Ted Lasso - Season 3

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t stand Nate. He reminds me of every entitled male that thinks of himself as a nice guy who is mistreated and unappreciated by the world and walks around with a massive pissy chip on his shoulder and doesn’t recognize that it’s his own pissy passive aggressive attitude that turns everyone off—not that “nice guys finish last.”

Huh, I don't get this at all.

First, he actually was a nice guy. Like for the first season and a half, he legitimately is a nice, if low-self-confidence, person. Not a jerk and not pissy.

I'm on the fence about his resentment that built up in season two. On the one hand, I have actually been in a similar situation professionally before, where I was promoted based on merit but then sidelined because of personal relationships in management and not give much to actually DO in my promoted position. It's a really hard position to be in, especially when you are hungry for more responsibility and to grow professionally, as Nate is. On the other hand, his reaction to this was childish and outsized (he should have just talked to Ted; his communication skills are lacking). On the third hand, one somewhat childish outburst is not a huge deal IMO. I think it cuts both ways.

And finally, he's actually been perfectly nice to Jade, the one woman we've seen him with. She was actually the one who was randomly rude/aggressive towards him when they first met, and she softened not because he was an aggressive jerk but because she takes pity on him when he gets stood up on his date and then they talk and discover they have things in common.

I don't think Nate is the best character ever, but I don't understand comments about what a horrible person he is. The worst thing he's done is publicly trash talk Ted in a press conference, which was hurtful and mean. But also not even close to being uncommon in that role or that sport. And you could see he was unsure of doing it -- he said those things out of hurt but was being goaded into it by Rupert. There's nuance there.

Exactly. Nate was actually a lovely young man in the beginning, who had never been noticed or appreciated by anyone. Once we meet his father, it becomes evident why - he's never had his father's love or approval. He is a damaged soul, but Jade is helping him realize his intrinsic goodness.

Disagree that Jade is somehow responsible for him finding his goodness. I think it's coming from self-reflection, some of the stuff he learned from being around Ted, and also encouragement from his mom and sister (who are the ones who actually get him to ask her out by giving him some information about his similarly avoidant, non-verbal dad).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think Rupert's comment about Jade's accent was small talk. How likely is it that Rupert actually knows enough about Polish accents to figure out where Jade is from from a few words? I think this is going to turn into a plot point. I don't know exactly where that plot is going to go, but I suspect Rupert was already aware of Nate's relationship with Jade and has done some digging about her.

I wondered about that too. There was something creepy about how Rupert pointed that out and then tried to break them up with the new women during boys night out.

My first impression on that scene was that Rupert didn't think Jade was good enough. Not the girlfriend he wanted his head coach to have. Rupert wants to project a certain image with his team - he wants Nate to date those model types. He doesn't think Jade fits that image. He doesn't want Nate dating a Polish woman (aren't Poles looked down upon in England? They are lower class? Like Hispanics over here?)

Or maybe he saw a little bit of Rebecca in Jade? And didn't want that either in his orbit?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t stand Nate. He reminds me of every entitled male that thinks of himself as a nice guy who is mistreated and unappreciated by the world and walks around with a massive pissy chip on his shoulder and doesn’t recognize that it’s his own pissy passive aggressive attitude that turns everyone off—not that “nice guys finish last.”

Huh, I don't get this at all.

First, he actually was a nice guy. Like for the first season and a half, he legitimately is a nice, if low-self-confidence, person. Not a jerk and not pissy.

I'm on the fence about his resentment that built up in season two. On the one hand, I have actually been in a similar situation professionally before, where I was promoted based on merit but then sidelined because of personal relationships in management and not give much to actually DO in my promoted position. It's a really hard position to be in, especially when you are hungry for more responsibility and to grow professionally, as Nate is. On the other hand, his reaction to this was childish and outsized (he should have just talked to Ted; his communication skills are lacking). On the third hand, one somewhat childish outburst is not a huge deal IMO. I think it cuts both ways.

And finally, he's actually been perfectly nice to Jade, the one woman we've seen him with. She was actually the one who was randomly rude/aggressive towards him when they first met, and she softened not because he was an aggressive jerk but because she takes pity on him when he gets stood up on his date and then they talk and discover they have things in common.

I don't think Nate is the best character ever, but I don't understand comments about what a horrible person he is. The worst thing he's done is publicly trash talk Ted in a press conference, which was hurtful and mean. But also not even close to being uncommon in that role or that sport. And you could see he was unsure of doing it -- he said those things out of hurt but was being goaded into it by Rupert. There's nuance there.

Exactly. Nate was actually a lovely young man in the beginning, who had never been noticed or appreciated by anyone. Once we meet his father, it becomes evident why - he's never had his father's love or approval. He is a damaged soul, but Jade is helping him realize his intrinsic goodness.

Disagree that Jade is somehow responsible for him finding his goodness. I think it's coming from self-reflection, some of the stuff he learned from being around Ted, and also encouragement from his mom and sister (who are the ones who actually get him to ask her out by giving him some information about his similarly avoidant, non-verbal dad).

Yeah, no need for the white savior trope here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think Rupert's comment about Jade's accent was small talk. How likely is it that Rupert actually knows enough about Polish accents to figure out where Jade is from from a few words? I think this is going to turn into a plot point. I don't know exactly where that plot is going to go, but I suspect Rupert was already aware of Nate's relationship with Jade and has done some digging about her.

I wondered about that too. There was something creepy about how Rupert pointed that out and then tried to break them up with the new women during boys night out.

My first impression on that scene was that Rupert didn't think Jade was good enough. Not the girlfriend he wanted his head coach to have. Rupert wants to project a certain image with his team - he wants Nate to date those model types. He doesn't think Jade fits that image. He doesn't want Nate dating a Polish woman (aren't Poles looked down upon in England? They are lower class? Like Hispanics over here?)

Or maybe he saw a little bit of Rebecca in Jade? And didn't want that either in his orbit?

Yeah, I'm trying to figure out what Rupert's end game is here exactly. At first I thought he was going to try to steal Jade from Nate as a pure power move, then he seems to be trying to get Nate to sabotage it. He doesn't seem like someone who'd be willing to disadvantage himself by driving away his head coach, regardless of how much he enjoys cruel mind games, so I'm not sure what he is doing here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think Rupert's comment about Jade's accent was small talk. How likely is it that Rupert actually knows enough about Polish accents to figure out where Jade is from from a few words? I think this is going to turn into a plot point. I don't know exactly where that plot is going to go, but I suspect Rupert was already aware of Nate's relationship with Jade and has done some digging about her.

I wondered about that too. There was something creepy about how Rupert pointed that out and then tried to break them up with the new women during boys night out.

My first impression on that scene was that Rupert didn't think Jade was good enough. Not the girlfriend he wanted his head coach to have. Rupert wants to project a certain image with his team - he wants Nate to date those model types. He doesn't think Jade fits that image. He doesn't want Nate dating a Polish woman (aren't Poles looked down upon in England? They are lower class? Like Hispanics over here?)

Or maybe he saw a little bit of Rebecca in Jade? And didn't want that either in his orbit?

Yeah, I'm trying to figure out what Rupert's end game is here exactly. At first I thought he was going to try to steal Jade from Nate as a pure power move, then he seems to be trying to get Nate to sabotage it. He doesn't seem like someone who'd be willing to disadvantage himself by driving away his head coach, regardless of how much he enjoys cruel mind games, so I'm not sure what he is doing here.

I think the PP is right that he doesn’t want his head coach dating some lowly restaurant hostess. He’s all about image. Remember how he bought Nate a new car? It’s the same thing.

[Anonymous]

Rupert probably thinks that if Nate is lonely and unhappy, he’s easier to control. He wants Nate to be completely dependent on him. That’s what cult leaders and other abusers do, right? Flatter you at first, but then keep you attention starved and alone. Probably why he told Nate he’d keep Ted out of the stadium.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Rupert probably thinks that if Nate is lonely and unhappy, he’s easier to control. He wants Nate to be completely dependent on him. That’s what cult leaders and other abusers do, right? Flatter you at first, but then keep you attention starved and alone. Probably why he told Nate he’d keep Ted out of the stadium.

To add on: that was his MO with Rebecca too. He manipulated her into pulling away from her best friend and goddaughter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t stand Nate. He reminds me of every entitled male that thinks of himself as a nice guy who is mistreated and unappreciated by the world and walks around with a massive pissy chip on his shoulder and doesn’t recognize that it’s his own pissy passive aggressive attitude that turns everyone off—not that “nice guys finish last.”

Huh, I don't get this at all.

First, he actually was a nice guy. Like for the first season and a half, he legitimately is a nice, if low-self-confidence, person. Not a jerk and not pissy.

I'm on the fence about his resentment that built up in season two. On the one hand, I have actually been in a similar situation professionally before, where I was promoted based on merit but then sidelined because of personal relationships in management and not give much to actually DO in my promoted position. It's a really hard position to be in, especially when you are hungry for more responsibility and to grow professionally, as Nate is. On the other hand, his reaction to this was childish and outsized (he should have just talked to Ted; his communication skills are lacking). On the third hand, one somewhat childish outburst is not a huge deal IMO. I think it cuts both ways.

And finally, he's actually been perfectly nice to Jade, the one woman we've seen him with. She was actually the one who was randomly rude/aggressive towards him when they first met, and she softened not because he was an aggressive jerk but because she takes pity on him when he gets stood up on his date and then they talk and discover they have things in common.

I don't think Nate is the best character ever, but I don't understand comments about what a horrible person he is. The worst thing he's done is publicly trash talk Ted in a press conference, which was hurtful and mean. But also not even close to being uncommon in that role or that sport. And you could see he was unsure of doing it -- he said those things out of hurt but was being goaded into it by Rupert. There's nuance there.

Exactly. Nate was actually a lovely young man in the beginning, who had never been noticed or appreciated by anyone. Once we meet his father, it becomes evident why - he's never had his father's love or approval. He is a damaged soul, but Jade is helping him realize his intrinsic goodness.

Disagree that Jade is somehow responsible for him finding his goodness. I think it's coming from self-reflection, some of the stuff he learned from being around Ted, and also encouragement from his mom and sister (who are the ones who actually get him to ask her out by giving him some information about his similarly avoidant, non-verbal dad).

Yeah, no need for the white savior trope here.

? It was more like the love-of-a-good-woman trope.

Yes, actor Nick Mohammed is obviously not a WASP. But has the show ever said much about Nate's immigrant culture? I can't remember much. Nathan Shelley is a fairly British name (think Mary Wolstoncraft Shelley who wrote Frankenstein). Sort of like Aziz Ansari's character, Tom Haverford, on Parks and Recs. I actually like how this works, but let me know if I'm missing something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Rupert probably thinks that if Nate is lonely and unhappy, he’s easier to control. He wants Nate to be completely dependent on him. That’s what cult leaders and other abusers do, right? Flatter you at first, but then keep you attention starved and alone. Probably why he told Nate he’d keep Ted out of the stadium.

Probably both things you guys have said. Rupert wants to control Nate, also he doesn't want Nate dating somebody who isn't a high-profile model and neither of those two models would have loved Nate for who he is so again Rupert is in control. Two birds, one stone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think most of us were a bit worried about Nate when Rupert was love bombing him to come to ManU. I wouldn't have really had a problem with Nate leaving Ted's team for a better position, if it hadn't been for the awful things he was saying about Ted as and after he was doing it. I resented Nate's comments; they were so small of him when Ted was the hand up to Nate becoming more than just a towel boy. To spit back in the face of that was wrong, to me, whatever promotion decisions he was making, as was his right as team coach.

I've never written about Nate as a villain on this board, but some of his actions, to me, have been morally wrong. Sure, move teams. But don't belittle the guy who believed in you when you were nothing.

Not to be really detailed but Rupert owns Westham not MANU. We're huge MANU fans so this is important LOL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think most of us were a bit worried about Nate when Rupert was love bombing him to come to ManU. I wouldn't have really had a problem with Nate leaving Ted's team for a better position, if it hadn't been for the awful things he was saying about Ted as and after he was doing it. I resented Nate's comments; they were so small of him when Ted was the hand up to Nate becoming more than just a towel boy. To spit back in the face of that was wrong, to me, whatever promotion decisions he was making, as was his right as team coach.

I've never written about Nate as a villain on this board, but some of his actions, to me, have been morally wrong. Sure, move teams. But don't belittle the guy who believed in you when you were nothing.

Not to be really detailed but Rupert owns Westham not MANU. We're huge MANU fans so this is important LOL

Whoa, oops. I'm sorry!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t stand Nate. He reminds me of every entitled male that thinks of himself as a nice guy who is mistreated and unappreciated by the world and walks around with a massive pissy chip on his shoulder and doesn’t recognize that it’s his own pissy passive aggressive attitude that turns everyone off—not that “nice guys finish last.”

But that's the point - he IS recognizing that. He is growing and becoming better.

Not sure why he thought so highly of himself in the first place. He was promoted from a water boy, essentially. He should have been grateful and put in his dues before thinking he was some sort of "wunderkind" that deserved to coach a team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t stand Nate. He reminds me of every entitled male that thinks of himself as a nice guy who is mistreated and unappreciated by the world and walks around with a massive pissy chip on his shoulder and doesn’t recognize that it’s his own pissy passive aggressive attitude that turns everyone off—not that “nice guys finish last.”

Huh, I don't get this at all.

First, he actually was a nice guy. Like for the first season and a half, he legitimately is a nice, if low-self-confidence, person. Not a jerk and not pissy.

I'm on the fence about his resentment that built up in season two. On the one hand, I have actually been in a similar situation professionally before, where I was promoted based on merit but then sidelined because of personal relationships in management and not give much to actually DO in my promoted position. It's a really hard position to be in, especially when you are hungry for more responsibility and to grow professionally, as Nate is. On the other hand, his reaction to this was childish and outsized (he should have just talked to Ted; his communication skills are lacking). On the third hand, one somewhat childish outburst is not a huge deal IMO. I think it cuts both ways.

And finally, he's actually been perfectly nice to Jade, the one woman we've seen him with. She was actually the one who was randomly rude/aggressive towards him when they first met, and she softened not because he was an aggressive jerk but because she takes pity on him when he gets stood up on his date and then they talk and discover they have things in common.

I don't think Nate is the best character ever, but I don't understand comments about what a horrible person he is. The worst thing he's done is publicly trash talk Ted in a press conference, which was hurtful and mean. But also not even close to being uncommon in that role or that sport. And you could see he was unsure of doing it -- he said those things out of hurt but was being goaded into it by Rupert. There's nuance there.

Exactly. Nate was actually a lovely young man in the beginning, who had never been noticed or appreciated by anyone. Once we meet his father, it becomes evident why - he's never had his father's love or approval. He is a damaged soul, but Jade is helping him realize his intrinsic goodness.

Disagree that Jade is somehow responsible for him finding his goodness. I think it's coming from self-reflection, some of the stuff he learned from being around Ted, and also encouragement from his mom and sister (who are the ones who actually get him to ask her out by giving him some information about his similarly avoidant, non-verbal dad).

Yeah, no need for the white savior trope here.

DP. Wow. Do you typically see everything through the race lens? That has zero to do with anything here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t stand Nate. He reminds me of every entitled male that thinks of himself as a nice guy who is mistreated and unappreciated by the world and walks around with a massive pissy chip on his shoulder and doesn’t recognize that it’s his own pissy passive aggressive attitude that turns everyone off—not that “nice guys finish last.”

Huh, I don't get this at all.

First, he actually was a nice guy. Like for the first season and a half, he legitimately is a nice, if low-self-confidence, person. Not a jerk and not pissy.

I'm on the fence about his resentment that built up in season two. On the one hand, I have actually been in a similar situation professionally before, where I was promoted based on merit but then sidelined because of personal relationships in management and not give much to actually DO in my promoted position. It's a really hard position to be in, especially when you are hungry for more responsibility and to grow professionally, as Nate is. On the other hand, his reaction to this was childish and outsized (he should have just talked to Ted; his communication skills are lacking). On the third hand, one somewhat childish outburst is not a huge deal IMO. I think it cuts both ways.

And finally, he's actually been perfectly nice to Jade, the one woman we've seen him with. She was actually the one who was randomly rude/aggressive towards him when they first met, and she softened not because he was an aggressive jerk but because she takes pity on him when he gets stood up on his date and then they talk and discover they have things in common.

I don't think Nate is the best character ever, but I don't understand comments about what a horrible person he is. The worst thing he's done is publicly trash talk Ted in a press conference, which was hurtful and mean. But also not even close to being uncommon in that role or that sport. And you could see he was unsure of doing it -- he said those things out of hurt but was being goaded into it by Rupert. There's nuance there.

Exactly. Nate was actually a lovely young man in the beginning, who had never been noticed or appreciated by anyone. Once we meet his father, it becomes evident why - he's never had his father's love or approval. He is a damaged soul, but Jade is helping him realize his intrinsic goodness.

Disagree that Jade is somehow responsible for him finding his goodness. I think it's coming from self-reflection, some of the stuff he learned from being around Ted, and also encouragement from his mom and sister (who are the ones who actually get him to ask her out by giving him some information about his similarly avoidant, non-verbal dad).

Yeah, no need for the white savior trope here.

? It was more like the love-of-a-good-woman trope.

Yes, actor Nick Mohammed is obviously not a WASP. But has the show ever said much about Nate's immigrant culture? I can't remember much. Nathan Shelley is a fairly British name (think Mary Wolstoncraft Shelley who wrote Frankenstein). Sort of like Aziz Ansari's character, Tom Haverford, on Parks and Recs. I actually like how this works, but let me know if I'm missing something.

Agree with you. Nate is British, she is Polish. The Poles are really looked down on in Western Europe and the UK. If anything, it’s somewhat heroic that a manager of a premier league club is dating a Polish girl.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t stand Nate. He reminds me of every entitled male that thinks of himself as a nice guy who is mistreated and unappreciated by the world and walks around with a massive pissy chip on his shoulder and doesn’t recognize that it’s his own pissy passive aggressive attitude that turns everyone off—not that “nice guys finish last.”

But that's the point - he IS recognizing that. He is growing and becoming better.

Not sure why he thought so highly of himself in the first place. He was promoted from a water boy, essentially. He should have been grateful and put in his dues before thinking he was some sort of "wunderkind" that deserved to coach a team.

The press called him "wunderkind," that wasn't something he invented for himself. His ego problems are down to massive insecurity.