Jesse Plemons Friday Night Lights Season 2 Murder Storyline Backstory

From comic relief to a high school killer—Jesse Plemons was just as stunned as the fans when his character took a dark turn. According to Entertainment Weekly, the actor recently reflected on the infamous Season 2 plotline of Friday Night Lights, admitting he feared the extreme twist might "sink the show."

Jesse Plemons on the Shocking Landry Murder Storyline

Speaking on EW's 'The Awardist' podcast, Plemons shared that he wasn't warned in advance that Landry Clarke would become a killer. "I was as shocked as everyone to read that script where the comedic relief kills for love in high school," Plemons recalled. The plot, which saw Landry kill a stalker to protect Tyra Collette (played by Adrianne Palicki), stood in stark contrast to the show's grounded realism.

Plemons described the filming process as "weird," noting that they tested various murder weapons, including bottles, before settling on a pipe. His primary concern wasn't being killed off but maintaining the show's integrity. He constantly asked himself, "How am I going to not sink the show with this and try and keep it as real as everything else?" Despite the storyline being widely panned by audiences and eventually dropped by Season 3, Plemons credits the series for his creative growth.

The Legacy of Landry Clarke

The actor, now a heavyweight in Hollywood with roles in Breaking Bad and Bugonia, looks back on the experience with gratitude. He noted that the freedom given by the producers allowed him to fall in love with acting in a new way, providing a foundation for his future success in portraying complex, often dark characters.