beelzebozo said:
that said, all of the cliches you touch upon there may be present, but they're only used as the starting point for what turn into otherwise unique situations, or in the case of characters, interesting, three-dimensional people who don't always react to those cliches the way you expect them to. for example, "the unfaithful husband": you really think buddy garrity is that typical? he's at times a sleazeball, but others a really supportive and wonderful dad. these people aren't cardboard. FNL does a wonderful job of making real people. the overconfident, cocky athlete (smash) has his weaknesses, too, despite the off-putting impression of the pilot.
anyway, sorry you're not digging it as much as others, but that first season is some of the most perfect television ever made.
I was pleasantly surprised when Buddy broke the mold a bit and turned out to be a decent parent, and I agree most characters are somewhat three-dimensional (well, more so than in certain other teen-dramas atleast).
I still think there are many cliches though. Even Smash, whom I like, feels like a character I've seen many times before. The cocky athlete who secretly doubts himself. Yeah, real original.
And often it's so very predictable. Like when the hot single-mom moves in right next to Riggins. It took exactly 2 seconds to realize they were going to hook up.
Pretty much the same in the beginning of the show, with Lila and Riggins, which couldn't have been surprising to anyone (that's what girls do in these kinds of shows, sleep with their bf's best friend).
Like I said, I think it's good and I'm certainly not ready to give up on it just yet. But just like I lost interest in The OC about halfway through the 2nd season I could see myself losing interest in FNL if it just keeps on chugging along with love-triangles and people breaking up and getting back together only to break up again.
Timbuktu said:
I thought Smash's racial arc in the middle of S1 asked and Street's continual story asked some more serious questions at points where a series like OC wouldn't, although mostly it is just a teen drama done well. I also liked that it is not set in California or New York.
Definitely like it the best when they tackle issues like the racial thing, Smash's substance abuse etc and also when they keep the focus on the football.
I guess I like the fact that it's set in Texas instead of Cali or NY, but I don't feel like that really changes it up all that much. Almost everyone looks like they'd fit right in in The OC. Maybe they are all that attractive in Texas, I've never been there.
Ever since I watched Freaks & Geeks (which feels like an actually believable representation of what High School is like) my standards have gone up when it comes to shows like this so that might be the problem I have with it.
