It seems like everyone's new favorite TV obsession is Ted Lasso. The show stars Jason Sudeikis as the title character — an upbeat, motivational American football coach who decides to undertake the challenge of coaching a soccer team in England. The first season premiered on AppleTV+ in August 2020, but it really picked up steam with the release of season two in July 2021.
Not only did more viewers seem to pay attention to the show then, the critics did also. Ted Lasso recently won big at the 2021 Emmys, picking up four trophies out of its history-making 13 nominations.
There are so many reasons to love Ted Lasso — both the character and the show — the biggest of which is that it's really freaking nice. And sometimes it's just fun to watch people be nice. Here are all the reasons Ted Lasso has won over our hearts and become the show we all needed now more than ever.
It Combines All of Our Favorite Shows
Ted Lasso is a lot of TV genres in one, so it hits all the best parts. It's a comedy, it's a heartfelt drama, it's an office politics show. It has sports, romance, and friendship. So everyone watching can find themes they like in it, making it the kind of show we can all sit down and enjoy together.
Ted Is a Truly Likable Character
It's rare that the main character of a TV show is unfailingly likable. Think Michael Scott in The Office — sure, you like him overall, but he has some truly terrible moments. Meanwhile, Ted is just always delightful. As Variety's Caroline Framke said, "Above all odds, Ted Lasso chipped away at my skepticism until there was none left — just like the character himself does to everyone he meets." Yep, that's Ted!
The Characters Feel Real
It's easy for TV shows to fall into stereotypes with side characters, because the most time is usually spent on fleshing out the main characters' stories. But as one fan on Twitter pointed out, the appeal of Ted Lasso is that all of the characters feel real and have their own stories to tell. "It's a show entirely comprised of main characters. Every single character has a heart and soul, troubles and triumphs," @FaceofBoaz wrote.
The Friendships Are Heartwarming
From Rebecca and Keeley to Ted and Coach Beard, the friendships these complex characters have built on TV are honestly inspiring for the real relationships in our own lives. And they're so comforting to watch. As Audrey Fox put it for We Live Entertainment, "The warm and loving friendships the characters have with one another continue to be a balm for a weary soul."
It's an Example of Us All Trying Our Best
Caroline Framke also noted how the show is encouraging because it's just about a bunch of people doing their very best. Is that always enough? No, but it's definitely the thought that counts. As she wrote, "At a time when just about everything feels catastrophic, there's something undeniably satisfying about spending some time with good people who are just trying to be the best they can, on and off the field."
And at the end of the day, aren't we all just trying to do that?
It Doesn't Focus on What the World Is Focused On
In our real lives, we're confronted by troubling news about lockdowns and health issues at nearly every turn, but that's not happening in Ted Lasso. And while many shows did choose to include the events of 2020, this one didn't — making it kind of a welcome break from all the sad news of the past year.
Ted Has Eternal Optimism
It's really hard to be positive in the face of struggles, but Ted Lasso does it every day. And while it's OK to feel down at times, this character is a great example of the power of optimism. That personality trait just makes the show that much more uplifting to watch. Sometimes the best start is just believing that things will be OK and moving forward to try to make that belief a reality.
The Show Tackles Mental Health Issues
Just because Ted has a seemingly unending amount of optimism doesn't mean he never has his off days. The series does a great job showing him going to therapy and learning to be open and vulnerable. It's an example for men watching that they don't have to bottle up their feelings, and also for the public in general to remember that getting help is never something to be ashamed about.
It Proves That Kindness Is Out There
This past year has been especially challenging on the kindness front. We've been fighting among ourselves over everything from politics to mask mandates. It's easy to lose sight of the fact that we're all in this together — but Ted Lasso can help.
As Lea Palmieri wrote for Decider, "Every step of the way, Ted Lasso proves to be comforting and entertaining and somehow both a distraction and a reminder that kindness is out there, not just on this fictional show, not just across the pond, but deep in the heart of America too."
The Dialogue Is So Uplifting
There have been so many great quotes to come out of this show that are relevant not just in TV dialogue, but in our lives. We especially love Ted's line: "Be curious, not judgmental." Technically it was him quoting someone else, but it's such an important sentiment to remember, and it's one of a dozen similar lines from the show that prioritize love, kindness, and positivity.
It's Comforting
One of the biggest critiques of the show is that it can feel, at times, a bit predictable. But that's actually one of the reasons we love it. It's comforting because it doesn't have these crazy cliffhangers or dramatic twists. There's obviously room for that on TV, but sometimes it's nice to just feel soothed by a show.
No One Is the Victim of the Joke
Ted is an American character in the UK, and it would be easy to make all kinds of across-the-pond, fish-out-of-water jokes at his expense or at the British characters' expenses, but that's not what happens. It feels like every character is valued by the writers telling the story, whether they're British or American.
It's Not Sappy
There's a delicate line between sweet and sappy, and Ted Lasso never falls on the sappy side. The show is filled to the brim with optimism and kindness, but never in a way that feels over the top or too saccharine. "Ted Lasso doles out its uplift without the kind of sappiness that can make you cringe," Matthew Gilbert wrote for the Boston Globe.
It Demonstrates the Power of Togetherness
It's not hard for a TV show about a sports team to be about the power of togetherness, but Ted Lasso radiates that message both on and off the field. What the world needs now, more than ever, is for us to stop fighting and come together and to be there for one another. And that is the ultimate lesson Ted Lasso teaches us all.
It's Good To See Jason Sudeikis Doing So Well
It was really shocking to learn that Jason and his long-time partner, Olivia Wilde, had broken up and that she was seeing Harry Styles. And while we're happy for her, we were pretty sad for Jason. So it's actually great to not only see him doing well in the actual show but also because of it. He just won the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series and is totally killing it in his career right now.
