Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca) Release Date: 04/22/2008

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

FNL is hands down the best series show on TV. Best written,produced,and filmed. Great music too. But most of all, best acted. When I watch this show it is as if I am back in my small hometown (yes, in Texas) watching the people I went to high school with or my neighbors.

The acting is so real as to be astounding---how were these incredible unknown actors found- They are not actors to me--they are the people I knew--the geeky not cute but really smart with a good personality kid---played by Jesse Plemmons. The cute bad guy, the school slut, the cheeleader, the hot coach, the nice-guy quarterback, and the star running back who is African-American. They all put more well known actors under the table---I mean Emmy worthy. And the more peripheral characters are just outstanding also--the families of the main characters and the coach's family are fascinating in themselves--no over the top booby blondes with fake lips, explosions, FX, dumb sci=fi plots---just real people's lives.

And, unfortunately, this is probably why the show doesn't get higher ratings--it is very emotionally involving every single time--not brainless escapist fantasy. Reality instead of boobs,butts and blood. Too bad---oh well, do yourself a favor and buy this. Or, even better, start watching the show---season 3 will start on NBC in February. Then maybe(please please) there will be a season 4.

I absolutely love this series....the 2nd season wasn't as good as the 1st but still loved it~

This is a Christmas gift for my husband. We live in NZ and have just started on season one, so he is going to be so excited to be able to see season two before it airs. This programme is his favourite programme.

This show is one of the best dramas on tv right now! Great looking characters, great stories, overall.. GREAT!!!

In a nutshell, yes: season 2 starts out shaky with an awfully dark startup to where we left off, and as has been mentioned frequently, some absurd subplots, most notably the murder and the highly doubtful subsequent relationship that results (really? Those two would actually end up together)?

However, by disc 3 that is more or less wrapped up (although not some of the other silly subplots) and FNL gets back to why you loved it in the first place. And make no mistake, there are some killer episodes here, and some huge LAUGHS--people forget how funny this show can be sometimes. Peter Berg's cameo is hysterical, because you just know where that's heading.

Sadly, everything just... ends. Leaving the doors wide-open for a season three, but there is no official "finale." I didn't even know that I was done with the season until I read here that it's only four discs long (I'm renting them).

But if you liked the first season, stick it out: halfway through it's back to form. And "Who Do You Think You Are?" stands out as a classic episode, along with, as always, the great music and music montages.

I was not disappointed at all, after passing through some questionable early episodes. Viva season 3!