More on Friday Night Lights…sort of
So this week’s episode of Friday Night Light’s was really well done – well acted, well written, well received (at least by my husband and I).
One of the main storylines centred on the high school football coach’s fifteen year-old daughter (Julie) and the quarterback of the football team (Matt). The two teenagers, who are dating on the show, were considering losing their virginities.
During the episode, Julie’s mom – aka the coach’s wife – caught sight of Matt buying condoms from the store. She confronted her daughter and tried to explain to her the reasons why not to lose her virginity at such a young age.
In the end, the kids chose ‘the right thing’ – not to do ‘it’ – at least for now.
As an aside, the episode brought back memories of when I was 15 and dating my first boyfriend. Unlike Matt, my guy was not as considerate and was much hornier. My saying no ended our relationship. Looking back, it was crazy to think that had I not been as well grounded as I was, I may have given in to his pressuring and who knows what would have happened!
But I digress…
Surprisingly, or not so surprisingly based on the show's history, the episode did not come across as a cheap after school special but rather a really great show!
Nonetheless, I think the writers missed the opportunity to take things a timely step further.
The episode should have seen the mother march her daughter down to the doctor’s office, yes in part to get put on the pill, but more topically, to receive the HPV vaccine.
The recently approved vaccine works wonders in preventing HPV infections and thus many types of cervical cancers – but only if it is given before a girl is exposed to the virus.
However, there is a taboo associated with it because it relates to sex. Responsible parents need to vaccinate their daughters. They need to understand that just because their daughters get the vaccine does not mean that their daughters are going to become promiscuous. On the other hand, not getting the vaccine COULD mean their daughters will die at a young age from cervical cancer - what could have been a preventable death.
The writers of this show are talented enough to have tackled this topic and I am saddened that they didn’t.
One of the main storylines centred on the high school football coach’s fifteen year-old daughter (Julie) and the quarterback of the football team (Matt). The two teenagers, who are dating on the show, were considering losing their virginities.
During the episode, Julie’s mom – aka the coach’s wife – caught sight of Matt buying condoms from the store. She confronted her daughter and tried to explain to her the reasons why not to lose her virginity at such a young age.
In the end, the kids chose ‘the right thing’ – not to do ‘it’ – at least for now.
As an aside, the episode brought back memories of when I was 15 and dating my first boyfriend. Unlike Matt, my guy was not as considerate and was much hornier. My saying no ended our relationship. Looking back, it was crazy to think that had I not been as well grounded as I was, I may have given in to his pressuring and who knows what would have happened!
But I digress…
Surprisingly, or not so surprisingly based on the show's history, the episode did not come across as a cheap after school special but rather a really great show!
Nonetheless, I think the writers missed the opportunity to take things a timely step further.
The episode should have seen the mother march her daughter down to the doctor’s office, yes in part to get put on the pill, but more topically, to receive the HPV vaccine.
The recently approved vaccine works wonders in preventing HPV infections and thus many types of cervical cancers – but only if it is given before a girl is exposed to the virus.
However, there is a taboo associated with it because it relates to sex. Responsible parents need to vaccinate their daughters. They need to understand that just because their daughters get the vaccine does not mean that their daughters are going to become promiscuous. On the other hand, not getting the vaccine COULD mean their daughters will die at a young age from cervical cancer - what could have been a preventable death.
The writers of this show are talented enough to have tackled this topic and I am saddened that they didn’t.
posted by Icecoldcranberry at Friday, February 23, 2007
3 Comments:
Hmm.. interesting. I'll have to check that show out..
Definitely check it out - it is on Wednesday nights. We love it!
Friday Night Lights...yet they show it on Wednesdays? haha...
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