Must See TV - Really

I've been a fan of the NBC drama series Friday Night Lights since its first season. It is always good and often rises to greatness. But nothing in the seasons leading up to the current one prepare you for the absolute brilliance that is "The Son," the fifth episode in the current season. There are a few side stories, but the central story in this episode centers around Matt (played by Zach Gilford) and how he deals with the news that his father has been killed in Iraq. If it is possible for an actor in a TV series to receive an Emmy nomination for a single performance, then Mr. Gilford should be guaranteed not only a nomination but a clear win for this performance. It is one of the most riveting performances I've ever seen on TV. Download it from iTunes, grab a box of tissues (make it a big box) and watch this stunning performance from a truly wonderful young actor.

Everything about the episode's central story works. It is nuanced, tasteful, and walks a tenuous line between what could have been an opportunity to get preachy or overly sentimental to perfection.

One of the things that makes the show so amazing is that they never rehearse and never block and just let the actors do their thing. They often don't even have much in the way of a script, choosing instead to simply outline a scene and let the actors do their thing. I don't know if that was true of the scripting here, but what I do know is that everything we get here absolutely works.

All the way up through the stunning ending (that I was utterly unprepared for).

Its pitch perfect television, and few young actors could pull off a performance like that given here by Zach Gilford. Brilliant, and truly must see television.