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| Courtesy of The Movie Database |
I don't like sports. I watch the Super Bowl for the commercials. I bring books to read at baseball games. So initially, the premise of Ted Lasso did not interest me. I thought it was going to be another sports show. (Just like I thought Remember the Titans was just going to be a football movie and ended up sobbing through most of it.) A bunch of friends kept telling me I needed to watch it though, so I gave it a try. The first episode was decent, but I said I'd watch a couple more just to see where it goes. And then I was hooked! I absolutely love this series and am here to share reasons why you should check it out. I will also be posting my thoughts with spoilers a bit further down (past the trailer), for everyone who loves it as much as I do.
For those of you who haven't experienced the amazingness that is Ted Lasso, here are some compelling reasons:
1. As referenced above, you don't need to be into sports to enjoy this show.
2. There are some aspects that fans of chick lit and rom coms will enjoy, such as the situations involving the female lead characters.
3. Roy Kent. That's all I need to say. ;)
4. Lots of pop culture references throughout. Most will appeal to a Gen X crowd, however. Some of these references are from musicals. This is, by far, one of my favorites. (I can't listen to "Right Hand Man" now without thinking of it.)
5. It is SO funny! Lots of hilarious lines and moments.
6. There's an emphasis on mental health and it's handled really well.
7. Like most good shows, there a lot of inside jokes that you'll appreciate once you've watched.
8. It won some important Emmy awards, such as Outstanding Supporting Actor and Actress (Comedy), Outstanding Lead Actor (Comedy), and Outstanding Comedy Series!
(Do not go beyond the trailer if you don't want to see spoilers.)
My thoughts on Ted Lasso:
I don't even know where I should begin. Perhaps I could share what really kept me watching. It was at the end of the second episode, where we see Ted baking the mystery biscuits and putting them into the little pink boxes. It was just so sweet and genuine and I knew I had to keep watching after that. There have been many more great moments since that one!
I just love so much about this show, from the characters to the situations to the pop culture references, and beyond. My thoughts will probably end up being random and all over the place, so just bear with me!
Thoughts on the characters:
It's hard to play favorites with the characters because they're all so great, but I definitely have a soft spot for Roy Kent. I'll elaborate on this more soon. I'm also sharing my thoughts on most of the main characters.
Ted: Given that he's the main character of the show, you'd think he'd be likable. And you'd be correct in that assumption! Ted is a lot of fun to watch, with his enthusiasm, funny sayings, inspirational quotes, pop culture references, kindness, etc. There are more layers to Ted than just what you see in the very beginning. The emphasis on mental health I mentioned earlier? That has to do with his panic attacks, resistance to therapy, and everything that came before that all happened. All in all, Ted is a good person to have on your side anytime! Also, he does a great Carlton dance (from Fresh Prince).
Side note: My husband does a really good Ted Lasso impression. :)
Coach Beard: Even before his epic "after hours" experience, I've liked Coach Beard. He tells it like it is and he's so quirky and fun to watch. I love his interactions with Ted and also how he calls Nate out on his behavior. He has such great lines, even though he doesn't talk nearly as much as Ted.
Side note: Brendan Hunt is a fellow Redbird. He graduated from Illinois State a few years before I did, so our paths technically could have crossed when we were there at the same time. (My roommate did a lot of theater and I'd go to her shows, as well as other theater performances.) However, I didn't start going to Theater of Ted until after Brendan graduated. I'm glad he started this program though, as it brings back some fun memories for me. He also mentioned in the article that Theater Fest is what sealed the deal for him in terms of going to ISU. I went to Theater Fest at ISU in 1994, after I had already been accepted at the school. That visit sealed the deal for me though. (And I didn't even major in theater.)
Keeley: Keeley Jones is one of the chick lit elements of the show that I referenced earlier. She's fun and fierce and says what's on her mind, no matter how bizarre it sounds. She's also a fan of Sex and the City, which earns her even more points. I also wouldn't mind being her since she gets to be with Roy. ;)
Side note: I only knew Juno Temple as one of the fairies from Maleficent, but I enjoyed seeing what else she is capable of.
Rebecca: It took me a bit longer to warm to Rebecca after hearing about her plans to use Ted in order to take down AFC Richmond as an act of spite toward her ex-husband. Then we get to the fourth episode with the gala and suddenly I get why she wants to do that and I also see this new vulnerable side of her and I'm now #TeamRebecca. When we get to "Make Rebecca Great Again" (not liking the title, but the episode was fabulous) and get to hear her beautiful singing voice, as well as see how kind she is to Ted when he has a panic attack, I envy Keeley for getting to be her best friend. I just wish she got to do something meta and follow Nate around with a bell saying "shame." (And I don't even watch Game of Thrones.)
Side note: I recently watched this conversation between Hannah Waddingham (Rebecca) and Juno Temple and it's delightful! I love their friendship on the show and how they elevate and support each other.
Other side note: I don't agree with shipping Ted and Rebecca. I felt the same way about Penelope and Schneider on One Day at a Time. They are meant to be just friends, in both cases.
Roy Kent: "He's here. He's there. He's every f-ckin' where!" As he should be. The only exception is the Coach Beard episode. When I first saw Roy Kent, I thought he was just going to be this angry guy who was always annoyed with Ted. Then something flipped and I don't know when that happened. Maybe when he was trying to get Jamie to stop bullying Nate? Maybe it was seeing him dressed up for the gala? Whatever it was, I became all about Roy. I especially love him at the beginning of season two, when he tells Rebecca "don't you dare settle for fine." He's just so swoon-worthy and his growl is everything. Brett Goldstein plays this role to perfection and I'm thrilled that he won an Emmy for it.
Side note: Brett Goldstein likes Grease 2, which earns him even more points with me!
Jamie Tartt: I originally thought he was going to be the guy on the show that everyone crushes on, but he ruined that for himself in season one with his attitude. Although I did find it amusing that everyone was singing about him to the tune of "Baby Shark." I liked how he changed in season two, but not enough to sway me from Roy. I'm just glad he's becoming more of a team player and owning up to his actions. I love the unexpected scenes between him and Roy, such as when Roy hugs him in a very emotional scene in "Man City" and in the season two finale, when they are celebrating together on the field.
Nate: Nate was totally likable in season one. Even when he was blunt about how everyone on the team was playing. It did help the team in the Liverpool game though. And I was happy to the point of tears when he got promoted to an assistant coach position. And even in the first half of season two, he was still pretty likable. However, once fame went to his head, things went downhill really fast. I was really mad at him after that. First, he berated Colin. Then he was a jerk to Will. I was furious when he told Trent about Ted's panic attack. And I was even more disgusted when he unleashed all his fury on Ted in the season finale. Talk about biting the hand that feeds you. I get that he has some issues with his dad, but he should have talked to Dr. Sharon when he had the chance, instead of taking it out on Ted. It also hurt my heart to see the "Believe" sign torn in half because it was obvious that he did that.
Side note: I had a dream about Nate a few weeks ago. I was giving him advice on how to stand up to his dad and hugging him as a show of support. Why couldn't I have a dream about Roy?!? At least Nate was nice in the dream, but still...
Higgins: I really like how genuine Higgins is throughout the series. He's willing to give up his office for the team's therapist, even if that means being crouched at a small table. I love his relationship with his wife. It reminds me of my relationship with my husband. I also love the names he gives pets, like Cindy Clawford or Macy Grayhound (and Tina Feyhound). He could give Karen from Crazy Ex-Girlfriend a run for her money when it comes to naming pets. He's just fun and full of surprises.
Dr. Sharon: She was another one I had to warm to, but I think it was because she was so cold toward Ted when she first arrived. As she started to thaw toward him, I started to thaw toward her. I really liked her friendship with Ted and how she could still keep things on a professional level when it came down to what he really needed from her. I also love the way she talks. Her voice is soothing to listen to. I just really want to know what she said in her letter to Ted.
Dani Rojas: I love his enthusiasm for the sport and just love watching him in general. In fact, I love everything he says. Even though I felt bad for him when his shoes hurt, he did such a great job in those scenes.
Sam: Like he said, he's only going to get more wonderful and I fully believe it. I am interested in seeing where his story will go in season three. It looks like he's going to own a restaurant. I just hope he doesn't give Nate the window table...
Favorite secondary characters (characters who have smaller roles but still stand out):
Phoebe: Roy's niece steals every scene she is in. I love how she keeps a tally of how much he owes her for swearing. It was also sweet what she said about him when Keeley told her to close her eyes and say what she thinks of him.
Sassy: Rebecca's best friend needs more time on screen. She's so much fun. I love what she said to Rupert at Rebecca's dad's funeral.
Trent Crimm: Another character it took me a while to warm to, but then when he and Ted had their day together and he wrote that nice article, I started to like him more.
Mae: The pub owner is hilarious and I love everything she says and does.
Baz, Paul, and Jeremy: These Richmond fans enhance the show and I especially enjoyed how they had the night out with Coach Beard.
Colin: I hope he gets more face time next season. I enjoy watching him.
Top Five Favorite Episodes:
For the Children: The first time we get to see everyone in a different setting and how they interact. We also learn why Rebecca wants to ruin things for Rupert.
Make Rebecca Great Again: Another episode that's in a new setting, and when we first meet Sassy. We also learn about one of Keeley's past jobs.
Rainbow: Rom-communism. That's all I need to say about this episode.
Side note: I wasn't familiar with the song "She's a Rainbow" and then I heard it in Cruella a week or so later and was all excited to recognize it.
Headspace: I like the way this episode played out, especially the scenes with Roy and Keeley. We also start seeing Nate's dark side.
No Weddings and a Funeral: Really well done, including the way Ted and Rebecca share their horrible experiences at the same time. There was a good balance of sadness and humor throughout.
I also loved the Christmas episode, of course!
Favorite moments (funny and/or heartwarming):
* Led Tasso. I just found this so amusing...that Ted became a different person when he changed the letters in his name.
* Roy and Keeley's reactions to Phoebe's bad breath. Actually, most of the scenes involving Phoebe were cute and funny, but this one took the cake.
* The first time Ted tries sparkling water and spits it everywhere.
* Mae explaining to Ted what a wanker is.
* Most scenes involving Coach Beard. I love when he sings karaoke though.
* How inappropriately enthusiastic Rebecca, Keeley, and Sassy were being at the funeral, like when they were screaming and laughing together.
*Akufo's reaction to Sam turning his offer down.
* Isaac giving Sam one of his legendary haircuts while the whole team watches.
* Everyone Rick Rolling at the funeral.
* Roy: "You had me at coach."
* Anytime Roy does something romantic for Keeley.
* Roy hugging Jamie after that awful scene with Jamie's dad.
* Ted eating the spicy food to make his friend happy.
* The first Diamond Dogs meeting, where they establish that will be their name.
* When Ted beats Rupert at the darts game.
* When Roy is on Soccer Saturday and he lets his opinion be known, including all his usual swearing.
* When Rebecca helps Ted through his panic attack.
Pop culture references:
This show is rife with pop culture references, as mentioned earlier. Too many to even keep track of and usually said through Ted's dialogue. Here's a bunch off the top of my head:
* "Ronald Reagan, the actor?!?" (Referring to a line from Back to the Future.)
* "Here's the unskinny bop."
* "S'wonderful."
* The Wizard of Oz pinball machine.
* Dr. Sharon singing "Tonight" from West Side Story on Ted's voicemail.
* All the romcom movies referenced in "Rainbow."
* The Magnolia reference and then hearing "Wise Up" later in the episode.
* Sex and the City (including scenes from one of the episodes)
* Stepbrothers
* The Love, Actually scene in the Christmas episode
* The movie After Hours, which I had never heard of until after seeing the Coach Beard episode.
* A Wrinkle in Time
* The Carlton
* Smurfs
* John Stamos
* Cheers (and Night Court, for that matter)
* H.R. Pufnstuf
* Reba McEntire
* "I Wanna Sex You Up." (I haven't heard that song in ages.)
* Toy Story
Overall, I just really, really, really love this show. I didn't even know I'd become as obsessed as I currently am. I'm glad to talk about it with anyone at any time!
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