Ted Lasso: Midnight Train to Royston
October 1, 2021 11:43 AM - Season 2, Episode 11 - Subscribe

A billionaire football enthusiast from Ghana makes Sam an unbelievable offer. Ted plans something special for Dr. Sharon's last day with the team.
posted by merriment (102 comments total) 4 users marked this as a favorite
 
AUGH. I am having a fit.

If Sam doesn't go I'm going to be furious.

Also, serious breach of journalistic ethics on the part of Trent Crimm, The Independent.

Also also, Roy and Keely had better fucking pull it together. They are my favorites and I need them to be OK.

In other news, the decision not to share the contents of the letter with us and just show facial reactions was ::chef kiss::. Jason Sudeikis can have another Emmy.

OH AND when Coach Beard said, "They're not in sync," and then it turned out they were doing the choreo for Bye, Bye, Bye, I just about lost it.
posted by merriment at 11:46 AM on October 1, 2021 [10 favorites]


Ahaha so many people called that move by Nate. Can forgive Trent for plot reasons.
posted by rewil at 11:56 AM on October 1, 2021 [4 favorites]


Roy seemed to me to be struck by the thought "damn, why aren't I married?" more than anything.

I hope.
posted by rewil at 11:58 AM on October 1, 2021 [21 favorites]


In case anyone wants to enjoy the choreography again at their convenience.
posted by rewil at 12:03 PM on October 1, 2021 [6 favorites]


Damn it... I really needed this to be hopeful and joyous.... Ted Lasso is supposed to lift you up, not bring you down... if they go full on ESB, the 3rd season better end with the fucking nub nub song to make amends.

Evil Nate was really telegraphed all season long... that look when Roy came in on the pitch to join the coaches... also makes me mad since, com on, Ted's been an amazing supporter/booster for him, and never witholded credit... oh well....

Roy & the teacher have been flirting all season, and she's kinda of good match for him, so I'm not really surprised, but he's so great with Keely I hope they patch it up.

I did had really good laugh at how Trent Crimm sent his text, this up there with "Sincerely, Raymond Holt" for all time best text message joke.
posted by WaterAndPixels at 12:08 PM on October 1, 2021 [5 favorites]


So I think Darth Vader just showed up for dinner.
posted by synecdoche at 12:44 PM on October 1, 2021 [4 favorites]


Ugh - I love this show so much. Also so impressed by all of you that predicted the Nate heel turn - I was too much of an optimist to see it coming but it was kinda obvious.

+1 for the Trent Crimm joke love.

Don't want Sam to leave but it is an interesting story line. Don't want Roy and Keely to split be also enjoy how they immediately told each other what happened instead of holding back. Loved the Rebecca spilled everything to Ted and liked his reaction.

There are so many interesting characters that 30 minutes (or whatever it was) does not seem like enough to get all of these assorted snippets of their stories.
posted by elvissa at 12:49 PM on October 1, 2021


OMG also the dance part is going to be on repeat on my screen when I am on annoying zooms for work, trying to not make eyeroll or upset faces for the immediate future.
posted by elvissa at 12:51 PM on October 1, 2021 [1 favorite]


Mainly liked that both the Jamie confession and the teacher flirting felt like they might have gone pretty stupid ways and actually were handled deftly.

Last episode felt a bit light, saccharine but i really enjoyed this one.
posted by ominous_paws at 1:00 PM on October 1, 2021 [3 favorites]


There was a lot to enjoy this episode, but I think events in both the Roy/Keeley and Rebecca/Sam relationships remain curious and problematic; I agree with both Linda Holmes and Myles McNutt on this one.
posted by LooseFilter at 1:52 PM on October 1, 2021


Also, serious breach of journalistic ethics on the part of Trent Crimm, The Independent.

I see that as mostly a bit of narrative streamlining for the audience’s benefit. Ted could have easily figured it out himself, or have had Beard talk him through it if he was being incredulous about it.
posted by 1970s Antihero at 3:03 PM on October 1, 2021 [4 favorites]


Very curious now if there really is that sort of cultural (friendly?) rivalry between Ghana and Nigeria

Separately, hard agree on the great choice to leave the letter a mystery to the audience, outside of the word “favo[u]rite”

I do think that they’re going to go Empire Strikes Back with the ending, since the show has been renewed for a third season. I also feel incredibly torn between wanting three perfect seasons of 10–12 episodes apiece that tell a (mostly) coherent story, or indefinite Ted Lasso on and on into the future until it gets mediocre
posted by DoctorFedora at 3:10 PM on October 1, 2021 [2 favorites]


Don't we think that Rupert suddenly giving up his ("his wife's") shares in the club is going to be a bit related to Sam Richardson recruiting Richmond's best player away to be one of his Little Buff Boys?

It is a bit soap opera-y but then so is Rupert.
posted by dumbland at 4:25 PM on October 1, 2021 [2 favorites]


I'm a little shaken by this one (though it was a great episode, for sure.) Loved Roy & Keeley just straight-up being honest with each other, and how whatever else is going on when they're apart, they can become so supportive with one another as soon as they're together. Like, Roy couldn't have been more uncomfortable with the photo shoot up to the second he came into the room and saw Keeley and his whole mood shifted. I genuinely don't know where that storyline is going, though, and that wordless shot of the two of them having to get back to the photoshoot after all the honesty was like the end of The Graduate. Good lord.

Nate's power-grab has been coming all season, for sure, but it still hurts like hell, even if this is more or less how we expected it to go down. I don't know how that's going to play out, of course, but it's hard to imagine he'll have any support within the AFC Richmond organization after this, and while it hurts Ted (in the media and on Twitter, at least) it only promotes Nate indirectly, and given that Crimm chose to burn his source for Ted, I'm doubting that the story he wrote is going out of its way to flatter Nate. So Nate's flying blind, not knowing how to really execute the kind of play he's locked into now, and I feel like when all's said and done, his only ally is going to be Rupert, who'll only be interested in using him to spite Rebecca.

Fun!
posted by Navelgazer at 4:33 PM on October 1, 2021 [3 favorites]


I do think that they’re going to go Empire Strikes Back with the ending

Last season, Nate was the bright eyed kid who succeeds despite himself. This season he lets success go to his head and is unreasonably bitter about not being in charge. He's also aged far more than any other character. I think Nate has wandered off to the wrong trilogy.
posted by Gary at 5:09 PM on October 1, 2021 [4 favorites]


Nate’s hair has turned gray (grey?) this season.

Also, I hope Roy and Keely stay just normal people in a healthy relationship. Romance is so often played as teenage drama that it is refreshing to see an adult relationship. I mean, I understand that entertainment is about drama and running after your true love in the rain after making a mistake, but I love having a relationship where people just love and support their partner. I feel like they are going to keep it that way because the conflict in their relationship often comes from outside baloney, not so much issues between the two of them.
posted by snofoam at 5:50 PM on October 1, 2021 [5 favorites]


I do not trust Edwin Okufo.
posted by palomar at 5:58 PM on October 1, 2021 [13 favorites]


BANKSY
posted by sixswitch at 6:18 PM on October 1, 2021 [13 favorites]


The spitting thing again. It is so disturbing. Nate and his hair: never go full Palpatine.
posted by Don.Kinsayder at 6:39 PM on October 1, 2021 [6 favorites]


After Nate complains behind Ted's back that Ted gets all the credit even if the assistant coaches have the ideas, we see Edwin Okufo complimenting the team's performance and Ted giving the credit to Rebecca. I liked that little detail.
posted by rogerroger at 8:30 PM on October 1, 2021 [23 favorites]


And I can't believe the episode was so eventful that I forgot to comment about Nate forcing a kiss on Keely. So uncomfortable and gross, and poor Keely having to hide her discomfort so that Nate's ego wouldn't be hurt. Especially as this is right before a Vanity Fair interview about her being a powerful "career woman".
posted by rogerroger at 8:39 PM on October 1, 2021 [24 favorites]


Very curious now if there really is that sort of cultural (friendly?) rivalry between Ghana and Nigeria

I'm a random white American who visited Ghana for 10 days in 2002 and YES ABSOLUTELY
posted by purpleclover at 12:00 AM on October 2, 2021 [5 favorites]


Also the handshake stuff is completely real.
posted by purpleclover at 12:01 AM on October 2, 2021 [1 favorite]


I don't think the show meant that Nate did force a kiss on Keeley, though, more that he ineptly misread her talking up how they were both going to succeed - and i didn't read her as as much upset as embarrassed for him. I am struggling a bit with how he's being drawn this season - pinging between really dark and horrific and more bumbling sitcom guy in a way that feels a bit incoherent. I don't know.
posted by ominous_paws at 12:10 AM on October 2, 2021 [6 favorites]


Also, serious breach of journalistic ethics on the part of Trent Crimm, The Independent.

Journalistic ethics and the Independent don’t have a great history, google Johann Hari
posted by brilliantmistake at 2:57 AM on October 2, 2021 [4 favorites]


I really enjoyed this because it felt like there are real stakes that have paid off - Ted's anger at Sharon leaving felt real and suddenly almost dangerous, the Roy and Keely honesty and support and worry felt earned, and Nate's dark turn has been well telegraphed and built up. I also really appreciate that Rebecca was honest that she doesn't have an answer and that she wants him to stay and the gulf between that for them both is understood without having to be spelt out. The sudden billionaire appearing is - it has to be for something longer than a single episode, the actor was given so much screen time and set up to be both charming and clearly manipulative. Also, the Trent/Ted shippers are in heaven over this episode!
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 4:02 AM on October 2, 2021 [5 favorites]


Also, serious breach of journalistic ethics on the part of Trent Crimm, The Independent.

Eh. It’s only football journalism, it’s not life or death. Also Nate is being unethical himself by breaching the trust of his team. I can’t imagine Trent Crimm, The Independent losing sleep over that.

But I can’t imagine doing it over text - a good journo never make that admission in a documented form, especially since he knows Ted will need to take action. But, it’s just a show and it’s a convenient narrative shortcut.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 5:35 AM on October 2, 2021 [11 favorites]


I'm just so happy to see Richard Splett of Splettnet.net show up
posted by lazaruslong at 7:36 AM on October 2, 2021 [8 favorites]


It feels even more significant now that Apple TV gave the show 2 more seasons at the end of S1. A network show couldn't risk alienating its viewers the way ESB Part Deux in E12 is about to do. Seriously, block off your Friday afternoon this coming week and make sure you've got some camomile and maybe your favorite Mazzy Star album handy.
posted by sockshaveholes at 8:04 AM on October 2, 2021 [2 favorites]


i didn't read her as as much upset as embarrassed for him

My reading of her as upset comes from both her facial expression when it happened, and her subsequent breakdown while she is prepping for the photo shoot. So far in the show, we've seen Keely navigating the transition from "hot topless socialite-of-the-minute" to "respected publicity and branding professional" (I'm a little fuzzy on everything she does, but it's implied that she's very successful at amping up players' public profiles and by extension the team's profile.) This photoshoot is symbolizing this transition, and Nate interpreting her doing her job as an invitation to put his mouth on hers brings her back to the days when she is only seen and valued for how she is attractive to men.

But my read of this is also informed by many years of being a woman in the workplace and having to do an elaborate dance of being warm, friendly and nurturing to male coworkers while also deftly avoiding any situations like this, and their fallout. I acknowledge that Nate's action takes place in the universe of Ted Lasso where there are a lot of messy workplace relationships, but I believe that Keely felt hurt and shaken.
posted by rogerroger at 8:30 AM on October 2, 2021 [32 favorites]


I don't think the show meant that Nate did force a kiss on Keeley, though, more that he ineptly misread her talking up how they were both going to succeed
This is a very good example of why and how consent matters. She flattered him because she's kind, and it's women's jobs to boost men's egos. She fixed his tie. He interpreted this as sexual interest. He literally kissed while she was speaking. Misreading cues because you think "How could a woman not want me?" and "I want this" = forcing a kiss.
posted by theora55 at 11:52 AM on October 2, 2021 [26 favorites]


I had to replay it a few times to see that it was a plastic army guy in Sharon's beer.

I thoroughly enjoyed Nate's quite passable impression of Roy.

I have faith that Keeley and Roy's honesty will strengthen their relationship. That scene was very well done. And Ted/ Jason Sudeikis reading Sharon's letter was wrenching.

The show's title is Midnight Train to Royston
Oh, he's leaving (Leaving)
On a midnight train to Georgia (Leaving on a midnight train)
Yeah, oh yo
Said he's going back to find (Going back to find)
Oh, a simpler place and time (whenever he takes that ride)
(Guess who's gonna be right by his side)

so I'm anxiously awaiting the next episode.
posted by theora55 at 12:13 PM on October 2, 2021


My wife pointed out that this is the episode where Nate ditches his grey suit and gets a black one instead.
posted by Paragon at 3:57 PM on October 2, 2021 [17 favorites]


I think the actor who plays Trent Crimm* should get paid for this episode. Those weren't just words on a screen, it was the fully realized presence of Trent Crimm* and his majestic hair, right there just as if the actor were on-screen.

I wonder if Phoebe's boob art is going to get a callback. Roy set them down on his chair when he got called into the photoshoot.

I'm curious to see if the show will commit to all its characters being redeemable or not. They did a lot of stuff to set Nate up as a real shit. It would be a challenge to plausibly bring him back around. I guess we'll have to wait and see whether that's an element of the show's ethos, or if it's realistic enough that nah, some folks just go bad and you can't get 'em back.

*The Independent
posted by under_petticoat_rule at 5:56 PM on October 2, 2021 [16 favorites]


When Roy said that he wasn't married, I really, really thought his reaction shot was him asking himself why he wasn't married. As though it was going to turn him toward realizing he wanted to marry Keeley.

When he got the text that Keeley was taking Nate shopping, so he told the teacher he had time to help, I felt like it was a throwback to the episode where he learned the lesson that he had to give Keeley more time to be on her own. Until...he "confessed" that he'd spent three hours with the teacher. I wanted to know, is he apologizing for being late and confessing that he spent those three hours because he wants her to rather be with her, or because he wants her to realize he's desirable? (I decided he's just Roy, being honest, even if he doesn't know what it means.)

Roy & the teacher have been flirting all season

I took every interaction he's had with the teacher as a) something a lesser show would turn into a stupid side romance or b) something a lesser show would turn into a reason for a wedge between Roy and Keeley. After the episode where he and Phoebe left and she first seemed to feel embarrassment for flirting but then focused on the glitter on her hands, I'd felt relief.

I didn't take anything he has said to her, not even in this ep, as flirting. What he said to her was supportive in the same way his romantic advice to Rebecca was supportive. Does that mean I don't think they might turn us toward them as a potential couple? No. But I trust the show to do right by us in the end. ("It'll all be OK in the end. If it's not OK, it's not the end.")

Roy was being sensitive and understanding, not being angry at Nate in a way that objectifies Keeley, but in a way that shows appreciate for the discomfort she must have felt. He didn't try to solve the problem for her. She didn't seem to unpack the 3 hours with the teacher. She saw this as an opportunity for mutual unburdening. But when Keeley told him about Jamie, I suspect Roy's thought was the same as mine: why hadn't Keeley said anything right away?

Notice that Jamie and she didn't even interact in this episode. It's not about Jamie. It's not about Nate. It's about how incredibly supportive Keeley and Roy are of one another. They appreciate one another. I have faith in the writers that they are going to make it.

Finally, this is the first time we've learned anything about Keeley's family, or really anything new about her since she broke up with Jamie. I think it's interesting that this happens in the first episode where we've seen Keeley feel intimidated in a long time, and there's a small precursor when she thinks Rebecca (who previously intimidated her) is making fun of her.

(Bonus: "You both just met a cool person." He used Ted's line. That feels like it should mean something.)
posted by The Wrong Kind of Cheese at 7:14 PM on October 2, 2021 [9 favorites]


I fibbed, I have one more thing.

I'm SURE I'm wrong, just because Nate has been such a dick, but Will is so fed up with Nate, is it remotely possible that he sent info to Trent Crimm, The Independent, making it seem that it was coming from Nate? I mean, yes, only Nate, Roy, Higgins, Sharon, and Rebecca should know about the panic attack, but Roy could have told Keeley, and there are enough places where will could surreptitiously have heard something that ...

OK, it's crazy. And we saw Rupert whisper to Nate. So no. I'm sure I'm wrong. But with Will getting stomped on by Nate for an entire year, it feels like something should be going on, Will-wise.
posted by The Wrong Kind of Cheese at 7:28 PM on October 2, 2021 [2 favorites]


I don’t because Will seems genuinely lovely and thrilled with his job, and everyone aside from Nate are being decent to him. He loves Richmond and the leak damages Richmond.
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 8:45 PM on October 2, 2021 [3 favorites]


That's an interesting idea, The Wrong Kind of Cheese, and while I agree with dorothyisunderwood that a betrayal is out of character for Will (and wouldn't serve Will anyway -- it's not like Nate would treat Will better if Nate had MORE power), I DO agree that something more should be coming Will-wise. I hope Will gets a victory, but I can't imagine it coming in next week's finale, which is shaping up to be pretty rough for our beloved team.

And under_petticoat_rule, until you posted that about Trent Crimm*, I literally thought that he read the texts aloud in the episode. That's how strong the characterization is, I experienced it as him saying it, instead of me reading the words!

*The Independent
posted by rogerroger at 9:41 PM on October 2, 2021 [2 favorites]


i think the actor who plays Trent Crimm* should get paid for this episode.

I said this to my husband as I watched the show.
posted by purpleclover at 10:30 PM on October 2, 2021 [1 favorite]


I'm finally all caught up with the season and can participate in real time!

I'm curious if anyone can justify why (aside from drama reasons) Beard or Ted haven't given Nate a good talking-to about how he's being an asshole? This isn't the first time he's been a shit to poor Will, even that Beard has seen. Some of the nastiest abuse was in private, but this episode had a definite witnessed incident since anyone last actually talked to him about it. Plus the talk about wanting to be in charge or get credit, and at least Beard should know something is up. I'm curious why he hasn't made an issue of it--maybe he doesn't want to burden Ted, or he thinks it would be better to let things play out and for Nate to get better on his own, but in the meantime the person with the least amount of power is being abused at work.

Maybe I'm answering my own question when I say I'm pretty worried about Ted. (And what's going on with Beard and Jane, but that's background.) He was really not okay with Sharon's leaving, until he finally read what had to be a kickass letter, and his anger is actually a little scary. It's nice how he leaves her and leaves the note, but where is this season and Nate's betrayal going to leave him? (I did love Trent's texts, though.)

I also appreciate Rebecca's dilemma, but I thought what she said to Sam outside his house was pretty unfair. Not as unfair as Jamie confessing his love to Keeley, but I expect Rebecca to be better than Jamie. (Maybe that's unfair of me--the woman has been through a lot. But I have so much trouble rooting for a relationship with that power imbalance in the workplace.) I'm intrigued by Edwin Okufo, and if he's not too good to be true it really sounds like a perfect situation for Sam. Only good things for Sam, please.

At any rate, I'm really glad this season is tackling much harder things. Not so glad that after next week I'll have to wait a while to see how everything goes alright in the end.
posted by j.r at 10:58 PM on October 2, 2021 [1 favorite]


Now that I'm caught up, everything Linda Holmes said is spot on. A couple more random thoughts:

- I thought Keeley's costuming was a little weird for the photoshoot. It's very her, and Roy's reaction was sweet, but a giant choker that looks like a shackle with a lock on it is a weird choice for an empowered business woman profile. I loved the patterned suit she was trying on in the store, though.

- I miss the football. We spent more time on the Bye Bye Bye dance than actual football this episode. Gimme a sports montage for the finale, please!
posted by j.r at 11:24 PM on October 2, 2021 [6 favorites]


Ofuko is just too good to be true, surely? If he hurts Sam I'll be so angry.

re: Nate kissing Keely - he did force it on her, but I don't think that was his intention. I think he genuinely believed she was interested in him. Has he shown any interest in her previously? And it's not like he's experienced with women. Not that his intent matters as much as the impact - her later crisis of confidence is about people thinking she's only a sex object, which seems directly relevant to me. Only that I reckon Nate's state of mind in that moment helps us understand why he leaks to Trent Crimm*. When he feels like he's made a mistake, he lashes out in a different direction. So I think he instantly realised his mistake and got right into his self-loathing mode (hence the spitting), and to relieve that feeling he had to push someone else down lower than him.

Or maybe I'd just rather think that Nate made a mistake out of inexperience, than that he knew she wasn't interested but decided to take what he wanted anyway. The former makes him redeemable, the latter puts him in the Rupert category.

* The Independent
posted by harriet vane at 11:27 PM on October 2, 2021 [4 favorites]


gahh, Akufo sorry, not Ofuko - I don't know if that was autocorrect or just me getting the name of Sam Richardson's character wrong.
posted by harriet vane at 11:39 PM on October 2, 2021


What I would like to happen in the next episode,
- Higgins has investigated Akufo and the rules around buying players. Sam consults him, as he’s a mature guy who knows when he needs advice. Later it turns out there is some connection to the Dubair Air, Cerithium Oil protest and Rupert wanted Sam not playing for a while.
- Rebecka realizes she was unfair to Sam, and that she not only needs to consult her heart but also her gut, where she can feel that the power imbalance just does not sit right.
- Rebecka calls Sharon and asks her to stay on, as clearly it wasn’t enough to help the players; the whole club and organization have a few things to figure out.
- Roy and Keeley continue their openness and honesty. Roy realizes he’s not questioned the toxic-masculinity connection to fear of commitment and begins to find out what he wants. Staying with the teacher was procrastination for the photoshoot. Keeley reflects on what still draws her to Jamie and finds that it was all the work she had put in to fix him, to fix herself so he could treat her better, and she’s able to let go of that project. Roy realizes he came to the photoshoot not only to support Keeley but to show the world that they are together.
- Beard and Ted meet up in the pub where Ted has returned to see if Sharon was still there. They discuss Nate, abuse, and that they need to stop accepting his shitty behavior toward Will. Beard quietly resolves to not accept shitty behavior from Jane anymore, either.
- As she boards the train, Sharon hesitates for a moment, turns around and sees a familiar face.
posted by meijusa at 1:48 AM on October 3, 2021 [6 favorites]


So. Edwin Okufo.

"I'm a billionaire who doesn't think billionaire's should exist."

Okay. Well, I am going to go out on a limb and guess that most of Ted Lasso's audience is on the progressive side of things, so we probably need this line.

The problem is that in order for Edwin to be a Good Billionaire, he needs to earn it.

All we've seen so far is:

- Dramatic landing a chopper on the grass (STAY OFF THE PITCH)
- Spending a bunch of money: to buy and re-home fine art (not like, cultural artifacts stolen by the British AFAIK but just like some really good fine art by an African artist), rent out a museum and hire actors to walk around in it, spin up an African food pop-up shop and populate it with friends, and a vague plan to purchase a Moroccan football club so that African players at clubs around the world will "come home" to play in Morocco.

Off the top of my head, and limiting myself to only public health systems of which I am actually somewhat educated, I can think of about 100 different ways that Mr. Okufo could stop being a billionaire and make a massive difference in the lives of Africans at the same time and spoiler alert, none of it involves fine art or football.

I really hope that Edwin turns out to be a heel, because if the show continues to try and convince us that a) Good Billionaires exist and b) Edwin gets to be one because Reasons, then I'm gonna be annoyed.
posted by lazaruslong at 6:49 AM on October 3, 2021 [17 favorites]


I imagine they're a bit more cavalier about the state of the grass on the training pitch than they are about the turf at Nelson Road, but yeah, don't land a helicopter on it come on.

I'm now understanding the whole bit with Roy and Ms. Bowen being about Roy procrastinating going to the photo shoot (and that it probably helps that Ms. Bowen doesn't seem to give a shit that he was a star footballer and relates to him as Phoebe's Uncle / the girls' football coach) and that when she asked him if he was married was the first moment that the flirtation became really overt, Roy realized that he responded in a way that had "one foot out the door" as Rob said in High Fidelity, and got the fuck out to get to the photoshoot already. He's committed to Keeley, but he knows that he needs to get over something in order to be as committed as he'd like to be, and while he can process the Nate bullshit for what it is (something horribly awkward that Keeley shouldn't have had to deal with) the Jamie bullshit strikes a different chord, because there's so, so much longstanding bad blood between the two of them that Roy has made an effort to get beyond, and yet here they are again.

I do think Nate is redeemable, but that getting there will be an uphill climb for Season 3, that will involve Nate learning what this toxic world he thinks he wants to be a player in is actually like, among people who are way better at it than he is (most notably Rupert.) I keep coming back to how Nate's dad was dead-on in seeing the direction his son was heading in and not wanting to encourage it, but utterly off about how to push Nate in a better direction. Even with this betrayal, Nate's not in the Rupert/Pop Tartt category yet, but that's why it's going to be the main Season 3 storyline - because it's going to be the most difficult redemption in the series, most likely.
posted by Navelgazer at 8:06 AM on October 3, 2021 [5 favorites]


I'm curious if anyone can justify why (aside from drama reasons) Beard or Ted haven't given Nate a good talking-to about how he's being an asshole?

I thought the nod to this was in the conversation among the Diamond Dogs about Higgins talking to Beard about Jane; that people's behavior is their own concern and that those guys believe in minding their own business.

I think it's a comment about male culture: men, especially in the workplace, don't typically ask each other how they're feeling or 'what's up with you today, you snapped at Joe and it's not like you to be short-tempered,' and in that regard, the coaching staff's observational non-interference w/r/t Nate feels real familiar to me (and real shitty too). Men will definitely see another man obviously emotionally struggling, and say nothing, because 'that's his business.'
posted by LooseFilter at 9:21 AM on October 3, 2021 [6 favorites]


Yes! I thought so too.

Also I think it's part of Ted's worldview w/r/t bullies, right? He didn't intervene when Jaime et al where bullying Nate, at least not directly. Now Nate is bullying Will, and Ted won't intervene again. This time though, where's the Roy to help?
posted by lazaruslong at 9:24 AM on October 3, 2021 [2 favorites]


I think that when Nate was getting bullied, Ted noticed and had a plan, even if he didn't think he should directly intervene. I don't know that Ted has been together enough this season to even notice what's going on.
posted by Navelgazer at 9:37 AM on October 3, 2021 [3 favorites]


I don't know that Ted has been together enough this season to even notice what's going on.

Ahhhhh I bet you're right, and that kinda breaks my heart for Ted and Nate and Will and everyone. Gah.
posted by lazaruslong at 9:42 AM on October 3, 2021 [2 favorites]


I think Ted noticed--I recall some Meaningful Looks being exchanged between Ted and Beard on a couple of occasions when Nate was being an asshole earlier in the season--but definitely has not been together enough to be able to respond to it (and Beard follows his lead, so...). But I think we've been shown the rest of the coaching staff noticing Nate's behavior and choosing not to question or intervene, and Nate's turn to the dark side will be part of the consequences of that. Men tend to let other men be, emotionally and personally, and sometimes that's not a good choice.

What does bother me is how Beard, who had a beer ready for Ted outside on a bench, right after his wife and son left; who casually stopped Ted from walking into traffic because he knew Ted would still be looking left to cross; who has just generally known his colleague and friend so well as to anticipate all kinds of things, that he would completely miss that Ted had a panic attack (two, actually) and has been generally falling apart right in front of him.
posted by LooseFilter at 10:05 AM on October 3, 2021 [7 favorites]


...or on second thought, maybe Beard has noticed and chosen not to ask unless Ted brings it up.
posted by LooseFilter at 10:09 AM on October 3, 2021 [4 favorites]


I also agree about Ted. He had a plan in season 1, which involved letting Roy step up and become more of an active leader on the team while also solving the problem. This season Ted is drowning and oblivious, right up until the whammy at the end of this episode. I think Beard is way less okay too, even though he's more aware. Maybe he's reeling from both the relationship with Jane and learning that Ted had panic attacks he didn't know about.

It's an interesting point about the toxic masculine attitude of "that's his business." I really hate seeing it, though, because Will is getting the daily brunt of it and "that's his business" should stop when someone else is getting hurt. They all need a lot of healing. It's too bad Dr. Sharon left just now, but her goodbye scenes were so good that I can't see the show undoing it.
posted by j.r at 10:25 AM on October 3, 2021 [4 favorites]


I do not trust Edwin Okufo.

This is a case of something seeming too good to be true and probably isn’t. I mean, there’s no team. You’d have to be a total schmuck to commit to that. With Sam being so unimpeachably good, and just a bit naive, it sets up a really interesting plot. I doubt the show’s going to let Sam go all dark side, but will he do his homework or just be dazzled blind? And if he does take the bait, how will he handle finding out the nasty truth about the world?

And why the hell do none of these football stars have agents who help them think critically about this stuff?

Agree that having Ted read Sharon’s letter silently was masterful.

I liked that Rebecca went to face Sam. It would be so tempting to not say anything to him and it made me love her all the more that she didn’t chicken out about it.

Nate is dead to me. Even though it’s his asshole father’s embarrassment of him that’s driving his ambition you don’t fuck the people that lifted you up. He was a fucking towel boy before he met Ted. And kissing Keeley was wrong wrong wrong and the reason he did it was because she was pumping him full of confidence. If Nate goes immediately full asshole just by gaining a little confidence then fuck him. And I hate that Keeley was apologizing to him after the kiss, but that seems like the kind of fucked up shit women have to do in real life.

My take on the truth telling exchange between Roy and Keeley was not that it weakens or threatens their relationship, but rather it strengthens it. I don’t know many real life couples that would open up like that, I mean there’s no self-serving reason to do so, and I think it’s amazing and kind of admirable that they did so. Roy and Keeley’s wedding better damn well be in the season 3 finale.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 1:55 PM on October 3, 2021 [12 favorites]


The thing about the Roy / Keeley conversation that has me wondering if they are headed for choppy waters is this:

When watching it, my brain kinda chunked up the conversation into three pieces:

1. Nate Kiss
2. Roy w/ Teacher
3. Jaime confession (with subparts minimal pre-cry 3.1 and maximum pre-cry 3.2)

I think under typical toxic masc / jealous conditions, #1 would have been a recipe for a blow-up from the man, in this case Roy. It's a sign of his growth that he reacts with humor and understanding almost immediately. I think Keeley knew he'd react that way, too, and was perhaps softening the ground for #3.

When #2 happened, I got the sense that Roy legitimately does not know why he didn't say anything more than "No" in response to the clear inquiry from the teacher regarding his relationship status. I don't think Roy is having any doubts about his feelings for Keeley or their relationship, but rather doubts about himself and confusion for not knowing why he didn't elaborate further when asked.

When #3 happened, I got the sense that Roy was having a small-ish internal angry man reaction to that news because Jaime is Jaime afterall, and rather than being ready to immediately dispel the tension with humor and understanding like he did in #1, he instead needed to take a beat to process that info while waiting for Keeley to say something to the effect of "which yeah, was also super awkward!" and smile or laugh or whatever to dispel the tension.

She didn't. Not only that, but if memory serves the silence after she communicated #3 could be divided into two parts:

3.1 where they both are closely monitoring each other's reactions and

3.2 where Keeley starts to well-up tears in her eyes in a major way because she realizes that she may have some feelings for Jaime remaining and Roy sees that well-up building and it clicks for him that the reason she's responding like this, so differently from #1, is that there are actual stakes at play here.

I'm ND in a way that makes interpreting faces hard sometimes so I may just be way super overanalzying this but that's my take anyway.
posted by lazaruslong at 2:10 PM on October 3, 2021 [17 favorites]


No, that’s a great analysis lazaruslong.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 2:34 PM on October 3, 2021 [4 favorites]


This is a case of something seeming too good to be true and probably isn’t. I mean, there’s no team. You’d have to be a total schmuck to commit to that.

And the 72 hour time limit? Total BS
posted by DowBits at 2:53 PM on October 3, 2021 [5 favorites]


This is a case of something seeming too good to be true and probably isn’t. I mean, there’s no team.

Maybe I'm misunderstanding, but Raja Casablanca is a real team .
posted by oneirodynia at 3:22 PM on October 3, 2021 [2 favorites]


Loved loved loved the scene where Keeley and Roy fess up. Amazing acting.

I’m not clear why she relayed what Jamie told her in the way she did, though, unless she had unresolved feelings for him, which I guess was hinted at by long looks but honestly I took those as her glad / pleasantly surprised to see him grow, in a more sisterly / old high school friends kind of a way.
posted by St. Peepsburg at 3:25 PM on October 3, 2021


that there are actual stakes at play here.

Yes, it was the way that Keeley told Roy what Jamie said, like an unspoken “…and I don’t know how I feel about that,” and Roy definitely noticed.
posted by LooseFilter at 3:54 PM on October 3, 2021 [1 favorite]


So Nate is nominally resentful of Ted, but it's really Roy who threatens him, and whom he wants to displace/become.

When Roy came onto the sidelines as a coach for the first time Nate was really upset. And then he goes shopping with Keeley, and after Keeley does her Roy impression (which could be read as disdain) Nate emerges from the dressing room wearing all black, a color scheme that earlier was explicitly called out as belonging to Roy (this after Nate rejected the fanciful (childish) suit). Then when she's close and helping with his tie, he reads that as true intimacy and feels he's sufficiently become Roy, and that he's entitled to kiss her.

It's gross for sure, but the production team has very carefully coded this scene imo.
posted by under_petticoat_rule at 4:40 PM on October 3, 2021 [30 favorites]


The thing about Nate and Keeley is that she is really the only person we see giving him positive, sustained, nurturing attention. She's the only person who seems to really SEE him. Consider who we've seen giving him positive attention this season: his mom shows him affection but misses the mark a bit, infantilizing him by calling him her "little boy wonder". Rebecca helped him find the confidence to ask for a better table at a restaurant, but there's a personal and professional distance between them. A bit of positive came from the team, but it also centered on a nickname that activates Nate's self-loathing because it calls to attention a public mistake he made.

And let's not forget that Ted now laughs openly at him when Nate says he'll step up and talk to Isaac. That's quite a turnaround from how he used to treat Nate.

The only things Nate seems to have that make him feel good about himself are tweets that big him up on his coaching ability, and Keeley giving him compliments about who he is as a person. Back when he asked for help getting the table for his parents' anniversary, she told him, "You are who you are because of who you are, your intelligence and your talent." She's the only person we ever see saying things like that to him, and while I think his little crush on her has been apparent since the Diamond Dogs episode in S1, he also holds her in high regard.

We also know he's absolutely inept with women. That's been well telegraphed.

So when they go suit shopping and she's like, "Fuck me! You look SO HOT!" and starts adjusting his clothing while standing close and telling him how much alike they are and how you just have to go dream big and go after what you want because when you do that things just fall into place... I mean, of course he gets the absolute wrong idea and makes the very bad decision to shoot his shot. And then he's immediately absolutely mortified and full of more self-loathing than ever, crying in the dressing room and spitting at himself. The spitting is so hard to deal with, because it's such an obvious display of self-loathing from someone who's in a very bad place and needs help, and I really struggle with how so much of the fandom just looks at the surface and condemns Nate for being dirty.

Actually, I struggle a lot with how some of the fandom talks about Nate -- it makes me so uncomfortable to see what strikes me as an extremely obvious portrait of a man in significant psychological distress at least partially due to his shitty relationship with his father, and to see other people who also enjoy this show talk about how they want to hurt Nate, or how he's an irredeemable piece of shit. Like, we just got through learning that Ted lives his whole life with a core belief that everyone carries pain with them and needs to be loved and supported into believing that their life has value! How can you watch this show and take in that message and not apply it to the very person who clearly needs that love and support so desperately?

I know Nate's storyline won't get resolution until next season and I'm honestly dreading the discourse around him after the finale.
posted by palomar at 5:04 PM on October 3, 2021 [25 favorites]


Why is everyone believing Trent Crimm The Independent when he says the source of the news about Ted's panic attack was Nate? How does Trent know? That's not clear at all, and I think there's a real possibility that it's Will looking to get rid of Nate for all the abuse. Either way, I think we'll see Nate rehabilitated fully in the final 45-minute (I pray for an hour) episode of this season. This show is nothing if not quick to resolve conflicts.

And the 72 hour time limit? Total BS

Yeah, that was one of the clunkiest writing moves in a while from a show with very few clunky writing moves. Why would our Ghanian billionaire not want to see how Sam performs in the final game of an incredible season? Makes no sense. (Same goes for Trent Crimm's source reveal. Totally out of character for him.)

Also making no sense is that I did not recognize Richard Splett. I knew I knew him, dammit but did not place him. My only excuse is that his billionaire looks so much bigger than life here, and Splett was so much smaller than life in Veep.

I got the sense that Roy legitimately does not know why he didn't say anything more than "No" in response to the clear inquiry from the teacher regarding his relationship status

Yep, I had the same thought. Which makes me think there's a marriage proposal coming to offset whatever negative crap comes out of the Nate stuff. Both Keely and Roy have now suddenly had alternatives thrust at them, and I bet they both commit even more strongly after that.
posted by mediareport at 6:26 PM on October 3, 2021 [2 favorites]


Either way, I think we'll see Nate rehabilitated fully in the final 45-minute (I pray for an hour) episode of this season.

From a September interview with Nick Mohammed in Vulture:

How has your own personal connection to Nate changed this season?
"...We’re all kind of shocked by Nate’s behavior, and hopefully the viewers will feel that pain a little bit... It’s certainly a challenge — episode 12 [season finale] is very challenging. I’m nervously anticipating the audience’s reaction once the season ends. We’ll see what they think."
posted by rogerroger at 6:32 PM on October 3, 2021 [4 favorites]


The show is openly and relentless hopeful. I see Nate in spiritual jeopardy, but will be disappointed if he does not eventually have redemption.
posted by theora55 at 6:40 PM on October 3, 2021 [2 favorites]


I don’t understand how Will would know about the panic attacks Ted’s been having, or why he’d want to fuck over Ted that way. But we’ve seen Nate being directly told by Ted that Ted has panic attacks, and we know Nate’s pissed at Ted.
posted by palomar at 6:42 PM on October 3, 2021 [3 favorites]


From a September interview with Nick Mohammed in Vulture:

If that's really where they go with it - the season ends with a massive heel turn for Nate, with no resolution except a "wait til next season!" cliffhanger - then the actor who plays Nate should be fired for saying that in an interview.

I just don't think that's how it's going to go.
posted by mediareport at 6:54 PM on October 3, 2021


I am worried for Sam. The billionaire says Sam is the fourth (?) person to know that he is buying Raja Casablanca. But he just told everyone who was in the room before Sam walked in to Rebecca’s office; I didn’t count how many people but it could have been three. So, seems to me like he hasn’t even bought the team yet, and may have no intention of doing so.
posted by nat at 1:19 AM on October 4, 2021 [2 favorites]


Is speculating here in the thread ok? Is there any tag to hide possible spoilers other than something like ROT13 or similar?
posted by Fiberoptic Zebroid and The Hypnagogic Jerks at 2:00 AM on October 4, 2021


Does anyone know the state of the Championship at this point? At the start after Sam’s hat trick, the commentator mentions Richmond being one win (game?) away from promotion back to the Premiership. For our American viewers the top 2 teams of the Championship, get automatic promotion. The the next 4 playoff for the third promotion spot. Was that game the second to last of the regular season and Richmond are in the automatic spots or the second to last of the playoffs and they are playing for the third spot?
posted by DoveBrown at 3:20 AM on October 4, 2021


I am worried for Sam. The billionaire says Sam is the fourth (?) person to know that he is buying Raja Casablanca.

I think in Rebecca's office he said he was buying a team, but didn't specify which. I took his comment to Sam to imply that Sam is the fourth person to know which team he is buying.
posted by synecdoche at 4:31 AM on October 4, 2021 [5 favorites]


Is speculating here in the thread ok? Is there any tag to hide possible spoilers other than something like ROT13 or similar?
There's this details tag, but we don't really use it that much.


Speculation is okay as far as I know, yup, that's what a lot of these threads are for.
posted by lazaruslong at 6:14 AM on October 4, 2021


I haven't been monitoring these threads closely, but one thing that has seemed, to me, to be in the writing for Nate all along is that he does not have any sort of emotionally healthy core self. It's shown and implied that a lot of that has to do with the nurturing and lack of nurturing that he received from his parents, but then his lack of self has led him to being the picked-on and obsequious kit boy at Richmond when we meet him. He gets along by being as small and nice as possible to all of these people who couldn't give a shit about him, but tremendously defensive about his literal and figurative turf. Look at how we meet him in the very first episode. He's angry that Ted and Beard are on the pitch, but when he learns who they are he could not be more self-negating. In the final episode of season 1, when he believes he has been replaced by Will, he viciously attacks Rebekah just as she is holding out a promotion contract to him. His "pep talk" roast of the players a few episodes earlier could not be more different from Ted's style -- this darkness has been inside of him all along.

And everybody around him thinks that what Nate needs is confidence. He needs to be confident, to go out and do the thing, to try hard and not give up and not take no for an answer.

It's not called out in these terms in the show, but Nate's arc is from "beta" to "alpha" in his own mind, and from "nice guy" to "Pick-up Artist" in extrinsic terms. That's what the show is exploring with Nate: how the untended wounds which deprive a man of a healthy self can be tended badly, but with no ill intent, to turn an insecure person into a giant asshole. Everybody around Nate is trying to build up Nate the man, but they are skipping over the step of healing Nate the child who never got what he needed. It's tremendous to see a show explore this territory, hard as it is to watch.
posted by gauche at 8:20 AM on October 4, 2021 [35 favorites]


Does anyone know the state of the Championship at this point?

We know that the team has, what, seven or eight straight ties and a loss from the beginning of this season. We also know that they lose to Man City in the semi-final in season 8. I think they have a win or two as well in there but ... is it even mathematically possible for a team with this record to be one of the top two teams in the league? Is this just subtextual reinforcement of Ted's mantra that it isn't about winning or losing?
posted by gauche at 8:49 AM on October 4, 2021


is it even mathematically possible for a team with this record to be one of the top two teams in the league?

They've shown a run of wins in the last couple of episodes, but are clearly avoiding the details of the season. I recall Bill Lawrence emphatically saying in an interview that this is a workplace comedy that happens to be set in a football club, but it is very much not a show about soccer. So I expect the actual sport will always be background.
posted by LooseFilter at 9:14 AM on October 4, 2021


Welp… I just had a finale plot point spoiled for me by a press release on Twitter. Not a huge spoiler in the long run but exercise caution this week if you want to go into Friday’s episode drop unsullied by knowledge.
posted by palomar at 9:23 AM on October 4, 2021 [2 favorites]


shit, that sucks. thanks for the heads up.
posted by lazaruslong at 10:11 AM on October 4, 2021 [1 favorite]


is it even mathematically possible for a team with this record to be one of the top two teams in the league?

The Championship is one of the most competitive leagues. Team budgets are usually pretty close (big spenders in England tend to stay in the Premiership). Teams can win the league outright with about a 55% win rate over the 46 games of the season. Usually it comes down to how many draws vs loses they rack up. It would not be unusual for a team to get promoted with low teens of draws.
posted by DoveBrown at 10:19 AM on October 4, 2021 [5 favorites]


Oh goddamn, Dr. Sharon leaving a letter but not saying goodbye might be deeply triggering for Ted. Do we know if his dad left a note?
posted by gauche at 10:51 AM on October 4, 2021 [2 favorites]


We also know that they lose to Man City in the semi-final

The loss to Man city was in a separate competition, called the FA cup, so it doesn't have bearing on the league standings.
posted by OHenryPacey at 11:27 AM on October 4, 2021 [1 favorite]


I appreciate the sympathy for the wounded-child Nate and his self loathing. It’s possible to simultaneously hold that sympathy and to be disgusted by the actions that make him a danger to people he ought to care about. I see how other people may have failed to give him the amount of respect he thinks he deserves, but I think it’s a stretch to say he’s been singled out for more derision than a lot of people in that locker room (maybe I’m forgetting some incidents). I shouldn’t have said “he’s dead to me” — everyone is redeemable, but he’s done two despicable things, and it looks like his ambition is about to get rewarded. He may carry a lot of trauma, but he’s emotionally well enough to realize when he’s crossed ethical lines and he doesn’t get a pass.

It’s true that Ted sees the good and bad and is eternally forgiving (to a fault — his narrative about his father couldn’t be reconciled with his pain) — it will be interesting to see how he reacts to Nate now. I suspect he’ll forgive, and it will take someone else to push him out. But this show has a knack for neatly and believably resolving dilemmas, so maybe it will end up being all hugs and kisses and hoorays for Nate.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 1:06 PM on October 4, 2021 [4 favorites]


I appreciate the sympathy for the wounded-child Nate and his self loathing. It’s possible to simultaneously hold that sympathy and to be disgusted by the actions that make him a danger to people he ought to care about.

Well said. I really appreciated the comment from theora55 above about consent, putting Nate's actions in a larger context. This show skilfully compels us to empathize with (nearly) all of the characters, but I can't analyze Nate's actions without observing the pattern of consistently talking down to/abusing people he has power over, whether it's Will, who he explicitly manages, or Keely, who as a woman in a male-dominated workplace, could be dismissed or discredited if she came forward about the forced kiss. It will be interesting to see the extent of Nate's betrayal in the next episode - if it extends even further than Ted (does Nate betray Rebecca too, as we observed Rupert whispering to him at the funeral?).
posted by rogerroger at 3:35 PM on October 4, 2021 [2 favorites]


But this show has a knack for neatly and believably resolving dilemmas, so maybe it will end up being all hugs and kisses and hoorays for Nate.

This is the Empire Strikes Back season. I suspect that Nate's going to go fully dark side in the season 2 finale, and the resolution is going to be a key point in season 3.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 3:48 PM on October 4, 2021 [4 favorites]


I don't think Trent Crimm* said that his source was anonymous. Maybe he did, but I don't remember seeing that in his texts. I don't think it's unethical for him to tell Ted who the source is if it's on the record, is it?

And I'm going to assume Trent Crimm* would make sure he knew his source was who he claimed to be before basing a story on the info, so I don't think it was Will.

And for the record, I do hope Nate gets his redemption. I'll be interested to see if they manage it in the season finale or if they let it play out over a longer arc into next season.

Sarah Niles is a captivating presence. I want to start talking about my problems every time she's onscreen.

*The Independent
posted by under_petticoat_rule at 3:59 PM on October 4, 2021 [2 favorites]


I've been reading all the comments with great interest; I've had so many thoughts roiling around in my head after this one and especially after rewatching it yesterday that I can't sort everything out.

From the beginning, I liked Nate--his awe at the fact that Ted remembered his name--even that Ted asked his name--in the first episode made me so fond of him. I was kind of taken aback by the Liverpool pre-game speech--I mean, it was a very guy thing to do, I guess, on both a Doylian level from the writers and a Watsonian level as Ted encouraging him to say such things and everyone responding so well they won the match. But I hated much of it, especially lines like "the only African more imprisoned by his thoughts was Nelson Mandela" which has always been just what the actual fuck to me. The only saving grace to me in that scene was Sam's perfect delivery on "oh...no" and Roy's growling. So I found myself having a few doubts about Nate, but still loving him.

And then, as pointed out above, his completely horrid reaction to Rebecca when he thought he was being given the boot: "You shrew!" Like...it's completely glossed over and they quickly move on to the "how else can I give you this contract for your new position" stuff, but I was just stunned by that at the time, and it hasn't gotten better. This season seems to be based off those incidents, rather than any of the sweetness that led Ted to hope Roy would step up as leader and help Nate out.

I do have compassion for him, but I also think it's possible to have compassion for someone with abjectly shitty parenting and to really dislike that character (it happened with Jamie, certainly, for me last year). As a woman with a lot of male friends, I don't want to have to brace for the expectation that every action I make with them might result in unwanted advances, and I mostly don't. But I was never a Page 3 girl pinup, so Keeley is probably amply aware from her experience that she has to be careful trying to have friendships with men, and she saw her relationship with Nate as friendly and therefore safe in a way many are not. And I kind of hate that he betrayed that trust she felt with him; I know he wasn't taught any good boundaries and his self-esteem and -image issues led him to make a number of tactical errors, but still: it was a shitty thing to do and I hated that it put poor Keeley in the defense position and she can't trust him now.

And then he compounds it by doing Ted dirty, the guy who's only ever lifted him up and seen his value and never withheld credit or praise (FFS, he tells people when it was all Nate's idea in a prior episode!). There's no way Nate would be a damn coach without him.

I don't know. I'm really invested in these relationships, and it's going to be hard for me to find redemption in Nate, even though I'm sure they will find a way. I hate what he did to Keeley, whom I adore, and what he's done to Ted and to the club. It doesn't mean I can't see that he's a human who's suffering, but...it's hard to look past such significant betrayals of trust.
posted by kitten kaboodle at 4:04 PM on October 4, 2021 [11 favorites]


I don't think Trent Crimm* said that his source was anonymous. Maybe he did, but I don't remember seeing that in his texts.

It was in the preview of the article; it mentions an anonymous source.
posted by kitten kaboodle at 4:32 PM on October 4, 2021 [2 favorites]


It was in the preview of the article; it mentions an anonymous source.

That just means the source doesn't want to go on the record and be identified in the article; it doesn't mean that the source is anonymous to Trent Crimm, The Independent. No decent journo would publish inside information from a source that couldn't be verified as genuine.

But journos are also meant to protect the anonymity of their sources. Trent Crimm, The Independent is absolutely violating journalistic ethics, but he is arguably doing so in service of a personal ethical code.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 5:21 PM on October 4, 2021 [7 favorites]


Why is everyone believing Trent Crimm The Independent when he says the source of the news about Ted's panic attack was Nate? How does Trent know?

Trent knows because Nate told him. "Anonymous source" just means the agreement made for Nate to give the info to Trent was that Trent not print his name.
posted by tzikeh at 6:16 PM on October 4, 2021 [5 favorites]


Are we sure that was the real Trent Crimm? Wouldn’t Ted have the real Trent in his phone already?
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 8:55 PM on October 4, 2021


One detail I haven't seen mentioned here is EU football rules are that you can't own shares in more than one club, so the funeral gift from Rupert was his way of divesting from Richmond so he can buy a competitor and go after Rebecca's team directly, with Nate as his new coach (what they were maybe whispering about?)
posted by mathowie at 2:01 PM on October 5, 2021 [5 favorites]


In light of this episode, the cold open of the Christmas episode is absolutely brutal.
posted by gauche at 3:32 PM on October 5, 2021 [1 favorite]


My guess is that Sam rejects Okufo's offer and wants to stay at Richmond, so he decides to buy Richmond instead in the end, forcing Rebecca out
posted by TwoWordReview at 3:43 PM on October 5, 2021


Trent Crimm*

*The Independent
posted by Marticus at 5:55 PM on October 5, 2021


Are we sure that was the real Trent Crimm? Wouldn’t Ted have the real Trent in his phone already?

It seems that Ted may at least have an email from the real Trent Crimm*, hence the "Maybe: Trent Crimm". Apple uses mail and previous messages to guess at the identity of someone not in one's Address Book.

*The Independent.
posted by oneirodynia at 5:58 PM on October 5, 2021 [1 favorite]


mathowie: One detail I haven't seen mentioned here is EU football rules are that you can't own shares in more than one club

Where were you last week?
posted by tzikeh at 8:12 PM on October 5, 2021 [1 favorite]


mathowie: One detail I haven't seen mentioned here is EU football rules are that you can't own shares in more than one club

tzikeh: Where were you last week?


I think he must be new here.
posted by bowline at 10:39 AM on October 6, 2021 [21 favorites]


I think Nate is going to get much worse before he gets better. But if I were writing the show, here's how I would handle his redemption:

Given that the show is called Ted Lasso, I think redemption needs to come in the form of an apology and tough love from Ted. The apology is that Ted realizes that he elevated Nate to a position that he wasn't emotionally ready for, and has been unable to be a real mentor this season because he's been busy dealing with his own demons. This combination has led Nate to flounder without any real supervision, seeking authority he hasn't earned, and putting him in a position to manage people without any real understanding of how to do that.

The tough love would come in a speech about how Ted leads by example, and if nothing else, Nate should know by now from watching Ted that you do not treat people the way Nate has treated them, from Will to Keeley to Colin to everyone else. Respect has to be earned, not taken, and praise should be shared, not hoarded.

This would be a parallel in a way to Ted's forgiveness of Rebecca in S1 when he learns that she has been undermining him.

There needs to be real consequences for Nate though, as I think it would be unfair for him to just get his job back like nothing happened (I'm assuming, like many of you, that he goes to a rival team in S3 to coach for Rupert). Maybe he agrees to come back as the kit boy (or assistant kit boy to Will?) and work his way up.

Anyway, I'm interested to see where they go from here. This week's episode was difficult to watch in a lot of ways, but I trust the writers.
posted by Ben Trismegistus at 11:10 AM on October 6, 2021 [3 favorites]


I don't see why Nate has to be redeemed. Rupert is certainly a giant bastard who has done nothing to be redeemed and is sailing along flourishing in his bastardness.

Ted Lasso the show isn't a just world with the good guys winning and the bad guys either losing or being reformed after a suitable punishment.

I think there's probably a richer and truer show if Nate fucks up and burns his bridges with truly good people and gets what he thinks he wants - fame and money and power - and loses his football family.
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 4:00 AM on October 7, 2021 [5 favorites]


I don't see why Nate has to be redeemed.

What a great point.

Season finale drops tonight...last-minute predictions go here.....
posted by LooseFilter at 11:15 AM on October 7, 2021


I was thinking and it sort of surprises me we all considered Season 1 such a lighthearted romp when it featured many of the same sorrows we see in Season 2 - divorce, betrayel, media manipulation, toxic work behaviors. Maybe it all just hits different because we love the characters so much?
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 11:42 AM on October 7, 2021 [1 favorite]


Nate reminds me a whole lot of someone who ended up fucking me over very badly and was never redeemed. They ended up burning a lot of bridges, and the monster inside them that was once very well hidden is not so well hidden any more. I guess I'm just saying that if that's the arc Nate's character takes, well, it seems very plausible to me.
posted by contrapositive at 5:08 AM on December 24, 2021


Roy and Keeley continue to be very brutally honest with each other, albeit maybe during a public photo shoot wasn't the best time. I hope this doesn't mean they break up, just acknowledge that they can find others hot...or whatever, I guess.

On the one hand, Edwin seems amiable and fun. On the other hand, it's incredibly weird to (a) land with a helicopter on the pitch during practice, (b) RENT AN ENTIRE MUSEUM AND HIRE ACTORS TO WANDER AROUND IT, (c) ADMIT THAT YOU DID THAT, and then (d) create an entire restaurant and do same. Like dude, just act like a normal person. There's no need to do most of that shit (okay, the home cooked restaurant idea is actually pretty good). Why the hell do you have to put THAT much of a show on for Sam? What's THAT about? Like sure, you can offer a big paycheck and send him home to Africa and create a big African club (or whatever...wait, he's buying one, right?), but you didn't have to go that far?

I really hate the "dream job offer out of nowhere" trope and this is literally the most "dream job offer" I have EVER seen with soooooooooo much money being spent on this one guy. Like I love Sam and I guess he's good at his job and all, but does he shit gold like a Lannister? What is the deal with this? Where's the rat?

Like, if Sam was being recruited by some other English team, I'd be all "well, maybe that's a good idea if you're gonna date the boss" (then again, the other team may not like that idea if they find out it's happening), but shipping him back to Africa? It's a LOT.

Phoebe, where are you seeing all these naked boobies to do drawings of? Are you peeking at Keeley in the bath? Eavesdropping on your mom at work? Barbies? (No, those are real boobs.) That was random weird.

I admit I'm a little bummed not to see Doc's face on the "bye bye bye" dance.

As for Nate: you reap what you sow, dude. You weren't 100% evil but creeping towards the dark side, and this looks like it's gonna be his tipping point. I'm sure Rupert's already bought some other club and given him a job already anyway if he's pulling this shit.
posted by jenfullmoon at 10:36 PM on January 19, 2022 [1 favorite]


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