Holly Lalicata, Staff Writer
Photo via Apple TV+ Press Release
Ted Lasso is in its third, and presumably last, season on Apple TV+. The series follows an American from Kansas who moves to the United Kingdom to become a football (soccer) coach. The lovable main character, played by Jason Sudeikis, faces the hardships of being a first-time football coach, while also being one that is coaching an English Premier League team. His background has only earned him knowledge of the American version of football, so there are some big struggles at the beginning of his new career.
If you want to pick up a show that will put you in a good mood after a long day’s work, this is the series for you. With seasons consisting of 10 to 12 episodes a season at around 30 minutes each, there are hours of watchtime to complete before catching up with the current third season, which is still being released weekly.
The show follows Lasso in his attempt to win AFC Richmond its championship (or at least a single game) throughout the series. Rebecca Welton, owner of the club, seemingly picks Lasso as the first coach under her supervision because she actually wants the team to lose. After her ex-husband, prior owner of AFC Richmond team, divorces her, she makes it her life mission to destroy everything he’s ever loved.
That is where the inexperienced Ted Lasso comes in. As we learn more about Lasso’s lack of English football knowledge, we also delve into some interesting football players’ lives. We watch these footballers’ game situations, love lives, cultural backgrounds, and overall attitude towards each other and the new coach.
Ted Lasso is a feel-good, lighthearted series… up until season two. Season two is where viewers are hit with the heavy stuff. Here, the series shifts its ‘sunshine and rainbows’ agenda to have a more realistic tone about life and the struggles that many can face: mental health.
Mental health is a huge topic in the television series. It goes through not only Lasso’s struggles of moving halfway across the world, but also other battles he faces inside himself. The series does a great job capturing the essence of this serious topic, while also pairing it to the fun show we have loved since episode one.
The transition adds depth to the story, which, in my opinion, was needed to continue the series. Sure, season one was amazing (and the best, in my opinion), but if the show kept going on with surface-level problems, I do not think it would have made it to a third season.
The show hits on many people’s stories throughout the office of AFC Richmond. You will meet many lovable (and sometimes not so loveable) characters throughout the series.
While the “realness” of these characters' jobs is definitely not the best, the humor and quick-moving episodes reel you in. If you are going to watch Ted Lasso, you are definitely not watching an English football documentary.
While the writers never got the public relations career right with our favorite, do-it-yourself, be-your-own-boss kind of girl Keeley, how can you not love her? She is a confident leader and funny all around. We can say the same thing about the coaching staff. I am sure international football staffs are not ‘rounding up the Diamond Dogs’ to talk about their latest relationship gossip in the middle of every practice.
Sure, Ted Lasso is not exactly portrayed to be what a ‘football’ team actually goes through day-to-day, but it sure does capture your heart from episode one.
The thick southern accented Lasso is inspirational not only to his team, but to his viewers as well. His catchphrases, pep talks, and good-spirited nature let fans “BELIEVE” in him from the very start. His odds are stacked against him from the very beginning. Watch how Lasso moves his way against not only his lack of English football knowledge, or the name-calling football fans, but also his mental health struggles.
While the future of Ted Lasso is still undetermined, cast member Brett Goldstein did confess that the whole cast did cry on their last day shooting season three, and that the show was written to be a three-season series. Apple TV+ has not picked up Ted Lasso for a fourth season, but some fans are still holding out hope that this is not the last time we will be in AFC Richmond’s football arena.
Season three finishes on May 31, with new episodes premiering every Wednesday on Apple TV+.