DVD Corner

Ted Season 1 Blu-ray Review

It might be time to retire Ted.  

In this prequel to 2012’s “Ted,” the 2024 “Ted” Peacock comedy series is set in 1993 and revolves around the foul mouthed Ted living with the Bennett family in Massachusetts. The family is comprised of the teenage John (the younger version of the Mark Wahlberg character from the first film), the housewife mother Susan, the deeply conservative Vietnam vet father Matty and John’s progressive cousin Blaire. In the 7 episode debut season, stories involve Ted attending high school with John, Blaire selling weed, a school bully (Clive), porno videos, Halloween, marriage counseling, Blaire’s girlfriend, Dennis (a truck that becomes sentient like Ted), John attempting to get a girlfriend (Bethany) and of course plenty of Ted shenanigans (weed smoking, drinking, partying with prostitutes, etc.). 

2012’s “Ted” was a hilarious movie and stands among Seth MacFarlane’s best work. The sequel had its moments, but couldn’t capture the magic of the first film. With the TV series, the character of Ted has really grown tiresome.

With the prequel TV sitcom, writer/director Seth MacFarlane goes back in time to further explore the life of the teddy bear that came to life in the good old 90’s. The show is littered with long rambles about differing political opinions, “Rocky” conversations, sex jokes, talks about racism and political correctness, and plenty of stretched out comedy bits that become increasingly less funny the more they go on (and boy do they go on sometimes). While there are chuckles here and there, the humor tends to fall flat. With each passing episode it starts to feel like “less is more” when it comes to the character of Ted. You also can’t help but realize just how much the chemistry between Mark Wahlberg and Ted really sold that first film.

The cast (namely Scott Grimes, Max Burkholder, and Alanna Ubach) is adequate despite the comedic shortcomings. The real star here isn’t the Seth MacFarlane voiced Ted but rather Giorgia Whigham as Blaire. She steals the entire show and you end up wishing it was a sitcom about her instead.

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 1.78:1 1080p. Grade: A-

Audio Track: 5.1 DTS-HD MA. Grade: A-

No extras.

October 1, 2024 - Posted by nicklyons1 | Blu-Ray review | Comedy, Seth MacFarlane, Sitcom, Ted Movie, Ted Season 1 Blu-ray Review, Ted the teddy bear, Ted TV Series