In this comedy on Apple+, Rebecca (Hannah Waddingham), the new owner of a mediocre English soccer/football team, hires Ted Lasso (Jason Sudeikis), an upbeat American football coach with very little knowledge of soccer. I loved this show.
The character of Ted Lasso started off as a few commercials where the dimwitted Lasso tried his hand at commenting on English sports. Compared to how the character started out, it's impressive how they elevated him. The character was wisely changed from a dummy who's completely out of his depth (there are plenty of those in comedy) to a Columbo-type who hides his wisdom behind the appearance of simplicity. Instead of being a base level comedy like the commercials, the show is more of a borderline dramedy.
I know I'm not saying much that anyone else hasn't already said, but this is a real feel-good show with so much heart. All the main characters are end up being extremely likable. Many of them have hopes or dreams and personal issues that are engrossing.
I appreciate the optimistic tone and avoiding more obviously cynical routes things could've gone. For instance, Rebecca starts off being hard on her underling Higgins (Jeremy Swift). So, I expected the show to go the basic Burns/Smithers route of the boss who is constantly mean to an employee, but this show is far more nuanced and ultimately goes a different route.
The backbone to this is definitely Lasso himself. After SNL and Horrible Bosses, Sudeikis kind of disappeared for a while. I'm glad this show gave him a shot in a role that might very well have an Emmy nomination sometime in the future. His Lasso is just a really nice guy, immediately trying to help with his team and making friends with whoever crosses his path. He's got a simple enthusiasm that is just infectious. Rebecca is also a very interesting character. She's the opposite of Lasso, coming from a place of cynicism, but she has a strong background that makes her quite sympathetic and her emotional journey is one of the best parts.
It doesn't hurt the show that the entire thing is pretty funny. Strong distinctive humorous voices for most of the characters.
I have one nitpick for the show. The writers appeared to have done their research when it comes to English soccer/football, however not so much when it comes to English pop culture. There are a lot of references to American films and shows, but being in England you'd expect someone to reference their own entertainment. Again, just a minor quibble.
Overall, I highly recommend this.
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