It’s July which means our Ted Lasso Season 2 countdown is getting serious now. We are officially in the same month as a new season of one of our favorite shows. So what better way to celebrate that than by rewatching the first season a million and one times or watching some TV shows that give us that same feel-good vibe as Ted Lasso?
We know that vibe is hard to find, so we made a list of 15 shows currently streaming on different platforms that you can dive into while you wait to reunite with the AFC Richmond family. Chances are you’ll fall head over heels in love with these shows as well. We know we did!
Big Shot
Where to Stream: Disney+
Big Shot is a reasonable show to fill in the gaps between Ted Lasso seasons because it’s about sports, but the fabric of the show makes it an obvious choice. It’s all about a team changing the life of an arrogant and jaded coach, played by John Stamos. The opposite is true at the start of Ted Lasso. But, as we know with Ted and AFC Richmond, change isn’t a one-way street. This found family becomes all the closer before Marvyn Korn and the Westbrook Sirens’ even know it. That’s the magic that comes when sports and art combine, after all.
Bridgerton
Where to Stream: Netflix
By now, everyone in the world has probably seen or at least heard of Netflix’s hit Bridgerton. It’s impossible not to get swept away by the romance and whimsy of the world this show gives us. It gives us the room to realize there’s nothing to be ashamed of about appreciating this genre because there is so much beauty and heart wrapped up in these stories. If you want something to sweep you off your feet, Bridgerton is for you. You’ll be so entranced by the extravagant balls and burning romances that the time will fly by until Ted Lasso returns.
Central Park
Where to Stream: Apple TV+
This animated musical comedy is a love letter to New York City with an all-star cast and crew. Central Park is fun and upbeat in a way that makes it a nice companion show to Ted Lasso. It comes from the creators of Bob’s Burgers and Josh Gad. The star power doesn’t stop there! With the voices of Daveed Diggs, Emmy Raver-Lampan, and Leslie Odom Jr. (amongst others), you’ll find yourself getting very into the catchy songs that narrate the happenings of the Tillerman–Hunter family. The talents of Central Park‘s cast and creative teams will have you adding songs like “Weehawken Rap” to your playlists.
Girls5Eva
Where to Stream: Peacock
There are never enough musical TV shows to enjoy, and Girls5Eva is a musical comedy you have to add to your much-watch list. It’s all about female friendships and a girl group from the ’90s trying to make comeback after a one-hit wonder. It’s cast is as asburdly talented as you can image with women like Sara Bareilles, Busy Philipps, Paula Pell, and Renée Elise Goldsberry making up the titular group Girls5eva. It’ll make you laugh, smile, and wish that you could form a band with your best friends and take the world by storm.
HSMTMTS
Where to Stream: Disney+
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series has everything. It’s got heart, humor, and a whole lot of nostalgia. Now in its second season, HSMTMTS continues to pull in fans due to the unique way this show balances the mockumentary style, like on The Office, with the comedy and drama that makes its characters feel comforting and familiar. On top of that appeal, this series is one that values its cast’s immense talent and allows them to contribute to the discography by writing original songs for their characters. Trust us; you won’t regret becoming an honorary Wildcat.
Julie and the Phantoms
Where to Stream: Netflix
If you don’t know what Julie and the Phantoms is, we regret to inform you you’ve probably been living under a rock. Once again, this musical dramedy has captured hearts and souls (Get it?) all around the world. The absolute icon and legend Kenny Ortego delivers another fantastic project that will help you rally behind the rest of the Fantoms in demanding a Season 2. It’s impossible not to sing along with this infectious soundtrack. It’s equally as difficult to leave Season 1 of JATP without being changed by the characters’ and their stories.
Love, Victor
Where to Stream: Hulu
Do you remember the 2018 romantic comedy Love, Simon that followed Simon Spier as he comes out of the closet and falls in love with a boy from his high school he had been emailing? It is a groundbreaking movie in its genre that let so many people feel seen, loved, and represented. Love, Victor is a sort of sequel to that story that follows Victor Salazar on his own journey of self-discovery with the sporadic help of Simon. The show spotlights how everyone’s story is specific and unique. Througout the first two seasons, you will learn to be bold, brave, and love freely alongside Victor and his friends and family.
Mythic Quest
Where to Stream: Apple TV+
Who isn’t watching Mythic Quest? If that’s you, then we’re here to remind you to change that because this comedy about the making of a fictional video game is more than it sounds like it will be. This series was created by Charlie Day, Megan Ganz, and Rob McElhenney — names that will sound very familiar to fans of the long-running comedy It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. This show takes workplace comedies to a whole other level by expanding on the common tropes to make Mythic Quest a worthy addition to the all-time favorites. Each character has a hilarious dynamic with any other, making the endless possibilities all the more exciting. You won’t want to miss out on the hype of this one.
New Amsterdam
Where to Stream: Peacock
New Amsterdam may seem like an odd choice for this list of feel-good shows since it is a medical drama. This show turns its back on pessimism in favoring of the optimism that can come from working in the medical field. Based on oldest public hospital in New York City, Bellevue Hospital, New Amsterdam follows Dr. Max Goodwin as he tries to steer the hospital away from tired bureaucracy to provide the most efficient and effective care to its patients. Alongside Max is a group of capable and whip smart doctors who put their best foot forward on even the worst days because they know that people need them. Max’s mantra is “How can I help?” because he believes that there is a way to help everyone. Something tells us Ted Lasso would agree with that sentiment.
Sex Education
Where to Stream: Netflix
Chances that you’ve either returned to Sex Education or watched it for the first time over the last year. It’s a comfort show because even though it centers around Otis Milburn giving sex advice, that he’s learned from his sex therapist mother, to his classmates, there is a universality to the stories it tells. No matter where we are in our lives, there is always an uncertainty surrounding the vulnerability of love, sex, and sexuality. Sex Education opposes the shame and taboo around those topics by providing open and honest conversation that allow people to feel less alone. Who doesn’t want to feel like that?
Starstruck
Where to Stream: HBO Max
Starstruck is a show made for everyone who is looking for more romantic-comedy greatness on the small screen. Jessie (played by Rose Matafeo) learns that she had a one-night stand with a famous actor on New Year’s Eve. A whole lot of wonderful follows that revelation as the actor, Tom Kapoor, and Jessie start to catch real feelings for each other. It’s refreshing in its humor and its direction, both which value the female perspective and gaze. Starstruck is a perfect pick-me-up for anyone who needs a reminder that love isn’t dead and neither is the rom-com. As seen in the Ted Lasso Season 2 trailer, Ted himself believes in rom-communism, and we’d like to believe he’d love Stastruck.
This Way Up
Where to Stream: Hulu
This Way Up is a brilliant dramedy (Can you see a trend here?) that was written by and stars Aisling Bea. Sharon Horgan, who you probably recognize from Amazon Prime’s Catastrophe, not only stars in the show but serves as an Executive Producer alongside Bea. If you like Fleabag, This Way Up could be the show for you because this relationship between two sisters is also at its center. More specifically, it follows Bea’s Aine as she puts her life back together after surviving a mental breakdown. Of course, all breakdowns can also be seen as breakthroughs. This Way Up follows Aine through all of that with her sister Shona by her side. It’s a heartwarming yet sometimes devastating series that will lead you to want to watch it all again immediately.
Trying
Where to Stream: Apple TV+
Trying follows a couple as they deal with the long list of hurdles and milestones that come with expanding their family through the adoption process. This comedy is so genuinely hilarious that you’ll find yourself laughing out loud without ever realizing it. Plus, Nikki (played by Esther Smith) and Jason (played by Rafe Spall) are such a likable couple, it’s easy to root for them. Moreso, Trying is one of those comedies that boders the line so well that you’ll catch yourself crying while you laugh and then crying because the feels are too overwhelming. Does that sound like another one of our favorite shows that’s totally not only about football?
We Are Lady Parts
Where to Stream: Peacock
Nida Manzoor is a genius for all of her incredible work, and We Are Lady Parts is a prime example of her excellent art. This show is one that will knock you off your feet with its whimsy and rock-and-roll spirit. You wouldn’t think those two qualities would work together, but they are truly electric in We Are Lady Parts. It follows an all-female Muslim punk band in the United Kingdom, and it’s simply the best. The music is catchy and spirited. The characters have so many layers that Season 1 feels like the tip of a much larger iceberg. The friendship, music, and romance are just some of the reasons why this show is a must watch.
When Eagles Dare: Crystal Palace F.C.
Where to Stream: Amazon Prime
To round out the list, we thought we would give you a nice docu-series to enjoy. When Eagles Dare: Crystal Palace F.C. tells the story of how this club was saved by its fan. It chronolizes all of Crystal Palace F.C.’s wins and losses through the perspectives of those closest to the team. This docu-series is especially appropriate in terms of its connection to Ted Lasso. Bill Lawrence, a producer on Ted Lasso, has spoken about the inspiration AFC Richmond takes from Crystal Palace. The Apple TV+ series even filmed scenes at Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park. It’s also more likely than a coincidence that Richmond wears Crystal Palace’s colors. This docu-series is one to watch if you want to fall even more in love with the sport and a team that inspired our favorite fictional football team.
Which show do you think you’ll watch first? Let us know in the comments below!
Ted Lasso Season 2 premieres Friday, July 23, 2021, exclusively on Apple TV+.
