Rarely do series that everyone loves come into the world. Even more rarely does this happen with modest projects without a huge fan base and funding the size of some South American country's budget. But sometimes it does happen. And 'Ted Lasso' is a...

'Ted Lasso' is a motivating and good-natured story of an American football coach who finds himself in European football. And this seemingly quite specific story has managed to captivate viewers and critics around the world. The show won 4 Emmys, the lead actor Jason Sudeikis deservedly took home his Golden Globe, and the series confidently broke into the top 100 of the top 250 best series on IMDb and Kinopoisk.

What is the secret of the success of the project on the Apple TV+ platform? Let's try to figure it out.

Ted Lasso Is a Likable Character

Try to remember an iconic TV show character who is valued for being a nice person. Quite a challenge. When talking about series characters who have gone down in history, they usually recall brilliant sociopaths, mobsters, drug dealers, and other persons with a dark side. Even if we take the best sitcoms of the past decade: Barney Stinson is a manipulator and womanizer, and Sheldon Cooper is a complete narcissist.

Ted Lasso is a character of a different kind. He radiates positivity and optimism. He never holds a grudge. He helps others unlock their potential. And just as Ted dispels the skepticism of everyone he meets on the show, he can win over even the most unfeeling viewer.

Every Character in the Series Truly Matters

Secondary characters in TV series are often used to highlight the main character (or group of characters). In this show, every character has their own story, problems, and moments of glory. Each has something to offer the viewer, and the creators are happy to use it. They might even devote an entire episode to how one of the characters struggles with their problem, partying until dawn in the most unexpected places.

Inspiration and Optimism

Let's be honest: it's hard to stay positive and optimistic when faced with problems. But Ted Lasso does it every day. He's going through a divorce. He suffers from panic attacks. Yet Jason Sudeikis's character never stops believing that everything will be okay. And to begin with, this faith alone is enough for him. And this example cannot help but infect us.

Interestingly, not only the titular hero inspires here. For example, Juno Temple's character proves that even in a 'male' sphere, a woman can achieve great success. And Nick Mohammed's character reminds us that with hard work, even a small person can have their moment of glory. Brett Goldstein's character a computer model confirms the obvious idea that you can always find yourself in a new role, even if you were once damn good at something.

And there are dozens of such examples here. Even if sometimes the characters lack superhuman efforts to achieve something important (after all, the series is about an underdog team), the attempts to do so and inspire others are worth a great deal.

The Show Addresses Mental Health Issues

Despite its lighthearted and positive vibe, the series 'Ted Lasso' often speaks about the delicate issue of mental health. Even such an infinitely optimistic hero as Coach Lasso does not fight his psychological problems alone, but goes to therapy. He learns to be open and not afraid of his vulnerability. And men are so prone to closing themselves off from the world and experiencing feelings alone. The series reminds us that acknowledging a problem and asking for help is normal. There is nothing shameful about it.

The theme of mental health in the series is raised not only through the lens of the main character, but also from the perspective of athletes. Imagine, footballers are people just like you and me. They make mistakes. They can worry about their mistakes. Many experience stress due to having to live far from their families and loved ones. And money can't always compensate for that. So it's really cool that in this show, such things are talked about openly, albeit with a slight touch of humor.

Truly Good Acting

I don't want to sound clichéd by saying that all the actors in 'Ted Lasso' are perfectly cast. But that's how it is.

Jason Sudeikis is arguably playing the role of a lifetime here. He manages to finely balance on the edge of comedy and tragedy, never slipping into vulgarity. And all the awards in the world are a testament to that.

Hannah Waddingham, who plays the owner of the club where Coach Lasso works, is responsible for the most emotional episodes of the show. And she does it masterfully. It doesn't matter which episode it is: a song at a father's funeral or conversations with the titular character.

Because all the actors in the series sincerely believe in their characters and what they are doing, the project turns out to be so heartfelt and pleasant. After watching it, it's as if honey spreads through your soul. And you want to literally shout to the whole world 'I love this life!'