Ted Lasso (Spoiler-Free) Review

I’ve been asked by a number of people over the last couple of months if Apple TV+ is worth getting, and my answer has been a stark “No.” I haven’t been particularly taken by any of the fledgling streaming service’s offerings. While there are some ok shows, that’s not something that justifies spending money to subscribe to a streaming service – especially in a time when streaming services are our main source of entertainment, and you want to spend your money carefully on them. But, after watching the utterly delightful first season of Ted Lasso, I think my answer might be changing.

I was extremely skeptical of Ted Lasso prior to devouring all ten episodes in the span of two days. I recalled the funny sketches that introduced Ted to us all (made for NBC Premiere League coverage, in them Ted Lasso is a former Wichita State college football coach – which is a joke within a joke, as the Shockers haven’t fielded a football team since 1986 – who gets hired as a Premiere League coach for Tottenham Hotspur F.C. and naturally struggles to grasp the differences between the two types of football while maintaining a shockingly sunny disposition), but I doubted the character had enough juice to anchor a comedy series. After all, the TV graveyards are littered with fun sketch characters networks attempted to stretch into actual shows (looking at you, Geico Cavemen). However, with Ted Lasso, I have never been happier to have been wrong in my initial assessment.

In Ted Lasso, the basics of the story remain the same: Ted is a Wichita State football coach who gets hired by a Premiere League football club (in this case, it’s AFC Richmond) and is a fish out of water both on and off the pitch. Ted is still stunningly optimistic in the face of every challenge thrown his way, but the series takes pains to make it clear that this is a conscious choice Ted makes – and that it takes effort to continue to be this positive when there are outward influences hitting you from all sides – turning Ted from the punchline into a complex character. Much of the success of the series hinges on the work of Jason Sudeikis, who never leans too far in one direction, grounding the character of Ted in his deep empathy and infectious joy for his work. Sudeikis is wonderful in the titular role and makes you root for him to succeed, which certainly isn’t an easy accomplishment with a character as cheery and hopeful as Ted.

Now, a series about a sunny fish out of water wouldn’t work without a storm cloud character, and Ted Lasso certainly has a great one in Rebecca Wilton (portrayed by the sensational Hannah Waddingham, who most folks will recognize as the “Shame!” nun from Game of Thrones, but who is also one of England’s finest musical theatre actresses – a talent that is put to good use later in the season). Antagonistic relationships between bosses and employees are a hallmark of comedies, and this one is poised to be an all-timer. Rebecca received control of Richmond following her divorce from her tool of a husband (Anthony Head – yes, Giles from Buffy – who is delightfully slimy in his recurring role) and has decided she wants to absolutely tank the team, thereby destroying the one thing her ex truly loved. Hence the hiring of Ted to be the coach.

Of course, what starts off as a plot to upend the team slowly changes into something different as Rebecca spends more time with Ted – and spends more time with the show’s breakout character Keeley, brilliantly portrayed by Juno Temple. The Ted-Rebecca relationship reminded me a great deal of the Leslie-Ron relationship on the great Parks and Recreation (high praise, as that relationship was my favorite part of the series) – two very different people who end up caring a great deal for each other, even though one (in the case of Ted Lasso, it’s Rebecca) is far too stoic and stiff upper lip to admit it outright. And – while there is some chemistry between Ted and Rebecca, my most fervent hope for the series is that the writer keep that relationship wholly platonic. They’ve got something truly special here with Waddingham and Sudeikis, so just let them do their thing and build this into one of comedy’s best on-screen friendships.

While Ted and Rebecca are the foundation on which the series is built, there are a host of fun, smart, wacky, and lovable characters surrounding them. There’s the aforementioned Keeley, who begins the series as a WAG (the girlfriend of fuckboi and selfish rising star Jamie Tartt, played by Phil Dunster, who takes the time to build layers into what could have been a one-note performance) but evolves into so much more by the end of the season. Her budding friendship with Rebecca is one of the season highlights, especially in a series set within the very male world of football. There’s Roy Kent (a strong performance from Brett Goldstein), a frustrated aging star player who has lost a step and tends to get in his own head. And then there’s Nick Mohammed’s wonderful Nate, the kit man for the team who harbors aspirations to rise above that role – and has the football knowledge to back it up. It’s an eclectic bunch, but the characters, writing, and performances all mesh wonderfully together to create a wacky, funny family.

And that’s what Ted Lasso is really about at its heart: Found Family. These are characters who are looking for a place to belong and find it with each other – which is the key for all great television workplace comedies. They don’t always like each other – and they sometimes do things to hurt each other, both intentionally and unintentionally – but you can see the deep bonds beginning to form throughout the season. I laughed a good deal while watching the series, but I was more often struck by the smart plotting and the great character development – something that rarely happens in a comedy. And then there’s the pure joy that builds – you feel happy and content after finishing an episode. There’s a distinct warmth to the series that isn’t easy to craft. And the comedy, when it occurs is never mean in spirit – another thing the series has in common with Parks and Recreation. These are characters I want to spend more time with. And, in today’s over saturated world of television, that’s not an easy thing to achieve.

So, if you’re wondering if Apple TV+ has anything worth watching, the answer is yes. Ted Lasso is worth your time and money. And it’s already been renewed for a second season. I can’t wait to see what AFC Richmond does in season two.