This pandemic has been a hit and wave of trends thought the last year from the rise of TikTok and recently sea shanties, but when cinemas are unable to operate TV and mainly streaming services have gripped audiences everywhere.
The most recent is Apple TV’s, Ted Lasso.
A show so popular and talked about people have been signing up for the week trial this includes me, and I’m happy I did because by god I LOVE TED LASSO.
There’s a lot to love about the show from the performances lead by Jason Sudeikis’ happy-go-lucky couch and the continual episode stealer Juno Temple’s Keeley Jones.
When it comes to Sudeikis, as someone who I have only seen in the underrated rom-com Sleeping With Other People, it’s a performance he’ll be remembered for the rest of his career. It was already happening before the show eight years before with the successful ads for NBC at Tottenham.
It’s a character the world needed because of his puppy-dog attitude and love for life during the darkest times, giving us something to smile and laugh. However, it’s not just the comedy, Sudeikis gives a layered performance and character.
We get the hint right at the end of episode one, but it fully comes to focus in episode five when his world comes crumbling down, and throughout the rest of season we see Ted trying to keep that smile.
While it’s great coach Beard (Brendan Hunt) is there to support, it comes to a head in episode seven when the team goes to Liverpool for a game against Everton. We see the most heartbreaking moment of the show as Ted suffers a panic attack. It’s so raw and incredibly handled by the actor and director Declan Lowney it opened old experiences of my attacks.
It was a moment that stayed with me until the season finale.
It’s the perfect Bill Lawrence presentation. As Scrubs fan, I saw the one-two punish of the comedy with the emotion which he does beautifully. The use of You’ll Never Walk Alone (performed by Marcus Mumford) at the closing moments of the season finale was the perfect song for the perfect end.
I stated above but the moment Temple comes on screen she always steals the episode. The scene bursts into life the second we see her in the pilot entering the changing room, and it continues to be the first person that Lasso changes by seemingly being the first man showing her respect.
Then carry that torch of change with Brett Goldstein’s Roy Kent who develops a real relationship and helps him get ready for a happier life and with Roy now hanging up his boots, I can’t wait to see where they continue to grow.
The other relationship she develops in the series is with club owner Rebecca Welton (Hannah Waddington) into a solid friendship.
Jones and Lasso are the two sledgehammers that continue to break down Rebecca’s walls in every episode to the point where the strength of the friendships is shown in the final two episodes.
The first with Keeley pissed off and hurt by Rebecca’s actions and tells her to own up to Ted. When she does, not only does Ted forgive his boss, but nothing happens between the two women. If anything makes there friendship stronger they can call each others ballshit.
Elsewhere, Lawrence leads the writing team fantastically with a great balance of UK and US writers. It happens from the get-go with Ted’s reaction to tea, calling it dirty water and the swearing felt natural as it would be understandable they go bit OTT since we swear with elegance.
As I said above, getting Lawrence on board was a smart and essential move as he was able to blend the humour and emotion. More importantly, get the show made and we’re for the better for it.
The other important element was seeing outside the football, like Ted going to the local pub every night and getting to know the fans calling him a wanker and it’s all friendly.
Then you have the depiction of the press from the cliché reporter of The Sun (a bit of a slob). Then you have Trent Crimm (James Lance) of The Independent, who is how I’d picture an Independent reporter (well-dressed, middle class, a bit of an arse) and after a rocky start they begin to have fun in the press conferences.
All I can say is I love this show, and I love Ted Lasso, you were the hug and friend we need right now, and I can’t wait to see you succeed because you’ve made me believe.
The Bear Cave 