Ted Lasso - Season 3

[Anonymous]

I totally loved this show. But like some of the PPs, I also thought Season 3 didn't hit the mark or match up to the level of the previous seasons. The Jack/Keely storyline was particularly inane, one of a number of places where the exquisite timing and character development of the first two seasons seemed to be missing. Still enjoyed the show a lot. We're going to go back and binge the first season again!

[Anonymous]

Really the worst storyline this season was Zava. Why was that even necessary??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Really the worst storyline this season was Zava. Why was that even necessary??

It made sense thematically, as the show spent quite bit of time looking at power imbalances in relationships this season— the Zava episodes were heavy on Nate/Rupert, Keeley/Jack, and Michelle’s choice to start dating her and Ted’s former marriage therapist. All relationships where one person has significantly more power and can be considered to be exploiting it. Zava’s presence on the team represented a different kind of power imbalances, where there is one superstar and a host of acolytes, and how that, too, is destabilizing.

But then Nate quits Rupert’s team, Keeley stands up to Jack pressuring her to apologize, and it appears Michelle may be beginning to sour on the therapist. And Zava leaves the team, plus Ted invents/discovers “Total Football,” a style of play that is anti-superstar and celebrates the equality and interconnectedness of the entire team, a truly Lassoan approach.

All of which I loved, but seemed to be kind of dropped as a theme in the last couple episodes, and certainly isn’t emphasized in the finale. I think that’s part of what gave this Season such a disjointed feel, the lack of thematic throughline. That’s why now you look back and think “why’d we spend so much time on Zava and Jack?” It made sense in context, but the show didn’t make sure those themes echoed consistently through the season so it fails to hold together.

[Anonymous]

I really enjoyed this season and the finale. And I’m still reading through everyone’s comments on the finale. I know there was a lot of inferred storyline with Ted telling Rebecca that he was leaving that we didn’t see in episode But I still don’t get why Beard had to leave with Ted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think this season is so good so far. Every episode is a delight from start to finish.

+1 loved it

So many callbacks to season 1 - I think if you watch it in that context, it all makes sense.

+1 the best finales are the ones that make you want to watch the show all over again and this was one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I really enjoyed this season and the finale. And I’m still reading through everyone’s comments on the finale. I know there was a lot of inferred storyline with Ted telling Rebecca that he was leaving that we didn’t see in episode But I still don’t get why Beard had to leave with Ted.

That was implied when we finally got the Beard backstory in one of the last couple episodes before the finale - he owes everything to Ted because Ted rescued him when he was a mess. But I’m one who would have appreciated that as well as Ted quitting and Nate quitting and a few other big moments to be on screen rather than off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Really the worst storyline this season was Zava. Why was that even necessary??

It made sense thematically, as the show spent quite bit of time looking at power imbalances in relationships this season— the Zava episodes were heavy on Nate/Rupert, Keeley/Jack, and Michelle’s choice to start dating her and Ted’s former marriage therapist. All relationships where one person has significantly more power and can be considered to be exploiting it. Zava’s presence on the team represented a different kind of power imbalances, where there is one superstar and a host of acolytes, and how that, too, is destabilizing.

But then Nate quits Rupert’s team, Keeley stands up to Jack pressuring her to apologize, and it appears Michelle may be beginning to sour on the therapist. And Zava leaves the team, plus Ted invents/discovers “Total Football,” a style of play that is anti-superstar and celebrates the equality and interconnectedness of the entire team, a truly Lassoan approach.

All of which I loved, but seemed to be kind of dropped as a theme in the last couple episodes, and certainly isn’t emphasized in the finale. I think that’s part of what gave this Season such a disjointed feel, the lack of thematic throughline. That’s why now you look back and think “why’d we spend so much time on Zava and Jack?” It made sense in context, but the show didn’t make sure those themes echoed consistently through the season so it fails to hold together.

I thought the Zava storyline was really fun, and also did work for the plot/character development - but you're really right that this season did make a LOT of a couple of new characters who came in, ate up a lot of time, and then disappeared.

[Anonymous]

Everyone also built up to show was a louse Rebecca’s ex husband was, show after show he showed his true colors to the public.

[Anonymous]

The beard thing felt natural to me. He’s spent his whole adult life following Ted. If anything, the big theme for the show for me was people learning to each come into their own and find themselves away from the trauma of their past. Ted learned he doesn’t always have to be on the sunny side. Rebecca learned she is good enough on her own and doesn’t need to revolve around Rupert. Jamie learned he doesn’t have to define his life by trying to piss off/prove himself to his dad. Keeley learned she’s not just a hot bod who has to flirt her way to the top (although we never really learned what made keeley so keeley). And Beard learned that he can be okay without Ted who has been the only stable thing in his adult life. Beard’s arc was just a little bit less explicit

[Anonymous]

One thing that always amazed me is how these actual soccer players were also really good actors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One thing that always amazed me is how these actual soccer players were also really good actors.

I didn’t know they were actual soccer players! I just assumed they used extras for the game scenes!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One thing that always amazed me is how these actual soccer players were also really good actors.

I didn’t know they were actual soccer players! I just assumed they used extras for the game scenes!

PP here - I mean, I'm assuming they were since they were actually featured in the soccer shots?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One thing that always amazed me is how these actual soccer players were also really good actors.

I didn’t know they were actual soccer players! I just assumed they used extras for the game scenes!

I think some of them are actual soccer players, like the guy who plays Dani Rojas and maybe some others. Jaime Tartt is an actor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Really the worst storyline this season was Zava. Why was that even necessary??

The Zava character is based pretty closely on a real player - Swede superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Ted Lasso has since season 1 done a great job including insider nods and references to actual Premier League teams, players, traditions, etc. that long time fans would easily pick up on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Things I could have done without:
Beard getting off the plane - why couldn't they have just shown Beard and Ted having a heart to heart where Beard says he's staying?
Nate - the entire season

While I loved the show, and loved the ending, I think this season they tried to jam in too much and added so many more storylines of the secondary characters so it all got diluted. I would have preferred more Sam, more Beard, more Rebecca. Less Nate, less Colin and less Keely and her love life.

Funny but Nate, Trent, Sam are my favorite characters. I hated more than anything that Pep and Man City were featured on the show. It's so bandwagonny and if you know anything about Pep, he is the exact opposite of Ted and is not a good guy. They team is going to be penalized next season for the years of cheating that was uncovered. I wish there was more about soccer.

I loved that Rebecca ran in to the cool Dane.