Ted Lasso (TV Series) Smells Like Mean Spirit (2023) User Reviews

Late kick off

[xmasdaybaby1966 · 7/10 · 16 June 2023]

I assume many of the high scores here are from those that eagerly awaited the show's return for 17 months.

As someone who waited about 17 seconds, I can see that the magic spark isn't there or maybe hasn't warmed up yet.

The stories are now much longer but bigger isn't always better. That is time that needs to be filled and filler is usually better when it is a killer or a thriller.

To have nice Nate turned into nasty Nate does give an edge to the script but not the acting.

Yes, teams that get promoted from the championship are prone to instant relegation but why would the press believe a team with an unproven manager would finish in the top 4 especially as West ham hadn't won anything major in 40 years (at time of writing they had just won the Europa conference, thd third level of European football for league teams)?

It is a shame that the writers resorted to giving Nate a nasty side and saying things detrimental about his former club.

This would never be allowed as clubs have owners, shareholders and sponsors to consider so it is unrealistic here.

No doubt Nate will have a change of heart and turn into nice Nate before the end. To have a Rupert as one dimensional character is unreal too. Such a shame the writers just use him as a gates figure. After all Rebecca was thd bad guy when the show started too.

Hope things improve.

Ted v Nate, and the Show's Positive Message

[ossie85 · 7/10 · 15 March 2023]

Ted Lasso is an elite show. Great characters, funny moments, a story you can invest in and emotion that stays with you.

But the thing I take away most from Ted Lasso is its positive message. And after sometime away from our screens, the show went out of its way to remind us why Ted Lasso is important, but contrasting him against his fallen apprentice Nate.

As Juno texted, let Ted be Ted. He feels so much pain so intensely, but is also highly empathetic and does not want to cause pain to anyone. Such a great character to look for inspiration from.

The episode itself was a bit slow at times, as it was setting us up for the rest of the season. Showing us where each character had ended up from last season, and outlining the stakes. Can't wait for more.

A nice opening to the season

[stvxgf · 9/10 · 16 March 2023]

After the long wait, one of the greatest shows in the last few years is back. This episode does a good job of reacquainting the audience with the cast, showing the current status and mental states of the players, and setting the stage for the rest of the season. The story does drag a bit, which is why I gave it nine stars. The press conference at the end is worth the price of admission. I am already dreading the end of this series. I cannot wait for the next episode! Ted Lasso is just such a lovable, yet deep character, it's impossible not to root for him to succeed. Will he finally find happiness and contentment? Only time will tell.

Much Better Than Anticipated

[intrepidtraveler · 10/10 · 15 March 2023]

After a 17 month wait, Ted Lasso season 3 begins with a stellar first episode. The many plot lines are balanced perfectly, especially the plots with AFC Richmond and West Ham United. Speaking of West Ham's new manager, this episode makes the audience simultaneously hate and sympathize with Nate. The episode also has a comedic allegory that is sure to make people of all ages laugh. I believe that the decision made with the Roy and Keeley will be a controversial one, but it is foreshadowed at the end of the season 2's finale. If this episode is any indication, I am sure that season 3 will be the best season to date.

Perfect start for a Ted Lasso show, from the heart to the screen

[cesarcastrolopez · 10/10 · 15 March 2023]

The perfect start for Tedd Lasso, it's amazing that in the third season the series seems so fresh, even though the style hasn't changed at all.

Most series make drastic changes in style, a natural evolution that if not done will stagnate, but Ted Lasso is still Ted Lasso, with a story that doesn't stagnate and that's really gratifying, a series to make the soul smile. This first episode really raises expectations that the quality of the show will not only maintain but improve, a show that makes me proud to be human, when most successful shows make me ashamed of my humanity.

A great show that makes you smile without being ashamed.

Great Kick-Off to a New Season

[GeerDad · 9/10 · 2 April 2023]

That was about as perfect of a season opener as you could hope for. Some subtle recap for the newbies who haven't watched the earlier seasons, while setting up the story line for this next round. For those of us who have been following it all from the start, it's a tantalizing amuse-bouche for what's next in this 5-star multi-course feast. The underdogs are well represented and have hope of one day being the top dogs. As with Lasso's metaphors for life, this show is a pep talk for more than footie.

This show is the best reason to renew my AppleTV subscription. Love the chemistry that this cast showed in the pre-season interviews.

warm, friendly, and a bit too familiar.

[UncleLobster · 7/10 · 18 March 2023]

This season's opener plays it safe with the same Ted Lasso charm you've come to expect.

It doesn't overstay it's welcome, but you do start to wonder if they can continue these 2-season's-long plot lines much further, and if they can continue to be any amount of interesting. When they start bringing up the same character flaws and the same problems, it starts to feel tired.

This episode is the slowest we've seen from Ted Lasso. So slow in-fact, that you get the feeling that all the story hasn't started fully.

I'm still looking forward to another wholesome fun adventure through the rest of the season, but I do hope they can bring something new to the table.

all what i wanted from a first episode

[easakhoury · 16 March 2023]

It's pretty good considering it's just the first episode and it was Charming seeing the character again it's like seeing a friend after a long time perhaps expit for nate he seem to be more like the antagonist but you cant help but feel even a little sad for him, my favorite moment was whe rebecca was talking to ted and she sayed: "everyone is laughing at us" It's sad cause ted is trying he's best but understanbly cause how much rupert was bad towrd rebecca and also cause how much rebecca is under pressure because of prediction and nat.

The ending of the episode was kinda sad for ted he's ex wife seem to have moved on but he is still struggling.

Episode 301

[bobcobb301 · 6/10 · 16 March 2023]

The issue with Ted Lasso isn't that it is a bad show, it is just not one worthy of the hype. It feels too often like a Ben Stiller movie. Maybe a few scenes are funny, but it is too family-oriented and unoriginal to really call it that good.

Constantly using the word "poop" and childish jokes in that realm is not the kind of thing that should be winning Emmys. People thought the idea of singing Rick Astley at a funeral last year was funny, so maybe they have just paid off all the critics.

Regardless, we shall see how things go, but this was kind of a flat finale, with some forced and unappealing drama.

More Ted Lasso and his merry gang what's not to like ??????

[srirammeera · 7/10 · 25 March 2023]

More of the same with new drama, stories, twists - less about Lasso more about, well.....everyone!!!

So nothing trail blazing here, at least first 2 episodes.

The reason you watch is because TL is the rare show that hooked the audiences emotionally into the characters, made the characters weekly friends of the audience that the audience wants to hang out with and connect to, outside of their own real lives once a week, and NOT DO IT in the crazy binge watch model but once a week together with everyone else on Earth and talk about it, speculate about it and wait together for the next episode to land.

A lot of things have to come together perfectly to achieve the above most important being the casting and the acting - the leader here being obviously Jason Sudeikis who plays Lasso like he finally found and nailed the calling of his life he had been waiting for. The mix of vulnerability, humor yet personal anguish that he brings and switches effortlessly between - that in itself is worth the price of admission !!! (Look at it this way there is a reason why the Lasso team was invited to the White House podium to address everyone, right? Not every show gets to do that)

So you watch it not because TL-S3 has something new to say but because you want to keep watching what this cast and crew does really REALLY well again and again and again..... the same reason for which the world continues to watch Seinfeld reruns for the last 25 hrs or, old Federer match replays - they have become a part of the the comfort food of our lives!!!

Did they hire new writers?

[darrelljonmorgan · 4/10 · 17 March 2023]

Very disappointed with the new season. Came off as much "campier" and the plot lines were terrible. The fact they were picked dead last by every outlet being they were an underdog all of season 1 & 2 turned out to be so surprising to everyone that it effects facet of the episode. That's not sports. Teams don't go off the cliff based on preseason rankings no matter the sport. The mean spiritedness (fitting title for sure) at the press conference was so over the top and unrealistic. I loved S1, S2 was just a level below, but this was a bad start to season 3. Here's hoping that they figure out what they are doing and find the magic that made the show what it was.

It's fine so far.

[lakesteakpb · 6/10 · 23 March 2023]

It's fine so far. The hyper-positivity has continued in the writing from season 2 (Most Heathrow workers would tell you to buzz off, much less have a Nintendo-themed conversation with Lasso and his kid). Never has there been such an established "bad guy" in Lasso before... having the antagonist appear as the overarching environment around him was a far more interesting premise. A highlight for me was the sewer scene - comparing some London history to a lesson in teamwork was a cool idea to see play out. Hope the show can tap into some of that season 1 creativity in future episodes... I get the show is going for feel-good but this season's conflict is manufactured. 6/10.

Transitional?

[Hitchcoc · 7/10 · 7 March 2024]

I agree that this one was slow moving. Also, I agree that every sport of any significance is going to have predictions about the upcoming season. Remember that Richmond just played itself into the elite group. It would be natural for the naysayers to come out. Good old Nate is living the good life. It will be interesting to see if he has the where-with-all to play the office politics required of a coach at this level. He is obviously taking a page from his boss who is using him to excite revenge against Rebecca. The trip to the sewer was a really interesting thing, but, of course, brought out the worst in the press.

The magic is gone, hopefully only temporarily.

[ardentpics · 4/10 · 15 March 2023]

I'm big fan of the show, and I can honestly say I've loved every episode of the first two seasons, so it pains me to say that this episode fell completely flat. Not sure what happened behind the scenes, but the writing was just nowhere near the previous standards. Pretty much every joke fell flat and the pacing as a result felt limp. Things picked up a bit during the scene with Roy's niece, and for a few minutes the show felt like its old self again. I will not be at all surprised when it turns out many fans love this episode, and in fact I will be very happy for those people whose love for the show is reaffirmed by its return, but for myself I can only pray it improves.

Kudos to the actors for giving it their all.

Not What It Used to Be

[hopkinsmatthewt · 1/10 · 20 March 2023]

This episode was written by an AI chatbot with the query of "write a Ted Lasso episode." Season 1 was great, 2 not so much. And now this? Where has all the charm gone from the writers room?

It's obvious this show is pivoting towards a "children's show". Poor (and I mean very poor) jokes, cringey dialogue, and a bland story. I expected better from a show with such a high budget and very strong casting.

Do yourself a favor and spend your time on one of the many other shows releasing this spring/summer. I have no doubt that a lot of love was put into this season, and the characters have so much potential, it just falls so flat.

Odd start to the third season.

[PlutoZoo · 2/10 · 20 March 2023]

I really enjoyed the first two series of Ted Lasso and was looking forward to season three. However, the first episode is rather pedestrian and seemed really like a time-filler, nothing much happened and it was very much a refresher of the story as it was left at the end of season two.

I think taking the storyline down a more serious route regarding the former coach moving to the competition and the various resentments and insecurities there is a mistake. It just seems a tired story and quite predictable. Also, the natural flow of the cast/acting seems to have been interrupted, whether that's due to a break in filming between series or not is speculation, however it does show. Some reviews have suggested the writing is off and I would be surprised if they'd changed the writers of such a successful show, but something definitely hasn't clicked in this first episode.

Hopefully the rest of the season will be better.

This is the problem with the show.

[lovemichaeljordan · 5/10 · 27 March 2023]

Who cares about the predictions? It's tough to watch grown adults act like this. This is the problem with this show. Sometimes it's great, but a lot of the time characters act so childish and unintelligent.

Richmond is expected to finish last this season. Keyword: expected. How can Rebecca let her emotions control her that much? And how hard can it be for the players to realize they are just underdogs and they have nothing to lose. How many years have they been playing? They already got relegated once and it wasn't that bad.

It's just talk! They haven't even played their first game yet! It doesn't matter what Ted's comeback to Nathan is. All that matters is the actual results. Taking the team into the sewers gave the players better insight and mentality than one football practice would.

Eventually in the end everything is solved and they are all better for it. But I don't know about spending a whole episode on this issue. The episode's ending is great -- it's emotional but also beautiful.