“For me, success is not about the wins and losses. It’s about helping these young fellas be the best versions of themselves on and off the field.”
2020 has been one of if not the strangest years in history and it keeps going. There is seemingly no end in sight. With many out of jobs or working from home, television and movies have become essential for keeping some kind of sanity to our mental states. Too much of the shows and film we consume deal with death, destruction, corruption, murder, serial killers and other dreadful scenarios. With the age of the streaming wars at hand, that only elevates the infinite amount of options to occupy our attention spans.
Let’s face it, apple rules the world, if you think it doesn’t, you’re lying to yourself. And with their streaming service Apple TV + the amount of scrolling to look for something worth the limited amount of free time can only be more infuriating. The good news is, your next show is ready, willing, and waiting for you to hit play. Ted Lasso is that show. If you haven’t heard of it, no one can blame you as shows in the likes of Stanger Things, Black Mirror, Money Heist and The Mandalorian reign supreme. Some of you don’t want to add another service to your growing list of subscriptions but Apple TV + is 1000 percent worth the small price it carries.
In this absolutely unpredictable world Ted Lasso is the one shining light we never knew we needed until episode one starts playing. Ted Lasso (Jason Sudeikis) is an American division two college football coach who gets headhunted to coach an English Premier League team AFC Richmond. It might sound like a strange choice because it is, Ted has zero experience when it comes to football (what the rest of the world calls it, Americans call Soccer). Ted gets the job because new owner Rebecca Welton (Hannah Waddingham) wishes to destroy the club after getting divorced from her ex-husband who loved the football club dearly.
“I’ll start bringing these to ya every morning. Call it ‘Biscuits with the Boss.’”
Thanks to Ted’s overly enthusiastic optimism, Rebecca begins to change her mind about not just Ted but about everyone around her. Maybe it’s the biscuits Ted brings Rebecca every morning or maybe it’s because he’s a genuinely nice person who deserves nothing but happiness in this dark world. Following Ted across the pond in his right-hand man coach Beard (Brendan Hunt) who is more level-headed, sound and concise when it comes to just about everything.
Ted Lasso is just the show we need right now. It’s a breath of fresh air served up as true escapism from daily life. Positivity radiates off Ted wherever he goes and whomever he interacts with. It’s a tall order because literally no one wants him to coach this team but over time he changes minds and hearts. The people who really don’t want him there is the actual club that has many of the show’s biggest egos. From Jamie Tartt (Phil Dunster) the star of the team to the aged veteran Roy Kent (Brett Goldstein). But Ted has this way with people that makes him the most likable person even if you first hate him.
It’s hard to find anything negative to say about this show. It’s exactly what we needed, and Jason Sudeikis is absolutely infectiously charismatic in the lead role. He’s the true spirit of an underdog – the perfect person to root for. Ted Lasso is a show that has no ulterior motives. There is nothing depressing or hidden that would turn the show on its heel and change your mind on how you feel. Ted goes through things, he feels the pressure sometimes but it’s ok, he’s human, but he never lets it get the best of him, He always finds the positive in the negative.
It’s always unexpected how terrific a streaming series can be. Majority of them are really good but few capture our undivided attention and draw us in the way most can’t. What is pleasant about Ted Lasso is the ensemble cast. Everyone is brilliant and they all add an extra bit of quite charisma to the series as a whole. One of the more pleasant surprises is Nate (Nick Mohammed) who has zero confidence as the series starts but thanks to Ted, he quickly gains the respect from his peers and the appreciation for breaking out of his shell.
“You gonna give me the cold shoulder and the silent treatment. That’s a combo. Does it come with a medium drink?”
Ted Lasso is far from just being a one-dimensional comedic show. Along with the heart, the show has many laugh out loud moments in each episode. Jason and Brendan’s timing is spectacularly in sync and their wittiness is unrivaled. Both truly know what it means to have chemistry with your co-stars. Because the show focuses on a lighter tone and has more comedy, the drama is more pronounced when it needs to be. Each dramatic moment is necessary to keep the story more dimensional and less shallow. The harsher moments lets the show breath in a way that takes the pressure off of becoming too much of a sitcom.
One of the best aspects of the show is the writing. The quickness and witty one liners from Ted are extremely quotable. Ted Lasso has the sketch comedy feeling to it, but the show is way deeper and has more heart to it than something you’d see on Saturday night Live. The writing has this ability to allow for each character to finish the season in a completely different mindset than when it starts. Ted is able to bring out the best in everyone around him, he even breaks through to Jamie at the end and Jamie is probably the most stubborn and frustrating character on the show.
Overall, Ted Lasso is a charming and heartwarming distraction from the rest of the world. Jason Sudeikis is the perfect example of what humankind should strive to be in his leading role. From the comedic timing to the more dramatic moments, nothing skips a beat. Along with a brilliant ensemble and a well-thought-out story, Ted Lasso is a show that should not be missed. It’s the epitome of what it means to be an underdog while having more optimism than the average person actually has. If I were to rate the first season of Ted Lasso, I’d rate it a 5 out of 5.
Ted Lasso season one premiered in 2020 and can be streamed on Apple TV Plus. Ted Lasso season one has a Rotten Tomatoes score of 88%. Ted Lasso was created for TV by Bill Lawrence, Jason Sudeikis, Joe Kelly & Brendan Hunt and stars Jason Sudeikis, Brendan Hunt, Hannah Waddingham, Nick Mohammed, Phil Dunster, Brett Goldstein & Juno Temple. Ted Lasso is based on a character of the same name which appeared in promotional videos by NBC’s coverage of the Premier League.
So, tell me guys, have you seen Ted Lasso season one and if so, what do you think about it? Do you agree or disagree with me? Comment below or send me an email and let me know what you think. Ted Lasso has been renewed for a second and a third season by Apple.
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