It’s Kind of Like Back in the ‘80s When ‘Bad’ Meant ‘Good.’

Who is Ted Lasso? It’s a name being thrown around the entertainment industry a lot lately. With 20 Emmy nominations and 7 Emmy wins at this year's awards, it’s no wonder this comedy series is the talk of Tinseltown. My first thought was there is no way this show could be THAT good. But then my roommate told me she had a subscription to AppleTV+ and I was hooked after the first episode. 

I’m a sucker for a big ensemble of characters and there isn’t anything much bigger than an entire sports team. A soccer, or football, team is the perfect number of people to give the individual players storylines and depth without mixing them all up. It never feels like there are too many cooks in the kitchen. Each character has their time to shine and their one-liners that remind us they’re present.

The fish out of water narrative is often overplayed and exaggerated. Ted Lasso and his partner in crime Coach Beard take a job coaching football in England. Their only previous coaching experience was with an American high school team. At the beginning, I expected there to be a great emphasis on the fact that Coach Lasso knows nothing and is going to completely destroy the team. In the end, I was right. We know he knows nothing, there was no need to keep playing that card at such a high degree throughout the first season. In spite of this, it worked well. His inexperience, combined with his personable coaching style made for entertaining scenes. If Lasso wasn’t a wacky and lovable character, this narrative would have made the show plummet.

Throughout the two seasons, the character development is what keeps your eyes glued to the screen. We see people change and become more honest with themselves. No one on the team is superhuman, even though they often act like it.  

In my opinion, there are a few things that make this show stand out from other TV comedies. The first is the heart. Most comedies end with a scene that makes you go “aww”. The guy gets the girl, the parents stop fighting with the kids, the student gets into his top college, etc… Ted Lasso has so much heart it’s a wonder how it doesn’t burst. Oftentimes, we watch shows that are unrealistic and unrelatable. But the writing of Ted Lasso does a great job at illustrating how real people interact. The friendships, relationships, and heartache that are present throughout Ted Lasso will cause you to laugh and cry. They make such personal digs that it feels like you’re watching your friends' lives on screen. 

The second thing is the depiction of mental health. Ted having panic attacks was an amazing attribute to his character. He’s so happy-go-lucky that it was fascinating to see him break down and finally ask for help. As someone who experiences panic attacks, I really felt what he was going through. Additionally, we see depictions of ego taking over, anger issues, self esteem problems, and more. Even the therapist has a therapist! Incredible. 

The women in this series are unmatched. Keeley and Rebecca carry most of the show. Their friendship and relationships with other characters add spice to every scene. It’s rare that a show includes two powerful women, usually, one of them is ditzy or dumb, but both of them are strong, independent women who run their own business. They are certainly my role models. 

Casting and characters aside, each episode takes you on a trip. The directing and writing make you feel as if you’re watching a 45-minute movie. There is so much plot stuffed into each episode and there is always a cliffhanger. It’s impossible not to binge. Again, it’s very rare that there is a show where not only is the storyline intriguing, but the visuals and editing of each episode are mesmerizing to look at. 

Maybe it’s my love for SNL alum, my infatuation for Jewish actors that play cool characters, my passion for large ensemble casts, my addiction to strong female leads who actually have personality, or the way I am mesmerized by smart comedy: there are many reasons why I’m going to rewatch the two seasons. Or maybe, the show is just that goddamn good.

I’ll admit, it’s been difficult for me to put my feelings about Ted Lasso on the page. It’s one of those TV programs that you need to see to believe.