Kingdom (Friday Night Lights)
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Episode 5
| "Kingdom" | |
|---|---|
| Friday Night Lights episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 5 Episode 5 |
| Directed by | Patrick Norris |
| Written by | Rolin Jones |
| Cinematography by | Todd McMullen |
| Editing by | Matthew V. Colonna |
| Original release dates | December 1, 2010 (DirecTV) May 13, 2011 (NBC) |
| Running time | 43 minutes |
| Guest appearances | |
| |
"Kingdom" is the fifth episode of the fifth season of the American sports drama television series Friday Night Lights, inspired by the 1990 nonfiction book by H. G. Bissinger. It is the 68th overall episode of the series and was written by supervising producer Rolin Jones, and directed by Patrick Norris. It originally aired on DirecTV's 101 Network on December 1, 2010, before airing on NBC on May 13, 2011.[1]
The series is set in the fictional town of Dillon, a small, close-knit community in rural West Texas. It follows a high school football team, the Dillon Panthers. It features a set of characters, primarily connected to Coach Eric Taylor, his wife Tami, and their daughter Julie. In the episode, the Lions face off against the South King Rangers, one year after they forfeited. Meanwhile, Derek reveals a secret to Julie, and Buddy Jr. starts a hazing ceremony for the team.
According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 2.88 million household viewers and gained a 0.8/3 ratings share among adults aged 18–49. The episode received critical acclaim, with critics praising the episode's tone and atmosphere.
The Lions prepare to leave for South King High School in their next game. Before departing, Eric (Kyle Chandler) talks with Vince (Michael B. Jordan) about his meeting with Karl Gage, TMU's head coach. Eric reminds Vince not to let his potential prospects take away their performance, as he is still junior compared to Luke (Matt Lauria).
Arriving at South King, the Lions are met with a sign that misspells their name as "Loins." Nevertheless, they arrive with spirit to their hotel room, seizing the opportunity to revel in the luxuries. Buddy Jr. is subjected to a hazing ceremony, where he is often humiliated during the trip, with Hastings (Grey Damon) often leading the pranks. At college, Julie (Aimee Teegarden) continues her affair with Derek (Gil McKinney) despite him being both married and her professor. At Dillon, Tami (Connie Britton) is forced to decline a friend's invitation for a night out due to Gracie, but decides to let her friend stay with her.
The game between the Lions and the South King Rangers draws attention, as their previous match last year resulted in a forfeit. The Lions start on shaky ground, with Buddy Jr. also failing to impress as the new kicker. For the second half, Eric decides to allow the team to use different rules, inspired after seeing Karl talk with Ornette (Cress Williams) in the stand. The Lions improve their performance, which results in a 38-17 win against the Rangers, finally rebounding after the forfeit. However, some media pundits note that East Dillon committed a record 24 penalties for 245 yards, and question if the Lions will be playing like that for the rest of the season.
As Eric hangs out with Buddy (Brad Leland) and the coaching staff, the team celebrates with the locals. A drunk Luke declares that he would walk on fire for the team, and willingly allows the team to carve a scar on him. Derek's wife discovers his affair with Julie and slaps her at school in front of everyone, exposing the affair and leaving her humiliated. Julie decides to go visit Tami at home. The Lions depart South King, with Buddy Jr. now earning respect among the team members.
Production
Development
The episode was written by supervising producer Rolin Jones, and directed by Patrick Norris. This was Jones' third writing credit, and Norris' sixth directing credit.[2]