During the difficult times of 2020, there was one show that gave the world the hug that we all desperately needed. Apple TV’s Ted Lasso was the surprise hit of 2020, with Jason Sudeikis’ charming performance helping the show appear on many ‘Best of 2020’ lists.
The second season kicks off on Apple TV on the 23rd of July – 12 days after the European Championship finale.
In episode 1, it doesn’t take long for Ted Lasso to remind viewers why they fell in love with this character. Ted is as loveable as ever as his team, AFC Richmond, struggle to find any real momentum. Matters are complicated further after the unexpected death of the club mascot. Sadly and unbelievably, Ted’s positive outlook isn’t enough for the players and a Sport Psychologist is recruited to help reverse the fortunes of the team.
Episode 1 of the second season is a strong opener that doesn’t waste time in setting up its story arcs for the season ahead. Time is precious in a football match and episode 1 doesn’t waste time by re-introducing the characters that we all got to know during the first season. It’s like the show knew that a lot of the audience rewatched ‘Ted Lasso’ countless times!
Sarah Niles, playing the newly recruited sports psychologist, is an excellent addition to the show. She is the polar opposite of Coach Lasso and appears to be one of the few who doesn’t buy into his folksy charm. This relationship will be fun to watch as the season progresses.
Enough time is also committed to fleshing out the characters, including Rebecca Welton’s (played by Hannah Waddingham) dating exploits and how Roy Kent (played by Phil Dunster) is coping with retirement. It will be fun to watch how these storylines develop over the season.
AFC Richmond might be struggling to win on the pitch, but episode 1 of Ted Lasso is a strong start. Let’s hope this is just the start of the show replicating its success from last year.
The first episode of Ted Lasso season 2 will premiere on Apple TV on the 23rd of July with a new episode released every week.
