TV Reviews

‘Ted Lasso’ season 2 review: the ever-evolving hit comedy scores another goal and doesn’t miss a beat

Zofia Wijaszka July 12, 2021

Ted Lasso, a compassionate, mustache-wearing, charming coach, is back with the AFC Richmond team. Following the critically acclaimed success of the Apple TV series, the second season of Ted Lasso delivers even more utterly hilarious, easy-to-repeat lines while providing the audience with insight into the soccer team’s daily life coached by a well-crafted character portrayed by Jason Sudeikis. At the same time, the show created by Bill Lawrence, Jason Sudeikis, Brendan Hunt, and Joe Kelly puts a focus on the development of the supporting characters, who realize that mental health is just as important as physical health.

Ted Lasso’s second season begins with Dani Rojas (Cristo Fernández) attempting a penalty kick that goes disastrously wrong. After a string of ties with rivals, the players’ spirits are low. However, the unexpected, albeit much-needed assistance arrives in an unusual manner. At the same time, Rebecca (Hannah Waddingham) dabbles in online dating, while Keeley (Juno Temple) excels as the head of public relations for AFC Richmond.

Everybody is up to new things in season two. Ultimately, Ted reaches a fork in the road in his life. He juggles his new life as a divorced bachelor with his efforts to keep the team’s future afloat. He may be a true expert when it comes to opening others’ hearts, but he keeps his own pain hidden. But the creators put pressure on not only Ted’s growth but also the development of the supporting characters, which works very well in terms of the colorful and elevating narrative.

The return of the ever-cursing Roy Kent (Brett Goldstein) is unquestionably one of the many highlights, and I’m all fucking for it. With the start of the new season, Roy finds himself at a crossroads and must rediscover himself. One could say that he does alright, especially when spending some evenings watching Lust Conquers All with yoga moms who are buzzed on rosé. What else does one really need? As their relationship grows stronger, Keeley and Roy have more interactions that are sweeter than honey. Furthermore, the former model develops a beautiful bond with the character’s niece, Phoebe, which leads to a number of amusing scenes between the three.

There is a noticeable shift in the personalities of the characters. Previously somewhat lost in life, Temple’s Keeley discovers a passion for public relations thanks to her best friend, Rebecca, and strength thanks to Roy. When it comes to the soccer star, he finally shows a softer side. But don’t be fooled; the eternal cursing and well-known grunting remain.

One of the great strengths of Ted Lasso is that it elevates its characters and allows them to innovate and evolve. The second season certainly emphasizes the significance of this procedure. While it’s essential for them to have a specific quality or personality trait that makes them who they are – whether it’s Keeley’s absorbing, albeit peculiar tales from her life, Roy Kent’s angry grunting, or Jamie Tarts’ ignorance – Ted Lasso proves to be a brilliant, elaborative series in which its characters are constantly crafted and transformed. They grow with new experiences, which are brilliantly displayed in season two.

Rebecca’s character is a prime example of this. Hannah Waddingham’s portrayal of an empowering boss of a British soccer club is exceptional and captivating. When we first meet her, she appears distant, cold even. However, those around her (particularly Ted with his biscuits and Keeley’s kindheartedness) open her eyes and, more importantly, her heart. In the second season, Rebecca ventures into online dating, which is a trial-and-error process for her. One of the most endearing moments transpires in episode three, “Do The Right-est Thing,” which is one of the strongest episodes out of the six watched for review. An unexpected guest pays her a visit, and the viewers have a chance to observe and follow Rebecca’s other, gentler side.

The introduction of new characters enriches the overall narrative of the second season, making it even more adventurous and intriguing. Some characters much find themselves anew, while others are there to help one another realize how important it is to take care of yourself mentally. Other characters thrive this season on finding their voice and their moral compasses. There are a lot of plates to juggle, but the season isn’t as jam-packed as some may believe. Everyone is given an opportunity to shine.

Creating a series in which the supporting characters are as important as the main character is no easy task. Often, these supporting characters are underdeveloped, unimportant, and serve merely as a setting for the main character to shine. Ted Lasso, on the other hand, is not one of them. The series easily proves it. It completes everything that it sets out to do. Furthermore, there are numerous seemingly insignificant yet utterly hilarious moments that contribute to season two’s success, such as the mention of Ted Lasso’s glorious mustache having its own Twitter account (it needs to exist now, by the way).

The show’s success would be meaningless without the eloquent, witty, and refreshing writing, which only grows more powerful as it progresses. In some ways, the new season of Ted Lasso changes right in front of our eyes. Previously a baby, the story is now reaching its full potential, with the characters maturing and learning new things about life.

There is one constant in Ted Lasso that will never change. We feel it palpitating and surrounding us whenever we spend time with Ted, Rebecca, and the team. It’s the characters’ unending love and passion for football. “Football is life,” as Dani says, and the creators continue to follow this rule while creating characters so well-crafted and complex that anyone can fall in love with this exceptional series.

Season two of Ted Lasso premieres on July 23 on Apple TV+, with new episodes airing weekly.

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Zofia Wijaszka

Zofia resides in Los Angeles and is a film and television critic. She has previously written for The Mary Sue, First Showing, Film Threat, In Their Own League, Film Inquiry, and more. She loves the Scream movies, Carol, American Horror Story, and Schitt’s Creek.

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