‘Ted Lasso’: TV Review (2024)

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Like so many underdog sports stories, Apple TV+‘s new half-hour comedy Ted Lasso is primarily a reexamination of “winning.” Is there victory in self-improvement? In coming together as a team? In uniting a disconsolate fanbase? Absolutely!

To some degree, reviewing Ted Lasso is, for me, a reexamination of what defines a “successful” comedy. I laughed very rarely while watching — a minor problem especially in the first two episodes, which feel more punchline-driven than the rest of the show. But isn’t there success in generating affection for a large cast? In stirring up smiles and swells of emotion? In finding yourself truly invested in both characters and the show’s central sporting franchise after 10 half-hour episodes? Absolutely.

The Bottom LineFull of warmth and heart, if not laughs.

Air date: Aug 14, 2020

Based on a character created for a series of NBC Sports Premiere League soccer promos, Ted Lasso was adapted for TV by star Jason Sudeikis and Scrubs mastermind Bill Lawrence. It’s the story of boundlessly enthusiastic American college football coach Ted Lasso (Sudeikis) who, fresh off a Division II championship at Wichita State — home, in real life, to no football team — is hired to lead a generally mediocre Premiere League soccer team, AFC Richmond.

The original promo character was defined by his proud ignorance of all things soccer and, indeed, the series version is also oblivious on nuances of the game, like the offsides rule, as well as rudimentary elements. (And that’s before you get to the myriad words that are different in British English and American.) But Ted and his coaching companion Coach Beard (Brendan Hunt, part of the show’s development team) are eager to learn.

Now why, you might ask, would somebody so unqualified be hired for what is, in England, an extremely high-profile position, one subject to constant and often hostile media scrutiny? Well, the team’s owner (Hannah Waddingham’s Rebecca) is in the middle of a noxious divorce, and her philandering husband (Anthony Head in mustache-twirling guest turn) loves AFC Richmond more than anything — so Rebecca has decided to destroy the team, starting at the top.

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If that causes you to go, “Man, that sounds a lot like Major League!” and then you look at icy blonde Waddingham (nearly unrecognizable as the “Shame!” nun from Game of Thrones) and say, “Man, she looks a lot like Margaret Whitton from Major League,” these things aren’t unintentional. Ted Lasso is a series that’s full of love for underdog sports tales, and as you look across the show’s myriad supporting characters — including Brett Goldstein as aging former star Roy Kent, Phil Dunster as young hotshot Jamie Tartt, Nick Mohammed as overlooked team attendant Nathan and Juno Temple as Jamie’s D-list celebrity (“I’m sorta famous for being almost famous”) girlfriend Keeley — you’ll probably be able to spot counterparts and comparisons for them in other sports films and shows. A lot of the fun of Ted Lasso is seeing how it utilizes familiar archetypes and tropes, and when it decides to play away from them.

The greatest asset that Ted Lasso has is duration: 10 episodes allow the series to dig pleasantly deep into Rebecca’s psychology, keeping her from becoming just a stock villain, and does the same for Keeley, who’s much more than a standard Page 3 bimbo. Waddingham and Temple’s performances and the relationship between their two characters became one of my favorite surprising parts of the show. If the plot of Ted Lasso surely could have unfolded in a 90-minute feature, the arcs for Roy, Jamie and Nathan are much more believable in this space and format.

Ted Lasso himself ends up being a tough but fascinating character because of Sudeikis and Lawrence’s decision to have his defining characteristic be optimism. It’s amusing how many of the punchlines from the NBC Sports shorts make it into the series, but how differently they play when the motivation for the character is an earnest excitement to make the most of a new adventure, rather than a vaguely jingoistic ignorance. This extrapolation of Ted Lasso lets Sudeikis very effectively play sweetness and vulnerability, even if the results are less outright amusing. The choice to adapt the character in a way that leads with his humanity at the expense of laughs is probably smart for sustainability (though the success of Brockmire as a similar sketch-to-series expansion proves that it’s possible to do both).

The first couple of episodes lean probably too heavily into “Two countries separated by a separate language” gags built around things Ted doesn’t know about his new home and his new sport. As the show progresses, the writers settle into a rhythm that lets the fish-out-of-water humor feel less forced, making it easier to concentrate on all of the show’s other pleasures — from Marcus Mumford’s distinctive music to the steady developing of the AFC Richmond fanbase and some of the team’s secondary players.

Even if the show’s ability to capture on-field action is a little hit-or-miss, by the end of 10 episodes, I was getting misty over the team’s results and over the journeys of several characters. That, ultimately, means more to me than whether or not I’d qualifyTed Lasso as “hilarious.” A little big-hearted sporting hopefulness might be more important at this particular moment.

Stars: Jason Sudeikis, Hannah Waddingham, Brendan Hunt, Jeremy Swift, Juno Temple, Brett Goldstein, Phil Dunster and Nick Mohammed

Created By: Jason Sudeikis and Bill Lawrence

Episodes premiere Fridays on Apple TV+ starting with the first three on August 14.

‘Ted Lasso’: TV Review (2024)

FAQs

Why do people like Ted Lasso so much? ›

It's a heartfelt drama about friendship, relationships, and teamwork too – themes everyone can relate to. I love how the show balances laughs with the emotion of serious drama. The show isn't just about Ted. It's an ensemble of likable characters who you grow to care about.

Why didn't people like the last season of Ted Lasso? ›

Without Ted — and, by extension, the team he coached — as an organizing principle, Season Three felt more and more unfocused with each passing week. Big ideas were introduced and then dropped, huge interpersonal moments took place entirely off-camera, and characterization was all over the map.

Is Ted Lasso really a good show? ›

And it's hysterically funny, And it's completely engrossing. "Ted Lasso" is really, REALLY good.. easily one of the best shows of the season no matter the service. Looking forward to the next episode!

What are critics saying about Ted Lasso? ›

“Ted Lasso” is a gleefully ridiculous show based on a ludicrous premise. ... But as Ted settles in—and the players treat him with contempt, and the press excoriates him and the fans call him filthy names—“Ted Lasso” casts a certain spell. .... The people surrounding Ted are complicated, plausible humans.

Do people in England like Ted Lasso? ›

But while Ted Lasso billboards decorate the skylines across New York City and Los Angeles, there is nothing more than a niche audience in the United Kingdom, even though social commentary involving football remains the easiest way to capture the cultural zeitgeist — just ask the producers of BBC's Match of the Day, ...

Does anyone not like Ted Lasso? ›

Online chatter seems to be turning against Ted Lasso in its (probable) final season. Critics and fans have been calling the third season of the show disappointing, frustrating, and a break from the show's happy-go-lucky tradition.

Who is Jamie Tartt based on? ›

David Beckham, Jack Grealish, Cristiano Ronaldo, Olivier Giroud are some of the many real life footballers on who Jamie is based on. It is a popular fan theory that Jamie is bisexual. When asked about this, showrunner and writer Brendan Hunt said "Maybe".

Why was Ted Lasso season 3 bad? ›

Summary. Ted Lasso season 3 lost its narrative focus, resulting in a disjointed and overcrowded storyline. The lack of a clear, overarching narrative made the season feel directionless. Nate's romantic subplot felt out of place and undermined his complex character development.

Why did they ruin Ted Lasso? ›

Ted Lasso season 3 was absolutely overstuffed with characters and plotlines and tries to cover way too much ground across its 12 episodes. A more ruthless edit could have trimmed everything down and kept the show moving along at a comfortable pace.

Why did Ted Lasso get canceled? ›

Was three seasons enough for Ted Lasso? Ultimately, "Ted Lasso" ended when it should have. The main arc of Ted's journey took him to the right place, deciding it was time to return to the United States to be with his kid and start working on his relationship with his estranged wife.

What was the point of Ted Lasso? ›

The show follows Ted Lasso, an American college football coach who is hired to coach an English soccer team whose owner secretly hopes his inexperience will lead it to failure, but whose folksy, optimistic leadership proves unexpectedly successful.

Are the actors in Ted Lasso actually good at soccer? ›

There are a lot of options to choose from, as it turns out that all the players on the show actually do know how to play the sport.

Why does Nate hate Ted Lasso so much? ›

Until Ted hired Roy as a coach, then Nate started getting jealous of the attention and recognition others received, which he felt he deserved. Nate has a difficult time asking for the respect and love he needs, Furman assistant professor of psychology Grace Binion said. Image from Apple TV+.

What is the moral of Ted Lasso? ›

Being courageous Ted makes several mistakes, but he moves forward. He also moves forward when others make mistakes. He does not spend a lot of time thinking about the past... instead he chooses to live and act in the present.

Why Ted Lasso is so special? ›

But with Ted Lasso, his optimism to drive change and actually bring out the best in people, players or not, is something special. Not everyone can maintain that same level of optimism in the face of constant negativity and doubt, yet Ted Lasso does it with such genuine warmth and humor that it's infectious.

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