Anonymous wrote:Trent and the Dolly t-shirt — did I miss something? Or just cute?

Dolly is an American treasure. Is there more?

Trent and the Dolly t-shirt — did I miss something? Or just cute?

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.”

Well he is unappreciated by his own dad, and that's huge.

On the Dutchman finding Rebecca, it seems to me possible that he could see her picture online or on TV if he is a soccer fan (eg a profile piece about the amazing turnout of the team, with Rebecca being in a photo with the team or something.). She’s a super rich lady who owns a premier soccer team—it’s not totally unbelievable that he might see her photo someplace.

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.”

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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 endorsing Nate's behavior, but I think Ted Lasso would say that no one is ever "nothing" and everyone deserves to be believed in.

I don't think there's a less interesting storyline/character on any show I've watched in the last 10 years than Nate. Keeley too, but especially Nate.

I like Nate’s storyline because it’s so different from the usual plots.

+1, Nate's storyline upends a lot of predictable sitcom tropes, in my opinion. I have never really known where that story is going and it's surprised me several times but in ways that feel earned.

I agree that Keeley's storyline is pretty dull, between the Roy-Jamie love triangle and now that relationship with a woman... it feels pretty tired. Even the story arc of Keeley becoming more financially independent and professionally successful as she stops being just a "footballer's girlfriend" and begins living her life for herself just feels very tired.

+1. If I wanted to watch people who are abused by their parents, like Nate, but never grow out of the hurt and destructiveness, then I'd watch Succession. Well I do watch Succession. But I like that Ted Lasso is different because it shows Nate learning self-acceptance and starting to appreciate or even love others.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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 endorsing Nate's behavior, but I think Ted Lasso would say that no one is ever "nothing" and everyone deserves to be believed in.

I don't think there's a less interesting storyline/character on any show I've watched in the last 10 years than Nate. Keeley too, but especially Nate.

I like Nate’s storyline because it’s so different from the usual plots.

+1, Nate's storyline upends a lot of predictable sitcom tropes, in my opinion. I have never really known where that story is going and it's surprised me several times but in ways that feel earned.

I agree that Keeley's storyline is pretty dull, between the Roy-Jamie love triangle and now that relationship with a woman... it feels pretty tired. Even the story arc of Keeley becoming more financially independent and professionally successful as she stops being just a "footballer's girlfriend" and begins living her life for herself just feels very tired.

+1. And Keeley was never going to be professionally independent as Jack’s partner.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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 endorsing Nate's behavior, but I think Ted Lasso would say that no one is ever "nothing" and everyone deserves to be believed in.

I don't think there's a less interesting storyline/character on any show I've watched in the last 10 years than Nate. Keeley too, but especially Nate.

I like Nate’s storyline because it’s so different from the usual plots.

+1, Nate's storyline upends a lot of predictable sitcom tropes, in my opinion. I have never really known where that story is going and it's surprised me several times but in ways that feel earned.

I agree that Keeley's storyline is pretty dull, between the Roy-Jamie love triangle and now that relationship with a woman... it feels pretty tired. Even the story arc of Keeley becoming more financially independent and professionally successful as she stops being just a "footballer's girlfriend" and begins living her life for herself just feels very tired.

Anonymous wrote:

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 endorsing Nate's behavior, but I think Ted Lasso would say that no one is ever "nothing" and everyone deserves to be believed in.

I don't think there's a less interesting storyline/character on any show I've watched in the last 10 years than Nate. Keeley too, but especially Nate.

I like Nate’s storyline because it’s so different from the usual plots.

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 endorsing Nate's behavior, but I think Ted Lasso would say that no one is ever "nothing" and everyone deserves to be believed in.

I don't think there's a less interesting storyline/character on any show I've watched in the last 10 years than Nate. Keeley too, but especially Nate.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m enjoying season 3 but it’s not at all what I expected. It’s no longer light and funny but more of a relationship drama. I had been watching with my son previously but he has now lost all interest. He says it’s no longer about soccer at all. And we both miss the Tedisms of season 1.

I don't think it was ever about soccer.

Agreed, though I actually think this season is a lot more about soccer than Season 2 -- we've actually seen a lot of soccer on screen, and the team's strategy and who is playing have actually been critical plot points. This was less true last season, I think.

Anonymous wrote:I’m enjoying season 3 but it’s not at all what I expected. It’s no longer light and funny but more of a relationship drama. I had been watching with my son previously but he has now lost all interest. He says it’s no longer about soccer at all. And we both miss the Tedisms of season 1.

I don't think it was ever about soccer.

Anonymous wrote:I’m enjoying season 3 but it’s not at all what I expected. It’s no longer light and funny but more of a relationship drama. I had been watching with my son previously but he has now lost all interest. He says it’s no longer about soccer at all. And we both miss the Tedisms of season 1.

They definitely chose to go in a different direction after Season 1. It's funny to think this show is based on a series of promotional shorts Sudeikis did for NBC sports at one point.

This might sound naive, but I wonder if the shift in focus to a more serious tone and a greater focus on mental health and relationships is driven in part by Sudeikis' split with Olivia Wilde and the custody battle with her. I mean, he co-wrote and is playing a character previously known for being goofy and charming (not unlike Sudeikis himself) who is now struggling with living far from his kid and dealing with a divorce where his ex has betrayed him deeply. It feels like it can't possibly be a total coincidence.

I’m enjoying season 3 but it’s not at all what I expected. It’s no longer light and funny but more of a relationship drama. I had been watching with my son previously but he has now lost all interest. He says it’s no longer about soccer at all. And we both miss the Tedisms of season 1.

Anonymous wrote:

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 endorsing Nate's behavior, but I think Ted Lasso would say that no one is ever "nothing" and everyone deserves to be believed in.

Sure, everyone deserves it, but not everyone gives it, and nobody gave Nate a real chance before Ted. Insulting the people who took the time to nurture you when you were starting up is rather awful. Who is Nate believing in, exactly, besides himself?

And I like the journey Nate is on, but he's going to need to do more changing. What kind of respect is he giving to his players when he belittles them at practice and scares them into working hard? That's his coaching style now, apparently. I don't think we're supposed to admire that, although I guess it could achieve results. Nate is clearly questioning the belief system that has gotten him to this point and that's a good thing, I hope he keeps going.

I'm the poster above who thinks the show is about power dynamics and, in particular, power imbalances in relationships. I think seen from that angle, there's a different take on this.

I think there's a problem with a relationship where one person must always be grateful to the other person, especially if the thing they are supposed to be grateful for is that the other person didn't treat them as poorly as other people have always treated them.

I don't think Nate has handled the situation very maturely (my sense is that he is really still learning both how to communicate his wants and needs, and how to control his emotions, but that is understandable -- lots of people with emotionally distant/negligent parents struggle with that), but I don't think it's wrong that he feels frustration towards Ted. I don't really agree that Ted nurtured Nate. He promoted him to the coaching staff, but that was on the basis of Nate's skill and understanding of the game. And Nate is stronger in the area Ted is weakest in (strategy). Of course, Ted is strongest in the area Nate is weakest in (motivating, player relationships), but during the time Nate was on the coaching staff, Ted was actually kind of absent from that due to his own issues and farmed it out to Roy, who certainly didn't take Nate under his wing. And also since Nate and Roy had previously had a very different relationship where Roy had way more power, I can see how it would be hard for them both to acclimate to a peer relationship. And Ted didn't really do anything to ease that transition, or really even seem to recognize why it could be an issue.

As I said before, there are major power imbalances in Nate's relationship with Rupert and I do think they will become a problem. But I can also see how, from Nate's perspective, his relationship with Rupert is healthier than the one with Ted because Rupert didn't just promote Nate, he gave Nate real authority AND he supports him in his role. Rupert does not treat Nate as a charity project -- he really, really wants Nate to succeed (for selfish reasons) and is actually nurturing him (sometimes toward bad behavior). Nate felt hung out to dry by Ted -- promoted but then kind of abandoned. There is something to this. Ted might be a better person generally than Rupert, but on the issue of Nate, Rupert may have done a lot more to actually empower Nate and help him get to a point where he has real self-confidence.

One thing I like about the show is how NOT black and white it is. I think it's kind of great that there is a way of looking at this where Rupert is the good guy and Ted is not. That's so much more interesting to me than Ted always being the hero. I think Ted screwed up here.