Ted Lasso season 2 has introduced a new character in Dr. Sharon the sports psychiatrist/therapist, but who plays her on the show? After a relatively quiet launch on Apple TV+ in 2020, the series gradually gained traction through repeated award nominations and word of mouth, eventually becoming one of the streamer’s most popular and talked about shows yet. That’s set expectations high for Ted Lasso season 2, which premiered on Apple TV+ on July 23.
The uniquely compelling ensemble dynamic of Ted Lasso is a big reason why it’s become so successful. From the many footballers of AFC Richmond to Ted, Rachel, Nate, Coach Beard, Higgins, and Keeley, each character is written with impressive nuance and sensitivity. The interactions between those characters and the relationships they form are at the center of the show’s popularity, and it should be fun to see the cast continue to grow in their roles through season 2.
Season 2 of Ted Lasso has already added a new face to the show’s ensemble with Dr. Sharon, played by British actor Sarah Niles. Niles is a prolific stage actor in the U.K., having featured in numerous productions at major theaters including the Old Vic, the National Theatre, and the Royal Shakespeare Company. Internationally, she is better known for her TV roles as Reba Parkinson in Beautiful People, Melissa in Catastrophe, and Officer Funmi in I May Destroy You. Niles also featured in the British dramedy Happy-Go-Lucky.
So far, it looks like Niles’ Dr. Sharon will be an interesting addition to the preexisting ensemble dynamic of Ted Lasso in season 2. Unlike so many of the other characters, Sharon seems particularly resistant to Ted’s infectiously optimistic persona, which is much needed after the coach won over most everyone else to his methods by the end of season 1. While the positive energy of the series is a big part of its appeal, it’s good to have some characters who aren’t quite onboard the Ted Lasso train. At least, not yet.
Of course, it seems inevitable that Sharon will come around eventually. Kindness has been Ted’s superpower since the beginning of the series – he has the ability to win anyone over to his lovable brand of unbridled, uncynical optimism. Of course, with the team’s performance looking questionable, things aren’t all happy-go-lucky. It should be interesting to see how Ted and the crew try to pull themselves back up to the Premier League in Ted Lasso season 2.