Ted Lasso

Season 1 of Ted Lasso was quite a surprise. When I found out in the very first episode that it was going to be about a fictional Premier League club run by an American football coach, it pleased me about as much as the sound of the dentist's drill. But it actually put me in a great mood and I ended up giving it four stars. The writers, with a few exceptions, managed to avoid tugging at the viewers’ heartstrings, the humor was quite decent, and although incurable optimists get on my nerves, Ted was so incredibly human that it was impossible to hate him. There were a lot of other great characters, with Juno Temple as a bonus. As for me, I’m satisfied. 4*+ (03.02.2022)

Season 2 was somewhat different from the first season. While the first one was about soccer with occasional relationship matters, the second one was more of a romance set in a soccer environment. I'm fine with that because I love soccer about as much as I love broccoli. I enjoyed the series on the whole, except for a few issues. What disappointed me were episodes three and nine, especially the latter one seemed as if the writer was high on something. Apart from Ted and Roy, I would highlight the two main female characters. Juno Temple is always great to look at and listen to. I especially liked the Christmas episode, which was filled with clichés and cheesiness (because, well, it's Christmas!) but it was hilarious, and I had a good laugh without feeling retarded. So, to sum it up, the second season may have been weaker than its predecessor, but I still had a great time, and I won't give it less than four stars. / Lesson learned: Not a fan of soccer? With Ted Lasso, you don’t have to worry about it. (18.02.2022)

I don't usually review individual episodes of Ted Lasso, but this time, I had to make an exception. To put it bluntly, I didn't enjoy the episode. Sure, parts of it kept me entertained, but the sponsorship subplot ruined it for me. How can I describe it? Maybe as propaganda? Pandering? I'm sure Greta would be pleased. But I'm a bit too much of a cynic to buy into the idea that professional football players would toss away their financial security for the greater good. On a different note, I did buy into the celebration of defeat in the match. It struck a chord with me, reminding me of the golden days of our national team. / Lesson learned: If you're aiming for humor, steer clear of moralizing. (16.02.2022)