by Executive Producer and Showrunner Jason Katims

Anyways, this is a GREAT show, obviously 5 stars from me and while I wish it could've gone on longer I think most people will be happy with the way they got to spend the final season wrapping up loose ends and really bringing the series to a FANTASTIC CLOSE. While I wish, now more than ever after watching the finale, that it could continue I couldn't be happier with how they ended it by calling back to the past five seasons. If you haven't seen the show then now is the time to go back and get into it on DVD. There are two types of people, ones who love this show and ones who love it but don't know it yet.

***Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can't Lose!***(Sniffle)

*Noticeable Music Changes:
Iron and Wine - Dead Man's Will, echoing the season one fight between Billy and Tim has been replaced in "The March" as has the song Spirit in the Sky.
Son Volt - When the Wheels Don't Move has been changed in Keep Looking.
The Opposite of Adults by Chiddy Bang and Jerry Bruckner - Raze have been replaced in Fracture.
The powerful use of BRMC's Last Chance for Love also replaced in Fracture.
Runaway by the National in Gut Check

Unfortunate that they tend to put more generic music in place rather than having W.G. Snuffy Walden put a score in. This is still a great show even with the music changes though. Read more ›

33 of 38 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS-BEST TV SHOW January 3, 2011

By Sher-ber

Format:DVD

THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST TV SHOWS I HAVE EVER WATCHED-FROM THE VERY FIRST SHOW, I WAS A "DIE HARD TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL FAN"...you will find yourself not being able to wait for the next show. You might even find yourself yelling and cheering for the Dillion Panthers/Lions as you would if you were right there at the game... by far the best story lines and characters you will love and even some dislike...Soooo sad this will be the last season, I am not sure there will ever be such a great show like this one, it would be very hard to match this one. I WILL ALWAYS REMAIN A TRUE FAN...GO LIONS-WIN STATE...

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Whole is Greater Than the Sum of Its Parts April 19, 2011

By A. J. Colyer

Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase

Every person associated with this series should be PROUD of the part they played in this production. There are very few video presentations that I could compare, fiction or non-fiction, with "Friday Night Lights"...only "John Adams" comes to mind right away. The writing, acting, casting, camera work, editing and execution at all levels and of every aspect of this series is extraordinary. Season 5 just happens to be the best of the best; as they might say in Dillon, "It don't get no better."

"Friday Night Lights" goes beyond show business; some might call it a religious experience about good, evil, fairness, foolishness and redemption. The viewer is exposed to the sweet victories, bitter disappointments, shocking surprises and various complexities of life as we watch these skillfull actors play out the poignant scenes that make up the series. Thankfully, the conclusion, as developed throughout Season 5, was definitive; the producers, directors, cameramen and cast brought the various loose ends to sensible and at times loving conclusions.

Everyone of you that may read this: you were brilliant (again & again), and your overwhelming emotion about participation in this fine series should be one thing: PRIDE, PRIDE, PRIDE. Don't forget...we won't.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This is one series I will definitely miss! A wonderful series that gives good closure for fans of the series! April 13, 2011

By Dennis A. Amith (kndy) TOP 100 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:DVD

A final and appropriate last hurrah for "Friday Night Lights". "Friday Night Lights: The Fifth and Final Season" was a fantastic season that gives fans a final closure to this wonderful series.

In 1990, H.G. Bissinger created the non-fiction book "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, and a Dream. In 2002, the book would be named the fourth greatest book ever written about sports by Sports Illustrated magazine. And what followed in 2004 is a film adaptation which did very well and is considered one of the best football films ever made.

And in 2006, "Friday Night Lights", the TV series was born.

The TV series was adapted by Peter Berg, Brian Grazer and David Nevins and the first three seasons would focus on Eric Taylor (played by Kyle Chandler) and his family moving to Dillon, Texas where he would coach the Dillon Panthers. The series would focus on Eric and his coaches preparing his football team each week and also getting to know several of the main players who make up the team and of course, the drama which surrounded them.

The series would achieve critical acclaim as many felt the series had an accurate portrayal of middle America and its passion for high school football. Unfortunately, part of the problem was that viewership was never strong and many fans would fight hard to keep this series alive. The series would win a Peabody Award, a Humanitas Price and a Television Critics Association Award and both of the main talents Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton would be nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor and Actress awards for the 2010 Emmy Awards....

While the first two seasons were broadcast on NBC, the next three seasons would be broadcast on DirectTV's 101 Network and the fans of the series were able to give "Friday Night Lights" a final fifth season to end the series correctly instead of canceling it without any closure for those fans.

The most significant change during the five seasons of "Friday Night Lights" was at the end of Season Three when Coach Taylor found out about a plot to remove him as coach of the Dillon Panthers. Season three ended with him losing his job at Dillon but being offered to coach for the not-as-tough East Dillon High, which is reopening after years of being closed.

Season four was all about Eric Taylor trying to get this new team prepared for the season but the students/football players had a criminal background. One of the star players that had potential was Vince Howard, a student who has had too much trouble with the law but Taylor has felt he had what it takes to become a star quarterback. The team also has a star running back named Luke Cafferty who was supposed to play for the Dillon Panthers but because his address is within East Dillon's district, he would be playing for the East Dillon Lions.

While Eric focuses on building his team, other students get used to their new schools. Matt Saracen is trying to get used to the new school but unfortunately, his father is killed in Iraq and throughout season, he deals with his personal problems and abruptly moves to Chicago and leaves Julie Taylor behind.

Meanwhile the Riggins brothers run into trouble when Tim Riggins and his brother start up a chop shop and ends up being busted and while Tim's brother is responsible, because he has a baby boy, Tim takes the wrap and ends up going to prison.

By the end of the fourth season, East Dillon High School has a losing record with only two wins and Tami Taylor ends up getting into controversy when a girl wants to get an abortion and she supports her decision and because of that, conservatives put pressure on the school and getting her fired.

This leads to the fifth and final season of "Friday Night Lights".

It's a new school year and Tami is now a guidance counselor at East Dillon High School, Julie and Landry are moving away to go to college, Tim Riggins is in prison and Eric tries to get his team ready for the new football season and sure enough, the East Dillon High School Lions who had a losing season last year, may be the best team in the district.

"Friday Night Lights: The Fifth and Final Season" includes the following episodes (spoilerless summaries):

DISC 1:

* EPISODE 64: Expectations - Julie and Landry spend their last moments in town before going off to college. Meanwhile, Tami wants to take initiative as the new guidance counselor at East Dillon.
* EPISODE 65: On the Outside Looking In - When East Dillon is not ranked after beating a ranked team, everyone gets upset! Luke tries to revive his relationship with Becky and Jess deals with Vince's "rally girl".
* EPISODE 66: The Right Hand of the Father - Vince's absentee father shows up out of nowhere, Julie starts to fall for a married man and Buddy has his son live with him.
* EPISODE 67: Keep Looking - Vince continues to have problems with his dad being at home, Buddy meanwhile has to handle his drunken son and Mindy makes a big decision on what to do with Becky.

DISC 2:

* EPISODE 68: Kingdom - Lions take on their rival South King, meanwhile Julie is confronted by the wife of the man she is sleeping with.
* EPISODE 69: Swerve - Julie tells her parents of what happened at school. Meanwhile, Vince is being threatened that if he doesn't pay a thug his $5,000, he would be killed.
* EPISODE 70: Perfect Record - East Dilon Lions takes on their rivals, the West Dillon Panthers. Meanwhile, someone has leaked to the press about the criminal records of some of the East Dillon Lions players.
* EPISODE 71: Fracture - Tami looks into Epyck's home life and Julie's ex tries to visit her at their home.
* EPISODE 72: Gut Check - As Vince's head gets bigger and bigger, it's affecting the team and Coach Taylor bench's him for a game and makes Luke a quarterback.

Disc 3:

* EPISODE 73: Don't Go - Rumors are swirling that Coach Taylor may leave East Dillon to coach a college team.
* EPISODE 74: The March - Budget cuts are affecting the district and Tami is offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
* EPISODE 75: Texas Whatever - The future of the East Dillon High School football team is hanging on a thread as budget cuts will lead to one football program.
* EPISODE 76: Always - The Taylor family must make an important decision on their future.

VIDEO, AUDIO & SUBTITLES:

"Friday Night Lights" is presented in anamorphic widescreen (1:78:1), English Dolby Digital 5.1 and subtitles are in English SDH. Picture quality for "Friday Night Lights" is good as the majority of the series is film outdoors. There is a good amount of grain for the series but because it's on DVD, you can expect to see some edge enhancement, mild interlacing and compression artifacts as well.

As for audio, dialogue is clear and understandable and is front channel-driven.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

"Friday Night Lights: The Fifth and Final Season" comes with the following special features:

DISC 1

* Deleted Scenes - Featuring deleted scenes from "Expectations".
* Yearbook - Featuring photos from 2007-2011 which you can navigate with your remote control.

DISC 2

* Deleted Scenes: Featuring deleted scenes from "Perfect Record" and "Fracture".

DISC 3

* Deleted Scenes: Featuring deleted scenes from "Don't Go", "Texas Whatever"
* The Lights Go Out - (30:00) A featurette featuring the cast and crew talk about how everyone was family and what they loved about working on the series and their thoughts on the series final season.
* Audio Commentary for "Don't Go" - Featuring audio commentary by director Michael Waxman.
* Audio Commentary for "Always" - Featuring audio commentary with executive producer/showrunner Jason Katims.

EXTRAS:

"Friday Night Lights: The Fifth and Final Season" comes with a slip over cover case.

JUDGMENT CALL:

I have had the opportunity to watch "Friday Night Lights" from its very first episode and I can tell you right now, I love this show!

I love how accurately it depicts high school football, I love the energy that is displayed in each episode during each ball game but most of all, how wonderful the acting for the series is. I have watched Kyle Chandler grow as an actor from "Early Edition" and to see him act wonderfully in this role as Eric Taylor in "Friday Night Lights". He has the demeanor of a high school football coach, hard as nails, no-nonsense and very effective.

And you have to have a character that balances the school life and the problems that go on with the school and that is where actress Connie Britton, who plays Eric Taylor's wife Tami is also just as effective. While Eric handles the problems on the field and also dealing with his players off-the-field, Tami is right there trying to help troubled students any way she can.

And while these two are like the show's patriarchs, its the many characters who played the students that gave life to the series. Their problems are real and these are problems that people can identify with. Alcoholic or drug abusing parents, parents in jail, students who get carried away with their fame, students who are pregnant, students who get into trouble, students learning from their bad decisions and sure, these are situations that happens every week but instead of being a rehash of been-there, done-that, the writers have done an exceptional job in coming up with storylines that are fresh and new.

There was a good balance from both sides...football and the emotional drama and there were many times that there was no sugar coating. Things happen in this series to keep things going along and in season five, we see the Taylor family go through highs and lows but most of all seeing their marriage put to the test. So much has been focused on Eric Taylor's quest as a coach and his loving and supportive wife being there for him through thick and thin, but when she is offered a once-in-a-lifetime career opportunity, will Eric Taylor give up all that he loves about football and coaching for his wife? What will happen to these students as budget cuts continue to hurt their school and schools must unify?

The final season of "Friday Night Lights" may be a sad goodbye to a fantastic series that really never pulled in a lot of viewers but it was a damn good show! It's a series that had a lot of heart and anyone can relate to it. The writers did a wonderful job in creating an appropriate send-off for the series and each character, especially the Taylor family.

If you love the series or if you watched the earlier seasons and missed the others, while it is great to watch these seasons in order, you can watch "Friday Night Lights: The Fifth and Final Season" with no problems at all and still enjoy it.

Although short, it was a wonderful final season of "Friday Night Lights". This DVD box set is highly recommended! Read more ›