Apple TV’s 3-Part Comedy That Defined the Streamer Only Gets Better With Age

Despite the plethora of exceptional shows produced over the years, from The Sopranos to Breaking Bad, they remain rare when you consider the endless stream of new releases that make choosing your next binge an overwhelming decision every time. Within this category of the magnificent are those shows that are not only a joy to watch but also define a genre and establish an entire streaming platform. One show that exemplifies these qualities, with its cultural impact still being felt to this day in the streaming landscape, is Ted Lasso.

While Jason Sudeikis‘ titular character may have started as a skit, Ted Lasso went on to win several Emmys, and its emotional intelligence, explored through a diverse and massive cast, made it a fan favorite, with many other shows trying to replicate its hopeful yet emotive tone that redefined what a dramedy looks like.

‘Ted Lasso’ Remains One of the Most Heartwarming Shows Ever Produced

When audiences were being introduced to the lovable, yet out of their depth, Coach Lasso and Coach Beard (Brendan Hunt), along with the seemingly villainous Rebecca (Hannah Waddingham), who only hires Ted so that he will tank Richmond, the team that her ex-husband loved so much, it seemed as if Ted Lasso would be a fun yet surface-level comedy. This was very quickly proved wrong when Ted points out to Trent Crimm (James Lance), a suspicious journalist who believes Ted isn’t taking his job seriously, that his goal as manager isn’t about winning and losing, but helping the young men on the team become “the best versions of themselves.” From that point on, Ted Lasso makes it a point to explore difficult topics such as anxiety, suicide, fatherhood, and coming out in an industry that struggles to accept homosexuality without bullying.

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Ted Lasso manages to veer between the comedic and dramatic because of Ted’s hopeful disposition that seeks to embolden those around him, providing a warmth that makes the dramatic moments more sincere. When the show explores Ted’s mental health issues, the juxtaposition between how he seeks to help everyone overcome their own inner flaws while ignoring his own makes Ted Lasso a show that feels nuanced and complex without needing to be dark or nihilistic.

‘Ted Lasso’ Helped To Establish Both Apple TV and a New Type of Dramedy Series

Image via Apple TV

In the years leading up to Ted Lasso, many of the biggest shows on TV had one thing in common: a need to be seen as gritty to be taken seriously. Shows such as Game of Thrones, Attack on Titan, and Sherlock all dominated the 2010s with either snarky characters or a pessimistic view of the nature of humanity. Additionally, around this time, Apple TV was barely a blip on the streaming radar. All of this changed with Ted Lasso. Yes, the dramedy subgenre has been around for years, but Ted Lasso’s sincerity and heartwarming humor, coupled with darker yet realistic issues in life, have since been replicated in a growing number of TV shows. Especially for Apple TV, Ted Lasso gave rise to shows such as Shrinking and Stick, with the latter feeling like a carbon copy of Ted Lasso, yet set in the world of golf rather than football. The plethora of Emmy nominations and wins for Ted Lasso also gave credence to Apple TV as a platform that could produce unique and remarkable TV shows, with projects such as Severance following in this vein.

Overall, there are multiple reasons why Ted Lasso simply refuses to leave the charts, and why fans are excited about the show returning for a fourth season despite the writers’ intention for it to be only a 3-season story. From exploring key issues around mental health to trailblazing a path for a new streaming formula, Ted Lasso remains necessary viewing for all. If you are one of the few who haven’t binged Ted Lasso yet, or you need an excuse for an epic rewatch, then consider this your sign to clear your streaming calendar. Not only will you be revisiting a historic piece of television, but you may learn something about life in the process. With the world in the chaotic state that it’s in at the moment, Ted Lasso becomes more worthy of attention with every passing day.