Ted Lasso: 4-5-1

March 28, 2023 6:53 PM - Season 3, Episode 3

Welcome Zava! Everyone but Jamie's happy. Sam has a soft opening of his restaurant. Rebecca sees Tish the psychic and freaks out. Ted talks to Jake on the phone and freaks out.

Notable moments: Colin's gay and in the closet ("Colin's a chameleon" suddenly has a new implication) and Trent spots them making out. Tish the psychic predicts Rebecca with a green matchbook (which she gets from Sam later on), the odd phrase ""Shite in nining armor," and that she'll become a mother. (How?!) She also knew about Sam, but that was from Rebecca's mother. Ted's ex's new boyfriend is their former marriage counselor.

I'm concerned that Colin's boyfriend is going to Dubai. Isn't that super not safe if you're gay?

Very quotable episode!

Ted: "Jamie's a lot like my mom's Precious Moments figurine collection."
Beard doesn't know what that means. Roy: "He's a fragile little bitch."
Ted: "Brevity is nice, but sometimes clarity is the true soul of wit. Thank you, Roy?"

I love this random discussion of spelling diarrhea and how Trent, of all people can't, and Beard can spell it in British.

Ted: "Coaching a superstar can't be all, how do you solve a problem like Maria." I actually expected it to be, but so far Zava's....super chill?

Roy fancies Julie Andrews, especially for telling you off when you've been bad. DIAMOND DOGS!!!!

Roy: "FUCK YEAH, PRINCESS DIARIES." Now THERE's a quote for you.

Another one: "I made love for the first time to Zava boots." -Dani, who did not make a mistake in that sentence.

"Well, that's ridiculous, Abraham Lincoln couldn't text." Thought same!

Rebecca: "Do you even know where you're going?" Zava: "I do not!"


Roy: "Some dumb interview shit...some important interview shit."
Shandy: "Why'd you dump my friend?" Roy: "You're fun."
Roy to Shandy: "You used to eat your own hair, right?...Well, nice to put a face to the...hair."

Beard to Ted on leaving his phone at home: "That's what you get for playing Tetris on the toilet."

Michelle, like the rest of us, doesn't want to answer landlines because of telemarketers. I note that mine just went off as this was happening. I didn't answer it either. I don't recommend that Jake answer the phone to mess with telemarketers under the circumstances.

SASSY!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh, Jane. Ted as he watches them make out: "Man, y'alls baggage just lines up, doesn't it?"

Roy thinks Jamie is a pre-Madonna. "Pre-Madonna?!" "It means before Madonna, female vocalists didn't have to work that hard!"

"My ex-wife's dating our ex-marriage counselor, so that's new."

posted by jenfullmoon (60 comments total)

ZAVA &
ZAVA &
ZAVA &
ZAVA
posted by Etrigan at 7:22 PM on March 28, 2023 [15 favorites]

Also:
"Do you want me to take my shirt off and run across the pitch?"
"You must be Shandy."
Absolutely perfect work by Hannah there.
posted by Etrigan at 7:25 PM on March 28, 2023 [2 favorites]

Loved this episode! Feels like we’re back on the glorious Ted Lasso trainride. Dialog was sharp and witty, pace was great, and everyone’s stories moved forward in very interesting ways.

I really like Roy this season. He’s still… *Roy*…. but his aside to Trent about the book and offering to coach Jamie and his willingness to be be vulnerable in the presence of people is all great. He hasn’t changed, he’s just grown. That feels like a rarity in tv land.
posted by Silvery Fish at 9:39 PM on March 28, 2023 [14 favorites]

I'm concerned that Colin's boyfriend is going to Dubai. Isn't that super not safe if you're gay?

He went and came back - this episode spans weeks if not months. And this show's frame couldn't support a storyline like "closeted teammate's boyfriend gets kidnapped/beaten/murdered."

Favorite moment: title music starts and then Colin crashes into the trash bins, bringing it to a halt.
posted by tzikeh at 11:49 PM on March 28, 2023 [8 favorites]

oh my god the SOUNDTRACK in this episode! Prisencolinensinainciusol followed immediately by Jesus Christ Superstar! These DECISIONS

I adore how good the writers are at subtext in dialogue, too — I correctly predicted from the dynamics on the phone call that the new boyfriend was the marriage counselor, and was delighted to be confirmed correct mere minutes later
posted by DoctorFedora at 4:53 AM on March 29, 2023 [15 favorites]

Thanks for saving me the lookup on that needle drop!

Love what they’re setting up. Nate’s going to come up with a way to shut down Zava, Jamie’s going to have to be a second threat, and my guess is Zava’s gonna hate on Colin (when Trent outs him) and fracture the team.
posted by sixswitch at 5:26 AM on March 29, 2023

We still don't know what will happen in the rest of the season, but I feel that Zava is too convenient of a plot point to bring some drama to the eventual conflict between Richmond and West Ham.
posted by applesurf at 5:33 AM on March 29, 2023

I love that Jamie isn't on the Zara train, but is expressing that in a mature way. He's really grown so much.
posted by harriet vane at 6:08 AM on March 29, 2023 [13 favorites]

I love that Jamie isn't on the Zara train, but is expressing that in a mature way. He's really grown so much.

He doesn’t have as much screen time as in the previous seasons, but man, they are giving him some of the best lines.
posted by Silvery Fish at 6:21 AM on March 29, 2023 [3 favorites]

Prisencolinensinainciusol is one of my obsession songs (where I'll go through a period of time that I have to listen to it once a day) and having it in Ted Lasso was just *chef's kiss*.
posted by cooker girl at 7:56 AM on March 29, 2023 [11 favorites]

Favorite moment: title music starts and then Colin crashes into the trash bins, bringing it to a halt.

One of the best things about this show is watching each episode twice—alone the 1st time and then with mrs. kingless and savoring her reactions. She's sure to like this joke.

I was struck by the way the camera lingered on the psychic after Rebecca left. Does anyone know who plays the psychic?
posted by kingless at 8:06 AM on March 29, 2023 [1 favorite]

sixswitch: my guess is Zava’s gonna hate on Colin (when Trent outs him) and fracture the team.

Where/when/why would Trent out Colin? To whom? In what manner? For what purpose? The book won't be published until after the season is over, and even if it were going to be published (in some kind of publishing time-frame miracle) during the season, I can't imagine Trent outing someone without their permission. And even if he were evil enough to out Colin (seriously in what universe) he'd hold on to that information for the book.

Ted's ex's new boyfriend is their former marriage counselor.

Just remembered that the he was Michelle's personal therapist before he was their marriage counselor, which I remember feeling "yikes" about at the time. Now it's double-yikes. Ted's line from "Goodbye Earl" makes it even more yikes:

Well, when Michelle and I did couple's therapy, it was with this therapist she'd been going to for a while, and, um... I just kinda felt like I was being set up, you know. Like I was going in there not to be listened to, but rather just to hear about all he things I'd been doing wrong.

posted by tzikeh at 8:12 AM on March 29, 2023 [12 favorites]

The psychic was played by Emma Davies. Her performance was pitch perfect - balanced between rock hard confidence, gentle kindness, and just a smidge of woo.
posted by Silvery Fish at 8:13 AM on March 29, 2023 [1 favorite]

kingless: Does anyone know who plays the psychic?

Emma Davies.

On preview - jinx!
posted by tzikeh at 8:14 AM on March 29, 2023 [2 favorites]

Thank you both!
posted by kingless at 8:30 AM on March 29, 2023 [1 favorite]

I'm concerned that Colin's boyfriend is going to Dubai. Isn't that super not safe if you're gay?

Dubai, like all of the Middle East except Jordan, has laws against homosexuality, but only applicable if you make out with someone in the street, or promote it in some way, so you can go as an LGBTQ+ person as a tourist and be ok (not that I would personally).

A great episode! Lots of good football in it too, the goal from the halfway line, the scorpion kick goal, and the bicycle kick goal!
posted by ellieBOA at 10:50 AM on March 29, 2023 [2 favorites]

tzikeh I have no answers to the how or the why, I’m just assuming that since the show made a big deal of Trent being the first person to know Colin isn’t straight, he’ll be the vector for an eventual outing. And it seems unlikely that there would be no crossover between Colin’s sexuality subplot and the Zava season arc.
posted by sixswitch at 12:00 PM on March 29, 2023

sixswitch I agree with you that there will be a storyline involving Colin's sexuality, but I think having Trent be the person to find out was smart writing, because if it had been any other character, it would immediately become a topic of conversation *somehow*, but with Trent it doesn't necessarily have to. Yes I expect that at some point in the season everyone will know, and there will be some kind of conflict, but I really don't think it's going to be Trent who blows the whistle.

I did think Colin and his boyfriend were kind of stupid to make out on a well-lit street only a few blocks from where all of his teammates and bosses were having dinner, but that's neither here nor there.
posted by tzikeh at 12:59 PM on March 29, 2023 [8 favorites]

I have no answers to the how or the why, I’m just assuming that since the show made a big deal of Trent being the first person to know Colin isn’t straight, he’ll be the vector for an eventual outing.

Yeah, I wondered, but Trent lost his job previously for sharing information he should have kept private. It could be a character flaw, but I personally suspect they wouldn’t do that twice. My hope is that Trent ends up being an agent for protecting Colin in some way when the conflict arises.
posted by Silvery Fish at 1:04 PM on March 29, 2023 [6 favorites]

I did think Colin and his boyfriend were kind of stupid to make out on a well-lit street only a few blocks from where all of his teammates and bosses were having dinner, but that's neither here nor there.

I have done revealing things in stupid places when face to face with someone I’ve ached for, so I get the impulse.
posted by Silvery Fish at 1:06 PM on March 29, 2023 [8 favorites]

Yeah, I wondered, but Trent lost his job previously for sharing information he should have kept private. It could be a character flaw, but I personally suspect they wouldn’t do that twice.

I'd be surprised as well… the overarching theme of this show is emotional growth and development. I'd hope Trent keeps his mouth shut or serves as a confidant to Collin.
posted by nathan_teske at 1:08 PM on March 29, 2023 [1 favorite]

… or serves as a confidant to Collin.

ooo, I like this. Especially if (as many fans have wondered) Trent is gay, and promises to keep what he saw secret but encourages Colin toward openness. That is a Lasso-worthy arc.
posted by Silvery Fish at 1:16 PM on March 29, 2023 [11 favorites]

I find it hugely disappointing that Closeted Colin is even a story in this show. Everyone else is allowed to be their authentic self without question and, sure, in reality professional football is probably homophobic, but this seems like a poor start - even if everything turns out fine. Even that cliffhanger implies DRAMA even though, as speculated, Trent is probably an old gay and will help Colin. But it's such an old trope that a reporter might reveal his sexuality before he's ready, even if Trent doesn't do that, it's pretty icky territory for this show to play with.

I think about how sensitively they have handled the story of Ted's mental health and his panic attacks and I just wish Colin could have been out and happy without having to deal with all this shit. His pretending to be straight in the locker room is one thing, having his bf come to the restaurant and just be his "pal" is so fucking sad. And, honestly, why would he even do that to himself?

Tread carefully, Ted Lasso, this has been a poor first step.
posted by crossoverman at 3:30 PM on March 29, 2023 [2 favorites]

Is this is the same kid who played Ted's son from the start, and is he a Brit? I'm hearing a UK accent that I didn't previously.

I was spoiled for the Colin / Trent bit, and misunderstood another spoiler - I thought *Ted* would hand Rebecca the match book. (Well, marrying a man with a kid would make her a stepmom.)

Yes, yes, I too have mixed feelings on that. Oh lawd, just don't let Ted end up with her psychologist friend.

I also had wanted a reminder what that montage's first song was, as well as one near the end. Really catchy.

Agree that Ep. 2 & 3 have been great improvements over 3.1 (as well as parts of the 2nd season).

And yes, the Jamie stuff has really worked - like his comments about Zava, followed by correcting Coach that he was being hypocritical, not ironic.
posted by NorthernLite at 3:33 PM on March 29, 2023 [9 favorites]

Ahhhh, Trent being gay makes way more sense. Fingers crossed.

I kinda suspect Zava will turn out to be the biggest homophobe on the team. So while the pre-Zava team might have successfully worked through Colin coming out, Zava’s presence will cause a polarizing schism.

And you know Nate has a plan for Zava…
posted by sixswitch at 4:18 PM on March 29, 2023 [2 favorites]

Roy Kent musing about the way Julie Andrews would tell you you’ve been a bad boy is among the hardest I’ve laughed at the show.
posted by azpenguin at 4:33 PM on March 29, 2023 [12 favorites]

Ahhhh, Trent being gay makes way more sense. Fingers crossed.

I'm pretty sure they soft-confirmed this last season in the pub. Am I the only one?
posted by tzikeh at 4:46 PM on March 29, 2023 [6 favorites]

I did think the episode did interesting things with homoeroticism amongst the team and the worship of Zava in comparison to Colin's queerness but it still feels all a bit "no homo" right now.
posted by crossoverman at 6:11 PM on March 29, 2023 [2 favorites]

First time I’ve come away from Ted Lasso with my fave moments all being music cues, but there we are. Prisencolinensinainciusol, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Everybody Knows. Yum!

I hope the Everybody Knows cue is a misdirect, a doomful gesture to how a story of closeted homosexuality would usually go. Because I expect better from Trent and from _Ted Lasso_.
posted by clauclauclaudia at 7:02 PM on March 29, 2023 [1 favorite]

Real life is still struggling (and failing) with openly gay people being accepted in sports. I trust the Lasso team to do it well here.
posted by Silvery Fish at 7:41 PM on March 29, 2023 [10 favorites]

Real life is still struggling (and failing) with openly gay people being accepted in sports.

Real life is still struggling with accepting people's mental health problems and panic attacks and yet somehow everyone was really supportive of Ted right out of the gate. I just feel like the choice to make this an issue in Ted Lasso is kinda lazy. It's not a show about the reality of football. Why are we torturing the one queer character?

(I have a similar issue with the show For All Mankind, which has shifted history so hard that women and people of colour were in positions of power at NASA in the 70s, but the one thing it's still really difficult to be is gay in the 1990s. It's a storytelling choice to put the gays low down on the social ladder in a show that's effectively a better world in many other ways.)
posted by crossoverman at 8:40 PM on March 29, 2023 [1 favorite]

Well, they had to put women into NASA faster to keep up with the Russians. (I can't speak to the color issue with regards to Russia.) Whereas FAM hasn't exactly had any reason to change the culture that much with regards to gay people since Ellen and Larry aren't out even if they are in the highest realm of power. And the AIDS panic is still going on then too. (Erm...I still have three episodes to go on FAM, I dunno if they came out yet :P)

Back to this show, I don't think we know for sure yet if we're "torturing the one queer character" or not. We're gonna have to see how it goes. Trent isn't working for a tabloid right now and I doubt he'll out Colin. Possibly he's bi/gay himself, as vaguely hinted, so it may not be too bad. I'm not gonna panic before we see how it goes.
posted by jenfullmoon at 9:27 PM on March 29, 2023 [3 favorites]

I did think the episode did interesting things with homoeroticism amongst the team and the worship of Zava in comparison to Colin's queerness but it still feels all a bit "no homo" right now.

After that scene with the team talking about sex with Zava and Colin’s line ‘ok, you’ve convinced me, I’ll have sex with Zava’, I for real thought he was out to the team and that was the joke!

I love that they planted the seed for this with Colin’s one line at the beginning of season 2 ‘oh, like Grindr?’

But I am going to be pissed and conflicted if there’s a homophobia storyline. I watch this with my kids. I want homosexuality to be normalized. And last night I had to explain to my 10-year-old what ‘out’ is. And that’s fine but if there’s overt homophobia then I’m going to draw the line. I may have to start pre-screening before we watch together.
posted by bq at 8:19 AM on March 30, 2023 [2 favorites]

After that scene with the team talking about sex with Zava and Colin’s line ‘ok, you’ve convinced me, I’ll have sex with Zava’, I for real thought he was out to the team and that was the joke!

That was my feeling and I'm not 100% sure we know that isn't the case (I mean his "my pal" comment in the restaurant maybe could have been because he's not out to everyone? maybe not...) I think I missed why we think Zava is going to be a homophobe specifically? And yeah I want to see happy accepted queer characters more than I want to see manufactured drama about this specific topic. I agree, I felt the show was more progressive than this generally.
posted by jessamyn at 12:12 PM on March 30, 2023 [2 favorites]

It’s depressing, but homosexuality is still something considered career limiting in UK men’s football, and any male footballer considering coming out would know that they are going to be subjected to a torrent of abuse (which is why openly gay footballers are largely unheard of).
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosexuality_in_English_football
Whether or not that means it is a suitable story for Ted Lasso, I don’t know, depends how it plays out I guess, but I think it’s be unfair to assume the worst at this stage.
posted by chill at 12:33 PM on March 30, 2023 [3 favorites]

(I mean his "my pal" comment in the restaurant maybe could have been because he's not out to everyone? maybe not...)

Yeah, I'd felt that bit of uncertainty about that line in the moment, but the lines right after that one make totally clear that he's not out to the team at all: his boyfriend pretends to be his regular "wingman" and makes some joke about how easy the job is, acting out the explicitly gendered "Hello, young lady, my friend is a professional footballer...." I hope they don't mess this up.
posted by nobody at 1:10 PM on March 30, 2023 [8 favorites]

I do think Zava being a homophobe and refusing to play with Colin and/or outing him seems pretty likely, but I don't think it'll cause a schism. Sure, they'll regret what it does to their chances of winning, especially if Nate/Rupert somehow picks up Zava, but I don't think they'll hesitate to stand with Colin. The team, and this show, is about breaking cycles of toxic masculinity and growing after all. I also think it'll be Colin's outing that will inspire Trent to subsequently come out in solidarity against homophobia in the press (and fandom) once they get ahold of the news.

(I hope. 🤞)
posted by Fiberoptic Zebroid and The Hypnagogic Jerks at 5:17 PM on March 30, 2023 [1 favorite]

I asked my therapist what would happen with the therapist situation, and she said the guideline is 2 years before you can date, but it's never a good idea. I said 1.5 years and she said lost of license, and after I added more details, she said "Scuzzball should lose his license." I hope Ted tries pursuing that...somehow?
posted by jenfullmoon at 5:29 PM on March 30, 2023 [6 favorites]

Hannah Waddingham has never looked more beautiful than she does in that restaurant scene, and that is really saying something.
posted by merriment at 6:10 PM on March 30, 2023 [13 favorites]

The team, and this show, is about breaking cycles of toxic masculinity and growing after all

Speaking of growth, Jamie continues to be gently surprising - now that he's shed his toxic shell, it turns out he's actually pretty smart, actually? And empathetic?

Colour me very impressed.
posted by coriolisdave at 8:48 PM on March 30, 2023 [2 favorites]

she said "Scuzzball should lose his license." I hope Ted tries pursuing that...somehow?

I don’t think that’s Ted’s style. Unethical, absolutely. But he’s not the vengeful type and he accepts defeats with grace, even the unfair ones. Life isn’t fair and he knows that probably better than anyone. Plus, he still cares about her and wouldn’t want to put her through a mess like that. So yeah, he should lose his license. But if he does it’s not gonna be Ted that sets it in motion.
posted by azpenguin at 9:37 PM on March 30, 2023

Mostly I'm thinking, how could Ted, or anyone else, really report it and get justice from the UK? Do Dr. Sharon or Sassy have that kind of authority? I'm sure the laws gotta be different in the different countries. And if you're going to be a squeaky, whistleblowing, complaining wheel, how well will that work across a bunch of time zones?
posted by jenfullmoon at 9:58 PM on March 30, 2023

Between the one off "More 'nots' than Wayne's World 1 & 2" and the Public Enemy riff, the jokes on Ted are getting ddeeeeep and I love it. Particularly when Flavor Flav is in on it.
posted by teleri025 at 7:52 AM on March 31, 2023 [7 favorites]

I don't hope the show is going the "psychics are real" route because fuck that shit.
posted by Pendragon at 10:16 AM on March 31, 2023 [4 favorites]

his boyfriend pretends to be his regular "wingman"

Oh gosh right I forgot all about that part.

I don't hope the show is going the "psychics are real" route because fuck that shit.

Agree, already pretty not into that part of it since the show otherwise tries to stay within a reality boundary.

The team, and this show, is about breaking cycles of toxic masculinity and growing after all.

Yep. I do feel like some of the (good natured?) bullying we saw Colin enduring earlier in this season takes on a different vibe when you know he's gay and I really hope the show just lets him be gay and happy. His partner already seems like a cute and nice guy so maybe that's one relationship that won't be drama-fraught.
posted by jessamyn at 11:03 AM on March 31, 2023 [4 favorites]

And, honestly, why would he even do that to himself?

Openly gay footballers are so rare in the premier league that it was headline news last year that there were two gay footballers in a relationship, and they still kept their identities a secret.

There’s only one openly gay footballer in the league, and he’s the first one to come out since 1990.

Here’s Maradonna’s former agent stating that there would be financial consequences for players that came out.

And Colin is the weakest starting player in a bottom ranked team. So that’s why.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 6:45 PM on March 31, 2023 [5 favorites]

Brendan Hunt interview with Radio Times about Colin's storyline:

We've known for a while that Colin was gay," he said. "It was just a matter of when we were going to finally get to that. It's still a taboo in football, but there are more active players who are coming out.

"There was Josh Cavallo in Australia last year, Jakub Jankto in Czech Republic this year, and Jake Daniels at Blackpool. It's just part of what's happening in football. We may be a fake football club, but we're trying to show a little bit of football reality here."

I don't really have an opinion on this storyline until I see it play out a little more. I would like Colin and his boyfriend to be happy, and most people on this show get there eventually.
posted by creepygirl at 11:37 PM on March 31, 2023 [5 favorites]

Isn't it something like 1 out of 10 people are so are not-straight on some level? I think I read that estimate somewhere, who knows. But it seems logical that in 20something dudes (I mean numbers of dudes rather than their ages) on a team, at least a couple of 'em should be gay these days.
posted by jenfullmoon at 2:36 PM on April 1, 2023

Oh, sure, I'm confident there are plenty of gay male UK football players. But out players? creepygirl's comment shows how rare that is.
posted by The corpse in the library at 8:26 PM on April 1, 2023 [3 favorites]

I was going to dive into my theory of the S3 trajectory in excruciating detail, but then I realized that sixswitch already got there. Anyway, a few additions cuz I can't resist:

Zava leads the side to early glory, but then Nate, "master tactician", finds a way to neutralize him, giving Rupert another glorious chance to rub it in Rebecca's face. Despair sets in, meanwhile Jamie & Roy are doing a Rocky-style montage (with ups and downs, highly profane) to elevate him to superstardom. (I'm interested in what Roy has to teach here; how much is physical skills and how much is psychological?). Somehow (by overhearing Trent or finding his notes?), Zava outs Colin to deflect blame, further fracturing the team as it hits bottom. Zava leaves Richmond because superstars do what they want. Frustrated Ted lashes out at his ex, Dr. Sharon and maybe even his son, goes on an epic bender that gets him to admit he has a drinking problem. Roy comes clean to Keeley that he doesn't feel worthy of her, leading to a reconciliation and perhaps an epiphany ("Wai' a FUCKIN' minute. I just had an idea".) Newly inspired Roy (and/or Jamie) starts to stitch the team back together, with a season climax against West Ham where Jamie wins it with a Zava-like strike in extra time.

No idea where the Rebecca-as-mother or Sam's restaurant and his relationship with the chef storylines are going, but I suspect they are related.

Oh, and Ted comes to peace with his divorce and Jake, and finds new love with ??. I doubt it's Sassy but she's involved somehow. Coach Beard comes to his senses and ends things with Jane(?); this is left unresolved.

OK, I feel better now. Thanks for coming to my TED talk.
posted by sapere aude at 10:35 AM on April 3, 2023 [6 favorites]

I'm attempting to listen to the Tedcast, which does 6+ hours (and 3 episodes apiece!!!) "deep diving" Into each episode. I note that in the first section of episode 3, they point out that Zava KISSES HIS OWN HAND, not actually kissing Keeley's.

I do not know what to make of this. Is he being respectful, Keanu-style, or just being super narcissistic?
posted by jenfullmoon at 10:26 AM on April 4, 2023 [1 favorite]

Zava KISSES HIS OWN HAND, not actually kissing Keeley's.

I remember that being a thing like 30 years ago. I think it was originally supposed to be respectful -- "I am paying you obeisance without putting my actual mouth on you" -- and then almost immediately got co-opted by the "Milady" types and somehow became less respectful.
posted by Etrigan at 12:25 PM on April 4, 2023

Is this is the same kid who played Ted's son from the start, and is he a Brit? I'm hearing a UK accent that I didn't previously.

The actor is a new kid. His dad is American and mom is British and they live in the UK, but I’m not sure when they moved there.
posted by snofoam at 6:32 PM on April 4, 2023

Figured out today - Colin’s ‘I am a strong and capable man’ is the healthy mirror to Nathan’s spitting.
posted by bq at 10:36 PM on April 4, 2023 [5 favorites]

IMDB says Gus Turner has been the only actor to play Henry Lasso.
posted by cooker girl at 5:46 AM on April 5, 2023 [1 favorite]

I finally got to this one - SO glad other people called out the music! When Prisencolinensinainciusol came on, I hooted, and they used it just perfectly. Especially when they followed it with Jesus Christ Superstar. The music is always noticeably good on this series, but this was far and above.

I'm also having a hard time with Michelle dating their marriage counselor / her therapist. That's really grounds for disbarment. And quite possibly the reason she broke up with Ted - which always felt a bit forced to me before this. Not sure what they'll do with it (especially with her on another continent), but it's crappy.
posted by Mchelly at 8:06 AM on April 24, 2023 [1 favorite]

I haven't seen the next ep yet, so maybe they really do drop the ball, but I'm not getting why people are comparing the Colin's sexuality story line to Ted's mental health story line in such a negative way. Yes, everyone was supportive of Ted - after he was open about his panic attacks, but he first spent time hiding it from everyone, and then only let a few people know, and one of those people betrayed that confidence. So Colin hiding his sexuality from everyone and then only one person knowing is actually hitting the same beats. Agreed with the above that Trent wouldn't out him on purpose, but I'm not sure Trent was there when Colin and his boyfriend were being so performatively hetero? From his reporting days he'd certainly know that Colin wasn't out publicly, but he might assume that in Ted's locker room folks ARE free to be themselves, so I could see him thoughtlessly making some reference that was news to everyone when he didn't expect it to be.
posted by solotoro at 8:30 AM on May 12, 2023 [1 favorite]

I think I missed why we think Zava is going to be a homophobe specifically

Zava seems most likely to respond with confusion about why anyone -- man or woman -- would lust after anyone who isn't Zava.
posted by pwnguin at 11:15 AM on May 29, 2023 [2 favorites]

Only just watched this episode so please don't spoil me, but is it my imagination, or are there strong echoes between the way Zava was filmed in this episode, and The Big Lebowski's Jesus?

Especially with the white Russian Lebowski reference in the psychic scene?
posted by Zumbador at 9:15 PM on June 17, 2023

Well, that would be some very unfortunate foreshadowing that would go way darker than I hope this show ever goes.
posted by schmod at 8:51 PM on June 22, 2023