I like to give the people what they want. Perhaps I’m a people pleaser, like Ted Lasso.
One of the more consistently popular posts on this fancy schmancy blog is my “Star Wars Rebels” viewing guide, which frankly does more heavy lifting than I would prefer.
There’s a lot of other writing here, my people. Branch out. (Please!)
Anyway, to help ease the burden on that poor Rebels post, I thought it advisable to do another viewing guide or two, and with “Ted Lasso,” one of my all-time favorite shows set to make its (hopefully) triumphant return this summer, and because I often encounter people who don’t seem keen on ingesting the entirety of the program start to finish, I’ve lifted some of the highlights from the show and provided an outline below.
Essentially, this is my ideal way to consume the show if you don’t think wikipedia summaries are good enough, but you don’t want to commit to watching the whole darn thing.
Let’s be honest, some of the episodes are better or more important to the overarching narrative than others. And that’s okay! You’ve still got time to watch (or rewatch!) the entire run if you want (and I recommend that you do so!), but hey, if you’re thinking, “It’s time I saw what the fuss was about,” or “Man, I really want to rewatch some of it,” but don’t want to go whole hog, this is the guide for you.
If you’re new to the series, the case for “Ted Lasso” is the case for kindness and sincerity. That might sound a little boring at the outset, but I think what most people who have opened themselves to the show have discovered is that there is a surprising freshness to it. That’s probably (certainly?) an indictment of modern society in general, though it’s also what ultimately makes the show work. When you go in expecting cynicism and sarcasm, and the characters instead behave in a different (albeit still realistic) manner, the show can become a little less predictable, and well, that keeps the narrative interesting.
The secret sauce of kindness, then, is what gives the show its vitality, in sharp contrast to any feared boredom. And as a result, it becomes very much worth engaging with, PARTICULARLY if you feel a little tired of negativity (I want to acknowledge that this show, and its kindness, was a soothing balm for many of us during the pandemic).
With this guide, you’ll get the best moments from the show, the best episodes, and most of the key plot elements (though some of the plot will get trimmed here – it’s the nature of the process). I apologize to fans if your favorite episode doesn’t get included. Again, this is the nature of the process. And it’s just one dude’s list. Your list can be different and that’s cool.
With all that said, let’s get started with the DEFINITIVE (j/k) Ted Lasso viewing guide.
Barbecue sauce.
Continue reading Your Ted Lasso Viewing Guide
