Welcome to Sport on the Silver Screen. In this series, I will be looking back over sports movies and series that I have recently watched/re-watched and giving my thoughts on them. Getting into the Schmoedown and starting to follow a number of the personalities from the show has given me a much greater appreciation of movies and seen me starting to watch more, while a resolution for 2022 has also seen me making a resolution to watch more series.
Being a fan of both movies and sports, I have taken the chance to start highlighting the sheer volume of sports movies out there, while also now throwing in the occasional series. In each article I will be giving some details about the movie/series and then a quick review, including a section giving a sports fan’s perspective of the action’s realism.
This series has been heavily influenced by Ben Bateman and Andrew Ghai of Action Industries, but I will not be looking at the traditional “Fist-pump moment” and “Favourite line” sections due to just how much more content a series provides compared to a movie, instead talking about the prospects for the future of the show. Be aware, there will be spoilers, but I will try to keep them to a minimum.
After beng interested ever since hearing good reviews upon it’s initial release, and with a new series releasing very soon, I finally opened the wallet to pay for yet another streaming service and I’m now here with a review of season 1 of Ted Lasso.
Key facts
Episodes 10
Released in 2020
Distribution (UK) Apple TV+
Starring Jason Sudeikis, Hannah Waddingham, Brett Goldstein, Phil Dunster, Nick Mohammed, Juno Temple
Synopsis Ted Lasso, an American college football coach, is unexpectedly recruited to coach a fictional English Premier League soccer team, AFC Richmond, despite having no experience coaching soccer. With everyone doubting him and a changing room that includes some large characters, can Ted’s charm and positivity win people over and help him overcome his lack of experience to keep AFC Richmond in the Premier League?
Review
Let me start by making clear, I’m not the kind of guy who would usually sit down and watch a comedy series like this. Nothing against them, but there are so many movies and series that I have missed over the years that I would prioritise, but much like Friends, How I Met Your Mother and The Big Bang Theory, I would happily sit down and watch if I had a little bit of time to waste and it was the best thing I could find by flicking through the TV channels. So while I was hearing great things about the show, I doubt that I watched it were it not for the sports aspect.
And yet by the end of the first episode, I was already in love with the show and absolutely hooked. While the characters are very much caricatures, it allows you to instantly understand them without too much exposition, which then allows the show to immediately look at how it is going to grow these characters in the new situation. Jason Sudeikis as Ted is all sweetness and optimism, so much so that you can’t help but chuckle at his blind optimism and some of his answers to the most basic of footballing questions, but this gets balanced out so well by Brendan Hunt’s Coach Beard, who seems straight-laced by comparison in his own quirky way, while also being as if he has memorised everything about football. And the trio gets completed by waterboy Nate (Mohammed) who is that classic example of a real football fan with an understanding of the game and managed to make it into the business, only to end up in a role that seems a dead-end. Mohammed plays him well as lacking the confidence to speak up—which really makes sense as he is the victim of bullying for the early part of the season—but his deep knowledge of the players is invaluable for a person like Lasso who focuses on improving his team as people as well as players.
Moving through the supporting cast, Waddingham is incredible as Richmond’s owner and one of the main antagonists of the season, who goes on a great emotional journey through the season to actually become really likeable, while Jeremy Swift is great as her kind and largely unwilling lackey. Within the squad, there is a clear focus on a handful of players. Goldstein is hilarious as grumpy veteran midfielder and Richmond captain Roy Kent (based on Manchester United legend Roy Keane), Phil Dunster strikes the perfect balance between being an unlikeable shitweasel but also someone who we want to see grow as he plays Jamie Tartt, the young star striker on loan from Manchester City. Toheeb Jimoh shines as Sam Obisanya, who really feels to me like the heart of the team as the show goes on, as he grows in confidence and improves as a player. And the final mention here has to go to Juno Temple, who plays ageing model and Tartt’s girlfriend, Keeley Jones, who surprised me by how important she ends up being to the show and so many storylines, rather than just being the usual caricature of a WAG. And that’s not all as we have a series of other recurring characters who also perfectly fill their roles as the fans and press.
While the funny moments will always be the ones that people talk about most, the show has that key component that the best comedies have: pathos. And a damn good blend of it too. Were it just 30-40 minutes of jokes and laughs each episode, it would get stale quickly, but the show balances the highs of these jokes with a much more serious side. We have Ted going through a divorce while another character moves on from their own very public divorce as she was replaced with a much younger woman. We have a clique of bullies within the team. And through it all, we have the risk of relegation threatening the team. And while the show focuses on positivity, it does not mean that every storyline has a happy ending. And that is key to not just making this feel believable, but it is also key to forcing characters to grow and adapt.
From a sports perspective, the action is limited, often to shots at the start and end of the match, and when we do see gameplay, it is a big reminder that these are actors not professional footballers, but that is to be expected and was not enough to take me out of the show, even when we had key moments for the show playing out on the pitch. The use of Selhurst Park (home of current Premier League team Crystal Palace) really helps for the believability of the team being a Premier League/Championship level club, even if the training ground seems far too small for a team of that level (they film at the SkyEX Community Stadium, the home ground of Hayes & Yeading United F.C. who are a semi-pro club playing in England’s seventh level). With people from the community being used for the broadcasts and the odd throwing in of current football names (eg Pep Guardiola), it helps to create that sense of realism while terms, names and cameos are not too common as to put off people who are not fluent in football.
All in all, I’ve loved season 1, and I’m off to see what season 2 has to offer!
A few final thoughts on the series:
- [Spoilers for the season 1 finale] Roy’s injury and leaving the pitch to a crowd singing his song really hit me hard. The level of pathos and heart was perfect, while the writers were smart enough to know not to ruin the moment with a joke. 3 minutes of perfection from a sporting series.
- I think the decision to create a fictional team rather than use an existing one was a smart call as this allows all of the caricatures and stereotypes of a football club at risk of relegation without insulting any real team.
The Future
As I’m so late to the show, season 2 is already available to watch, while season 3 (which I believe is intended as the final season) is due to release shortly.
Given the way that season 1 ended, I’ll be very interested to see how season 2 goes as we see the club play through another season of football, especially given how the season ended for a couple of characters—Tartt and Kent in particular! I expect most of the current characters will continue, with a couple maybe growing into a larger role, and the cast then expanding by giving more focus to a couple more team members or new characters. Dani Rojas seems the obvious example of a player due more time as he looks set to be the star striker going into the next season, while [spoiler for the season 1 finale] the heavy hints that Roy will be retiring and Isaac McAdoo taking over the captaincy surely means that he will have a larger role.
Personally, while I will be gutted if the show ends after 3 seasons, I will always prefer a show that gives itself a set number of series and looks to stick to it, rather than just going on until its eventual cancellation. Having the plan and sticking to it helps to keep the story on track and means that we don’t get any sudden character changes as writers start running out of ideas 6 seasons in.
What did you think of this series? Let me know in the comments. Until next time!
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It’s never nice to be last on the list, but unfortunately Mark takes this spot. Ice hockey is a physical sport and sadly Mark seriously lacked in this area, while not carrying on with the rest of the team never allows us to see if he finds ways to excel despite this. And to add to this, Mark was also not the best for the squad dynamics, being quick to judge and take offence, and preferring to stage a walk-out rather than try to resolve any issues.
Another whose stock was hurt by only appearing in the first movie. Karp is sadly not a great skater, but what puts him above Peter Mark is that he is much less of a distraction off the ice. But he is also more physical, making him a bit more of a challenge for opposition forwards to beat.
Someone who could have rose up the ranks had he remained with the Ducks, Tommy Duncan’s lack of hockey experience hurts his ranking. In fact arguably the 2 best things he brings to the team is his skating ability (due to his figure skating background) and his sister Tammy.
Oh what a shame that Tammy Duncan did not appear in D2 or D3, as I really feel that she had the potential to push herself up the rankings had she remained on the team. Like her brother Tommy, she lacked the hockey experience, but her figure skating background meant that she was a natural on the ice, while we also see that she isn’t afraid to get physical when angered.
Terry Hall was the 3ʳᵈ member of the Oreo Line, which goes a long way to show his talent. His spot on the list is unfortunately harmed by the importance of other forwards to the team, being stuck in the shadow of his older brother Jesse and not appearing beyond the original movie. If I included potential, he would fly up the list, but from what we have actually got to see, I sadly can’t rank him higher than any of the players who featured for Team USA.
If we were looking at simply puck handling and ability, Robertson would be right at the top of the list. However we are looking at hockey, and unfortunately the Texan is too much of a showman, often losing possession from showing off with the puck when a teammate was open for the pass. If there was a hockey version of the Harlem Globetrotters, he would excel with them.
This could be an unpopular pick so low in my rankings but hear me out. Yes, Tyler has a incredible shot in the knucklepuck, but it takes him some time to wind up, which gives the opposition time to blitz him. You just have to look at the final against Iceland, where he is man-marked out of the game until the last minute deception play. And aside from the knucklepuck, there isn’t much else of note to his game.
Mendoza may have been one of the hardest players to rank. The forward from Miami has something that translates well into so many sports: pure natural pace. You can’t teach that, and it is frightening to go up against, as it allows him to chase down what would usually be a lost cause if the opponent breaks away, while conversely he is impossible to catch when he breaks away. Unfortunately, his inability to stop himself with any reliability hurts his positioning, as does the quality of his teammates.
When putting my rankings together, I was shocked to see how high Averman made it up the list. Most notable for his comedic aspects in the movies, and certainly far from the most physical of players, when you watch the action back, he is a surprisingly competent player, with good puck handling and regularly finds himself on the scoresheet.
Just cracking the top 10 is Jesse Hall, and if we’re going on ability alone, he should be much higher. Older brother to Terry Hall and another member of District 5’s Oreo Line, Hall is a supremely talented forward and a natural goal scorer. So why is he so low on the list? Well that is all down to his attitude. Hall can easily get frustrated and lash out, which can cost the team. And it’s not just on the ice either, as he constantly allows himself to be distracted by Russ Tyler’s jibes before they become teammates, while he goes out of his way to not make Banks feel welcome after his move from the Hawks to the Ducks. As talented as he is, that’s not the kind of person I want on my team.
When I talked about the potential of Tammy Duncan, Ken Wu is exactly what I had in mind. Very much her replacement in D2 and D3, Wu’s Olympic figure skating background makes him a natural on the ice, and while he initially lacks physicality, he learns to stand up for himself and hold his own on the ice.
“The Velvet Hammer” is exactly what you want in a role model for young girls in sport. Her sex is never really an issue as she gives as good as any of the guys, if not better. A supremely talented skater, Moreau scores her fair share of goals for the team and it’s honestly a shame her character was never given more focus in the movies.
If ever there was someone hard to place on this list, it’s #96. If we’re talking just talent and ability, he should definitely be much lower. However, he is the captain for a reason, as he is the heart of the team—you just have to look at how the Ducks struggle when he walks out on them following an argument with Coach Orion! Charlie is the first to welcome Banks to the team, brings in Tyler to fill the open roster spot on Team USA as he recognises his talent, and then gives up his spot on the roster in the biggest game of his career as Banks returns from injury “for the good of the team”. Give me a team of Charlie Conways over a team of Jesse Halls any day!
As talented as the Ducks are, they are so often lacking in physicality compared to their opponents. Well Portman goes a long way to evening things out. The first of the (official) Bash Brothers to make the list, Portman is the ultimate enforcer in defence, but what often goes unnoticed is just how good a skater he is. Portman is the kind of player who can ruin an oppositions momentum and turn it in the Ducks’ favour.
Julie “The Cat” Gaffney was another who proved really difficult to rank. We only actually get to see her compete in a couple of matches (mostly in a Ducks team struggling to transition under a new coach), as well as scrimmages, as Bombay showed faith in Goldberg as his starter, leaving the fast glove on the bench. However what really shows her quality is the final against Iceland, where she comes in for the final penalty in the shoot-out against Gunnar Stahl (the leading scorer in the tournament) and despite having player no other hockey during the tournament, makes the save to win the Junior Goodwill Games. Gaffney has the clutch gene, and she could probably have rose even higher on the list if we saw her play more.
The other official Bash Brother, Fulton Reed is not a great skater, but improves over time, which stops him falling down this list and allows us to focus on his positives. The other obvious enforcer on the team, Reed’s physicality is huge for the Ducks and his almost telepathic link with Portman creates a deadly combination. But then to finish everything off, he has the mother of all slapshots, which (if you’re smart) you just get out of the way of if you value your body. But more than that too, having appeared to be somewhat of a loner before joining the team, Fulton appears to become one of the most loyal to the Ducks, who really become like a family to him.
Who would have thought that Goldberg of all people would end up in my top 3? Certainly not me as I started putting this list together, but he just kept rising. As a keeper, he was capable, though i still think that he was lucky for Bombay to keep loyal to him over Gaffney for so long. However as a back-up, he is more than capable. But what really pushed him up the list was his development under Coach Orion, which saw him become a defenseman, a position where he really excelled. While his skating still may not have been the best, he become a capable enough defenseman to post a shut-out against the Varsity, while also using his physicality to become an unofficial Bash Brother. Perhaps 3 is a bit higher than he should have ended, but his solid defending and ability to cover between the sticks if Gaffney was unavailable gives him a slight push over some of his teammates.
You can be forgiven for not having Guy so high on your list as the movies never really give him the focus he deserves. The final member of District 5’s Oreo Line, Germaine is the most natural and talented skater on the District 5 Ducks team and remains one of their best players throughout the trilogy. He does unfortunately get targeted in a number of games, leading to him leaving some games early with injury, but when on the ice he is a natural goal scorer, and it’s telling that the District 5 Ducks wanted him to take the penalty to defeat the Hawks.
He was the star of the Hawks and became the star of the Ducks. It’s telling of Banks’ quality that he was the only one of the Ducks to make the Varsity team in D3, whereas the rest were the junior varsity team. Being such a talented skater makes Banks a target and it’s no surprise to see him the most frequently targeted player on the ice. He may not have initially wanted to join the Ducks (understandable given he was the star of the best team and was now being asked to join a team of questionable quality) and does have some moments where he is put at odds with his teammates, but is never the aggressor in these circumstances so this doesn’t count against him and secures him the top spot in the list.
Eyes on the Ball 