Win or Lose is sure to compete with the MLB as America’s new favorite pastime—okay, maybe your child’s favorite pastime. The new Disney+ series steals base with its short, 24-minute episodes. No need to binge because each episode represents a different character for a total of 8 episodes. Disney+ released the first two episodes of the season this Wednesday and will release more over the next few Wednesdays.
Laurie, the star of episode 1, drops a nugget of wisdom within the first few seconds of the show. She says, “I have faith, but sometimes the doubt creeps in.”. This opening line already gives viewers a hint at what the theme or moral of the show will be, and we can look forward to more positive messaging to come.
Laurie is an eager player on her town’s softball team, but she has yet to achieve the recognition and success of many of her peers. After a tough strike-out, Laurie’s self-doubt and negative thinking personifies as a gray blob that physically attaches to her, and follows her everywhere she goes, saying all of the things that we often find our own intrusive thoughts saying.
The more that Laurie dwells on her worries, the stronger and larger the gray blob becomes. The blob of self-doubt makes Laurie second-guess herself, downplay her talents and gifts, and overthink how to present herself in daily conversations.
The presence of the blob of self-doubt is strikingly reminiscent of the character, Anxiety, in Disney Pixar’s Inside Out 2. Fans of Inside Out and Inside Out 2 will likely enjoy Win or Lose as well, with the wide range of emotions and fears that are represented.
Laurie’s life also normalizes the reality that many kids face of having to divide time between two households, as her parents are recently separated or divorced in episode 1. This makes Laurie’s character even more relatable because there aren’t too many kid-friendly series that reflect single-parent homes.
By the end of episode 1, Laurie’s dad and coach reassures her that softball is not about being the best but about trying her best. His affirmation gives Laurie the confidence needed to make the self-loathing gray blob shrink significantly… but will this be enough to lead Laurie and her team to victory at State?
Episode 2 shows the impact of personal insecurities from a slightly different, adult perspective. We see a teacher, who is also the umpire of the softball team, struggle with regret over some recent decisions. We also see his professional and personal relationships at risk due to his inability to address his issues with self-confidence. He finally gets the courage to be emotionally vulnerable, but at what cost? Will his lack of confidence seep into his ability to umpire fairly on the night of the State championship?
Episode 2 ends with a cliffhanger, as we wait to see what happens the night of the State softball championship and to be introduced to 6 other players.
About the Win or Lose rating
Win or Lose is rated TV-PG, which usually indicates mild violence, suggestive content, or coarse language. So far, the ‘suggestive’ content is very mild. Episode 2 does involve a dating scenario between two adults, and it appears that a female teacher has a glass of wine in her classroom to celebrate her recent engagement. Overall, this seems like a great watch for the whole family, especially if you're short on time!
Watch new episodes of Win or Lose Wednesdays on Disney+.