Critical popcorn

I don’t recall a series that surprised, moved and delighted me more than Ted Lasso did in the last year, or for a long time really! Not only was it a wonderful shift in vibe, and a truly welcome boost of positivity from the Apple TV+ show over the last horrible year, the series also had depth and honesty – it’s easy to see why we’ve all wanted more.

So, AFC Richmond fans rejoice because they’ve unveiled the trailer for the second season of the award-winning Ted Lasso today, and it genuinely looks wonderful – such a welcome return. Interestingly, the series hit home with its optimism everywhere, regardless of whether you like football or not, and with a great cast. Leading the way is Jason Sudeikis as Ted Lasso, an American football coach hired to manage a British football team—despite having no experience.

But, you see, what he lacks in knowledge, he makes up for with optimism, underdog determination…and biscuits. And who doesn’t love homemade biscuits? The ensemble is rounded off with the delectable Hannah Waddingham, plus an all-round likeable cast that includes Brendan Hunt, Jeremy Swift, Juno Temple, Brett Goldstein, Phil Dunster and Nick Mohammed. And, in S2, Sarah Niles joins the cast this season as Sharon, a sports psychologist who has been brought in to work with AFC Richmond. Watch your teaser now, it made me smile IMMEDIATELY!

Since its debut in August 2020, Ted Lasso has been honored with global recognitions including a recently announced Peabody Award, Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series and a Golden Globe Award in the Best Comedy Actor category. The series also triumphed at the 2021 Critics Choice Awards, sweeping every category for which it was nominated,  securing wins for Best Comedy Series, Best Actor for Jason Sudeikis and Best Supporting Actress for Hannah Waddingham. In addition, the series has picked up two Writers Guild Awards for Best New Series and Best Comedy Series, nominations from the Producers Guild of America for Comedy Series, as well as honors from many other Guild and critics groups. Ted Lasso was also the only comedy series honored as an AFI Program of the Year and has regularly appeared on television critics’ “Best of 2020” lists.

Ted Lasso returns for season two on Friday, July 23, 2021 on Apple TV+. The 12-episode second season will premiere with two episodes, followed by one new episode weekly, every Friday.