If there’s a streaming platform that’s grown insanely fast, it’s Apple TV+. Instead of buying up massive old catalogs like everyone else, Apple took a different path: creating original shows with mind-melting ideas, big talent, and top-tier production. And it worked. Since launching in 2019, Apple TV+ has picked up 39 Primetime Emmys and dropped hit after hit.

Over the past few months alone, the platform has added several new shows, each with stacked casts, wild, exciting concepts, and out-of-this-world production. But even with all that fresh content, it’s a five-year-old series that’s still holding strong in the Top 10.

Made back when Apple TV+ was still figuring things out, this early gem continues to outperform the latest headliners–and honestly, it’s not even close.

New shows that still fail to come close to Ted Lasso

A still from the series Ted Lasso | Credits: Apple TV+

Apple TV+ has been busy rolling out fresh, ambitious series, but none have quite dethroned the charm machine that is Ted Lasso. Several contenders have come close in terms of hype, cast, and concept, but when it comes to staying power and emotional pull, Ted still leads the pack.

Take Murderbot, Apple’s latest sci-fi swing based on Martha Wells’ hit book series. The show had all the right ingredients: a unique premise, fast pacing, cliffhangers galore, and yes—even a robot who just wants to be left alone to binge soap operas. Critics loved it early on, giving it a perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes at launch (now a still-impressive 97%), with a 7.3 IMDb score. It’s clever and stylish, but it never really grabs your heart the way Ted Lasso does.

Prefer something more grounded? Enter Stick, the sports comedy that clearly draws from the Lasso playbook. Two struggling coaches, broken marriages, one chasing redemption, the other clinging to optimism.

It checks a lot of the same boxes, but it never quite finds that same warmth. The show sits at a decent 6.9 on IMDb and 79% on Rotten Tomatoes–but “decent” doesn’t win hearts as Ted did.

Related: The Wait Is Finally Over, ‘Ted Lasso’ Season 4 Filming Starts Sooner Than You Expected

Then there’s The Studio and Your Friends and Neighbors—both filled with A-listers, sleek direction, and sharp scripts. The Studio alone boasts names like Zoë Kravitz, Dave Franco, Martin Scorsese, Kathryn Hahn, and Catherine O’Hara. But even with all that star power, the show feels more like a glossy industry in-joke than something you’d revisit for comfort.

Your Friends and Neighbors delivered intense drama and posh heist vibes, but again, no emotional anchor like Ted. Their ratings? Respectable. The Studio at 8.1 IMDb and 93% Rotten Tomatoes, Your Friends and Neighbors at 7.7 and 80%.

All solid efforts. But Ted Lasso, with its 8.8 on IMDb and 90% Rotten Tomatoes score, continues to be the heart of Apple TV+. It hasn’t just aged well, it’s become timeless.

Ted Lasso has confirmed its next season

The AFC Richmond team in Ted Lasso | Credits: Apple TV+

No matter how many shiny new titles Apple TV+ throws our way, Ted Lasso remains unbeatable. It’s not just one of the platform’s biggest hits—it’s the show that continues to define what Apple TV+ is all about: heart, humor, and characters you actually care about. And just when it seemed like the story had wrapped, the team is lacing up for Season 4.

This time, Ted’s switching things up; he’s now set to coach a women’s team. That same relentless optimism, but with a whole new challenge. The buzz around this twist has already taken off, and fans can’t wait to see how it plays out.

Related: There’s Fitting Reality Every ‘Ted Lasso’ Fan Needs to Finally Accept

Apple TV+ and Warner Bros. have already confirmed that Jason Sudeikis, Hannah Waddingham, Brett Goldstein, Brendan Hunt, and Jeremy Swift are returning. Production is reportedly starting in July 2025, so while we don’t have a release date yet, the excitement is real.

The fact that Ted Lasso is still showing up in the Top 10 years after its debut says everything. It’s the show that won’t quit, and honestly, we’re not ready to say goodbye either. Season 4? Bring it on.

Ted Lasso is available to stream on Apple TV+.
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