Ted Lasso: The Richmond Way (Complete Series Blu-ray Review)
When you think about sports shows or films, how many of them do you recall being comedic? There are a few – White Men Can’t Jump or Bull Durham come to mind and not just because of the Ron Shelton connection. There aren’t a lot that go straight for the laugh though. When a show is serious about the sport it reflects on, there must not be room for laughs. That is, until we came to Ted Lasso. Jason Sudeikis and a game supporting cast have gone for the pitch and kicked an incredible goal. Now, after premiering and a series finale on AppleTV+, we get Ted Lasso on Blu-ray! Read on below to learn more about the show if you don’t know already and be sure to click the cover art at the end if you’re like me and you love to collect your favorite shows or films! It’s the Blu-ray way!
Series: 
In a bitter divorce settlement from her billionaire husband Rupert Mannion, Rebecca Welton (Hannah Waddingham) becomes the new owner of British football club AFC Richmond. She’s assisted by her Director of Football Operations, Higgins (Jeremy Swift), who formerly worked for her husband. Her first order of business is to fire the team’s current manager and replace him with an idealistic all-American football coach Theodore “Ted” Lasso (Jason Sudeikis). Ted and his friend, assistant Coach Beard (Brendan Hunt) cross the pond to take up the management of the team’s “long, albeit modest” history. Ted gets to know the team – including Team Captain Roy Kent (Brett Goldstein), top scorer Jamie Tartt (Phil Dunster) and more – but finds his first friend in the locker room assistant Nathan (Nick Mohammed). Half a world away from his wife and child, Ted could use a friend. But he presses on, nevertheless. Richmond is about to change the way they’re doing things — and from now on — that is the Lasso way.
Since its premiere on Apple TV+ in 2020, Ted Lasso has earned widespread acclaim from audiences and critics alike. Winner of 13 Emmy® Awards, including back-to-back wins in the following categories: Outstanding Comedy Series (2021, 2022), Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for Jason Sudeikis (2021, 2022), Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for Brett Goldstein (2021, 2022), along with an Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series win for Hannah Waddingham (2021), multiple Golden Globe Awards and Critics’ Choice Awards, the series has broken records, solidifying its place as one of the most beloved and celebrated series of all time.
There is no lie to that last sentence you just read. In every sense of the words, Ted Lasso is a treasure trove of fantastic comedy. The sly subtle nature of things really keeps you on your toes. The Ted Lasso character is just such an optimist. It’s a refreshing way to behave when literally everyone wants to see you fail. His optimism also happens to be infectious. First to his best friend, Coach Beard, who quietly echoes those positive vibes. Then we have Nathan, who is treated like garbage by the team, but gets full respect from Ted. Keeley, hotshot player Jamie Tartt’s famous girlfriend, also gets to be friends with Ted. They are able to help each other figure out how to get Jamie to be a better teammate. Then there is the hardest nut to crack, besides the AFC Richmond fans, Rebecca Welton, the team owner. She is the hardest because she wants to exact revenge on her horrible ex-husband and the one thing he ever loved – His football club is the thing she has to destroy in order to get that revenge.
Ted Lasso ends up being someone who is an undeniable presence. He is kind and patient with lots of good advice hidden in funny quips or sentimental pep talks. In this modern story, Ted is like someone from another time. He isn’t vulgar or bitter despite so many things that could turn him that way. Ted goes through some losses and some victories personal and professional, and even at his worst, he is able to overcome. When Ted discovers anxiety afoot, he finds support in the women in his life – Keeley and Rebecca, who in turn become close friends. And solid as ever, we come back to Coach Beard and Nathan who become a sounding board for the team and for Ted’s life all in one.
I cannot continue to divulge on Ted Lasso the series without spoiling it for the readers. But I can say that to miss out on such a fantastic TV show is a sad thought. For fans of comedy that is equal parts funny, touching and affecting, you can’t find a better show. For the bite that the characters have in contrast to Ted’s sweetness, you get the perfect framework for a universally likeable series. The episodes roll out making you want more each time the credits roll. The story stays interesting through each season, and you always find yourself invested in what’s going on. There is never a dull moment for the AFC Richmond club, and you will be rooting for them the whole time! I cannot recommend Ted Lasso enough, and for those without a subscription to AppleTV+, this complete series set is a no-brainer purchase for those curious about the show. For collectors, of course, we now have the show to hold in our hands!
Video: 
Encoding: MPEG-4/AVC
Resolution: HD (1080p)
Aspect Ratio: 2.00:1
Layers: BD-50 (7 Discs)
Clarity/Detail: Debuting in 2020 on AppleTV+ Ted Lasso readily streams in native 4K. These 1080p Blu-rays will do the trick for the most part, but missing the Dolby Vision color grading and added resolution is a bit of a shame. Just like any good show or film, I will always wish for a 4K option. Detail here is on par with other recent Warner Brothers TV series in HD – Wednesday and True Detective come to mind. People with larger screens may be able to see some noticeable differences in the resolution, but for folks with screens 65” or smaller may only be missing the color grading of this presentation. Collectors like us know, a Blu-ray can sometimes have more stable clarity than a 4K stream, so it just depends on how discerning your eye is.
Depth: Depth of field is decent for the degraded resolution, with nothing looking overly sharp or far out of focus. Foregrounds and backgrounds on indoor and outdoor scenes look nifty with nothing looking odd or out of place in the frame.
Black Levels: Crush free blacks appear in darker or more shadowy moments.
Color Reproduction: Reds and blues stand out as colors of the team are everywhere. The green of the football pitch looks radiant and the more grey interiors of the team facilities or the muted tones of Ted’s flat all look lovely throughout.
Flesh Tones: Flesh tones are natural, with some outlandish makeup looking appropriately cheesy for the Keeley character when needed.
Noise/Artifacts: None.
Audio:
Audio Format(s): English DTS-HD MA 5.1
Subtitles: English SDH
Dynamics: Offered in Dolby Atmos on AppleTV+, Ted Lasso does not necessarily need the atmospheric effect to be affecting. Music is the most prominent source of stirring sound, with crowd and group sounds coming up second. Since this is a mostly dialogue driven series, the primary necessity is to hear those lines, and this 5.1 track quenches the thirst for dialogue.
Height: N/A
Low-Frequency Extension: Music provides the opportunity for your subwoofer to subwoofer, with nice delineation and clean hits.
Surround Sound Presentation: Rowdy pubs and football matches as well as locker room moments create time for the surround channels to shine, with light work for music coming around as well.
Dialogue Reproduction: Clear and wholly intelligible.
Extras:
There are no features on any of the discs in this set, but you get your very own Ted Lasso poster!
Summary:
Ted Lasso really embodies the sentiment of simplicity. The story has ups and downs and laughs and heartfelt moments. It’s not entirely unpredictable either. The magic is that this provides a comforting tonic for fans of this kind of show. There is so much heart in the series and every actor on display knows its there! The storyline carries you through to the end, where you simply can’t help but wish that you can see more story. This is an excellent show and without a 4K option, this set is the main way to be able to collect the show physically. If you love Ted Lasso or haven’t caught on to the show yet, this is a great way to catch up or revisit, even if I’ll still gripe that we don’t get physical 4K and Dolby Atmos!
