Let me state upfront that I am a latecomer to the Ted Lasso party. Yes, I had heard it was good, every good, indeed very very good, and if I had wanted to, I could've swung it: if need be, just get an Apple TV free trial for 7 days and binge-watch the whole thing in those 7 days, which is in fact easily done. Yet somehow I just didn't feel the need to do it.
I am happy to report that I finally gave in, and started streaming Apple TV. One of the first things I checked out was of course Ted Lasso. I am now caught up on the initial 2 seasons, and I am blown away by how good this show really is. The starting premise is as silly as it is brilliant: after a nasty divorce, the ex of the prior owner of the (fictional) English Premier League soccer club AFC Richmond inherits the club. In order to inflict as much pain on her ex, the new owner decides to "burn the club to the ground", and what better way to do this by hiring an utterly unqualified American football coach with zero soccer experience. What could go wrong? Season 1 (10 episodes of about 30 min each) is one of the best TV seasons that I've seen in my lifetime, period. My favorite episode is episode 7, where the team travels to Liverpool to take on Everton. Do you need to like soccer in order to appreciate Ted Lasso? No, you do not, but it certainly doesn't hurt if you do love soccer! I happen to be a die-hard soccer fan (I grew up in Belgium), and the entire Season 1 just felt perfect. Jason Sudeikis in the title role is playing a career-defining role, and the many accolades that he has won for this are thoroughly deserved, but in reality much of the characters are perfectly cast: Hannah Waddingham (as Rebecca, the new owner), Brett Goldstein (as the team's veteran captain), and Juno Temple (as the team's marketing director) are just a few of them. Season 2 (12 episodes ranging from 30 to 45 min each) is quite good as well, but of course lacks the element of surprise of Season 1, but it makes for very entertaining viewing. The series is billed as a comedy, and yes, there are funny moments sprinkled throughout, but Ted Lasso is so much more than that: it is pointed but never nasty, it is wistful but never sentimental. It's a good-feel series.
Season 3 (also the series' last season) is scheduled to be released this coming Spring on Apple TV, and I for one can't wait to check it out. If you enjoyed Ted Lasso, I would also suggest you check out "Welcome to Wrexham", the documentary mini-series about a lower tied Welsh football team that is acquired by Ryan Reynold and Rob McElhenney with a view of getting the team to promote to the next level up. Of course the big difference is that this series follows real life events, whereas Ted Lasso is fictional and with tongue firmly in cheek. Enjoy!
I am happy to report that I finally gave in, and started streaming Apple TV. One of the first things I checked out was of course Ted Lasso. I am now caught up on the initial 2 seasons, and I am blown away by how good this show really is. The starting premise is as silly as it is brilliant: after a nasty divorce, the ex of the prior owner of the (fictional) English Premier League soccer club AFC Richmond inherits the club. In order to inflict as much pain on her ex, the new owner decides to "burn the club to the ground", and what better way to do this by hiring an utterly unqualified American football coach with zero soccer experience. What could go wrong? Season 1 (10 episodes of about 30 min each) is one of the best TV seasons that I've seen in my lifetime, period. My favorite episode is episode 7, where the team travels to Liverpool to take on Everton. Do you need to like soccer in order to appreciate Ted Lasso? No, you do not, but it certainly doesn't hurt if you do love soccer! I happen to be a die-hard soccer fan (I grew up in Belgium), and the entire Season 1 just felt perfect. Jason Sudeikis in the title role is playing a career-defining role, and the many accolades that he has won for this are thoroughly deserved, but in reality much of the characters are perfectly cast: Hannah Waddingham (as Rebecca, the new owner), Brett Goldstein (as the team's veteran captain), and Juno Temple (as the team's marketing director) are just a few of them. Season 2 (12 episodes ranging from 30 to 45 min each) is quite good as well, but of course lacks the element of surprise of Season 1, but it makes for very entertaining viewing. The series is billed as a comedy, and yes, there are funny moments sprinkled throughout, but Ted Lasso is so much more than that: it is pointed but never nasty, it is wistful but never sentimental. It's a good-feel series.
Season 3 (also the series' last season) is scheduled to be released this coming Spring on Apple TV, and I for one can't wait to check it out. If you enjoyed Ted Lasso, I would also suggest you check out "Welcome to Wrexham", the documentary mini-series about a lower tied Welsh football team that is acquired by Ryan Reynold and Rob McElhenney with a view of getting the team to promote to the next level up. Of course the big difference is that this series follows real life events, whereas Ted Lasso is fictional and with tongue firmly in cheek. Enjoy!