Win or Lose, Pixar’s first long-format television series is funny, heartwarming, and one of the best pieces of entertainment the studio has produced in years. (And yes, I found Inside Out 2 to be one of the most overrated films in recent memory.) Yes, the little streaming series that could is that good.
Win or Lose has an engaging format — almost an anthology series — connecting each chapter just enough to view the previous one in a new light. The series captures what the studio’s filmography does best: emotional storytelling, strong character development, and universal themes that bring people, families, and audiences together.
Now, if only Pixar’s recent film entries could rise to the occasion and reach this level of creativity.
Disney+’s Win or Lose Review and Synopsis
The series follows the trials and tribulations of a co-ed middle school softball team. Affectionately called the Pickles, they are on the verge of winning the league championship. Each episode presents the perspective of the players, parents, and other participants through their own unique lens.
Laurie (Rosanna Jean Foss) is the worst player on the team, carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. Her father (Will Forte) inspires her to do her best. Frank (Josh Thomson) is the league umpire and a middle school teacher. The Pickles’ catcher, Rochelle (Milan Elizabeth Ray), loves softball, but the new league dues are too expensive for her mother to afford.
Disney+’s Win or Lose is Funny and Heart Warming!
Written and directed by Carrie Hobson (Lightyear, Luca, and Elemental) and Michael Yates (Turning Red, Soul, Toy Story 4), this is their first series as creators and directors, having worked on a handful of great Pixar films in their animation department. Hobson and Yates take big, bold swings that pay off handsomely here.
That’s because they go back to the famed studio’s roots. First, the animation is beautiful and wildly creative. Second, the series cleverly folds in themes of self-esteem, anxiety, loneliness, emotional detachment, and validation, bringing each episode to a moving conclusion. Lastly, the series is funny, with the pilot’s ending scene that had a direct line to my funny bone.
Is Disney+’s Win or Lose Worth Watching?
Win or Lose is worth watching for its thoughtful and imaginative storytelling and inventive use of animation that encourages the audience to let emotional engagement wash over them. This series works independently for children and parents, folding in love and levity that works famously.
If anything, the decision not to focus on one or two main characters, with many getting their chapter, takes away from the audience’s genuine engagement with the pilot. However, each outing has instinctive and heartfelt stakes that eventually bring the viewer back in.
The series exudes kindness, teamwork, resilience, and the importance of family bonds, all while keeping the tone light and fun with hilarious visual gags and slapstick humor that crosses generational appeal. Simply put, there’s magic in it.
The first four episodes of Win or Lose were screened for this review. You can stream this series only on Disney+ on February 19 with a two-episode premiere. The series will stream two new episodes every week through March 12!
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