Meant to include this in the original post: blink if you missed it: when Henry asked for more money for the pinball machine, what did Ted pull out of his pocket with the two magnets?
Someone on Reddit captured the text of the news article Nate was reading about Ted attending the West Ham game:
“Coaches usually look at game film to scout opposing teams but today, Ted Lasso took a closer look at West Ham united by showing up in London Stadium to watch the team in person. It's hard to believe Lasso was there to support Nathan Shelley, his former assistant coach who has been very unsupportive of his old boss in the press, but that's exactly what Lasso seemed to be doing along with his assistant, Coach Beard, and son Henry, who was even dressed in West Ham colours. There was no sign that the rivalry between the two clubs, and coaches, had tainted Lasso's enjoyment of the game and frankly, it was refreshing seeing a Premier League Manager taking time out of his busy schedule to be a fan.”
Ted comes off as classy. No wonder Rupert and Nate wanted to put the kibosh on it.
This was a heavy episode! Thank you for the pink shout out. It was everywhere!
But I also want to point out a huge fashion reference... Keely’s polo match dress was a nod to Julia Roberts’ polo dress in Pretty Woman. (Brown and Polka Dot) And I think it’s worth the comparison to what happened in the movie in the sequence. Roberts being the side piece. The scene where Gere still treats her like a whore after the beginnings of an assault by Jason Alexander. Keely is Jack’s side piece and she definitely doesn’t like Keely being the strong confident woman. Anyway, great complexification by the writers along with the phone photos and women. I love a good artistry nod!
Just get Keely and Roy back together. We are getting there. Slowly.
I'm LOLing because I used the phrase "side piece" to describe someone last week in a mixed group and the men were like "OK, we weren't going to use the term but you can. heh.
Just as [we know from our mutual work that] people of color can uphold white supremacy culture, though in different ways than we white folks do, Jack is a great example of how women uphold patriarchy. She's an interesting character but yeah, not good for our Keeleh.
Great catch! Jack was in control mode from the letter to Keeley's clothes to the mini-golf sequence. Jack has same mindset as Rupert.
Also...it's clear that Barbara has Keeley's back and is going to be there for her.
I wonder if Jack will stop investing, Barbara will quit working for Jack but Keeley will retain Barb's services. And...Rebecca will invest in Keeley's company instead.
Nate’s Love Hounds and fumbling (persistent) attempts to connect with Jade... he clearly is able to see some value in the Lasso Way (the vulnerable and messy way). And, I think he is still so frightened of his father and chosen father (Rupert) that appearance in public still matters enough that waving was not possible. Nor was anything other than Thank You to Rupert’s promise to keep Ted away.
Rupert is savvy enough to know that keeping Ted away is the key to keeping Nate beholden to their sick dynamic. As you do, when a narcissist.
Roy and Jamie will be the key to the reconnection between Roy and Keely... and she will “rescue him right back” in Pretty Woman parlance.
In Star Wars metaphor... Rebecca is looking like a nod to Leia as General Organa. Wiser from the battles, ready to lead other leaders.
As a child of divorce and a divorced single parent, this one was tough. Here's my bullet points:
--Jack is awful
--Jamie is amazing, MVP of the season thus far
--Loved Beard's talk with Henry was really good.
--The "Hey Jude" scene and the community singing together = the best
--Rebecca and Ted's friendship and her advice to them was perfect. Side note: Ted was perplexed that he had the green matchbook that Sam gave him at the restaurant opening. Will this be connected to Rebecca somehow?
--The scene with Colin and Isaac was painful but I agree with Maryann's assessment
--Jade is definitely making a huge difference in Nate's life. I didn't think he turned back to the Dark Side because A) his response to Rupert was brief and not mean, i.e. "Ok. Good. Thanks" nor was he that upset about Ted, Beard and Henry being there. I got the impression that he changed the text because he was fearful of how Rupert would respond. However, Nate didn't rip Ted apart as he's done before. B) Nate seemed to be over it when Jade turned him from the computer and told him the importance of celebrating victories.
--God bless Nate trying to recreate the Diamond Dogs with the Love Hounds. It was awkward and funny, and also showed how Nate is trying to do good and figuring out who he wants to be.
--Something seems amiss with Michelle and the doctor, i.e. the scene where they are leaving London. Ted noticed it too.
--Dammit, Roy. Where's Dr. Sharon?
--Only Beard would want to do a 8 hour Jack the Ripper tour. Lol.
--Fun fact: David Grohl's name was dropped twice in reference to Henry wanting to play drums both by Ted and Michelle, "David Grohl learned to play on pillows." Interestingly, David Grohl has said in multiple interviews over the years that the first rock song he every listened to as a kid and what he considers the greatest rock song of all time is...drumroll...Hey Jude.
--One show regret: I realize there are so many characters and not enough time to learn about all of them in-depth. However, I wish they gave us a slice of what Mae's life is like. She's such a wonderful and complex character--sweet one minute (telling Henry he never has to pay on the video game machine and reassures Ted) and then the next, she doesn't want to serve Ted, Beard, Henry because they went to West Ham game. She cares deeply and passionate about AFC Richmond and the pub. I would've loved to gotten a little more about her--in same way that we've gotten more of the three AFC fans/pub goers.
Side note, when I was taking improv class, somewhere I picked up (either through observation or someone sharing an unofficial rule of thumb) that names with a J sound are a go-to because they're inexplicably humorous in a scene. Gerald, Jeremy, Julius...
A thought occurred to me yesterday that really belongs in last week’s discussion but I don’t want to put it there where it might not be seen again: When they were “swapping” identities during training, Jamie was given himself. Has anyone else connected that back to season 1 when, given the choice of being a panda or a lion, Jamie’s response was, “I’m me. Why would I want to be anything else?”?
One piece that is sticking with me is Mae’s: “Nothing is impossible.” What a juxtaposition to “It’s the hope that kills you.” Has she become a true believer like Trent? Or is she wonderfully containing multitudes?
Also - do we know anything about the band The Kinks? Noticing our second needle drop from them this week after Well Respected Man earlier in the season.
And one more music note, right before Hey Jude, the busker is playing Take Your Mother Out. Another take on a child exploring parental dynamics. This time a son taking his mom on a wild evening, but hey. “She’ll have no doubt we’re doing all the best we can.”
Love that you flagged Mae's comment! Great point I didn't think about. Yes, is it an evolution? Or, as somewhat of a pessimistic hopemonger, I like your idea that she is holding both in tension.
I loved in the episode that Rebecca got Ted’s head screwed on correctly - that time with Michelle has passed and now he’s squandering his time with Henry. The whole “Beard as adoptive uncle” dynamic; Henry even cheers’s his milk they way Ted & Beard do. Yes to what y’all have said above about Jack, and the role it’s putting Keeley into. And I’m really glad that Henry fell asleep on Ted’s line of questioning, and that Ted seemed to realize he was going down a wrong path by focusing on asking the questions.
We have two character storylines that are internally fractured: Colin’s & Nate’s. Colin realizes he’s fractured, and yearns for synthesis - to be whole without losing himself or his club (and I think we’ll see that played out in the next episode, given the description). Nate...Nate may not realize fully that he’s fractured - one persona as the coach, given the chance by Rupert, and trying to live into the expectation of that; the other, as we’re seeing, with Jade. Colin I believe will successfully synthesize the two; Nate will need to decide which he’d rather be, which is the more authentic him.
Zoom debriefing would be fun. I’ve got to plan that last episode week. Maybe it will come out early again? The Presbytery of Greater Atlanta is having a clergy tailgate game night for Atlanta United soccer 5/31. Maybe we could talk them into a watch party at Mercede-Benz stadium?!
Many more thoughts to come later, after I’ve celebrated my wife’s birthday, but for now, this: they’ve referred, loosely, to the seasons being akin to the original Star Wars trilogy. In that vein, this episode was the point in RotJ where the Rebel fleet has just arrived to the space around Endor is realizing that the Death Star is protected. The last four episodes will be the facing of insurmountable odds and finding hope, even redemption, in one another.
Oh, one more thing I read today: Keeley Hazell, the actress who plays Becks, co-wrote episode 8 with Dylan Marron who is the voice of Carolos on the amazing podcast "Welcome to Night Vale." Marron is gay and has another podcast called "Conversations with People who Hate Me" Dylan was brought into the third season and assigned the Colin storyline.
Way more to think about and write but I see Roy as getting better each week. His progress is slower than everyone else’s but he’s getting there. He’s off to his own space during the Diamond Dogs gathering but he weighs in so he’s listening and learning from his “fancy canine” friends.
So glad Dr. Jerk (I mean Jake, I guess) didn’t have the coinage for Henry’s pinball play... didn’t want him to be the hero. Also, who goes to London with another person and does selfies of himself alone with the landmarks? What a totally self absorbed guy!
I loved this episode... one of my favorites although, as I pegged it, so rich. I’ll watch it again and again. Nice soundtrack ... Hey Jude. Loved that scene so much. Also the locker room scene. All their locker room scenes are pretty good as someone who celebrates a fit ⚽️ football body (never too old for that!).
I loved how Henry fell to sleep as Ted continued to quiz him on his mom’s relationship with the new guy. All children of divorce should do this, no matter if it’s nighttime or not or if they’re ready for bed. 😍
I have more thoughts but will wait until more has settled. One more thing though, Nate is still on my bad side. But probably by series end, I’ll accept him for who he is. For now, he’s still a pretty big jerk. Could he have at least waved to Henry? I guess he only saw “his nemesis Ted” when he looked at the fans in the stands, which is why he remains unhealed and a jerk to me.
Thanks for framing Roy as on a journey. That's really helpful.
Last week at preacher camp, we were talking about what makes Roy such a compelling and appealing character. For me it's his complete authenticity. He is 100% himself, whether that's prickly, or generously giving his time to Jamie's training, or offering relationship advice to Rebecca. (There's a version of this show in another universe in which the two of them pair up.) So it makes sense that as he goes through his dark forest, we're going to see all of that on major display. It's painful but he'll find his way.
For those versed in enneagram, Roy looks to be an 8. He's in unhealthy 8 space right now which is hard to watch and well, just a lot to take. But healthy 8s can be some of the most outstanding, compelling leaders and people.
Late to the party (coordinating full family for viewing of TL is tricky - last week it wasn't til Saturday!!)
Yes to Julia Roberts' polka dot dress.
ALL THE YESES to that amazing locker room scene. Watching this with two 17 year old boys was wonderful, cringy, and lots and lots of good things to point back to for future talks.
Not only did Jamie's hug feel platonic (could ever spell or say that word), but he also affirms Roy and Keeley's relationship as "the real thing." This is the way for Keeley and Roy. With a possible assist from Jamie? See trailer hints?
Someone in a Facebook group suggested that Shandy might be behind the hacking of Jamie's email account – but I think it's more likely she hacked Keeley's.
Meant to include this in the original post: blink if you missed it: when Henry asked for more money for the pinball machine, what did Ted pull out of his pocket with the two magnets?
Green matchbook.
Someone on Reddit captured the text of the news article Nate was reading about Ted attending the West Ham game:
“Coaches usually look at game film to scout opposing teams but today, Ted Lasso took a closer look at West Ham united by showing up in London Stadium to watch the team in person. It's hard to believe Lasso was there to support Nathan Shelley, his former assistant coach who has been very unsupportive of his old boss in the press, but that's exactly what Lasso seemed to be doing along with his assistant, Coach Beard, and son Henry, who was even dressed in West Ham colours. There was no sign that the rivalry between the two clubs, and coaches, had tainted Lasso's enjoyment of the game and frankly, it was refreshing seeing a Premier League Manager taking time out of his busy schedule to be a fan.”
Ted comes off as classy. No wonder Rupert and Nate wanted to put the kibosh on it.
This was a heavy episode! Thank you for the pink shout out. It was everywhere!
But I also want to point out a huge fashion reference... Keely’s polo match dress was a nod to Julia Roberts’ polo dress in Pretty Woman. (Brown and Polka Dot) And I think it’s worth the comparison to what happened in the movie in the sequence. Roberts being the side piece. The scene where Gere still treats her like a whore after the beginnings of an assault by Jason Alexander. Keely is Jack’s side piece and she definitely doesn’t like Keely being the strong confident woman. Anyway, great complexification by the writers along with the phone photos and women. I love a good artistry nod!
Just get Keely and Roy back together. We are getting there. Slowly.
I'm LOLing because I used the phrase "side piece" to describe someone last week in a mixed group and the men were like "OK, we weren't going to use the term but you can. heh.
Just as [we know from our mutual work that] people of color can uphold white supremacy culture, though in different ways than we white folks do, Jack is a great example of how women uphold patriarchy. She's an interesting character but yeah, not good for our Keeleh.
Great catch! Jack was in control mode from the letter to Keeley's clothes to the mini-golf sequence. Jack has same mindset as Rupert.
Also...it's clear that Barbara has Keeley's back and is going to be there for her.
I wonder if Jack will stop investing, Barbara will quit working for Jack but Keeley will retain Barb's services. And...Rebecca will invest in Keeley's company instead.
My “friend” Keely at the mini-golf, but an employee and kept woman when they got back to Keely’s place. Nope, not cool, Jack.
Immediately saw Julia Roberts allusions! Yes to all the layers.
Nate’s Love Hounds and fumbling (persistent) attempts to connect with Jade... he clearly is able to see some value in the Lasso Way (the vulnerable and messy way). And, I think he is still so frightened of his father and chosen father (Rupert) that appearance in public still matters enough that waving was not possible. Nor was anything other than Thank You to Rupert’s promise to keep Ted away.
Rupert is savvy enough to know that keeping Ted away is the key to keeping Nate beholden to their sick dynamic. As you do, when a narcissist.
Roy and Jamie will be the key to the reconnection between Roy and Keely... and she will “rescue him right back” in Pretty Woman parlance.
In Star Wars metaphor... Rebecca is looking like a nod to Leia as General Organa. Wiser from the battles, ready to lead other leaders.
Excellent comment as always!
As a child of divorce and a divorced single parent, this one was tough. Here's my bullet points:
--Jack is awful
--Jamie is amazing, MVP of the season thus far
--Loved Beard's talk with Henry was really good.
--The "Hey Jude" scene and the community singing together = the best
--Rebecca and Ted's friendship and her advice to them was perfect. Side note: Ted was perplexed that he had the green matchbook that Sam gave him at the restaurant opening. Will this be connected to Rebecca somehow?
--The scene with Colin and Isaac was painful but I agree with Maryann's assessment
--Jade is definitely making a huge difference in Nate's life. I didn't think he turned back to the Dark Side because A) his response to Rupert was brief and not mean, i.e. "Ok. Good. Thanks" nor was he that upset about Ted, Beard and Henry being there. I got the impression that he changed the text because he was fearful of how Rupert would respond. However, Nate didn't rip Ted apart as he's done before. B) Nate seemed to be over it when Jade turned him from the computer and told him the importance of celebrating victories.
--God bless Nate trying to recreate the Diamond Dogs with the Love Hounds. It was awkward and funny, and also showed how Nate is trying to do good and figuring out who he wants to be.
--Something seems amiss with Michelle and the doctor, i.e. the scene where they are leaving London. Ted noticed it too.
--Dammit, Roy. Where's Dr. Sharon?
--Only Beard would want to do a 8 hour Jack the Ripper tour. Lol.
--Fun fact: David Grohl's name was dropped twice in reference to Henry wanting to play drums both by Ted and Michelle, "David Grohl learned to play on pillows." Interestingly, David Grohl has said in multiple interviews over the years that the first rock song he every listened to as a kid and what he considers the greatest rock song of all time is...drumroll...Hey Jude.
--One show regret: I realize there are so many characters and not enough time to learn about all of them in-depth. However, I wish they gave us a slice of what Mae's life is like. She's such a wonderful and complex character--sweet one minute (telling Henry he never has to pay on the video game machine and reassures Ted) and then the next, she doesn't want to serve Ted, Beard, Henry because they went to West Ham game. She cares deeply and passionate about AFC Richmond and the pub. I would've loved to gotten a little more about her--in same way that we've gotten more of the three AFC fans/pub goers.
I always love your comments, Andy! It's so fun to hang out with people who love the show as much as I do. What's your source for info, BTW?
Ok one more thought.
Jane
Jack
Jake
....
Jade 😬
They are all unhealthy people in relationships. So does that mean Jade might not be the perfect fit for Nate?
Interesting!
Where does that leave Jan Mass 🧐🤣
Hmmmm... that's really intriguing. But what about Jamie? Maybe Jane, Jack and Jake are bad and Jade, Jamie and Jan are good?
Side note, when I was taking improv class, somewhere I picked up (either through observation or someone sharing an unofficial rule of thumb) that names with a J sound are a go-to because they're inexplicably humorous in a scene. Gerald, Jeremy, Julius...
JEN
JAMES
😂😂😂😂
That's it, I'm using Jen James from now on.
😂😂
Not to mention why French rapping will never sound tough.
A thought occurred to me yesterday that really belongs in last week’s discussion but I don’t want to put it there where it might not be seen again: When they were “swapping” identities during training, Jamie was given himself. Has anyone else connected that back to season 1 when, given the choice of being a panda or a lion, Jamie’s response was, “I’m me. Why would I want to be anything else?”?
Great insights!!
One piece that is sticking with me is Mae’s: “Nothing is impossible.” What a juxtaposition to “It’s the hope that kills you.” Has she become a true believer like Trent? Or is she wonderfully containing multitudes?
Also - do we know anything about the band The Kinks? Noticing our second needle drop from them this week after Well Respected Man earlier in the season.
And one more music note, right before Hey Jude, the busker is playing Take Your Mother Out. Another take on a child exploring parental dynamics. This time a son taking his mom on a wild evening, but hey. “She’ll have no doubt we’re doing all the best we can.”
Love that you flagged Mae's comment! Great point I didn't think about. Yes, is it an evolution? Or, as somewhat of a pessimistic hopemonger, I like your idea that she is holding both in tension.
And thanks for the musical flourishes!
Nice recall on Mae's previous comment and how she seems to have pivoted.
I loved in the episode that Rebecca got Ted’s head screwed on correctly - that time with Michelle has passed and now he’s squandering his time with Henry. The whole “Beard as adoptive uncle” dynamic; Henry even cheers’s his milk they way Ted & Beard do. Yes to what y’all have said above about Jack, and the role it’s putting Keeley into. And I’m really glad that Henry fell asleep on Ted’s line of questioning, and that Ted seemed to realize he was going down a wrong path by focusing on asking the questions.
We have two character storylines that are internally fractured: Colin’s & Nate’s. Colin realizes he’s fractured, and yearns for synthesis - to be whole without losing himself or his club (and I think we’ll see that played out in the next episode, given the description). Nate...Nate may not realize fully that he’s fractured - one persona as the coach, given the chance by Rupert, and trying to live into the expectation of that; the other, as we’re seeing, with Jade. Colin I believe will successfully synthesize the two; Nate will need to decide which he’d rather be, which is the more authentic him.
Zoom debriefing would be fun. I’ve got to plan that last episode week. Maybe it will come out early again? The Presbytery of Greater Atlanta is having a clergy tailgate game night for Atlanta United soccer 5/31. Maybe we could talk them into a watch party at Mercede-Benz stadium?!
Many more thoughts to come later, after I’ve celebrated my wife’s birthday, but for now, this: they’ve referred, loosely, to the seasons being akin to the original Star Wars trilogy. In that vein, this episode was the point in RotJ where the Rebel fleet has just arrived to the space around Endor is realizing that the Death Star is protected. The last four episodes will be the facing of insurmountable odds and finding hope, even redemption, in one another.
It’s a trap!
Oh, one more thing I read today: Keeley Hazell, the actress who plays Becks, co-wrote episode 8 with Dylan Marron who is the voice of Carolos on the amazing podcast "Welcome to Night Vale." Marron is gay and has another podcast called "Conversations with People who Hate Me" Dylan was brought into the third season and assigned the Colin storyline.
Definitely yes to the final episode Zoom confab!
Way more to think about and write but I see Roy as getting better each week. His progress is slower than everyone else’s but he’s getting there. He’s off to his own space during the Diamond Dogs gathering but he weighs in so he’s listening and learning from his “fancy canine” friends.
So glad Dr. Jerk (I mean Jake, I guess) didn’t have the coinage for Henry’s pinball play... didn’t want him to be the hero. Also, who goes to London with another person and does selfies of himself alone with the landmarks? What a totally self absorbed guy!
I loved this episode... one of my favorites although, as I pegged it, so rich. I’ll watch it again and again. Nice soundtrack ... Hey Jude. Loved that scene so much. Also the locker room scene. All their locker room scenes are pretty good as someone who celebrates a fit ⚽️ football body (never too old for that!).
I loved how Henry fell to sleep as Ted continued to quiz him on his mom’s relationship with the new guy. All children of divorce should do this, no matter if it’s nighttime or not or if they’re ready for bed. 😍
I have more thoughts but will wait until more has settled. One more thing though, Nate is still on my bad side. But probably by series end, I’ll accept him for who he is. For now, he’s still a pretty big jerk. Could he have at least waved to Henry? I guess he only saw “his nemesis Ted” when he looked at the fans in the stands, which is why he remains unhealed and a jerk to me.
Thanks for framing Roy as on a journey. That's really helpful.
Last week at preacher camp, we were talking about what makes Roy such a compelling and appealing character. For me it's his complete authenticity. He is 100% himself, whether that's prickly, or generously giving his time to Jamie's training, or offering relationship advice to Rebecca. (There's a version of this show in another universe in which the two of them pair up.) So it makes sense that as he goes through his dark forest, we're going to see all of that on major display. It's painful but he'll find his way.
For those versed in enneagram, Roy looks to be an 8. He's in unhealthy 8 space right now which is hard to watch and well, just a lot to take. But healthy 8s can be some of the most outstanding, compelling leaders and people.
Regarding Nate being rude to Henry, Henry's Nate’s biggest rival!
Late to the party (coordinating full family for viewing of TL is tricky - last week it wasn't til Saturday!!)
Yes to Julia Roberts' polka dot dress.
ALL THE YESES to that amazing locker room scene. Watching this with two 17 year old boys was wonderful, cringy, and lots and lots of good things to point back to for future talks.
Not only did Jamie's hug feel platonic (could ever spell or say that word), but he also affirms Roy and Keeley's relationship as "the real thing." This is the way for Keeley and Roy. With a possible assist from Jamie? See trailer hints?
Will. Not. Miss. Jack. Bye.
Someone in a Facebook group suggested that Shandy might be behind the hacking of Jamie's email account – but I think it's more likely she hacked Keeley's.