Friday Night Lights
Always
TV Flash files “Always” as a desk essential hour — Friday Night Lights (2006–2011) on NBC/DirecTV, season 5, episode 13, aired 2011-02-09, 60 min.
From the desk
How this hour is filed
This leaf is S05E13: listed hour 76 of 76 in the Friday Night Lights guide, last listed hour of season 5. It aired 2011-02-09 (60 min). The listed hour before it is “Texas Whatever (aka Small Town)” (S05E12). No later hour is listed in this guide.
Essential hour: “Always”. Always is the series closer the craft consensus still quotes — a DirecTV-rescued drama allowed to finish on character, not ratings panic.
Catalog log
Broadcast listing — not a TV Flash recap.
The Taylors face several decisions that could permanently change their lives; Julie's plans for the future surprise Coach and Tami; the Lions go to State.
Viewer FAQ
Where does Always sit in the Friday Night Lights guide?
S05E13 is listed hour 76 of 76 — last listed hour of season 5, season 5 episode 13.
When did Friday Night Lights S05E13 air?
Always aired 2011-02-09 and is listed at 60 minutes.
Where should I start Friday Night Lights?
Season one in Dillon, with the Taylor family at the center. The football is structure; the community ensemble is the show.
In the series
Why this series still plays
Clear eyes, full hearts: Dillon, Texas, high-school football as civic religion, Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton holding a town's nerves together. Naturalistic drama that outlived NBC ratings via a DirecTV rescue. Sports as structure, character as the real game — the Taylor marriage alone is a masterclass.
Flash: Friday night in Dillon, Texas, and the lights are doing more work than a premiere carpet. High-school football is civic religion, the town's nerves are in a marriage, and Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton are holding the whole rope line together while the overnights try to kill the party. Peter Berg developed it from the book/film franchise; Jason Katims became the showrunner voice that kept the overlapping talk honest. Zach Gilford, Taylor Kitsch, Aimee Teegarden, Adrianne Palicki — a rotating student…
Filed against
- Kyle Chandler as Eric Taylor
Kyle Chandler's Eric Taylor held Friday Night Lights together like civic religion — Dillon, Texas, high-school football as a town's nerves, naturalistic drama that outlived NBC ratings via a DirecTV rescue. Clear eyes, full hearts. TV…
- Connie Britton as Tami Taylor
Connie Britton played Tami Taylor on Friday Night Lights — clear eyes, full hearts, Dillon, Texas, high-school football as civic religion, Kyle Chandler holding a town's nerves with her. Naturalistic drama that outlived NBC ratings via a…
- Zach Gilford as Matt Saracen
Zach Gilford’s Matt Saracen quietly quarterbacked Friday Night Lights — Dillon, Texas, high-school football as civic religion, Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton holding a town’s nerves, naturalistic drama that outlived NBC ratings via a…
- Taylor Kitsch as Tim Riggins
Taylor Kitsch carried Friday Night Lights as Tim Riggins — Dillon, Texas, high-school football as civic religion, clear eyes and full hearts, naturalistic drama that outlived NBC ratings via a rescue. Sports as structure, character as the…
- Aimee Teegarden as Julie Taylor
Aimee Teegarden’s Julie Taylor grew up in Friday Night Lights’ coach’s house — Dillon football as civic religion, Chandler and Britton holding the town’s nerves, naturalistic drama rescued beyond NBC. Clear eyes, full hearts, character as…
- Adrianne Palicki as Tyra Collette
Adrianne Palicki’s Tyra Collette gave Friday Night Lights its off-field heat — Dillon, Texas, high-school football as civic religion, Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton holding a town’s nerves, naturalistic drama that outlived NBC via a…