Ted Lasso Review: Kindness as a Superpower

Lucas Bennett
TV ShowsComedyDrama
Ted Lasso (2020)

8.5/10 — Ted Lasso (2020)

Pros

  • Warm and funny
  • Great supporting cast
  • Strong first season

Cons

  • Overstuffed third season
  • Occasionally saccharine

Ted Lasso, a small-time American football coach, is hired to manage AFC Richmond, a Premier League team, despite knowing nothing about soccer. The series ran for three seasons on Apple TV+.

What works

Sudeikis’s optimism is infectious, and the supporting cast, including Hannah Waddingham and Brett Goldstein, is outstanding. The first season is warm, funny and unexpectedly moving.

Where it falters

The third season is overstuffed and loses focus, and the show’s niceness can become cloying.

Verdict

Feel-good television at its best, especially in season one.

Lucas BennettBy Lucas Bennett