Wayward Ted: Finding Hope in Ted Lasso
By Diana Vidals
I love Ted Lasso. That's it, that's the article.
For those unfamiliar with it, the show follows newly hired coach Ted Lasso as he navigates the trials and tribulations of coaching a British soccer club, AFC Richmond. The catch? He doesn’t know a thing about soccer, and unbeknownst to him, he is a key part of his boss, Rebecca’s, revenge plot to run the team to the ground.
Starring Jason Sudeikis as Coach Lasso, the show is hilarious, heartfelt, and motivating, covering topics such as love, friendships, and ego. There are many things I love about Ted Lasso, mainly its amazing plotlines that follow the AFC Richmond members through the trials and tribulations of their professional and personal lives. The characters are particularly well-written; once you start to hate them, you can’t help but love them (or vice versa). However, no character is richer than Coach Lasso himself.
In short, Ted is perfect. But human, making him all the better. The show doesn’t explicitly tell you this, instead, it shows you in tiny details. From the pilot episode, you begin to get an understanding of who Ted is when he shakes hands with every person he comes across and asks for their name (and remembers it!). However, it sticks with viewers through moments like recognizing unnoticed workers, standing up to Rebecca’s ex-husband, and cheering up his struggling team.
Image Courtesy of Apple TV+
As soon as he enters a scene, he is quick to stand out, whether it's his thick southern drawl, his jokes, puns, or weird tangents. He is a big contrast to the characters found in Richmond, who find his sunny demeanor to be an acquired taste… to say the least.
Image Courtesy of Apple TV+
Whether it’s angry fans, untrusting players, or Rebecca’s cold shoulder, Ted handles each situation with grace, empathy, and charm. Despite the clear fact that he is way over his head, you can’t help but root for him.
His kindness and humility are big factors in his survival of an otherwise nightmarish situation; in a sense, they are sort of his superpower. And yet, they are actions that we are all perfectly capable of.
After just a few episodes, I was captured by Ted’s optimism and kindness. He was the kind of human being I want to be. At the moment, I had been struggling to believe that kindness and empathy would be able to survive; instead, coping with a pessimistic mentality and behaviours. In catching these default reactions to situations, in and outside my control, I opted to take a new approach to them, the Ted Lasso way. Kindness, patience, and empathy go a long way, and sometimes they can be as simple as holding the door open, having a quick chat with a stranger, or complimenting someone. Just these small acts can be so fulfilling and can be the first few steps to a more optimistic view on things. It’s very much about being the change you want to see.
It is easier said than done, but after a few episodes, you’ll have whole-hearted faith in the Ted Lasso Way.
