A good friend recommended this Apple TV series on coming to know that I had become a credentialed ICF coach. While it is quite common to relate to a sports coach when someone tells you that they have become a coach ( This comparison it’s not really accurate but that’s for a different article ), I was nevertheless intrigued to watch the first episode of this Apple TV series .
To say I got hooked was an understatement, I ended up watching the entire 2 seasons and 24 episodes within a span of a few weeks. This is something very unusual for a “productive” person like me who believes that TV series are a waste of time . I think I have said enough to get your interest piqued on this series and maybe you want to leave the first few episodes.
What really got me going and hooked for the fascinating portrayal of human character and foibles without a single word of preaching. If you have read so far ,thank you as I now transition from fan boy to adult mode in this article .
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My key learnings from watching this show
- Vulnerability is the key to truly trusting relations, the scene where the therapist Sharon’s supervisor gives this feedback to her over a phone conversation/supervision is one of the audio classics of the series. I need to catch up on my Brene Brown books sleeping in my Kindle.
- Being truthful is difficult but not as difficult as one might think. The many times the character Keeley confesses to her unintentional acts wonderfully convey this.
- The way Ted Lasso charms the entire hostile environment at AFC Richmond one person at a time shows that if you don’t take things personally and do our best, we will get eventually accepted and appreciated. The song “you can’t hurry love” comes to mind . This is in fact the entire theme of the webseries.
- Success can get into our head easily if we don’t strive to remain humble is so well portrayed by Nate’s character
- Believing that something is achievable is key to achieving is beautifully depicted by the simple poster coach Ted that puts up in the team locker room which says “Believe”
- Our experiences determine our beliefs/prejudices/opinions and these can often be inaccurate is well demonstrated by the example of Ted not believing in therapy due to his past bad marital therapy experience . Later on Ted realises this is so untrue and himself gets therapy for his anxiety .
What I also realise is that each of us will have our own Aha moments from watching this series and “That is ok” as Coach Ted would say . In fact ,the coach in me believes that our values will determine our highlights from this series
My favourites in this series
1) My favourite character in this series is actually someone who speaks but does not come visually on the show, Sam Obisanya’s father. His advice to his son from getting him to refuse the airline promo shoots and to telling him that the universe will give him a signal when Sam is confused about a key decision is rendered in a wonderful warm avuncular voice .
2) My favourite dialogues in the web series are too many
Two of them are
- To be your mentor I need to be your tormentor first
- Good mentors know you might leave, great mentors expect you to leave
Can’t wait for Season 3 of Ted Lasso
