‘Ted Lasso’ Season 2 Review: Apple TV+’s Beloved Hit Avoids the Sophomore Slump

Ted Lasso has the dubious honor of being one of the most beloved shows of 2020. The show premiered with little fanfare on Apple TV+ and soon became a word-of-mouth cult hit and critics’ darling. Led by Jason Sudeikis‘s irrepressibly upbeat Ted Lasso, the show spread a message of optimism during a time of incredible hardship. It was also absolutely hilarious, full of non-stop wordplay and effortless-looking ensemble performances. Needless to say, the pressure to avoid a sophomore slump is high.

The good news is Ted Lasso is still the best comedy on TV. In the six episodes sent to critics, the show’s iconic blend of heart and humor were still omnipresent in every scene. However Ted Lasso Season 2 does make some bold swings straight out the gate, whether we’re talking about some surprising plot developments, a standalone Christmas episode (that reeks of BBC and ITV’s chummy holiday specials), or one episode that stretches episodic run time and the rom-com clichés. And some of those swings? Well — to borrow a baseball metaphor — are more bunts than hits. But through it all, Ted Lasso remains Ted Lasso, a virtuoso work of art that puts humanity first in its storytelling.

Ted Lasso Season 1 followed the titular coach as he battled the odds to take command of a ragtag British football club, even as the club’s owner, Rebecca (Hannah Waddingham), was rooting for his demise. Lasso’s strategy was to figure out how to encourage everyone at AFC Richmond to be the best versions of themselves they could be. Whether that was inspiring water boy Nate (Nick Mohammad) to speak up for himself and show off his brilliance or helping the team’s older, embittered Captain Roy Kent (Brett Goldstein) to harness his anger for good. Over time, he not only earned everyone’s respect, but affection. Ted Lasso Season 1 ends with Richmond losing their big game, but affirming their love for one another as a familial unit.

Ted Lasso Season 2 doesn’t pick up where Season 1 left off, but at the start of yet another trying season for AFC Richmond. This time, the club keeps tying games, keeping everyone’s spirits in a veritable limbo. Adding to the pressure is the arrival of Sarah Niles’s Sharon, a top tier sports psychologist who seems somehow immune to Ted’s charms.

Sharon’s arrival helps bring attention to the fact that despite an avalanche of plaudits about being so damn upbeat, Ted Lasso is a show that wrestles with the dark side of life. Season 1 showed Ted grappling with panic attacks and his divorce, Rebecca facing her own mistakes, and star player Jamie Tartt (Phil Dunster) opening up about his father’s abusive nature. The show’s heart is earned because it gives characters real emotional battles to face down. The humor is what helps them conquer these demons. The humor, and the love.

Love is on the brain in Ted Lasso Season 2. Last season’s darlings Roy Kent and Keeley Jones (Juno Temple) are still loved up and going strong, but other characters are looking for romances of their own. Rebecca is grappling with a new beau who seems perfect, but is perhaps not enough. Coach Beard is on-and-off with his tumultuous love interest Jane (Susan Tracy), all while Keeley is pushing a new dating app called Bantr. Its hook? No pics, just conversation. (That can’t possibly lead to hijinks, can it?)

Ted Lasso Season 2 starts off strong and then gets stronger with the masterful Episode 3 “Do the Right-est Thing” and Episode 6 “The Signal.” However the episode that is destined to become an instant comedy classic is Episode 4 “Carol of the Bells.” The Christmas episode was teased in trailers, so I don’t think it’s a spoiler to confirm that it’s coming and it’s going to be a much-watch every holiday season for fans going forward.

Ted Lasso Season 2 manages the impossible, living up to the lofty expectations set for it by the uber-successful Season 1. While some narrative choices may or may not work for everyone — and discussing those and why would lead into spoiler territory — the spirit of Ted Lasso remains. The cast’s chemistry remains off the charts, the jokes are tight, and the kind soul of the show is more humane than ever.

Ted Lasso Season 2 Episode 1 “Goodbye Earl” premieres on Apple TV+ Friday, July 23. New episodes premiere Fridays after that.