Product Details

• Actors: Kyle Chandler, Zach Gilford
• Format: AC-3, Box set, Color, Dolby, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1
• Number of discs: 19
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Universal Studios
• DVD Release Date: October 4, 2011
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B005CA4SOM
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,571 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Season 1:
The first season of Friday Night Lights accomplishes something that few television dramas are able to do: It betters the 2004 film (starring Billy Bob Thornton) on which the series is based. Set in Dillon, Texas, where football--even on the high school level--is everything, Friday Night Lights is a compelling drama with a football subplot. Poignantly and effectively touching on racism, rape, steroids, jealousy, infidelity, and life-changing injuries, the series presents the inhabitants of Dillon as real people who are flawed, but remarkable in their ordinariness. Though the series struggled to find an audience during its inaugural year, it was a critical favorite thanks to some fine acting by leads Kyle Chandler (as Coach Eric Taylor) and Connie Britton (who portrays his wife, Tami). Coach Taylor's career depends on his ability to get the Dillon Panthers to the state championship. If the team suffers a losing streak, he knows his family, which includes daughter Julie (Aimee Teegarden), will no longer be welcome in Dillon. Britton, who also played the coach's wife in the film version, is a phenomenal actress who shares simmering chemistry with Chandler. Not content at just being the coach's wife, she lands a job as a counselor at the local high school. That position plays a pivotal role in the season finale, which leaves viewers wondering whether Eric will leave Dillon to accept a coveted coaching job with a university. Though the majority of the twentysomething actors appear too mature to portray high school students, they have the mannerisms of teens down pat. Gaius Charles is perfect as cocky running back Brian "Smash" Williams, who'll risk his health to make sure he gets a football scholarship to college. Local sweethearts Jason Street (Scott Porter) and Lyla Garrity (Minka Kelly) are the high school's golden couple. When a football injury leaves him paralyzed, he finds strength in what the future holds for him, but Lyla finds herself in a short-lived affair with Jason's best friend Tim Riggins (Taylor Kitsch). Once the relationship comes out in the open, their classmates' reactions to the "traitors" show that sexual inequality is rampant even in the teen set. Tim's teammates briefly ostracize him, but just as quickly forgive him, especially since he's so valuable on the football field. But Lyla becomes persona non grata to the girls at school who take too much glee in calling the head cheerleader a slut. The hits she takes verbally are no less lethal than the ones the boys take on the gridiron. And the tentative relationship between Julie Taylor and Matt Saracen (Zach Gilford) is the best depiction of teenage love since Angela Chase fell for Jordan Catalano on My So-Called Life. The actors do a wonderful job conveying the sweetness, pain, and hurt of falling in love without really understanding all of its implications. Peter Berg, who co-wrote and co-directed the film, has a strong presence as a writer on the series and evenly distributes the storylines between the kids and the adults. Friday Night Lights is a drama with teenage characters at its core. But the stories are universal. --Jae-Ha Kim

Season 2:
Friday Night Lights is deeply entrenched in the world of football and teamwork, but the series transcends sports and delves into rich, human relationships that at times are heartbreakingly real. A compelling drama, the show also features one of the strongest (and best looking) ensemble casts. The second season fulfills the promise of its debut. Full of drama, heart, and superb acting, the series is set in fictional Dillon, Texas--a town where everyone lives and breathes football. The first season had Coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler) accepting a college coaching job, while his pregnant wife Tami (Connie Britton) and their 16-year-old daughter Julie (Aimee Teegarden) stayed behind in Dillon. Unfulfilled by his diminished duties and cognizant of the fact that he no longer is the head guy who calls all the shots, Eric returns to the Dillon Panthers. Meanwhile, Julie breaks up with starting quarterback Matt Saracen (Zach Gilford), who ends up finding love with a young nurse's aide. Paralyzed football hero Jason Street (Scott Porter) tries to find his place in the world, moving out of his parents' home and accepting--and then quitting--an assistant coaching job with the Dillon Panthers. And bad boy Tim Riggins (Taylor Kitsch) gets thrown off the squad and ends up squatting in a meth dealer's home before Coach Taylor temporarily takes him in. But the strongest storyline belongs to Gaius Charles, who is pitch perfect as cocky star runningback Brian "Smash" Williams. Ensured a spot on a university with an elite football program, Williams believes that he is unstoppable. When a run-in with some racist kids turns into a media frenzy, the school rescinds its invitation and Smash finds himself scrambling to get into any school, regardless of its football program. A powerful actor who is equally adept at portraying a strutting football hero as he is a humbled teen, Charles conveys passion as well as numbing reality. Season two also deals with the aftermath of Tyra Collette (Adrianne Palicki) and Landry Clarke (Jesse Plemons), who try to cover up a murder. While the storyline is flawed and implausible, the actors do a stellar job with the material. It is also sweet to watch the couple's relationship--initially based on desperation--forge into a strong friendship and romance. Things don't always end neatly, but that only adds to the drama of Friday Night Lights. Look for series writer Peter Berg to guest star as Tami's former high-school boyfriend and Eric's nemesis. If the finale seems a little disjointed, it is because of the 2008 writers strike, which forced the series to truncate its episodes from a planned 22 episodes to just 15. The four-disc set also includes audio commentary and almost 40 minutes of deleted footage. --Jae-Ha Kim

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

70 of 72 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can't Lose!, July 20, 2011

By 

ZOMGPWN! (Carmen Sandiego's Bathroom) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Friday Night Lights: The Complete Series (DVD)

It's not about football... it's about life. I've lost track of how many times I've uttered this phrase to family and friends, imploring them to watch Friday Night Lights. When I find someone who is a regular FNL watcher then I know I've found a kindred spirit and will probably get along with that person just fine... unless they hate on Landry. Hate the game baby... not the playa. Ya heard? This show can be difficult to recommend because people tend to make assumptions about the subject matter and/or themes. It also just FEELS different from most shows. Some would say more authentic, or genuinely emotionally charged than typical prime time fare. One big reason is that this show is produced and shot in a way that most others aren't. Cameras are all hand-held and actors are allowed to improvise not only dialogue but even their marks and set direction so if the script reads "... walks to the edge of field and turns..." the actor can choose to instead head for the top of the bleachers and the camera operator will adjust mid-scene. The other BIG element that adds authenticity is the fact that all five seasons of FNL were shot in Austin, TX and Pflugerville, TX. No sets or sound stages replicating things. This may seem like a lot of extra work for the crew but that sweat (and blood and tears) shows up in the final result on screen.

All of the actors involved throughout all five seasons seem to really flourish in this environment. Every scene seems like a first take because it all just feels fresh and very immediate... like these people and things are real and if you drive deep into the heart of the great state of Texas, Tim Riggins might cut you off at an intersection on his way to save someone he loves from a terrible fate or to deliver one to someone who has wronged him. It's worth mentioning here that the cast swings through a very wide range of ages and their characters all have appropriate obstacles to overcome and goals to endeavor towards, yet all of them intersect nicely in a way that feels natural and unforced. Sure there are loads of convenient developments and lives intertwining in ways they probably wouldn't if these people were real, but you almost never think that while you're watching. OK, well there IS one thing that happens in Season Two which still makes die hard fans scratch their heads, but it's forgivable in the midst of all the other good stuff. Stop judging Landry!

Certain members of the cast come and go as seasons progress but a good stable core remains for the whole series. I hadn't seen much of Kyle Chandler before I got sucked into the FNL universe but he completely rocks. His character, Eric Taylor, is complex and the role calls for a wide range of acting skills, all of which he seems to deliver effortlessly time and time again. I think one of the smartest moves the producers of this show made was to secure two actors from the film that this television show is based on... Brad Leland as Buddy Garrity and Connie Briton as Tami Taylor. Both manage to infuse the show with the same energy and pathos they brought to the film in similar roles. Even though Leland can show up sporadically on the show, he always brings a full bottle of rocket sauce to the party. That dude can just flat out act. He will make you laugh until you hurt and then ten minutes later put a serious quiver in your bottom lip. Buddy is the man. The younger members of the cast do an admirable job as well. Jesse Plemmons, Aimee Teegarden, Taylor Kitsch, Zach Gilford, Adrianne Palicki and Minka Kelly all manage to carve out nice niches for their characters as well as be some pretty nice co-ed eye candy from week to week.

To me it just seems like this show has everything going for it. Yet I still know people who refuse to watch it because they think it's about football, or it's about teenagers so they won't relate, or it's about a small town, or it's about Texas.... or it's about whatever, but it's about all of that and more. I was even surprised how involved I became in FNL but it's just that good. The last (and only other) time I felt this melancholy about TV characters going away was during the finale of Six Feet Under. I'm not comparing the two, except to say that I was equally involved with the Dillon Panthers as I was with Fisher & Sons.

Most fans probably bought the individual sets as they were released, but if you didn't now is your chance to grab the whole shebang in one shot. This collection is packaged in book form and will carry lots of bonus features for each season. If you are already a fan then you are salivating for this. But if you are still on the fence and wondering what it's all about - let me tell you. It's not about football... it's about life.

BONUS FEATURES SEASON ONE:

DELETED SCENES
"BEHIND THE LIGHTS" FEATURETTE: A special look at the creation of the first season of "Friday Night Lights.

BONUS FEATURES SEASON TWO:

DELETED SCENES
WILLIAM S. PALEY TELEVISION FESTIVAL: Interviews with cast and crew.
FEATURED COMMENTARIES:
"Last Days of Summer:" Commentary with Executive Producer Jason Katims and Co-Executive Producer Jeffrey Reiner.
"Are You Ready for Friday Night?:" Commentary with stars Connie Britton and Aimee Teegarden.
"There Goes the Neighborhood:" Commentary with stars Jesse Plemons and Adrianne Palicki.

BONUS FEATURES SEASON THREE:

DELETED SCENES
DELETED STORYLINES:
"Keeping Up Appearances"
"Tomorrow Blues"
"TOMORROW BLUES" FEATURED COMMENTARY: Commentary with Executive Producer Jason Katims and Co-Executive Producer/Episode Director Jeffrey Reiner.

BONUS FEATURES SEASON FOUR:

DELETED SCENES
INTRODUCTIONS WITH PETER BERG
FEATURETTES:
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS...CAMERA, ACTION!: Take a look behind the scenes and discover how the "Friday Night Lights" production process captures the gritty reality of small town life and gives the cast a platform to truly explore their roles.
NEW FACES, NEW PLACES
PLAYBOOK
"EAST OF DILLON" FEATURED COMMENTARY: Commentary with Executive Producer Jason Katims.

Bonus Features SEASON FIVE:

DELETED SCENES
"THE LIGHTS GO OUT" FEATURETTE: An emotional and entertaining journey through all five seasons of "Friday Night Lights" as the cast and crew say goodbye.
FEATURED COMMENTARIES:
"Don't Go:" Commentary with Director Michael Waxman.
"Always:" Commentary with Executive Producer Jason Katims.
PHOTO GALLERY/YEARBOOK

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A show worth every penny., October 24, 2011

By 

C.L. Silva - See all my reviews

This review is from: Friday Night Lights: The Complete Series (DVD)

This summer I asked one of my friends to suggest to me some new television shows I should watch. The first words out of her mouth were "Friday Night Lights." I rolled my eyes and immediately dismissed her. I had never been interested in watching Friday Night Lights. I thought it was just a show about football and teenagers crying over their insignificant high school problems. But my friend insisted it was much more than that and I took her advice. Within the first ten minutes of watching the pilot, I could see that I had been completely wrong.

Friday Night Lights created by Peter Berg, is based on the book Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream written by H.G. Bissinger. The book takes place in Odessa, Texas where Bissinger spent a year observing the football-obsessed town. But Friday Night Lights, the television series, takes place in the fictional small town of Dillon, Texas, where football reigns supreme and winning is everything. Coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler) and his Dillon Panthers seem to be on the way to a state title once again with their star quarterback Jason Street (Scott Porter) and their cocky but talented running back Brian `Smash' Williams (Gauis Charles). But during the first game of the season, Jason Street is paralyzed from the waist down. The entire town is shaken to its very core and everyone must learn to cope with the changes Jason's injury has brought to the team as well as the lives of those around him. From there, Friday Night Lights delves into the lives of the people of Dillon and their complex relationships with one another and themselves. Yes, football does play a big part in the telling of the stories, but it really acts as more of a vehicle for the tragedies and triumphs the characters experience.

One of the things that makes Friday Night Lights so unique is how real and intimate the show feels. All five seasons were shot in a documentary style with handheld cameras on location in a small town just outside of Austin, Texas. There are no sets or soundstages - everything is authentic. All of these factors are what make everything seem more emotional and raw. Each scene of the show feels like you're watching it happen in the moment and it didn't take a certain number of takes to get the shot just right.

Although the cinematography and writing are superb, the show wouldn't be the same without the genuine and emotionally charged performances of the extremely talented cast. Connie Britton plays Tami Taylor, the wife of the main character Coach Eric Taylor and guidance counselor at Dillon High. Britton's performance throughout the entire five seasons as the strong-willed Tami is nothing short of brilliant and her character is one of the most well written roles for women that I have ever seen on television. Tami isn't just the coach's wife - she has goals of her own. She puts her foot down and tells it like it is. Let's just say that she makes me proud to be from Texas. The chemistry between Britton and Chandler is unbelievable and their portrayal of the married couple is refreshingly realistic.

The cast is filled with young actors but all of them give incredibly mature performances. Over the course of five seasons not every single character stays, but you will have no trouble identifying with the new ones. Sometimes when new cast members are introduced or others leave, the balance of the show can seem off. But Friday Night Lights fits the new characters in seamlessly.

Some people may be concerned with the fact that many of the supporting characters are teenagers and they wouldn't be able to relate or get attached to their stories, but it's completely the opposite. Everyone can relate to the challenges of growing up and having to let go of the past and focusing on the future.
Friday Night Lights isn't just about football - it's about all of the curveballs life throws your way. It's about love and relationships. But most importantly, it's about these characters finding out who they are and what they want out of life. I would highly recommend buying the complete series to anyone.

23 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose..., August 16, 2011

By 

tchr76 - See all my reviews

This review is from: Friday Night Lights: The Complete Series (DVD)

I am a native Texan. I am Hispanic. I am a woman. And I LOVE football! I first read the book...then watched the movie...and when I heard there were going to make a TV show, I was a bit skeptical. But from the first episode, I was hooked on a wonderfully written and acted and filmed series. The show depicted life in small-town Texas realistically, and the relationships between parent and child and student and athlete were skillfully fleshed out. Not EVERY episode was perfect...but you knew that the following week, there would be a gem of a story. It's NOT all about football...or Texas...or teenagers. It's about families, and friends, and the good and bad things that happen in life. I will miss seeing this show on TV and I'm SOOOO happy the entire series will come out in October! I am definitely buying this box set, and every Friday (except during football season!)I will sit in my living room, pop a DVD in, and relive those Friday Night Lights. If you weren't a fan, rent the first season...trust me...you'll be hooked, too. Then buy the series, one at a time or the whole series. Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose!