Win or Lose (Pixar) Review: A Lucky Hit

Win or Lose covers the bases of both childhood anxiety and adult problems, making its world feel more realistic and welcoming.

The series follows the Pickles, a co-ed middle school softball team, in the events leading up to their championship game. Each of the eight episodes gives a different perspective of the same story, showing how all of the players and staff have internal battles to face and drama with the team which all comes to a head at the end. Some highlights come from the stories surrounding the characters of the talented but anxious Kai (Chanel Stewart), the resourceful catcher Rochelle (Milan Ray), and Rochelle’s devoted single mother (Rosa Salazar, A Million Miles Away), who provides the most realistic and intense adult point of view for the show. 

Win or Lose feels more authentic thanks to the casting of child actors to play the children. Their awkward deliveries match the vibe of the show and all of the kids on the cast are trying their best. While little actual softball play is shown, this gives a focus on characters rather than story, to allow every standalone episode a chance to stand out. The art shifts are impressive and a great visual diversion to add to the themes of each episode. It can go from bright and cheery, to two-dimensional and amateurish, to signify each character’s internal monologue and how they relate to the conflict of the episode. 

While Win or Lose has a great idea for telling its story, the way it is presented is a bit disjointed. Each new perspective shows new details while leaving others out, since there is a different point of view character in each episode. At first glance, it may seem like Laurie should turn back into a blob when she talks to her father in the last game, but then you realize she is not because it is from Coach Dan’s point of view. As an adult, it will make some sense, but the children in the audience may be asking too many questions about what is going on. 

The pacing in these stories is slow for the more grounded and serious tales, such as with the adults and their perspectives. When it gets to the kids on the team, particularly hotheaded pitcher Yuwen (Izaac Yang, Dìdi) and the rambunctious younger child Ira (Dorien Watson), the pace becomes much faster, perhaps a bit too fast. It is in these episodes where certain details become muddled and story beats get lost, but this is not a deal breaker at all. In the final episode, they all come together in a satisfying way. 

Win or Lose is another winner in the Pixar catalog. Even though the presentation may be disorienting to children, the characters and comedy more than make up for that. The Pickles are a team you want to root for, with each scenario bringing something new to the table. The shifts in perspective and the subtle details which reappear in each episode give an incentive for repeat viewings. The series sticks true to its message by showing how win or lose, the series tries its best every time. 

All episodes of Win or Lose are now available to watch globally on Disney Plus.