So I’ve finally wrapped up all three seasons of Ted Lasso and I regret ever waiting so long to check out this heartwarming comedy-drama series. Whether you like football or not, it doesn’t matter as Ted Lasso is a TV show worth watching and here’s why!
Capturing the hearts of audiences across the world Ted Lasso was created by Bill Lawrence, Jason Sudeikis, Joe Kelly, and Brendan Hunt and starts Jason Sudeikis as Ted Lasso who is an American college football coach who has been hired to manage a struggling English Premier League team despite knowing zero soccer knowledge.
What makes Ted Lasso such a fun watch is Ted’s optimism and positivity. He’s a man who is out of his depth but here our main character has an unwavering optimism (despite some of his struggles) that is infectious to watch and as inspiring to us as it is to the team he’s coaching.
His belief in everyone around him provides a refreshing title character that oozes charm and provides real escapism that we don’t get much from TV shows nowadays. Ted’s jokes and overall persona make you feel good when watching him and with a strong philosophy of believing in yourself and others that runs through the entire series, every single season feels special.
It’s not just Ted who stands out as a relatable and inspiring character as the supporting cast are all written beautifully. It’s a struggle to focus on every single character within a football team dynamic but Ted Lasso handles character development to perfection.
Characters have rich backstories and personal growth arcs, there are individual life stories, struggles and decisions to be made along the way.
Characters such as Roy Kent (Brett Goldstein), club owner Rebecca Welton (Hannah Waddingham), and the earnest Keeley Jones (Juno Temple), each bring unique perspectives and relatable challenges.
This multifaceted character portrayal allows viewers to connect with and invest in their journeys.
Ted Lasso scooped a Golden Globe and an Emmy for a reason, the entire cast shines with authenticity and there’s a great chemistry amongst the cast that a viewer will find very difficult to invest in unless you have no soul (I’m looking at you Guardian).
Humour and heart are balanced effortlessly to the point where football takes a backseat in this football-based comedy and the most interesting thing about this for football fans is that most of what happens in Ted Lasso you wouldn’t put it past happening in real life and that makes it all the more relatable (and funny).
Like I mentioned previously, Ted has his own mental health issues as a sufferer of panic attacks and anxiety but the show addresses it in a calm, collected and normalised way as he seeks help to talk about his struggles with a therapist. It forms a lovely side story and this representation is important offering viewers a clear message about asking for help and speaking about it with others.
A profoundly inspiring television show as we root for Ted from the beginning, out of his depth not knowing a single thing about football he’s supported by his coaching team and he’s a people person, he believes that you don’t need to sign the biggest, best players because if you start playing as a team, building on strengths of individuals and creating a positive environment then that’s all you need to succeed at any game you’re skilled in.
I think some bigger clubs in real life could take note of this as many big Premier League teams feel like cobbled individual players all together playing for the same side, there’s not many Premier League teams today that look, act and feel like a ‘team’.
Ted Lasso is more than a sports comedy, it’s a celebration of the human spirit. I certainly regret being too late to the party and so should you if you haven’t seen it. Now is the perfect time to dive in and join the legions of fans who have found joy, inspiration and fun within this absolutely incredible series!
