25 feel-good shows to start 2018 off right

Friday Night Lights

The premise: The simple summation of this show would boil it down to a small town’s obsession with their local high school’s football team. But a closer look reveals the show is really about a collection of families, all connected by the football team, and the machinations of relationships, families, and small town politics. The show is told through the point of view of Coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler), and his wife Tammy, played by the effervescent Connie Britton. Coach is the emotional and moral center of the team, and the town, and everything we care about is because it matters to him.

Why it’s so good: I don’t even know where to start to describe how perfect this show is. Of course it’s heartfelt and sincere. And it’s obviously sweet and earnest, and will tug those heartstrings until they practically give out. But it’s more than just a saccharine, tear-jerking show filled with cheap emotional manipulations. It’s so good because it feels so real.

Friday Night Lights feels like the story of people you could know, you might care about, or knew in a different time. It’s the story of actual humans, and it’s this authenticity that makes it one of the best shows on television. It’s criminally underrated and under watched, but I promise you this: you’ll watch one episode and you’ll be saying “Texas forever” before it’s all over.

Also, Friday Night Lights has Tim Riggins, played by Taylor Kitsch. For the uninitiated, Tim Riggins is the greasy-haired and broody bad boy who could break a heart just by walking past. For fans, he’s among the best things about this show, and I have to actively keep my seat every time he’s on screen. He’s handsome, y’all.

How to watch: You can purchase episodes on Amazon Prime, iTunes, and YouTube.