Ever since Ted Lasso debuted on Apple TV last year, it has been turning heads, as its unique premise of making an American football coach the head of an English Premier League soccer club pulled fans of both sports in. Even with this interesting premise, though, not everyone is going to want to hop onboard the Lasso express, especially when dealing with US viewers that aren’t as into soccer as the rest of the world is.
Ted Lasso is more than just a show about soccer, though, and we are here to tell you all about it just in time for season 2. Here are four reasons that even non-soccer fans will love Ted Lasso.
(Featured Image Source: Apple TV)
It Isn’t Too Complicated
The first thing people are likely going to think when they hear that Ted Lasso is a show about a football coach leading a soccer team is “I don’t understand that sport or sports in general, so no thanks.” That sentiment is completely understandable, as soccer can be complicated from the outside looking in.
The thing about Ted Lasso is that even though there are a lot of core elements of soccer and the strategies that make up its foundation, the majority of the show deals with everything that goes on around the game. The bulk of the storylines that make up its plot revolves around the social lives of the players, coaches, and owners, delving into relationships and dealing with the team’s losing ways.
In total, there are only a few minutes or so even devoted to on-field play, none of which are at all confusing, unless of course your AFC Richmond’s head coach. Honestly, non-sports fans will probably like Ted Lasso just as much, if not more than sports fans, as they’ll find Ted’s constant confusion regarding the sport of soccer to be both hilarious and relatable.
The Power of Positivity
There are a lot of shows out there right now that center around morally gray characters and situations that make for some intense drama, as they depict an engrossingly raw and dark side of humanity you just can’t help but be fascinated by. The thing about these types of shows is that they can be draining.
You can only watch so many episodes of Breaking Bad in a row before you start to feel like the real world is kind of depressing. That is exactly why shows like Ted Lasso are so important.
Just about everything in this Apple TV comedy centers around the power of positive thinking. Get hired in a sport you know nothing about? Well, that is just a new learning opportunity. Fans hate your guts because you haven’t won in a while? You’ve got to admire their passion.
Couple this with the comedy gold that is Ted Lasso and the supporting characters that make up the show and you’ll be smiling ear to ear, especially since the core theme of the show is overcoming hardship with the power of positivity.
Life Lessons
While Ted Lasso is definitely a very happy and positive show, it also isn’t without its drama. There are plenty of subplots revolving around hardships like divorce, father issues, and attempting to get back up again after a difficult loss.
Even the show’s main protagonist, the happy-go-lucky Ted Lasso, falls on difficult times and shows his vulnerable side here and there, as he feels both angry and sad regarding the situation he finds himself in with his wife and son. Despite all of the hardships that Ted and the other characters go through in the show, they all bounce back by supporting one another.
Not only do they bounce back, but they also grow considerably from their hardship. The best example of this can be seen with Jamie Tartt, a character that is framed as a selfish ball hog at the start of the season that ends up being the one who is responsible for giving his team a late win, and it was all thanks to a life lesson Ted taught him.
Jason Sudeikis
If the name of the show didn’t give you enough of an indication, the whole reason Ted Lasso is as good and relatable as it is all comes down to its titular character. As we’ve mentioned above, everything about Ted is so likable and charming, as he works hard and tries to see the best in everyone and every situation.
Even though he knows nothing about the sport of soccer, knows the fans hate him, and knows the players don’t respect him, Ted Lasso puts his best foot forward and works with what he’s got. His can-do attitude just makes for such a refreshing character.
But you know what? None of it works without the man behind the mustache, Jason Sudeikis. Yes, the guy who is best known for his raunchy, over-the-top comedy roles like Horrible Bosses and We’re the Millers is now a walking dad joke that you just can’t help but love.
Sudeikis really brings Ted Lasso to life, always knowing the best facial expression, tone, or just general level of goofiness to display at all times when playing the character. Thanks to his amazing acting in this role, you end up believing in the impossible situation and stories that the show is telling while also being entertained the entire way.
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