Ted Lasso (2020-23)

Between CODA and Ted Lasso, Apple TV+ took over Hollywood. Ted Lasso became a reason to get Apple, at a time of death and destruction in COVID, people actively sought out the positive feel-good show about being kind and belonging amidst a sport Americans couldn't care less about. That's actually its other success--Ted Lasso has made soccer fans out of Americans who knew as little as Coach Lasso when he first arrived at Richmond. I suppose the other reason people flocked to Ted Lasso is because people were really invested at the time in Jason Sudeikis's divorce from Olivia Wilde. Ted Lasso has also made stars of its cast that was virtually unknown in the US, Hannah Waddingham and Bret Goldstein now in high demand. Amazingly, Goldstein was originally hired as a writer on the show and lucked his way into the role. 

Season 1 is really strong and funny. Season 2 takes the show in an entirely different direction. It does a decent job at pivoting from the relentless optimism to the depression hidden underneath the facade. It's a bit of a downer but it's an important message to normalize therapy and show an admirable non-toxic masculine figure. It is quite bold though to go against precisely what made the show so popular in Season 1. Season 3 I thought was just OK.  My biggest problem with the series is its treatment of Nate, played by Nick Mohammed. He is the only Asian character, and is portrayed stereotypically timid. He is the hidden genius who can't ask out the hostess at his favorite restaurant. But what you see in those restaurant scenes has nothing to do with sweet Nate's characterization because you're so distracted by the hostess's blatant racism. She refuses to seat Nate and his family at the table in the window. It has nothing to do with him being timid and everything to do with blatant prejudice. And yet he still wants her! Despite the disdain with which she treats him. And eventually he gets her. He also has this story arc where he becomes evil. Or maybe was always evil deep down. Either way, I didn't like making the only Asian character evil.The show otherwise does well to recognize homophobia and racism towards Black characters.