***** TED LASSO S3 THREAD *****

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Zombie Jon Snow
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AG
Random Nate observations. The episode definitely left me thinking about him.

Interesting that we don't really know what happened with Nate.
He says he quit but we don't know that for sure.
Rumors were he was fired due to some inter office inappropriate behavior - likely not true
Rupert says some people are not ready when they get their shot - but that was likely about his response in the bar on guys night with Rupert and not about coaching.

Also of interest is his downfall and redemption not taking the form many of us predicted. It wasn't onfield losses and particularly not to Richmond. In fact we never get the rematch for Ted to get that revenge win doing it his way - but that should not really be a surprise Ted isn't about revenge.

Nate's issues were with his dad and here we have him seemingly tucking tail and going home and then confronting his dad about the expectations and abuse and it is his dads apology for not knowing how to deal with a genius (reinforced by some wonderful violin playing) that is seemingly what Nate needed. Not Ted's acceptance. Thats a really interesting direction the writers have taken. The wonder kid thing was almost a joke and surely something that was going to be shown to be not true - we thought. But in reality he is some kind of prodigy. Sweet and lovable Nate returned several episodes back via his relationship with Jade. We never got the meltdown, failure and comeuppance that I think may of us expected.

I'll just say kudos to the writers for always keeping us guessing where this is going. Interesting too that his first apology is not to Ted but to Will. But it's a wild ride in less than a year for the character from lovable/flawed to reviled/hated to ...I don't know maybe pitied/forgiven now?

Now I'm of the opinion that maybe Nate does not end up in the soccer world at all in the end. I almost like that better than him coming back to Richmond as some savior or successor after Ted. That's a bridge too far for me. And I feel like the last few episodes have been much more leaning toward Roy reaching the level of stepping in to take those reins.

jeffk
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The only thing I wish they would have done maybe a bit differently is give us more intermediate steps of change with his dad. In S2 he was an emotionally abusive person and one of the catalysts of Nate's self-loathing. We got a lot of Nate this season, but other than a sweet story about the map, his dad's been a non-factor. Then this episode he apologizes, which is awesome, but there's been none of the wrestling or struggle that would need to take place to make his apology and their reconciliation really believable.

It's a nit picking complaint, I know.
Complete Idiot
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Characters have wild swings episode to episode, Nate can go from destroying Richmond stuff to wistfully looking at Ted in the West Ham crowd. Rupert can go from lecherous to sweet and romantic. Jamie can go from an expert on Holland to not knowing how basic words are spelled. It's a fun exaggeration not a realistic human portrayal. Would a father go from 30+ years of negative criticism to suddenly admitting the reason behind it all after his son is "fired" from a high profile job? Probably not in the real world - it's aspirational, what we would hope to see.
Zombie Jon Snow
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jeffk said:

The only thing I wish they would have done maybe a bit differently is give us more intermediate steps of change with his dad. In S2 he was an emotionally abusive person and one of the catalysts of Nate's self-loathing. We got a lot of Nate this season, but other than a sweet story about the map, his dad's been a non-factor. Then this episode he apologizes, which is awesome, but there's been none of the wrestling or struggle that would need to take place to make his apology and their reconciliation really believable.

It's a nit picking complaint, I know.

Agreed.

It seems like maybe something that could have been shown more but likely time constraints of showing a dozen different story lines meant it had to be kept brief.

I almost equate it to the turn of Daenerys in S7 of GOT. It made sense but needed a lot more exposition of the path that led to that point (like 2 more episodes of time). But not in the big negative sense that that season left in my mouth.


I'm sure they had the arc of Ted all worked out and going to three seasons allowed a lot of other stories to be fleshed out but in the end I think they are packing a lot in the last few episodes and some stuff will be surface level explanations at best.

Examples:
-We just got the announcement that Nate was out as coach, we didn't see it.
-Rebecca's scathing speech was awesome, and then we simply jump to the aftermath of Okufo's reaction compared to last seasons long running treatment of his meltdown in the locker room and dramatic exit.
-Roy's apology to Kealey and no real discussion and then boom he walks out in her robe when Rebecca is there.
-Jade with a brief cameo and boom she's off to Poland so out of the picture

I'm kind of used to them glossing over the soccer this season with the briefest of maybe a highlight or just talking about the results, but now it's making its way into plot reconciliations.

NOT a big complaint really - it is what it is - just an observation.
jackie childs
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CowtownAg06 said:

Quad Dog said:

CowtownAg06 said:

I think we also get a flashback of Nate quitting. Seems to have shaken Rupert towards a slightly better path. I think Nate will tell him everything he learned from Ted and that drives them to reconcile.

Who knows, maybe the final episode is all flashbacks to people realizing what impact Ted had on them.
How? He tried to kiss his ex-wife while currently married to another woman.
Frumpy assistant, seemed to be genuinely nice to Rebecca, let her lead the rejection of Akufo. I thought it was a set up but he followed her lead and walked out happy to wearing Ghanaian food.

It would be trite for him to do a full 180 that quick, but he was different this episode. Possible he got caught in something or maybe Nate (channeling Ted) had an impact.
what i liked about how Rupert was portrayed in this episode is that for really the first time, we can at least see how Rebecca might have fallen for him back in the day
WestAustinAg
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AG
How many episodes will there be?
Who?mikejones!
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We haven't discussed the Rebecca/Sam interaction.

I really hope they aren't rekindling that relationship. It was never believable and, imo, not a good addition to the show
Inca
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AG
12 total. 2 episodes left.
85aggie777
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Agthatbuilds said:

We haven't discussed the Rebecca/Sam interaction.

I really hope they aren't rekindling that relationship. It was never believable and, imo, not a good addition to the show
I could be wrong, but I took their interaction as a brief way to show they can be around each other as friends now and have moved on.
Joan Wilder
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I feel like the writers/producers lost their nerve halfway through the season with Nate. He's had a well-earned heel turn coming for seasons, and it just feels as if they made an abrupt 180 on him mid-season. Little moments, like seeing Ted's son cheering for him or Ted not bashing him back, slowly eating away at him felt more real than the rom-com out of nowhere they wrote for him.
HtownAg92
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Nah, I think it was paced right. There were a ton of "this isn't me" moments throughout that he faked or endured to keep up with the heel persona and to impress Rupert. Dating the model but her thinking his favorite restaurant is poopeh and bailing on him, him wanting to shake hands with Ted but not doing it because of Rupert, him wanting to play off the Ted/son visit to his game, but having to thank Rupert instead. And it has been a season-long wear down of the fake image -- Ted not bashing him but actually praising him, Jade coming around to him, Ted/son showing they still care about him. It broke him down and took him back to being a child wanting his father's approval and love. And ultimately his second father's approval, love and forgiveness.
jeffk
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How much time was supposed to have passed between the last two episodes? They mentioned a 10 game winning streak, which adds up to somewhere around 6-8 weeks depending on where they are in the season, but also I don't know if that streak was active when the previous episode's events took place. So theoretically, there could have been a lot going on with Nate and Rupert that we didn't ever get to see after that bar scene where Nate flees temptation and disappoints Rupert.

I need to go back and see if I can catch shots of the white board behind Beard's desk in these two episodes. He keeps a running WLD record there which is helpful for working out the timelines.
Southlake
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This whole season has Jason Sudeikis kina floundering as Ted. I wonder if this is a reflection on his devastating personal life? He just seems a bit out of it on and off the screen; his interviews have lost the spark he used to bring. Does he just want to end this show and move on?

As a fan of his, I'm kinda worried about him as a person.
The Collective
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I had assumed it was intentional for the character.
agracer
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Haven't read everything from yesterday's episode, but I was LOL for almost the whole show. Just fantastic.

Also, did anyone else notice the sports show that Roy used to be a part of is called "Soccer Saturday"....shouldn't it be called "Football Saturday" ????
Scriffer
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I think it's intentional as well.

He's invested a ton in all these people over the past couple years, and now we're focusing on how they've grown and changed.

I do think they'll heavily revisit Ted individually to show how he's grown too.
agracer
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Complete Idiot said:

Characters have wild swings episode to episode, Nate can go from destroying Richmond stuff to wistfully looking at Ted in the West Ham crowd. Rupert can go from lecherous to sweet and romantic. Jamie can go from an expert on Holland to not knowing how basic words are spelled. It's a fun exaggeration not a realistic human portrayal. Would a father go from 30+ years of negative criticism to suddenly admitting the reason behind it all after his son is "fired" from a high profile job? Probably not in the real world - it's aspirational, what we would hope to see.
Nate's been an adult for quite a while.

When you have adult kids, you suddenly realize who they are and all the things you'd wished you'd done differently. Usually it will just hit you one day because of something they say or do or some situation in life. It's not like you just come out and say "I was wrong"...it's one of those things where everyone has to be in the right place in life, and at the right time for you to say "Son, if I could do things different I would have but I did the best I could at the time". Which is exactly what Nate's dad says.

As a father of 4 adult boys, that scene was very emotional for me and my wife to some extent.
Who?mikejones!
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I've always thought the characters, outside Richmond, around nate don't give him proper due for his accomplishments.

He went from kit boy to managing a leading premiere league club in a matter of months.

Yet, his parents and sister don't seem impressed. Jade doesn't seem to care. His dad didn't care one bit he went from kit boy to assistant coach.

Only the restaurant owner organically seems to recognize what he's done is kinda a big deal

Just kinda weird
ChipFTAC01
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Agthatbuilds said:

I've always thought the characters, outside Richmond, around nate don't give him proper due for his accomplishments.

He went from kit boy to managing a leading premiere league club in a matter of months.

Yet, his parents and sister don't seem impressed. Jade doesn't seem to care. His dad didn't care one bit he went from kit boy to assistant coach.

Only the restaurant owner organically seems to recognize what he's done is kinda a big deal

Just kinda weird


I disagree. I think no less of an authority than Peter Crouch is calling him the wonderkid.
Who?mikejones!
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I'm talking his immediate circle. That's why he always is on social media looking for validation, because those closest to him weren't giving it to him
BJM1781
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Quote:

I'll just say kudos to the writers for always keeping us guessing where this is going
Really? I like this show, but intriguing plot twists was never its thing. There is a post a few pages back where a guy lays out where all the characters will end up and it's spot on thus far.

I feel like every poster on this board kind of knows how it's going to end. It's more about the journey, as they say.
PatAg
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Zombie Jon Snow said:



Examples:
-We just got the announcement that Nate was out as coach, we didn't see it.
That's a narrative choice, we are reacting to it along with the Richmond people.
-Rebecca's scathing speech was awesome, and then we simply jump to the aftermath of Okufo's reaction compared to last seasons long running treatment of his meltdown in the locker room and dramatic exit.
This is another choice made for comedic effect, and I'd rather not see him have another prolonged meltdown. I didnt really think it was that funny the first time, and just repeating a joke is lazy.
-Roy's apology to Kealey and no real discussion and then boom he walks out in her robe when Rebecca is there.
Him walking in is solely for the humor of Keeley poking fun at Rebecca and Rupert at that exact moment.
-Jade with a brief cameo and boom she's off to Poland so out of the picture
Her going off to Poland gives Nate the green light to retreat back to his parents house to mope, which leads to an opportunity for him and his Dad to have a heartfelt moment.

I'm kind of used to them glossing over the soccer this season with the briefest of maybe a highlight or just talking about the results, but now it's making its way into plot reconciliations.

NOT a big complaint really - it is what it is - just an observation.

fify
Zombie Jon Snow
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PatAg said:

Zombie Jon Snow said:



Examples:
-We just got the announcement that Nate was out as coach, we didn't see it.
That's a narrative choice, we are reacting to it along with the Richmond people.
-Rebecca's scathing speech was awesome, and then we simply jump to the aftermath of Okufo's reaction compared to last seasons long running treatment of his meltdown in the locker room and dramatic exit.
This is another choice made for comedic effect, and I'd rather not see him have another prolonged meltdown. I didnt really think it was that funny the first time, and just repeating a joke is lazy.
-Roy's apology to Kealey and no real discussion and then boom he walks out in her robe when Rebecca is there.
Him walking in is solely for the humor of Keeley poking fun at Rebecca and Rupert at that exact moment.
-Jade with a brief cameo and boom she's off to Poland so out of the picture
Her going off to Poland gives Nate the green light to retreat back to his parents house to mope, which leads to an opportunity for him and his Dad to have a heartfelt moment.

I'm kind of used to them glossing over the soccer this season with the briefest of maybe a highlight or just talking about the results, but now it's making its way into plot reconciliations.

NOT a big complaint really - it is what it is - just an observation.

fify

Sure. But sometimes narrative choices are made in the interest of time remaining. It seems to be standard operating procedure now and I believe it is primarily because of time. When nearly every departure or surprising change now is done abruptly I don't believe they are all simply narrative choices that they would not have done differently with more time. This show dwelled on minutiae and establishing relationships through long dialogue for 2.5 seasons. But it's ok if you have a different opinion.


Potcake
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AG
" It's more about the journey, as they say."
I read that in Ted's voice.
OldArmy71
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AG
Do I contradict myself?

Very well then, I contradict myself.

I am large; I contain multitudes.
Ag-in-a-Box
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agracer said:

Also, did anyone else notice the sports show that Roy used to be a part of is called "Soccer Saturday"....shouldn't it be called "Football Saturday" ????


Nope. It's been a real show in England since the 90s. It's always funny when Americans get grief for using that term. The brits coined the term soccer, some sort of slang for 'association', as in association football.

Cue the 'more you know' graphic.

Oh yeah, incredible episode. Maybe. How many poles will it take to get nate to coach Poland?
bthotugigem05
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I think Nate has his Good Will Hunting moment and accepts the Poland National Team job to go see about his girl.
Eso si, Que es
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agracer said:

Complete Idiot said:

Characters have wild swings episode to episode, Nate can go from destroying Richmond stuff to wistfully looking at Ted in the West Ham crowd. Rupert can go from lecherous to sweet and romantic. Jamie can go from an expert on Holland to not knowing how basic words are spelled. It's a fun exaggeration not a realistic human portrayal. Would a father go from 30+ years of negative criticism to suddenly admitting the reason behind it all after his son is "fired" from a high profile job? Probably not in the real world - it's aspirational, what we would hope to see.
Nate's been an adult for quite a while.

When you have adult kids, you suddenly realize who they are and all the things you'd wished you'd done differently. Usually it will just hit you one day because of something they say or do or some situation in life. It's not like you just come out and say "I was wrong"...it's one of those things where everyone has to be in the right place in life, and at the right time for you to say "Son, if I could do things different I would have but I did the best I could at the time". Which is exactly what Nate's dad says.

As a father of 4 adult boys, that scene was very emotional for me and my wife to some extent.
Mrs Maisel spoiler

Abe came to the same realization this week about how he raised Midge, he never saw her inner strength and who she really was, I was a little shocked to see this same theme in two of my favorite current shows. MMM did it better in my opinion but both were powerful in my opinion
fig96
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Not seeing it happen works for me, it gives the characters and audience room to speculate and leaves an opportunity for a heart to heart with Nate and Ted about it and what was really important to him.
jeffk
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Beard's reaction to "where are you from?" still cracks me up.
Gigem314
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What a great episode!

- I was surprised that Nate's departure is simply mentioned and not shown, there's probably more to the story but I was expecting it to come more as a cliffhanger to end an episode than the opening...but I'm glad they made it more about Nate dealing with it than what actually happened

- Nice seeing Nate's gesture to Will. Definitely one of those 'Nate does something nice for someone and doesn't get anything in return' moments we've been looking for

- The whole sequence of Nate playing the violin was incredibly touching, I loved the way they went scene-to-scene. Then Nate reconciling with his dad...what a great message.

- I like the way they've had Rebecca come full circle with Rupert. Whether Nate's departure has softened Rupert on his ways (maybe, maybe not), she can now move forward. She's gone from wanting to tank the team in S1 out of spite to coming to the defense of the game and preserving its legacy for the fans. Maybe her leadership climb doesn't stop with Richmond...

- Jamie's arc continues to impress. Showing his support for Sam and wearing his number was well done. And then showing up for Roy's 'Uncle Day' was AWESOME...that whole scene was great.

- Akufo...holy crap. I thought seeing him lose his **** and 'humping' the mannequin the last time he was on screen was great...but impersonating all the 'callers' for the reservations at Sam's restaurant and his facial expressions to Rebecca's speech...PURE GOLD. I'll say it...Marvel needs to make Sam Richardson the next Kang...he would kill it.
DeangeloVickers
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HollywoodBQ
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Good episode. Best laugh:

Text "No" if dead
jackie childs
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One of my favorite lines from this episode:

I'm like an incomplete list of Madeline Kahn's best films: I ain't got no clue.
Yoda
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