Little known fact about me: I am fueled by football. It's my life energy-coursing through my veins. By June, I'm only sustained by the start of researching for fantasy football and then I start to resume life as usual when training camps start in July. OK~so that might be a little bit of an exageration, but I do love football! I enjoy the actual game (from the sidelines obviously) but also the meaning it holds for my family. Growing up, I supported my brother's football career and now it's exciting to hear about his first year coaching a high school team. This is also a good time to mention that my fantasy team (UGotBeatByAGirl) is 3-1, soon to be 4-1!
The NBC show, Friday Night Lights (FNL), would've been a natural fit for me for the football storyline alone but the addition of a main character in a wheelchair was a definite bonus! I'm a happy resident in the land of denial about the fact that Scott Porter is not a real wheeler, but a mere impersonator. Under most conditions, this detail would mean a full protest of the show or in the least some bitter feelings of how many great actors already in wheelchairs were passed over for some lousy faker. I can't really explain why but I did give the show a pass on this issue and watched every episode last season. Despite what you might think, football is really a very minor part of the plot in the series. There's family drama, small-town delimmas, and one of the main focuses is on the evolution of the former quarterback (Jason Street played by Scott Porter) after he sustains a spinal cord injury during a football game. Because I'm probably among the pickiest viewers on the planet about disability issues, I'll preface my praise by saying that it's not perfect. There are a few minor mistakes, but the series manages to tackle a number of deep disability issues-family strife caused when an able-bodied person dates a person with a disability, the road to the Paralympics, the looming cloud of pity, and the unique aspects of becoming an adult with a disability and finding one's place in the world. Last season, FNL dispelled myths on sexuality and spinal cord injuries, educated the public about driving methods, and spotlighted the competition structure for the US Quad Rugby Team.
The second season debuted last night and it looks like we're off to a drama-filled fall. My beloved pseudo-wheeler's character was underplayed last night but I'm sure his time will come. Part of the beauty of the show is the interlocking stories of so many different people. It's not just a story about a kid in a wheelchair, so I like to hope that it draws a larger audience. From most of what I've read unfortunately, this doesn't seem to be true. Most praise the actual show, but apparently a second season was a surprise after consulting last year's ratings. Oh well~I eventually got over the ending of the Felicity series and bought it on DVD, so I'm sure I can do the same here whenever I need my football/wheeler fix. Until then, I'm enjoying my oh-so-crazy kick-off to weekends with Friday Night Lights.
So Disaboomers....Anyone else seen the show? What did you think? Love it? Hate it? Either way, I'd love to hear.
