Love him or hate him, Seth MacFarlane has an immovable place in the realm of TV comedy, and Ted is an excellent showcase for the writer at his best. A seasoned actor and writer of over 3 decades, he has created numerous hit productions, including adult animation tentpoles like Family Guy and American Dad!, as well as The Orville.

However, his talents have also allowed him to make the leap from television to the big screen, including his 2012 comedy Ted, which asked what would happen to a child who wished their teddy bear for life once they grew into adults.

However, in 2024, MacFarlane brought Ted to the small screen with a television series that dived into the times not seen in the 2012 movie. And I personally feel that the show has become one of MacFarlane’s finest projects to date:

How Does Ted Tie Into The Movies?

A new side of John and Ted

Ted is set between the opening 1985 sequence of the original 2012 movie and the present-day sequence, honing in on John’s teenage years at high school as Max Burkholder takes on the role. When Ted pushes things too far, he is forced to attend school with John, leading to the pair experiencing many major developmental milestones together. From falling in love to going against his parents’ wishes and trying weed for the first time, the pair take on the world together.

Alongside the main duo, Ted also shines a light on the rest of the Bennett household. Frequent MacFarlane collaborator Scott Grimes takes on the voice of John’s loudmouthed conservative father Matty, while Alanna Ubach portrays his soft-spoken, good-hearted mother Susan. The Bennett family is rounded out by Giorgia Wigham’s Blaire, John’s politically minded cousin staying with the family who is always looking out for the leading pair.

A new addition to the lore

Much like Family Guy and American Dad took on The Simpsons‘ animated family sitcom and The Orville lampooned Star Trek, Ted twists a certain style of sitcom. There have been no shortage of throwback sitcoms set in the past since the late 2010s, with The Goldbergs and Young Sheldon playing into the nostalgia people either have for that time or recognize through long-running franchises or series like Stranger Things to attract viewer attention.

In Ted, the show turns its lens to the 1990s, with Blaire being part of the youthful generation who wants to challenge the status quo. However, she butts heads with various authority figures. Plus, Matty and Jon find themselves affected by the OJ Simpson case in varying ways.

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Despite this setting and inevitable plays on the events of the decade, the show isn’t entirely dependent on nostalgia. Ted’s very existence already set the series up in a position where it could do anything, and MacFarlane doesn’t hold back. From new talking toys and the relatable gag about how hot McDonald’s apple pies are to an entire episode that cuts between the group playing a Dungeons and Dragons game around a table and their characters within the game’s world, the series isn’t afraid to get strange. Because of that, it is hard to find an underwhelming episode throughout its run.

Ted has a surprising amount of heart

Is this the best of Seth MacFarlane?

While MacFarlane is a seasoned comedic writer whom audiences are incredibly familiar with, from his strengths to his stylistic flaws, I do feel that Ted is, for the most part, the best of what he has to offer. The series does have the sharper edge his humor can have at times, with Ted himself having some absolutely devastating insults towards the bullies at John’s school, as well as the cast overall tiptoeing between crass humor and smartly written gags. But this is a story about a bear brought to life with a child’s wish, so there is always a good deal of heart within every episode.

Thanks to the incredible chemistry between the cast, the Bennett family unit is easy to root for. Part of the enjoyment of the show is seeing John grow into the man he was in the original movie, but it is also heartwarming to see Blaire find her place in the Bennett household, even if she butts heads with Matty. Meanwhile, even Matty has several moments of vulnerability despite his hard-headed, typically politically incorrect self, which show just why Susan, who is the delightful and lovable heart of the show, fell for him.

One week the family may be playing a Dungeons and Dragons game to replenish their stash of weed, and the next will see them dedicating themselves to fulfilling Susan’s unrealized dream or helping Matty through the stranger side of his experiences in Vietnam. Even John’s bully Clive (Jackson Seavor McDonald) gets an off-kilter spotlight where the leading pair go from pulling a horrible revenge prank on him to becoming his unlikely father figures. MacFarlane’s edge is always there, but there is always a softer side to tug at your heartstrings and cushion you if not every gag lands.​​​​​​​

Where to watch Ted

All episodes are now streaming

Credit: Peacock

​​​​​​​ Both seasons of Ted are currently available in their entirety on Peacock. Season 1 consists of 7 episodes, while season 2 received a larger episode count of 8. However, even after having an overall positive response and viral attention thanks to shared and reposted clips, MacFarlane confirmed that there were no current plans for season 3, as the costs to bring Ted to life on a television budget are incredibly high.

However, as Ted said himself, “Don’t be sad because it’s over; be happy because it happened.” Even against the costs, MacFarlane set out to ensure that Ted’s surprising expansion into television would still be a fulfilling experience, ensuring that the series could at least end on a satisfying note. As such, if you wish to see just how having an irresponsible magical stuffed friend shaped John’s life ahead of the movies, you will not be disappointed.​​​​​​​