Ted Lasso is an AppleTV+ series that follows the titular character played by Jason Sudeikis as an American college football coach who is hired to coach an English football team in an attempt by its owner, Rebecca, to spite her ex-husband after she left him for a younger woman. Despite not having any experience or knowledge of soccer, Lasso wins over both the team players but also the skeptical English market with his optimistic demeanor. Ted Lasso was a sweet fish-out-of-water story that proved to be a sensation when it premiered, and it broke the record for most Emmy nominations for any comedy series in its first season.

Ted Lasso season 2 entered the Primetime Emmy race as the champion and faced a very competitive year against fan-favorite series like Only Murders in the Building, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Barry, What We Do In The Shadows, and breakout favorite Abbott Elementary. With Ted Lasso season 2 having been broadcast a whole year prior, and the initial word of mouth on the season being more lukewarm compared to the rapturous response of season 1, it felt like it had lost its shine. However, Ted Lasso won the Outstanding Comedy Series Emmy, in addition to Jason Sudeikis winning Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, Brett Goldstein winning for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, and MJ Delaney winning Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series.

Ted Lasso season 2 won four Emmys that night. Yet did it deserve it? Did the show lose a bit of magic or was there something much deeper going on beneath the surface that made season 2 a worthy winner?

What Was Going Against Ted Lasso

Ted Lasso Christmas Special
Apple TV+

Ted Lasso premiered in the summer of 2020, and while its first few episodes received mixed reactions at first, its esteem only grew as the series went on. By the time season 1 ended, it became a critical darling and a cultural phenomenon. It was a series that came out of nowhere, surprising audiences, and felt like the right show at the right time, giving viewers an uplifting message at a time of great uncertainty.

Related: Ted Lasso Cast: Character Guide and DescriptionsTed Lasso season 2 then, by design, had a whole host of expectations that season 1 did not have. Ted Lasso season 2 could not be a pleasant surprise but instead had to keep audiences engaged, which is a much taller order. In contrast to season 1 where the first three episodes were uploaded together, Apple TV+ decided to release Ted Lasso season 2 one episode a week. This was likely done by Apple TV+ to keep subscribers on longer for what turned out to be their signature series, but it also had the added effect of drawing out the direction the series was going for. This led to a certain level of discourse around season 2 with some saying it wasn't as good as season 1.

Ted Lasso Season 2 Was The Empire Strikes Back Season

Ted Lasso S2 E08
Apple TV+

From the start, the creative team behind Ted Lasso said they have three seasons planned out for the series, effectively making it a three-act story. This means season 2 has to be the middle chapter of the story, and in traditional middle chapter fashion like The Empire Strikes Back, it is a darker more serious season than its predecessor (give or take one very sappy Christmas episode). It still has the charm, laughs, and heart of season 1, but it also digs deeper into the characters' psyches and the audience got a better idea of their insecurities.

This is relevant in a number of different storylines. Jamie Tartt, one of the most self-absorbed players in season 1, learns not only to be a team player in season 2, but his team (and the audience) also gets a better understanding of him and how his father's influence has had a major impact on him. Rebecca finds a newfound sense of liberation but also must grapple with what she wants next in her life. Keely is growing into a new position, which puts her relationship on the line. Roy Kent needs to find his purpose after retiring from football. Meanwhile, Nate, the quiet, lovable, bullied member of the team in season 1 slowly grows into a more villainous role; by the time the season ends, it feels like he is truly lost.

Related: What We Hope to See in Ted Lasso’s Season 3Yet the biggest development is with Ted himself. Season 2 peels away at Ted's overt optimism and examines where this stems from and how this might be having a negative impact on his life in some ways. While hints were dropped in season 1, season 2 reveals Ted's father died by suicide, and he has been burying both his feelings towards his father and trauma all these years. This season is about Ted growing to accept help the way he will help others.

Ted Lasso Season 2 Went Bold and Got Emmy Gold

Ted Lasso cast and characters touch the Believe sign
Apple TV+

On top of delving into the characters more, Ted Lasso season 2 also used its newfound popularity to expand the types of stories it could tell. Apple TV+ ordered two additional episodes in addition to the planned 10, and the writers decided to use those extra episodes to expand some storylines. The first is a Christmas episode which is a basic stand-alone episode of the series, but also pays homage to classic holiday specials and movies and shows just how much Ted has improved the lives of his team as they now all celebrate the holidays together. It's extremely saccharine, but feels like a deserved celebration lap after the success of the first season.

The second bonus episode is the season's ninth episode and comes right in the middle of some big revelations. "Beard's Night Out" follows Coach Beard, a popular supporting player, through one crazy night and is an homage to Martin Scorsese's After Hours while also working as a great exploration of a favorite side character but still maintaining his mystery. The following episode, "No Weddings and a Funeral" (the episode that won the Best Directing Emmy), focuses on the death of Rebecca's father and features an incredible scene that intercuts Rebecca and Ted's monologues about death. It drops the comedy for a moment and allows the series to have a real dramatic moment, and carry that weight.

The episode is then relieved in a sweet moment where Rebecca can't find the words to say for her father's eulogy, only to begin reciting the lyrics to Rick Ashley's 'Never Gonna Give You Up,' and when it becomes too hard to finish, Ted and the rest of the funeral help her finish the tune. Ted Lasso pulled off the best, most emotionally satisfying Rick Roll, and that alone is grounds enough for it to win the Emmy.