The Victors

has morphed into just a feel-good drama-comedy with thin plot lines that are somewhat vapid and meandering. The target audience seems to be 50-yo white women who lean liberal and want a life-affirming story before they put their head on their pillow to rinse their maga angst away for a few hours (also, same for Cincy).

It's not funny anymore, perhaps a chuckle/sl every here and there, but no overt laughs. And the writing leads to weird plot situations and awkward pauses. In the recent season, episode 3(?), there was a scene where Ted and the woman assistant coach were sitting on a couch, and the camera stayed on them for 40 seconds while she cried and he mugged. Director looked at the script and came to the conclusion that 15 seconds wasn't enough, let the camera role for another 25. Some people think it's poignant, I think it's heavy-handed and lazy.

It's still an OK watch, characters are decent and the feel good moments are tender, but overwrought -- and I always like references to UK soccer -- but it's just made a weird transition. It has not necessarily jumped the shark, but it has become what it clearly wasn't intended to be, not by planned evolution but by happenstance.

Whatever, that's my hot take for the day (morning).