Tweet

“Be curious, not judgmental,” was said by main character, Ted Lasso, in season one of a new hit Apple TV+ series. This Walt Whitman quote from Lasso appeared in an endearing, heartfelt moment. On the surface, this quote appeared as an innocent, important reminder not to underestimate or ignore the unknown people in your life. This quote truly signifies and exemplifies the qualities of the under-the-radar, easily misjudged comedy/drama show that has very humble beginnings, “Ted Lasso.” The origins of “Ted Lasso” consisted of five to seven minute clips of Jason Sudeikis playing a bumbling, overly positive coach in soccer’s English Premier League (EPL) who was originally a heralded American football coach. These clips were advertisements for NBC’s coverage of the EPL back in 2013. This simple premise helped launch Jason Sudeikis’s character alongside Apple’s new streaming service, Apple TV+, back in August of 2020.   

The show’s first season leans heavily upon comparing and contrasting American football and soccer. This simple comedic trope is a welcoming premise for any viewer. The show, however, quickly embraces heavier topics and messy relationships. A staple of the show is each character navigating an issue they have had in their past with their fathers. Every character must deal with the mistakes, the expectations and the wounds from their childhood and beyond. This brings to light the issues of alcoholism, coping mechanisms, anxieties and panic attacks. Ted Lasso provides an exceptional visual representation of panic attacks and anxiety. This representation allows viewers to process and visualize anxiety that could be present in viewers’ own lives.   

OUTSIDE OPINIONS 

One of the reasons “Ted Lasso” has found so much success and been welcomed by many viewers is its lovable characters, positivity and focus on kindness. The show won multiple Emmy awards in 2021. Many sites have heaped praise upon the show through its first two seasons.   

Miles Surry of entertainment publication, The Ringer, wrote, “Ted Lasso the sitcom … seriously rules. The series has no right to be as good, funny, and moving as it is. And yet I devoured all 10 episodes in a single day while frantically messaging my editor in disbelief that this is one of my favorite new shows.”  

David Sims of “The Atlantic” wrote, “Ted Lasso has been a pandemic comfort watch in my household. My wife, I believe, watched the first season through three different times. It’s just something she delighted in having on in the background.”  

Eric Deggans of NPR wrote, “Ted Lasso’s superpower is its ability to offer surprising and challenging story lines, even while holding onto its mission of emphasizing the power of human kindness and empathy.”  

Ted Lasso boasts a fresh score of 95% on Rotten Tomatoes and had amassed 509 million views through its first 20 episodes of the series.    

WHY WATCH? 

Apple TV+’s lovable characters who find their way into viewers’ hearts on the pitch and across the pond might not be for everyone but the show does have plenty to offer to connect a wide range of audiences.  

“Ted Lasso” has led my father and me to talk extensively about the unexpected outcomes of romantic relationships that our favorite characters find themselves intertwined in as we hope for the best for the fictional character. As a family, we rewatched season one almost immediately after finishing it, just so we would not miss any one-liners our laughter may have covered up in our first watch through.   

“Ted Lasso” even stretched its impact to my workplace, as coworkers of mine truly embraced the weekly release of each episode and eagerly waited to catch up on each episode’s happenings. The show at times appears to be about sports or casual dad jokes, but the heart of the show rests upon humans embracing their trials, hurts, and mistakes together. “Ted Lasso” models and preaches this embodiment of vulnerability and support throughout season two.   

The show is not without its flaws, there are slower episodes or predictable moments. Still, the show truly can bring people together and start healthy conversations around mental health and broken relationships.   

CARRYING ON THE CONVERSATION (spoiler warning) 

Near the end of season two, Ted Lasso’s panic attacks become public knowledge and he is subject to an egregious amount of scrutiny and personal attacks. Lasso bravely steps up to the mic and addresses the panic attacks but more importantly addresses the unhealthy view of mental health in sports, saying, “I want to share with you all the truth about my recent struggles with anxiety and my overall concern with the way we discuss and deal with mental health in athletics.”   

Lasso’s words are timely as ever as athletes like Simone Biles, Kevin Love, Demar Derozan and Naomi Osaka have all been vulnerable with the public sharing their mental health challenges. The amount of pressure athletes face can be unbearable and make navigating any mental health struggle challenging. The conversation around mental health in sports needs to continue to change and evolve in a way that embraces empathy, support and respect. “The Players’ Tribune” has provided an excellent platform for athletes to share their stories and is well worth supporting and reading.   

“Ted Lasso’s” overwhelming positivity and conversation-starting content makes it a can’t-miss streaming show. Its first two seasons brought families together and brought to light important topics, and the third season in 2022 seems destined to do the same.