
Reacher
The title character is bigger and bulkier now than in the Tom Cruise movies. But so are the problems.
When Ted Lasso crossed the pond to coach the struggling AFC Richmond soccer team, he felt like a classic fish out of water.
Itâs not as if Ted was a terrible coach. If he had been coaching an American football team, heâd probably have felt just fine. After all, he did lead a team to a Division II title in his very first year as head coach. He even set social media ablaze with his goofy celebratory dance.
But football in the United States and fÚtbol, well, everywhere else, is a different game. Literally. You donât just kick balls through goalposts or to change possessions, you kick it all the time. Throwing and catching said ball is not just frowned upon, itâs a penalty. Players dribble the ball on the pitchâtwo terms that actually belong to two entirely different sports back in the good olâ U. S. of A.
Yes, Ted Lasso had his handsâer, feet full in trying to coach the British football team into a consistent winner. In fact, he set a standard of excellence for Richmond that lived on even after he returned home to Kansas City.
But now Richmond is asking Ted to make the transatlantic journey once againâthis time to coach their newly founded women’s soccer team.
Ted, a drawling, relentlessly cheery motivator, once seemed like an odd fit for Richmond’s jaded team filled with prima-Maradonas. When asked if he believed in ghosts, Ted said, âI do. But more importantly, I think they need to believe in themselves.â
That chipper, can-do attitude, and his complete lack of knowledge of the âbeautiful game,â made Ted the perfect choice for Rebecca Welton, the teamâs owner. She received the team as part of a divorce settlement from her philandering, football-mad husband. And for a while, it was her (ahem) goal to turn Richmond into a Premiere League laughingstockâher way of twisting the knife a little.
But things changed. Ted managed to turn Rebeccaâs way of thinking around, convincing her that winning (or at least trying to win) was far more satisfying than destroying her husbandâs favorite team. Ted got Richmondâs bickering stars to actually work together. He managed to instill goodwill and camaraderie in his locker room. And players began to see success both on and off the field.
Of course, it wasn’t perfect. The team lost one of their coaches to their rivals, West Ham, owned by Rebeccaâs ex-husband, Rupert. Ted went through a divorce that made it harder for him to see his son and caused him to experience panic attacks. And the team never did win the League during Ted’s tenure as coach.
Things may not be much easier this time around either. Yes, Ted would love to coach again. But there’s no way he can move to another country without his son, Henry. And frankly, many women’s teams (which have only been allowed in the UK since 1971) have already folded due to financial strain. Ted’s going to have his work cut out for him.
But Ted believes in being kind. Once upon a time, his particular brand of strange did a strange, sweet work in Richmond. And Rebecca (not to mention a whole crew of former players, coaches and publicists) believes that Ted can do that inexplicable work once again.
Ted Lasso is a strange work in itself. Featuring Saturday Night Live alum Jason Sudeikis in the starring role, this Apple TV+ comedy can sometimes suffer from a certain internal inconsistency. Tedâs exaggerated country accent paired with his ridiculously over-the-top folksy gullibility can make the character feel like he belongs in a SNL skit, not helming a series.
But the show, like Lasso himself, is smarter than it might seem at first.
Ted is a nice guy, and the show suggests that nice guys sometimes do finish first: Or, if not, there are more important things than winning, anyway. While heâs easy to laugh at, the coachâs unflagging sincerity, decency and dogged determination to do the best job he can slowly shine through.
Ted Lasso is a funny, good-hearted, poignant show. Though that makes the problematic content it also contains all the more vexing.
In another time and place, Ted Lasso wouldâve been the sort of show that couldâve landed on network TV or basic cable, kept its nose relatively clean and earned a small but loyal audience (and maybe some Emmys, too). But today, in an oversaturated media landscape with very few rules, Apple TV+ has given Lasso license to be the TV-MA show that some apparently want it to beâbut certainly doesnât need to be.
Harsh profanities, including dozens of f-words, flit through the television speakers. Sexual jokes and revealing scenes also land on our screens. The show is strangely contradictory in that it features content that doesnât at all line up with the themes that it promotes.
And yet, despite its many flaws, itâs difficult to miss just how nice the show is. Ted refuses to let his frustrating circumstances influence him negatively, approaching every situation with a smile, every conflict with a kind word. Even the most hardened players begin to recognize that itâs hard to completely despise him. The extraordinary kindness of Ted Lasso is one thatâs incredibly needed in todayâs entertainment, even if itâs surrounded by objectionable content that isnât.
Yes, itâs hard not to root for Ted Lasso, the coach. But suggestive content and profanity can make Ted Lasso, the show, an easy red card.
(Editorâs Note: Plugged In is rarely able to watch every episode of a given series for review. As such, thereâs always a chance that you might see a problem that we didnât. If you notice content that you feel should be included in our review, send us an email at letters@pluggedin.com, or contact us via Facebook or Instagram, and be sure to let us know the episode number, title and season so that we can check it out.)
When Rebecca asks Ted to return to England to coach Richmond’s newly formed women’s team, Ted debates whether it’s the right move for him and his family.
Ted has suffered a series of setbacks: He’s currently working as a grocery store clerk, his mom is selling his childhood home, and he’s not even allowed to coach his own son’s soccer team. Behind the scenes, we see how this is taking its toll on Ted. Still, he maintains his positive, can-do attitude. He doesn’t have an unkind word for anyone. And even though it’s clear he’d love to take up Rebecca’s offer, he places Henry’s needs before his own.
Ted has a friendly relationship with his ex-wife. Even though they aren’t together anymore, they try to support each other, and it’s clear they both love their son. Rebecca sincerely tells Ted, “God bless you.”
When Ted catches a coworker stealing cigarettes from a customer, rather than turning him in, Ted pretends to be a kleptomaniac. Then, to avoid “getting caught,” Ted urges the young man to quickly return all the stolen products, including the cigarettes. Later, when their boss asks Ted about the incident, he lies, saying his coworker was the one who “set [Ted] straight.”
Rebecca talks about having phone sex with her new husband, and we later witness her starting one such conversation. Rebecca suggestively flirts with him during a video call but promptly stops when she realizes his young daughter is present. He, in turn, also makes some double entendres. Keeley, a friend of Ted’s from England, wears several outfits with short skirts and revealing necklines. Rebecca also wears some cleavage-bearing tops. We hear about a couple in an open relationship and a man whose sister is bisexual. A woman says she opened her store using the money from her divorce settlement.
A woman on oxygen buys several packs of cigarettes. Ted kindly asks whether she really needs them (and she insists she does). A store clerk is clearly high, but her boss allows it since his ex-wife hates the clerk (and the boss wants to keep her employed out of spite).
Keeley makes a wish at a coin fountain. Rebecca laments that everyone in Kansas City is “too nice.” Ted’s mom lies at a yard sale to get more money out of potential buyers. Leslie, another friend of Ted’s from England, inadvertently makes some awkward semi-racial comments at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. He’s immediately apologetic, but the museum’s tour guide teases him a bit, and Leslie buys some merchandise at the gift shop to further demonstrate his embarrassment.
Someone mentions “white male privilege.” A woman is confused how Ted, a store clerk, could be her husband’s “greatest role model.” Ted’s mom yells at a soccer coach for pulling Henry out of a game for a minor mistake. Ted advises her to stop. Later on, Ted asks the coach about the decision, but the man dismisses Ted.
Henry gets in trouble at school for “disturbing poetry” that says some unkind things about the government and army. However, when Henry’s parents realize the lines are actually the lyrics to “Public Enemy,” they brush off the incident laughingly. Ted does remind Henry that while he’s allowed to listen to hip-hop lyrics, he’s not allowed to repeat themâor write them down.
A man with jetlag says he fell asleep on the toilet. Ted says he would rather “suck sweat from a horse’s butt” than drink tea.
There are five uses of the f-word and six of the s-word. We also hear “h—,” “a–,” “d–n,” and “p-ss.” God’s name is misused six times, once paired with “d–n.” Jesus’ name is also abused once. We see a picture of a woman displaying her middle finger.
Ted copes with rude comments from his former assistant coach, Nate (now head coach of Richmondâs rival), as he begins training his team for a new season.
A couple talks about having sex (and itâs implied theyâve already done the deed since he is lying in bed with only blankets covering him). We hear a man got caught pinching his employeesâ rear ends. We see a man from the shoulders up as he showers. A woman wears a cropped top. Someone mentions an âorgasm for the soul.â
Thereâs a passive remark about a man who died after getting struck by a train. Two women admire a gal on television who accidentally burned down a house trying to set her exâs things on fire.
We hear about a cult that was shut down. Two players cross themselves after someone mentions a nun. A woman says she trusts in the universe.
Thereâs some question about a manâs ability to drive after he uses psychedelics. Ted says he had to tell his son, Henry, why cocaine is bad for you. People drink. Someone is called a âdrunk geezer.â Thereâs mention of wine. We hear about someone spitting alcohol in a womanâs face. A man spits up and nearly vomits. There are multiple sewage jokes after Ted takes the team to Londonâs sewers for a training exercise.
A child comments on Americaâs political landscape. Ted tries to protect Henry from inappropriate movies after Henry accidentally views It during a transatlantic flight. A man is judged for driving a cheap car. Folks are condescending to him because he used to wash a teamâs underwear.
Ted is sad to say goodbye to Henry after a visit. Itâs clear his divorce and distance from Henry is weighing on Ted, especially after learning his wife is dating someone new. A man has to explain to his niece that heâs broken up with his girlfriend since she and the girlfriend had grown close. A child says one of her core beliefs is that nothing lasts forever because her parents split when she was 4 years old.
We hear the f-word nearly 20 times and the s-word four times. There are also uses of âh—,â âp-ss,â âc–kâ and âpr–k,â as well as the British expletives âbloody,â âtw-tâ and âw–ker.â Godâs name is misused twice and Jesusâ name is abused once. Someone makes a crude hand gesture. A man is upset that his adult son swore during a press conference. A girl asks permission to use a bad word and, after receiving it, uses the term âstupid.â
When Ted worries about the teamâs chances of winning, Henry reminds him that winning isnât everything. Ted responds to rude comments with kindness, impressing many people and reminding his boss what really matters.
Itâs a new season, both for Ted Lasso the coach and Ted Lasso the series. While AFC Richmond struggles to break a frustrating streak of ties, an unfortunate accident causes footballer Dani Rojas to suddenly lose his ability to play, and club owner Rebecca tentatively re-enters the dating scene.
The first episode of the new season features many of the same content issues of its predecessor. We see Dani wake up in bed shirtless between two sleeping women. Retired AFC Richmond player Roy Kent watches a reality show called Lust Conquers All (on which his old teammate and rival Jamie Tartt is a contestant), and we see a woman in a revealing bikini. Jamie tells the audience that heâs the âtop scorerâ on the showââSexually,â he clarifies cheekily. Rebeccaâs new boyfriend, John, invites her over to his place after a date, but she declines. Higgins, Rebeccaâs assistant, laments that he has to watch Star Wars: Episode V â The Empire Strikes Back with his kids and explain the scene where Luke and Leia, who turn out to be twins, make out. Ted mentions that he once attended a fundraiser for Planned Parenthood.
In a particularly tense moment during a match, assistant coach Nathan asks Ted, âIs it okay if I pray?â Ted responds, âYeah, sure. But to which god and in which language?â They decide to simply cross their fingers and make wishes instead. Dani stands fully clothed in the shower and prays in Spanish, continuously crossing himself. Ted and his assistant, Coach Beard, are incredibly superstitious about using the term âthe yips,â which refers to when a player suddenly loses their athletic ability. Ted compares it so saying âMacbethâ in a theater, which many believe brings bad luck. As Higgins leaves to watch Star Wars with his family, Ted quotes, âMay the Force be with you,â to which Higgins responds, âAnd also with you.â
Rebecca, Ted, Higgins and Keeley drink cocktails together after a match. While on a double date, Rebecca, John and Keeley sip glasses of wine, while Roy throws back multiple glasses of hard liquor. Ted and Coach Beard drink beer at a pub, and Keeley jokes about Roy getting âbuzzed on rosÃĐ,â which we later see him drink with his club of yoga moms. Keeley also offers to come over to Royâs apartment with a bottle of wine.
While attempting a penalty kick during a match, Daniâs ball accidentally hits and kills the team mascot, Earl the greyhound. The impact happens offscreen, but we hear the whimper of the dog and see the horrified faces of the crowd. Later, Dani has a nightmare about the event in which blood splatters onto his face before he wakes up. Royâs 8-year-old niece Phoebe tells Keeley she got a red card for âelbowing a girl in her neckâ during one of her football matches. âAnd Iâm very proud,â Roy says before kissing her on the head.
As in the first season, profanity is nearly constant. The f-word is used 16 times, the s-word is heard nine times, and Godâs name is taken in vain six times. âH—â is used three times, while âd–nâ is used twice. Other expletives such as âpr–kâ and âtw-tâ appear as well.
Rebecca prepares to host an annual fundraising galaâan event sheâs always co-hosted with her husband beforeâbut is blindsided when her ex-hubby shows up and upstages her at every step. Meanwhile, Ted tries to use the dinner to forge a peace between his petulant stars, Roy and Jamie.
Players are âauctionedâ off as part of the charity, and Jamie (an arrogant 23-year-old who attends the banquet with a suit, sans shirt) is told that heâll need to have sex with whoever bids on him if the bidding reaches a certain point. (Itâs a lie, but several crude jokes, involving various forms of sex, are made regarding Jamieâs misconception.) Keeley, Jamieâs girlfriend, learns that Jamieâs been two-timing with another woman. (Rebeccaâs husband later leaves the banquet with that same âother woman.â)
Trying to ease the friction at his table, Ted says he has an idea thatâll either âhelp a little or hurt a whole lot. Who needs a drink?â All hands are raised, and Ted grabs a bevy of beers. We see plenty of other drink, as wellâeverything from martinis to wine to beer to mixed drinks. At the end of the night, a woman grabs a couple of unopened bottles of champagne from the bar and asks another woman, âDo you want to go and get really drunk? And then we can go, like, rob a bank or something.â Ted asks for âJack on the rocksââand a triple helping at that. Someone spits out a martini.
We hear jokes referencing various forms of genitalia. We see a player shirtless several times. He makes several incredibly crass comments about another playerâs mother (and who she should have sex with). Ted says he likes his locker rooms to be like his motherâs bathing suit: In one piece. Characters say the f-word a dozen times and the s-word a good half-dozen. We also hear âa–,â âb–ch,â âh—,â âd–n,â âp-ss,â âpr–kâ and the British profanity âb–locks.â
Ted leaves his job as an American college football coach to take the helm of a dysfunctional Premiere League soccer team. He admits that you could fill âtwo internets with what I donât know about football,â but he receives no quarter from the fans, the notoriously nasty British press or the team itself. And thatâs just the way Rebecca, the teamâs new owner, wants it.
Rebecca fires the current coach, calling him out on his âcasual misogynyâ and his too-short shorts that often reveal his testicles. (He, meanwhile, asks if a âpoofâ helped decorate her office and compliments her on her âimpressive chest,â and he jokingly tries to punch the nether-regions of Rebeccaâs assistant.) We hear several references to Rebeccaâs philandering husband and see a picture of him surrounded by women. When Ted Lasso walks through an empty locker room, he spies a bare-breasted picture of one playerâs girlfriend. We see the un-edited picture indistinctly, and Ted places black tape over the breasts (as the appreciative girlfriend walks in).
When Ted greets the owner as âMiss Welton,â Rebecca insists that she call her Rebecca. âMiss Welton was my father,â she jokes. Ted says if that is a joke, itâs funny. And if not, âCanât wait to unpack that with you.â We see a couple of soccer players shirtless. Fans drink beer as they hurl insults at a TV screen (on which Ted is holding his first press conference). Ted quips that life is like riding a horse: âIf youâre comfortable while youâre doing it, youâre probably doing it wrong.â We hear references to masturbation, and a player ogles his girlfriendâs rear.
Characters say the f-word 13 times and the s-word twice. We also hear âa–,â âp-ss,â âtw-t,â âw–kerâ and âd–k.â Godâs name is misused three times, and Jesusâ name is abused once.
Lauren Cook is serving as a 2021 summer intern for the Parenting and Youth department at Focus on the Family. She is studying film and screenwriting at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. You can get her talking for hours about anything from Star Wars to her family to how Inception was the best movie of the 2010s. But more than anything, sheâs passionate about showing how every form of art in some way reflects the Gospel. Coffee is a close second.
Paul Asay has been part of the Plugged In staff since 2007, watching and reviewing roughly 15 quintillion movies and television shows. Heâs written for a number of other publications, too, including Time, The Washington Post and Christianity Today. The author of several books, Paul loves to find spirituality in unexpected places, including popular entertainment, and he loves all things superhero. His vices include James Bond films, Mountain Dew and terrible B-grade movies. Heâs married, has two children and a neurotic dog, runs marathons on occasion and hopes to someday own his own tuxedo. Feel free to follow him on Twitter @AsayPaul.
Emily studied film and writing when she was in college. And when she isnât being way too competitive while playing board games, she enjoys food, sleep, and geeking out with her husband indulging in their ânerdoms,â which is the collective fan cultures of everything they love, such as Star Wars, Star Trek, Stargate and Lord of the Rings.

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