The Return of Ted: A Review of the Series

The return of the titular bear in Ted the series brings some occasional laughs, but overall the show feels filled with fluff. From Seth MacFarlane, creator of Family Guy, this show explores what happens when a cuddly magical best friend becomes an alcoholic leech. However, there seems to be more to this transformation than meets the eye, and that is the focus of this new Ted series.

Ted made his debut in 2012, with Seth MacFarlane as the voice of the main character, joined by Mark Wahlberg and Mila Kunis. The new 2024 Peacock series is set in the 90s and only features MacFarlane, showcasing Ted's adolescent years after his fame declined, alongside his human best friend John Bennett. Despite the popularity of sitcom prequels, like Young Sheldon, it seems that Ted's origin show may unfortunately face the same fate as the talking bear himself.

Ted is dead on arrival…or is he?

Ted the series has its moments of admiration. There are occasional humorous moments, with a certain Full House joke landing well. The actors handle their roles competently, with Max Burkholder convincing as a young John Bennett/Mark Wahlberg – no small achievement – and Alanna Ubach putting in noticeable effort to create a memorable character as matriarch Susan Bennett.

The nostalgic appeal of the show's 90s setting is endearing, as it aims to blend The Goldbergs with a Family Guy twist. However, Ted faces some challenges, particularly in its first episode, which can be skipped without missing much. The energy and humor feel forced, there is an excessive use of explicit language, and the pacing is off, creating an awkward atmosphere that detracts from the overall viewing experience.

While criticizing MacFarlane for relying on stereotypes is as commonplace as the stereotypes themselves, it is disappointing to see each member of the Bennett family feeling like a stock character. However, in later episodes, new pairings and dynamics encourage more entertaining situations, such as Ted and Cousin Blaire in the Halloween episode, which breathe new life into the show.

Unfortunately, the titular character, Ted, fails to capture the same charm as the original movies. In fact, Ted's inability to become the heinous and crude bear we know him as results in a lack of humor. Ultimately, the entire concept feels redundant, making it difficult to stay engaged beyond the first episode and until the end of the series.

Ted the Series review score: 2/5

Although Ted improves as the episodes progress, and there will certainly be viewers who find it amusing and entertaining, there is still minimal motivation to watch this series unless you are already a dedicated fan of the franchise.

The actors are putting in effort, and if the show continues to improve with each episode, there may be potential for a decent series. However, considering how repetitive Ted the Series is overall, it may be better to explore other potential. Watch Ted the Series in full on Peacock and check out more coverage of the show below.

Editor's P/S

As a hard fan of the Ted franchise, I was eagerly anticipating the release of Ted the Series. While I found some moments of humor and appreciated the nostalgic 90s setting, overall I was disappointed with the show's execution. The first episode, in particular, felt forced and awkward, with excessive use of explicit language and an off-putting pacing.

Despite the efforts of the actors, the characters felt like stock stereotypes, lacking the depth and charm of the original movies. Ted himself failed to capture the same crude and heinous humor that made him so iconic, resulting in a lack of laughs. The repetitive nature of the series made it difficult to stay engaged beyond the first episode, and while there was some improvement as the episodes progressed, it wasn't enough to warrant a strong recommendation.