What Made Ted Lasso an Insanely Good Show

Since its release on Apple TV, Ted Lasso has made a lot of noise – positive, at that, because of how “insanely good” it was. To be honest, I wasn’t really enticed to watch the show because I’m not a fan of soccer or football and I never considered subscribing to Apple TV+. But then I recently purchased a new MacBook which came with a free 3 months of Apple TV+, so I figured why not give it a try? Since it is one of the most talked about Apple TV shows, I did, and boy I was regretting that I didn’t watch it earlier.

Just a quick overview, Ted Lasso is all about a man named Ted Lasso who’s an American college football coach that was recruited by a struggling English Premier League soccer team. It’s an exclusive show on Apple TV+, so you might not find it on other streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and DISH TV. Currently, it’s on its third season but the fourth season is yet to be confirmed.

So, what made Ted Lasso an insanely good show? Well, I’ve got some of my own observations and realizations while binge-watching this show last week, and I’m here to tell you all about it.

1. Authenticity

The one factor that hooked me in the first place was the show’s authenticity. It’s very realistic in terms of the life of a new-comer in a city with an entirely different culture and lifestyle. From Ted Lasso’s initial struggles to understand British culture and soccer terminologies to the team’s skepticism and resistance towards him, everything felt genuine. The characters were not portrayed as perfect individuals but rather as flawed and complex human beings, which made them relatable and endearing.

2. Optimism

Optimism can be toxic during certain situations. But with Ted Lasso, his optimism to drive change and actually bring out the best in people, players or not, is something special. Not everyone can maintain that same level of optimism in the face of constant negativity and doubt, yet Ted Lasso does it with such genuine warmth and humor that it’s infectious. It’s not blind positivity. His optimism is grounded in reality, which I think made this show more special than it already is.

Also, just a friendly piece of advice, we recommend you to have high-speed fiber internet or something within that level so you don’t get interrupted while watching.

3. Dry Humor

Dry humor isn’t for everyone because not many people get this humor. For me, I love dry humor. It’s subtle, understated, and often catches you off guard – a type of show that will take the stress off me after a long tiring day at work. It’s not just the what, but the how that makes it shine. There are a lot of clever wordplays, witty banters, perfectly timed one-liners (especially from Roy Kent) and many more. It just works so well together and I loved every second of it. I just really hoped this TV series will be available on more streaming platforms like Hulu, Sling TV, and more so more people can enjoy this beautiful show.

4. Character Development

I loved how the characters, especially some of the most broken ones, have undergone a massive character development throughout the series. It’s not the instant redemption, instant development type of thing. When you watch the series, you will see the process of their struggles and how they overcome them to become a better person. You’ll see this development on Jamie Tartt, Roy Kent, Rebecca Wilson, and more.

And you know what’s more special? It’s how the impact of Ted Lasso influenced the development of these people. Even though Ted Lasso seems naive and carefree, you will notice that the smallest gestures made by Ted had a big impact on these people.

Final Thoughts

We have a lot to learn from Ted Lasso, and I’m really grateful to have witnessed such a great film in this lifetime. Although some would say Ted Lasso has downgraded as the story progressed from season one to season three, I think the opposite. Having the story shift from Ted to others’ stories just shows how powerful a single person’s impact can make a big impact on many people even though this person is dealing with his own struggles.