The Apple TV+ series *Ted Lasso*, which became a significant hit in the US, continues to inspire a more complex reaction in Britain, where the show is set. The recently released fourth season has reportedly reopened this divide among viewers.
In 2023, *Ted Lasso* was the most-watched streaming original in the US, accumulating 16.9 billion viewing minutes. The show, which began in 2020, has also secured 13 Emmy Awards across its initial three seasons. Its themes of masculinity and mental health have resonated with American audiences, leading to the cast and star Jason Sudeikis being invited to the White House in 2023 to discuss mental health awareness.
However, many British viewers find the show's depiction of English football, particularly the fictional AFC Richmond, to be overly sanitised. Ted Lasso's consistent optimism is also noted to clash with a perceived British cynicism. Some British journalists suggest that Americans embraced the show as an introduction to English football, while many English fans struggle with it feeling like football reimagined through an American perspective.