I’m a little late to the Ted Lasso party. But, jeez, I’m glad I made it.

I don’t watch all that much TV and, certainly not fictional series. It’s not me.

But Ted Lasso is the gift that can keep on giving.

The brilliance of Ted Lasso is that we see a little of ourselves in every character. The good and the bad, and what we hope, in time, we can aspire to become.

The acting is, of course, brilliant, but it is the outstanding writing that sets this beautiful series apart from many others that have gone before it. The merging of British & and American cultures, so similar yet so radically different, is something that we learn to appreciate and cherish.

From an Australian perspective, as we seem to straddle both worlds, it’s fabulous. The harsh reality of the Brits using space available within the English language to perfection (yes, language and all) with the homeliness of Ted’s sunny and perpetually upbeat American homeliness. Which is, thankfully, there for all of us to appreciate, and it’s here where the beauty of Ted Lasso lies.

Despite all the obstacles and challenges Ted faces, he looks up, not at first, and not always. And, my friends, that’s the importance of living a full life. Experiencing the fullness of life’s emotions and the speed and impact that emotions can hit us with and have on us.

We see in so many characters: Rebecca Welton’s resilience, Roy Kent’s softening, Keeley Jones’ intelligence, Dani Rojas boundless enthusiasm and Sam Obisanya’s moral courage, something we all value.

Yet it is in Ted Lasso that we see somebody who is able to pull all of these energies, the individuals, the egos, the hopes, dreams, fears, anxieties and ambitions together to form an unbeatable team. A group of people who care very much for one another. Who they are off the field as much as what they do on the field.

Yes, with one champion in Zava (and what a character), they found success. But without him, they found themselves.

It’s so often the case in all our lives that when we embrace the fullness of life, the richness of others who are not like us, yet contribute to us, that we move forward and we move onward.

The brilliant west-end theatre doyen, Hannah Waddingham, who played AFC Richmond’s owner, said it brilliantly,

‘It’s actually about very much the human condition that we find through comedy, all the ridiculous things about ourselves, with the backdrop of football. A brilliant backdrop of football, but it’s about all of us supporting each other’.

I can’t believe I’m going to do it, but I’m watching again. There’s so much to learn.