Always (Friday Night Lights)

"Always" is the series finale of the American sports drama television series Friday Night Lights, inspired by the 1990 nonfiction book by H. G. Bissinger. It is the thirteenth episode of the fifth season and the 76th overall episode of the series. The episode was written by executive producer Jason Katims, and directed by producer Michael Waxman. It originally aired on DirecTV's 101 Network on February 9, 2011, before airing on NBC on July 15, 2011.

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. The series followed Eric's journey as a coach, which involved his move as the new coach for the East Dillon Lions, a team that struggled in their first football season. The season follows the Lions' journey for the State Championship title, while the future of the team was put in jeopardy after the closure of the football program. In the final episode, the Lions prepare for the final game, while the characters prepare for the next chapter of their lives. With a runtime of 61 minutes, it is the longest episode in the series.

According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 3.18 million household viewers and gained a 0.8/3 ratings share among adults aged 18–49. The episode was widely praised by critics for its performances, closure, writing, directing, production values and emotional tone. For the finale, Kyle Chandler won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, while Jason Katims won Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series at the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards. It is considered by many to be one of the best series finales in TV history.