Reviewed by Colin Jacobson (August 21, 2024)
At the age of 28 circa 2003, Jason Sudeikis got his “big break” as a castmember on Saturday Night Live. Though he enjoyed plenty of roles once he left the series in 2013, Sudeikis didn’t manage to really stand out on his own until 2020.
That year Sudeikis took the title role in an Apple+ series called Ted Lasso. This led him through three seasons and multiple Emmys.
A package called Ted Lasso: The Richmond Way presents all three years of the series in one set. Though not available individually, I figured it would work best to examine each season on its own, so this review will look at Season One’s 10 episodes.
Pilot: “American football coach Ted Lasso (Sudeikis) is hired by wealthy divorcée Rebecca Welton (Hannah Waddingham) to coach the English soccer team AFC Richmond.”
Pilot episodes exist mainly to set up characters and situations, and this one does so well. Actually, it comes with fewer stabs at overt backstory than anticipated, as it throws Ted into the action faster than assumed.
I figured we’d see how Rebecca recruited him and learn more about his life. Instead, the show presents Ted as a new hire and tosses him into his job virtually immediately.
Though slightly off-putting, this no-nonsense approach largely satisfies, and I assume we’ll get more character depth later. Throw in the intrigue of Rebecca’s Major League-echoing scheme and the pilot launches the series well.
Biscuits: “It’s Ted’s first day of coaching and fans aren’t happy. He makes little headway but remains undeterred as the team plays its first match.”
Second episodes tend to act as continuations of pilots to some degree, and that happens with “Biscuits”. So early in the series, we continue to get to know the characters.
“Biscuits” progresses in that realm well. The roles expand a bit and help involve us in the situations.
Trent Crimm: The Independent: “To arrange an in-depth exposé, Rebecca pairs cynical journalist Trent Crimm (James Lance) with Ted for a day. Ted and Roy (Brett Goldstein) venture into the community.”
It seems fair to believe that the series will follow a fairly predictable path. It presents Ted as the ever-optimistic leader whose homespun ways will eventually win over his opponents and take the team to victory.
The last part hasn’t occurred yet but “Crimm” advances Ted’s charm offensive. This should make Ted cloying and annoying but Sudeikis plays the part with such unassuming charm that it works.
For the Children: “Rebecca hosts the team’s annual charity benefit, where Ted stages a reconciliation between Roy and Jamie (Phil Dunster).”
That last element helps develop the secondary characters, and Rebecca gets some expansion as well. All of this creates another entertaining and involving episode.
Tan Lines: “With his wife Michelle (Andrea Anders) and son Henry (Gus Turner) visiting from America, Ted makes drastic changes to the lineup during a critical match.”
“Pilot” teased issues between Ted and his wife, and “Lines” develops that a bit. Happily, the show avoids too much weepy melodrama, as Ted’s family adds dimensionality without overt sappiness. Other facets emerge as well and turn this into another solid show.
Two Aces: “When Jamie refuses to train, Ted turns to talented new signing Dani Rojas (Cristo Fernández) — and the team is struck by an age-old curse.”
Given the life events that confronted Ted in “Lines”, “Aces” could veer toward melodrama, but it doesn’t. The show heads tight back toward the team-related drama.
It also adds a new character via Dani. Six shows into the series seems a little soon to deliver fresh blood, but Dani brings an intriguing complication so his introduction works. Some moments lean toward mushiness but the program manages enough wit to balance out these.
Make Rebecca Great Again: “Rebecca celebrates her first anniversary as a divorcée as the team plays a match in Liverpool.”
With Ted’s divorce impending, some aspects of “Great” threaten mawkishness. In typical series fashion, though, the episode avoids becoming bogged down in these. Various character elements develop well and some on-the-field action helps make this another solid show.
The Diamond Dogs: “Ted and Roy are both having relationship problems. Ted consults the Diamond Dogs while Roy lays it on the line with Keeley (Juno Temple).”
Interpersonal domains evolve here, which seems like dangerous territory since matters can easily become gooey. Happily, “Dogs” stays on the right side of this line and helps Season One move along well.
All Apologies: “After a series of mistakes on the pitch, pressure mounts to bench Roy. Rebecca finally reveals the truth to Ted.”
Those elements ensure that “Apologies” turns more dramatic than the typical episode. As usual, the series walks the line between honesty and mawkishness but avoids the latter. “Apologies” offers another solid show.
The Hope That Kills You: “Richmond plays a climactic match that will determine the fates of Ted and his club.”
Can a series that involves a sport conclude without a climactic match? Maybe, but “Hope” goes down that typical path.
Predictable as that might be, this choice allows S1 to finish on a rousing note – maybe. No spoilers here!
But “Hope” does allow S1 to wind up in a satisfying manner. It finishes a particular journey and allows us to want to see where things go in Season Two.
