In which Angus expresses soppy ideas about community

Friday Night Lights is about community, and that's a big part of why I love it so much.


Take this bit from a recap of the second last episode of season 3:

And here is where I die just a little bit. There are so many ways in which this show is just so smart. When Coach Taylor told J.D. that people depending on him is a freedom? And when Tyra just talked about how it feels to be on the inside, not the outside? Those sentiments are so fresh, so bracingly different from Juno indie Hollywood style celebration of being on the outside (which never feels or looks as good in real life as it does in outsider-turned-entertainment-insiders accounts of it), from misguided veneration of being "an individual" first and above all, community be damned. The show is so beautifully about being a part of something, how good that feels.

Being a part of a group that achieves something is a really rewarding experience. Leading that group is even more rewarding. The sports teams I've been part of that have won trophies and finals have been a lot of fun. I have to say, organising seven people to produce eight pages of the next day's newspaper at a professional athletics carnival that ran into the night was one of my favourite memories from my time in my old job. Sure it was stressful, and sure it was hard work. But we delivered. On time, for the first time in a decade. And we had great stories, good photos, and all got out of there on time. It was fun.

Being on the outside is okay. But being on the inside is a lot better. If you're not currently involved in something that goes beyond your usual work and home life, I encourage you to think about it. It doesn't have to be a big time commitment, or cost you a lot of mental energy. Play a sport, join some sort of group, get involved in something. You'll feel better and you'll find you have something to look forward to. Some people get involved in too much and have to cut back, sure. But if not, give it a go.
 
Damn I love that show.