Ted Lasso Strikes Back
Bonus Edition Includes: a Spoiler-Free Review and a Sneak Peek of Ted Lasso, Ep. 5 "Rainbow"
Youthquake is a nostalgic biweekly newsletter of the pop culture elite (past & present).
On Wednesdays, we have bonuses— as in, a bonus edition of Youthquake. This mercurial variety includes reviews, interviews (Youthquake Chats), and other fun midweek pick-me-ups. Get into it below.
Kindness is forgotten or often misjudged with an ulterior motive, and we can blame the niceties for that. Although there’s a clear distinction between kindness and niceness somehow, the two get blurred.
The act of being ‘nice’ is almost exclusive to the appearance of looking good, not genuinely being good. It’s an inherently apolitical act of instant self-gratification. Niceness is weaponized and manipulated as it’s reliant on our projections and an extension of ego since a person’s spectrum of affection makes certain people seem worthy. It’s a polite yet selfish way of feeling good. Contrastly, kindness is showing an effort to care, a selfless act of doing good. We’re devoid of compassion that when Ted Lasso was released, it was like a Mr. Rogers level of comfort extended itself globally during a time when we all needed it most.
Ted Lasso isn’t a superhero, but he does have a superpower— a sincere earnestness and undeniable kindness, no matter how overly cheesy. It’s the right amount of cheese, the warm, comforting kind we Americans love before the frying begins. Thankfully, series developers Bill Lawrence, Jason Sudeikis, Joe Kelly, and Brendan Hunt gave us one of the best sitcom men.
Ted uses his superpower with great responsibility that Uncle Ben collectively taught us in all 57 adaptations of my favorite proletariat neighborhood, Spider-Man. Conversely, the doubt and immediate rebuff of something wildly popular as a trend, especially something as endlessly optimistic as Ted Lasso, are understood. Despite all of that, you find yourself completely enamored with this fictional world of kindness.
The return of the series made quite the comeback with its premiere episode of Goodbye Earl, a playful nod to Texas legends The Chicks and Richmond’s mascot. In season two, Coach Lasso’s optimism is looking a tad tarnished as AFC Richmond Greyhounds are still on a drawing streak of seven. With the help of the Diamond Dogs, Ted hesitantly agrees the best thing the team needs is temporary outside help from a sports psychologist recommended by Higgins (Jeremy Swift).
Admittingly, Ted confides to Coach Beard (Brendan Hunt) his distrust of therapists as viewers meet the enigmatic Dr. Sharon Fieldstone, who helps the team in their self-help journeys. Yet, much to Ted’s unbeknown discomfort, Higgins hires Dr. Sharon (Sarah Niles) full-time. Not to mention a familiar face makes a return after a dismal tv appearance in Lust Conquers All (the Ted Lasso universe equal to Love Island UK).
Getting the opportunity to watch the series ahead of its premiere, the contrasting theme of light and dark moments is evident; optimism = Ted and realism = Dr. Sharon makes for a healthy balance to the perpetual Lasso way of hopefulness.
“Heavy is the head that wears the visor, coach Lasso. You must have a lot on your mind.” With this one hearty yet searing take from “Doc” in episode two (Lavender), it’s obvious that the magic within season two will be a different yet healing kind of magic.
Indeed, we see this magic and character exploration that Ted Lasso does so well. For instance, our favorite grump dressed in a Johnny Cash-approved wardrobe, Roy Kent, learns a valuable lesson on vulnerability in a female sex-positive episode with trope-breaking girlfriend Keely Jones (Juno Temple).
We see character evolution with Jamie Tartt (Phil Dunster) getting a slice of humble pie. At the same time, seemingly at a crossroads of doing the inner work on himself, there’s also a fascinatingly tremendous character growth from Nate the Great that viewers can’t miss. Meanwhile, another standout is Sam Obisanya’s (Toheeb Jimoh) character arc which broadens in episode three, Do the Rightest Thing. A fantastic homage to film legend Spike Lee as series writer Ashley Nicole Black shines a dazzling spotlight on hidden gem Sam; that extends to last week’s Carol of the Bells episode. The Ted Lasso Christmas special featured how lonesome holidays can be, yet rewarding with the comfort within the family we make for ourselves.
Now midway through season two (episode five Rainbow premiers Friday, watch an exclusive sneak peek below), and it digs deeper than previously.
Ted Lasso finds a beautiful fictional series that ebbs and flows, rivaling the ups and downs of life, allowing the good also welcomes the bad. So instead of running, it’s best to face them regardless of how frightening or alone our mind tricks us into feeling. A structured support system is always around; we have to be open (in our time) to help. Even with dark moments, hopeful illusions are never too grand, and personal rebirth is ageless.
Ted Lasso season 2 is streaming now, with new episodes releasing every Friday exclusively on Apple TV+.
It’s been an absolute treat watching the new season of Ted Lasso, admittingly I might’ve rewatched it more than twice, but I digress. Rewatching got me thinking back to my musical speculation, so for hidden easter eggs, I’ve attached my Ted Lasso-inspired playlist that I feel best represents Ted Lasso and company because I can’t pass up a playlist. For my fellow Apple Music listeners, I gotchu HERE. ✨
Here are some decoded song picks of dedication:
The Libertines’ Music When the Lights Go Out = AFC Richmond
The Stone Roses I Wanna Be Adored = Jamie Tart
The Strokes Hard To Explain = Roy Kent
Lady Gaga x Florence Welch’s Hey Girl = Keely Jones & Rebecca Welton
Rina Sawayama Comme des Garçons (Like the Boys) = Keely Jones
St. Vincent’s Digital Witness = Rebecca Welton
Jimmy Eat World The Middle = Nathan Shelly
My Chemical Romance Famous Last Words = Coach Beard
Arctic Monkeys The View from the Afternoon = AFC Richmond
The Flaming Lips Do You Realize? = Sam Obisanya
Albert Hammond, Jr. Everyone Gets a Star = Colin Hughes
The Beatles Tomorrow Never Knows = Leslie Higgins
Ted Lasso:
Country music legends The Chicks, Dolly Parton, and Reba McEntire were name-dropped (or honored), but there’s one fellow Texas Goddess that’s missing. Yeehaw queen Kacey Musgraves aptly named Biscuits.
Noah and The Whale Blue Skies
Beach House Space Song
George Harrison Wah-Wah
📖 Also, look back at our previous interview with the series’ co-music-supervisor, Tony Von Pervieux.
👀 SNEAK PEEK of Ted Lasso
On a Sam Obisanya (Toheeb Jimoh) high from last week’s Do the Rightest Thing episode. Still, in episode 205, Rainbow, we see Nate (Nick Mohammed) learn how to be assertive with assistance from Keeley (Juno Temple) and Rebecca (Hannah Waddingham). Speaking of our favorite duo, Keely and Rebecca's banter over BANTR and the latter’s dating life, Rebecca’s reaction to throwing her phone after sending an emotionally vulnerable text? Same. Meanwhile, Ted (Jason Sudeikis) asks Roy (Brett Goldstein) for a favor while providing a brilliant nugget of truth via Nikki Sixx and VH1’s Behind the Music, “you’ve got to date your wife.”The critically acclaimed and globally praised dramedy gets better and better; some things aren’t worth the hopeful hype, Ted Lasso is the exception. Precisely why we’re happy to unveil Apple Tv+’s latest sneak peek of this week’s new episode of Ted Lasso, HERE. In it, we see Ted Lasso come out as a believer in Communism— Rom-Communism while AFC Richmond provides us with another pop culture discourse, courtesy of ‘Rom-Communism.’
The critically acclaimed and globally praised dramedy gets better and better; some things aren’t worth the hopeful hype, Ted Lasso is the exception. Don’t miss out on a new weekly episode every Friday exclusively on Apple Tv +; I don’t drink, but a fun challenge is to count the “Rom-Communism” references in Rainbow.
We’re featuring a focus theme on Inner Child; here’s a sneak peek of the accompanying film list for Friday’s TGIF post.
P. S. I loved reading all the messages on Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson, seems like I’m not alone in loving their love story (read the full article below); remember, you can comment or ‘♥’ down below. Also, DM or @ me on Twitter or Instagram.