*See update at end of post.

This past December, in a post about authentic explorations of masculinity, Bernie took the opportunity to praise “Friday Night Lights” and its unique, complex portrayal of young men searching for their “deeper, sensitive identities.”

Like mother, like daughter: Tami and Julie Taylor on “Friday Night Lights”

Now, as the season is coming to a close, we could easily do another post about the show’s varied and nuanced representations of women — both young and old.

The season’s second half shifted subtly by giving more depth to Tami Taylor (Connie Britton), school guidance counselor, coach’s wife and mother struggling to stay protective of her teenage daughter; Julie Taylor (Aimee Teegarden), the smart, self-aware daughter; Lyla Garrity (Minka Kelly), the popular cheerleader slowly coming of age; Tyra Collete (Adrianne Palicki), the tough outsider who has come of age too fast; and, to a lesser extent, Waverly Grady (Aasha Davis), the preacher’s daughter whose mix of political activism and poetic sensibility expands a football player’s horizons.

The layers and internal conflicts of these characters now drive the series. While they bump up against stereotypes and social expectations, none of them fully succumbs. And they all exhibit a great deal of agency, which is all too rare among adolescent female characters.

But let’s hold that analysis for another day. I want to yield the balance of my time to encouraging you to do two things:

1) Watch “Friday Night Lights” (if you haven’t already). All episodes are available — and free — on the NBC website. It will grab you from the opening scenes, guaranteed.

Part of what makes it work is that it gives serious consideration to both adult and adolescent concerns, which overlap naturally. If the multiple teen crises feel like they’re slipping into a soap opera dynamic, rest assured the moment will pass quickly — and you’ll probably be genuinely surprised by their complex negotiations of everyday life. The writing is consistently authentic, and the characters are always remarkably human in their individuality.

Maureen Ryan compares it to two critically acclaimed HBO shows, and the praise is well-deserved: “The world that ‘FNL’ has created feels so real by this point that the characters’ interactions feel organic and unforced — just as they do on ‘The Wire’ or ‘Deadwood,’ or any other show that manages to get every single detail right without being showy about it.”

2) Once you realize how special it is, join the movement to save the show — which has always struggled rating-wise (no thanks to its impossible Wednesday night time slot across from “American Idol”) and which has recently been rumored to be in a precarious position for a second season.

Obviously, by watching the episodes online, you are sending the clearest message possible to NBC that this show is something that has enduring popularity — but you can do more. Letters and other “gift bags” (inspired by the show’s mantra: “Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can’t Lose”) can be sent to Kevin Reilly, president of NBC entertainment. And an e-mail to NBC wouldn’t hurt as well.

This type of grassroots campaign has worked before for “Veronica Mars,” among other shows. It reveals the power of fans who are not simply satisfied with consuming culture but who want to be active, critical agents in its construction.

“Friday Night Lights,” by encouraging viewers to appreciate the full social and cultural contexts surrounding hallowed American traditions and values, is a show that deserves this type of attention and engagement.

As Stuart Levine of MSNBC affirms, “‘Friday Night Lights’ came to be labeled by many viewers and critics as the best new series of the year. But it’s moved way beyond that now. Forget ‘new,’ it’s now the best show on TV, bar none.”

Update: Maureen Ryan today notes that Bravo is going to re-air the entire series through March and April on Fridays and Saturdays AND there’s a new save-the-show site: FightForLights.com.