Friends, Ted Lasso season 2 is fast approaching our eyeballs, so now is the perfect time to catch up on one of the best shows on TV right now, if you haven’t already.
For the uninitiated who have no idea what I’m talking about, Jason Sudeikis plays Ted Lasso, a small-time college football coach who takes on the responsibility of coaching pro soccer in England, despite having no experience in soccer at all.
If that’s not enough for you, and you need a bit more justification as to why you should watch this charming as hell Apple TV Plus exclusive, then this Twitter thread will help you out some.
“If you want a masterclass in character writing, re-watch the Pilot episode. My Hollywood screenwriter buddy did a frame-by-frame breakdown for me,” Twitter user Trung Phan wrote.
“The show’s writers make us love Lasso… and it only takes 157 seconds.”
Yep, in just 157 seconds, Ted Lasso makes us fall in love with its titular character, and it isn’t glaringly obvious or ham-fisted.
Let’s have a look at just how the show works its magic on us without us realising it.
Ted Lasso’s Season 2 starts tomorrow.
If you want a masterclass in character writing, re-watch the Pilot episode. My Hollywood screenwriter buddy did a frame-by-frame breakdown for me.
The show’s writers make us love Lasso…and it only takes 157 seconds.
THREAD 🧵 pic.twitter.com/DyQWEk7X5S
— Trung Phan (@TrungTPhan) July 22, 2021
One of the best parts of Ted Lasso, to me, is the fact that it largely centres around sport, and yet you don’t have to like sports to find this show super enjoyable and charming.
Nobody in the show ever speaks about how amazing Lasso is, and Lasso sure as hell doesn’t boast about himself, which is an expert display of showing and not telling.
I mean, the first time we ever see him in the show is with a huge-ass smiling grin. Be still my beating heart. Sudeikis is loveable as hell, so it wouldn’t have been hard for him to channel kindness and warmth through a character.
2/ We first see Lasso at the 3:51 mark of the pilot.
And when we do, it’s a still photo of him on ESPN’s Sportcenter show.
Importantly, it’s a HUGE smiling photo that instantly pulls you in…and you spend 28 seconds with the still smiling image as Scott Van Pelt speaks. pic.twitter.com/hfBtgxhyYg
— Trung Phan (@TrungTPhan) July 22, 2021
And professionally, Lasso is also beloved for what he does.
This isn’t going to be one of those shows where the person is loveable and kind-hearted but shit at their job. Oh no, Lasso is a man on a mission. He loves what he does and it’s infectious as hell.
3/ The first action we see Lasso do is a 16-second dance clip with the college football team he coaches.
He’s clearly a fun dude and — crucially — his players LOVE him.
It’s only been 44 seconds, we haven’t heard Lasso speak…but we’re all thinking “this guy is amazing.” pic.twitter.com/ARWxclr18t
— Trung Phan ???????? (@TrungTPhan) July 22, 2021
Not to mention, in this same 157 seconds, Lasso deals with a fan on the plane who makes some trollish remarks and interrupts his book, and yet, nothing but smiles.
The best part is, it doesn’t feel like overwhelming happiness, just a very simple, kind-hearted energy.
One simply must stan.
5/ The selfie guy quickly puts Lasso to his 2nd test by telling Lasso he’s nuts for taking the soccer coaching job.
Lasso takes the trolling in stride.
2nd test passed. ✔️
After 90 seconds of screen time, we LOVE this guy. pic.twitter.com/Gx1q3ulAvZ
— Trung Phan (@TrungTPhan) July 22, 2021
And he’s a family man???? Who loves his friends??????
He’s the perfect husband material IMO. I mean, that moustache? Oof.
Olivia Wilde, mistakes were made.
7/ Finally, we wrap up our first 157 seconds with Lasso by finding out he’s a family man.
He looks at a photo of his wife and kid…and smiles.
What a guy!
That entire Lasso intro (from Lasso on ESPN to the photo) takes place from 3:51 – 6:28 of the episode.
That’s it! pic.twitter.com/CeMmQiBqio
— Trung Phan (@TrungTPhan) July 22, 2021
And that wraps up the 157 seconds that we meet Ted Lasso in within the Pilot episode.
If that doesn’t convince you to tune in when season two kicks off, I don’t know what will.
On a side note, it’s interesting to consider the fact that Lasso used to be an angry and more comedic character at first. Have a look for yourself right here:
10/ SIDE NOTE: The original version of Ted Lasso was actually much less nice.
Here’s a vid of Lasso as first imagined for NBC (before Apple took over) pic.twitter.com/4bGCbtLDIg
— Trung Phan ???????? (@TrungTPhan) July 22, 2021
The first ep of Ted Lasso season 2 is dropping on July 23 on Apple TV Plus.
