‘Ted Lasso’ Has a Major Character Flaw

The latest in pop-culture news, recaps, and reviews, plus close reads, profiles, interviews, and more from Vulture.com. [Brand Logo]( ted talk [Ted Lasso Has a Major Character Flaw]( In the spirit of “Be curious, not judgmental,” we’re curious whether the show remembers why we cared about these people in the first place. Photo: Colin Hutton In its first season, [Ted Lasso]( was about the importance of kindness and optimism, and balancing these qualities to live a more fulfilling life. Through its tale of an aw-shucks American traveling to the U.K. to coach a down-on-its-luck soccer team, and bonding the players together with his earnest, fish-out-of-water speeches, Ted Lasso exploded in popularity during a COVID era when many craved that niceness. Then, the series complicated that message with a second season that poked at toxic positivity, revealed chinks in its grinning titular character’s armor, and told men that it’s okay to go to therapy, actually! The seasons mostly worked together as a complementary pair, with Ted heralded for his ideology but also gently prodded toward self-growth. All together, it was a fairly heartwarming journey, if you could get past the fact that this character started as a joke in an NBC promo. [read more]( [Exclusive Anniversary Offer:]( Get a limited-edition tote plus save up to 60% on unlimited access to Vulture and everything New York. The Latest TV Recaps • Dave: [Actually Kinda Cute]( • Vanderpump Rules: [The Almost Finale]( • Mrs. Davis: [In the Belly of the Beast]( • Love & Death: [The Most Normal Person on the Planet]( [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( Stories We Think You’ll Like [The (White Rapper) Blueprint Dave manages to be the perfect depiction of the “white rapper’s” journey through the music industry.]( [The Likable Unlikability of Sharon Horgan’s Pulling Comedian Jena Friedman explains why the comedy is so worth watching.]( By Bethy Squires [Kyle Dunn’s Night Fever A new show examines moments of strange, intense emotion.]( [Joni Mitchell’s Newport Folk Return Is Finally Being Released We’ll take all four sides of this record now, please.]( By Justin Curto [Ken Jennings Replaces Mayim Bialik on Jeopardy! … for Now Due to the ongoing writers’ strike.]( By Devon Ivie [Watch Beyoncé’s Renaissance Tour Visuals Until She Drops the Real Thing Eat up.]( By Justin Curto [Every Detail of T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach’s GMA3 Drama in Chronological Order ABC officially announced new GMA3 anchors.]( By Justin Curto [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( [Today’s Crossword]( 8-Down, Five Letters: American Idol meanie Cowell. Photo-Illustration: Vulture; Photos: Getty Images A newsletter of TV and movie recommendations. [Sign up]( to get it every week. [Get the Newsletter]( [logo]( [facebook logo]( [instagram logo]( [twitter logo]( [unsubscribe](link.nymag.com/manage/588/optout-vulture?email={EMAIL}&hash=39357a76f6d08b16239fd2ffa65e9c6f¶m=vulture-daily) | [privacy notice]( | [update preferences]( This email was sent to {EMAIL}. Was this email forwarded to you? [Sign up now]( to get this newsletter in your inbox. [View this email in your browser.]( You received this email because you have a subscription to New York. Reach the right online audience with us For advertising information on email newsletters, please contact AdOps@nymag.com Vox Media, LLC 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, 12th Floor Washington, DC 20036 Copyright © 2023, All rights reserved