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When it comes to TV shows, I tend to watch the more grim and heavier-toned series, not typically comedic or upbeat and quirky ones. That being said, the Apple TV original series Ted Lasso came as a pleasant surprise. I was reluctant at first to watch the show, considering that I didn’t really know much about it, except that everyone around me had enjoyed it immensely. To add to my initial hesitation for the show, one of its main premises revolved around football, otherwise known as “soccer” in the United States. However, to my shock the series has found its way into my heart, and I absolutely love it.
Ted Lasso follows the titular character (played by Jason Sudeikis), an almost impossibly positive coach/manager coming from Kansas along with his friend and team coach, referred to as Coach Beard, or simply “Beard.”(Brendan Hunt) The two have been hired to travel to London to coach a football team, however they are most well known for their coaching of an American football team. It becomes apparent that Ted is fairly inexperienced with European football, and this leads to high tensions with both the media and the team itself. Hiring the two men is Rebecca Welton (Hannah Waddingham), who, unbeknownst to them, has only hired Ted as an act of revenge against her now ex-husband, the original owner of the Richmond football team.
While the main character is, of course, Ted, the majority of the team have their own story arcs as well, that help to round out the season and make the audience feel connected to the storylines.
The team may have some wonderfully charming characters, but it doesn’t end with them. Coach Beard is blunt yet fairly quiet, but his and Ted’s characters compliment each other with their differing personalities. The viewer is also introduced to Nate Shelley (Nick Mohammed), the friendly equipment manager who has a passion for the sport and team itself. While there are other characters worth mentioning, Rebecca Welton is the only one I will continue to reference in this review. While it would seem easy to write her off as manipulative and antagonistic through the beginning of the series, her character arc gives you someone to possibly sympathize with as the show goes on. One of the absolute best parts about this show is that each character rejects one-dimensionality, and mostly everyone has enough time for you to get to know and understand them more. This is an impressive feat, considering how many characters are in the show, and while not everyone has had their moment yet, I am absolutely sure they will in the series’s runtime.
Ted Lasso is a show that not only has a number of lovable characters, but it tackles a variety of topics that one wouldn’t tend to expect in a series that is mainly branded as a comedy. Mental health plays a significant part in the series’s development, especially in terms of Ted’s own storyline. The show re-establishes the notion that even the happiest and most positive people in the world, such as how Ted is depicted, can suffer too. I think while the show could be seen as trying to encourage the development of a more optimistic mindset in its audience, the depiction of Ted’s coaching (inspirational) side versus his personal (naturally more somber) side is well-crafted and refreshing. The series is attempting to push back against the stigma of mental health issues, and reaffirming that it’s okay to not feel overly happy every waking moment, and to me that’s more reassuring than the show’s consistently cheerful tone.
There is no particular way to fully capture Ted Lasso’s memorable and appealing qualities. To only describe it in a few hundred words is nearly impossible, but I can only recommend that you explore the series for yourself. Even if you aren’t a sports fan, the characters themselves will grab your attention (and heart) for the entirety of the show. Ted Lasso is such a fascinating and quick-to-love character, not just for his funky dancing and words of encouragement, but for his overall kindness and vulnerability. The Richmond football team has a long way to go before they reach victory, but I for one am very excited for what’s to come. Ted Lasso is available on Apple TV, and is currently on its second season, confirmed for a third.
Great article! Nicely written