TV Review: Ted Lasso Is My Constant Optimist Season 2
Out July 23 on Apple TV, I think every time I promote how great Ted Lasso is, as a show , I try to make clear that I do not find it funny. In fact, if I I went to this show for gut-busting laughs, I’d probably walk away disappointed and even bored. Yet, I do smile a LOT! Instead, Ted Lasso is a character piece; of which we watch a genuinely good, positive person try to spread his joy to others while suffering some heartbreaks down the road. In Season 2, I continued to cheer for My Dear Ted as the cracks behind his warm smile began to develop.
When you are a happy person with moments of sad, the world presumes you don’t have depression. You are a delightful guy with a “can-do” attitude; what could you know about the isolating heartbreak of existentialism? Yet, as Ted tries to transfer his winning heart into his losing team, his penchant for making people like him and push them to like themselves puts him at an emotional crux: Ted Lasso is not the biggest fan of Ted Lasso. The realization that his happy demeanor, determined hope, and vivacious warmth is real in how he gives it to others, but non-existent in how he delivers it to himself, makes the show about an unwavering optimist feel real to me as one, as well. Believing life can get better, people are good, and if you open your heart enough, you can receive that does not make you any less capable of being crushed. In fact, being deemed “harmless” makes you even more endangered or opened to harm. Still, sometimes, that harm comes from self-denialism.
I think the magic of Ted Lasso Season 2 is, of course, Jason Sudeikis award winning performance, and how he, somehow, manages to expand the emotional universe of a man that, in both surrounding characters and real life, most people could consider one-note. He is the guy whom is always smiling and gives awesome wisdom, but can appear like a sweet goof. Yet, Ted is in pain. He is a man that lost everything and is adamant on guiding others to their victory: not simply because he is a good guy but also it is his distraction. Yet, a fabulously stoic new therapist puts Ted on his emotional heels, and forces him to actually take in the empowering advice he so easily gives.
Dr. Sharon Fieldstone (Sarah Niles) is fantastic. She emanates intrigue and nobility while also never letting her emotions hang on her sleeve, which fascinates Ted. As she becomes the Richmond team’s therapist, and eventually his, she also becomes a door into the sentimental life of a character that puts us all in our feels. Yet, nearly every character is taking an emotional journey this season, which may seem obvious, but Season 1 of Ted Lasso was all about solidifying to the audience that a great guy can exist. Season 2 is all about whether better people can live their best lives.
Jaime (Phil Dunster) is back and trying to learn humility. Roy (Brett Goldstein0 is trying to learn vulnerability, and Rebecca (Hannah Waddingham) is determined to accept that the past mistreatment from men does not mean future ones. Nathan (Nick Mohammed) is taking the behaviorally murky road of boosting his faith in himself while not become a full-on, bullying ego, and fan-faves like Sam (Toheeb Jimoh) and Danny (Cristo Fernandez) are given some cute scenes to expand that the best way to get over life’s challenges is to embrace them and be clear, to everyone, how you feel about them. This truth/ arc even pertains to Keeley (Juno Temple) as she battles romantic fatigue because even a beautiful love story needs a solo break.
Ultimately, Ted Lasso shines as a truly original show amongst the many originals out there. It is a show about good people trying to love their lives more so that they can actually do better by them. At its core, you cannot beat that level of relatable. While I can’t say Season 2 was better than Season 1, I can say that it took me on a equally welcomed, heartfelt journey. Created by Brendan Hunt, Bill Lawrence, and with writing credits for Jason Sudeikis, I can authentically declare Season 2 of Ted Lasso a win: something the character does not do often on the soccer field (lol!)
