[larkin21]

Ted Lasso Finale Thoughts

I've been crying with friends over the finale of Ted Lasso for the last four days but I need to try to get my thoughts out in a post or it's gonna drive me crazy. This is gonna be a long and complicated one!

Starting out with some more detailed thoughts, which honestly include me processing the things I don’t like by trying to find what I think is a reasonable explanation – please don’t take that as me trying to convince anyone else; people being angry or sad about the things I end up trying to explain is 100% warranted. Again, this is just how I deal with it all. To clarify, I’m not trying to explain anything away. I truly do see a lot of the choices made as being in-character, or I have some other headcanon to make something work, but I also am not saying that “in-character” means it’s the only valid choice or the best choice for a character. And my having a headcanon to explain something doesn’t let the writers off the hook for not developing something further. Again, this is just how I deal.

Nate

I am uncomfortable with Nate as Assistant to the Kitman (though nice reference to The Office and Nate being the opposite of Dwight) for all the reasons I’ve read people share. Even though I felt like Nate’s spiral in S2 made sense, I was uncomfortable with it happening to him then, especially since he was the one cast member of color whose name appeared in the opening credits last season. However, even on my first watch of the finale, I imagined that Nate insisted on being Assistant to the Kitman, not anyone else. In fact, I immediately imagined that Nate showed up and they had a coach’s track suit ready for him but he insisted on starting under Will – a semi-callback to Jamie returning and earning his spot back but this time Nate is more sincere and genuine in his desire to prove himself, his loyalty, and his care for everyone in Richmond. I hope this was the intention of the writers (and I think it is based on Nate making the Assistant to the Kitman reference) and makes me feel better about Nate being allowed to be a part of the team in a way that makes him feel most comfortable when he rejoins. Obviously, that’s an in-world decision (that does make sense to me) but the writers should have opted to put Nate immediately back on the coaching staff instead of making him feel like he had to prove himself, when he clearly already had the love and acceptance of everyone at Richmond. And then the 5k pound fine on top of it, even though it showed how the team viewed him as fully part of the team and that his absence was felt and hurt them, it was a whole lot of money on top of the title well below his expertise.

Jamie & Roy

Everyone who has said that Jamie and Roy both regress this episode are so right. After their beautiful moment together at the bar where they talk about their pride and appreciation for each other, for their friendship, it was awful to watch them use Keeley’s sexuality to try to claim ownership over her, and then to actually physically fight each other, then thinking that letting Keeley choose between the two of them is magnanimous of them … god it sucked! I personally especially hated Jamie bringing up the video to prove his point because his apology to Keeley about it was so good and so genuine! And I still believe that he was being genuine but it sure is extra gross that he used that when he knows how much the video being made public hurt Keeley. But even with all that, I’m …. Okay seeing the characters make these mistakes? To me, this is showing just how pervasive toxic masculinity is! For so many men, especially men who grew up in the environments that both Roy and Jamie grew up in, it’s not going to be just something that fully goes away. At least not in this time frame. Yeah, we get Jamie taking ownership of mistakes and standing up for women’s privacy, and we get Roy telling a room full of the British press that he comes to Isaac with love when Isaac made a mistake. And both of those things are huge growth! But it’s real to me that they’d still regress at some point. I’d be much more upset about it if that were the last we saw of them. It’d be nice if we got more of Jamie’s regrets over the moment but for Roy, we definitely knew. Roy was beating himself up over it so much that he joined the Diamond Dogs! Yes, he may have also done that for Ted and Beard on their way out. But he genuinely needed their advice. So he went to Ted, the guy who responded to Roy’s “that’s just not who I am” with “not yet” in 03.02. Ted could see that Roy had the capacity to accept happiness. But Roy still felt, almost a year later, like he wasn’t capable of change so he reached out for help. And we later see (or Ted dreams, though I headcanon that this is a dream that Ted ends up being right about) that Roy also gets into therapy. He clearly is still working on himself. Still. And that’s incredibly satisfying to me.

Ted (with others)

Ted seemed to be a shadow of himself a lot of this episode. Others have pointed this out. I fully embrace the theory that this was a coping mechanism for Ted. He didn’t want to go but he convinced himself that he needed to go in order to be a good father. Even when faced with other options, he couldn’t allow himself to consider them. In part because he, who always looks to help others but doesn’t accept help if he can avoid it, didn’t feel like he had the right to ask Michelle or Henry to uproot their lives and in part because … this man, who instilled belief and hope in footballers and stiff-upper-lip Brits, could not allow himself to hope that he could actually stay. That he could actually merge both of his lives. There’s a strong queer connection to Colin and how he had the ache to connect his personal and his professional lives. But Ted, just as he pushed away his queerness, pushed away any possibility that he might deserve everything he wants. He rejects hope for himself and, yes, rightfully chooses his son … while completely not allowing himself to believe that it doesn’t have to be a choice. This made sense to me, it felt very much in character, but plenty of other choices would have been in character too. Ted contains multitudes. 

I need to back up a bit. Ted is subdued when we see him to start the episode but the first moment where it truly felt like he wasn’t himself was when Trent is desperate for Ted to like his love letter book. Where Ted once found joy in Trent being excitable and eager, he now gently chastises him for being anxious about Ted liking his book. This is one of those moments that I’ve only made sense over by taking it as Ted trying to distance himself, to not let himself feel the sadness over leaving, over losing what he had (or could have had) with people like Trent. It’s devastating but also not out of character. Because no character is going to act the same in every situation. But it’s all the more devastating because I (and I know others) headcanon Trent as neurodivergent and Ted has made Trent feel like it’s safe to be himself around Ted. And now he’s being made to feel like he’s too much. Something Ted himself has been made to feel. And Ted has specifically made comments to the effect of wanting people to laugh at his jokes, for example Sharon when she finally laughs at his funny voices when he calls to check on her during her concussion recovery. As I’ve said to a couple of others, I really am okay with people messing up and having flaws! But it is so fucking sad that this is the last one-on-one moment we get for these two. These two who could have been the best romance to ever grace our screens.

Trent’s “I just want you to like it,” though, and James’ amazing and anxious delivery kills me! Kills me dead! And the way Trent very deliberately rights his chair on the way out, their formal “goodnight” to one another, Ted gazing after him fondly. FUCK! We really could have had it all! And as much as it kills me, I’m so grateful for that soft and tender moment, from them both.

I also didn’t fully realize it the first few times I watched it but the next time we see Ted after that interaction with Trent, he’s sitting alone in the stands, looking rather emotional and introspective. And when Rebecca joins in the stands, Ted doesn’t say a word for most of the conversation. He is present with her but hardly expresses any emotion, until he and Rebecca both release their emotion through laughter. It’s the laughter of two people emotionally exhausted. It hurts. But god if it doesn’t ring true to me.

The pattern continues when Ted then runs into Nate. Yes, he’s there for Nate but he seems to be distancing himself. He knows he has to go, he can’t be a father figure to Nate. He can care about Nate and want happiness for him. But he can’t allow himself to be truly moved, to get too attached. He doesn’t even want to hear Nate apologize because it’d be too much. And his heartbroken “oh buddy” when Nate does collapse in his arms, god. It’s so Dad-like. Just for that moment. But then Ted manages to close off. He’s able to talk about the sign, even ask if it’s weird that he still sees it, with an emotionless detachment. I saw someone point out how just last episode, 03.11, we saw that Jason Sudekius is very capable of expressing emotion. Of course I agree. It was a choice to have him be so reserved. It was a choice that shows, to me, that this is a man who feels like he must leave. But he desperately does not want to and he knows if he allows himself to have too many emotions, he won’t be able to get on that plane back to Kansas. It hurts so fucking much.

Diamond Dogs

I’ve already talked about Roy joining the Diamond Dogs but god, Roy looking to Trent and Nate when he asks if people can change. The two people who both have found forgiveness from Ted, who seemed to have a redemption arc that Roy is fully aware of. I think that both Trent and Nate are correct. I think Trent speaks from his personal experience of “I was always gay, I was always a dorky, excitable person. I just repressed it for so long but now I finally accepted it. I didn’t want to be a bully through the press but I thought that I had to be to make a name for myself and to be accepted by my dad and by society, until I allowed myself to see that I didn’t have to be that person.” Whereas Nate speaks from thinking his bad actions made him a bad person and he had to fundamentally change in order to be a good person. Both fully valid. But I do love Trent’s stance of us having capacity within us already to be the person we want to be. And I think it goes along with Ted’s “not yet” to Roy in the final scene of 03.02. I don’t know if Roy sees it that way yet. I don’t think he believes in his own capacity. But everyone else can see it because they’ve already seen him grow and be “better” in so many ways.

I love Higgins calling Trent’s hair perfect! Trent’s the only one in the room who has anything perfect listed about him, and they all agree with it! And yes, Ted says that it’s “not boring” but I love that! He’s saying most perfect things are boring but not Trent’s perfect hair! For a guy who I believe is trying to close himself off so much, that’s honestly a very telling admission in my opinion. And fully agreeing with Trent saying the other side of the pillow is perfect, oof!

I am a bit sad we never got Trent sharing a bit of himself in Diamond Dogs. He certainly shared himself in his advice but yeah, it’s a shame we didn’t get him sharing his own issue or story or truth. Related, I’m also sad that we didn’t get a moment of Trent coming out to Ted or discussing queerness with him. There’s so much more to say about that but I don’t have the energy at the moment.

I was hopeful for a moment with Trent and Nate, and I’m still a little sad there wasn’t time for it but I understand why it wasn’t a priority. I think these two can exist and see their stories run side by side without having to discuss it. And I also think that Trent trying to let the original Diamond Dogs (plus Roy) have a moment shows that he recognizes the potential awkwardness of seeming to have taken Nate’s place. It was sad to see Trent feel like his spot might be …. [God. I just thought of the phrase “on a string” like when an item is lent but on a string, meaning the owner wants it back at some point. And of course strings of fate.] But anyway, it’s sad to think that Trent didn’t think he fully belonged, that he had to give his spot back. But it was great to see him so fully in the big moments, like the locker room talks and the huddles and cheering from the dugout. And, of course, Ted calling him “Trenthouse Magazine” GOD because that’s a straight thing to say about another man!! And telling him that he’s part of the squad now. That does soothe some of the pain from their one-on-one. And Beard saying “you’re stuck with us now,” is also lovely. But it also hurts! because …. Well, Ted seems to leave that squad fully and without a special goodbye. And Beard intends to go with Ted too. All very sad.

Coaching

I think it was a choice for Coach Beard to make them cry before the match (though not intentional, just him once again not thinking about the emotion a video will evoke, similar to him misfiring with the video of Nate & the sign) and then an addition choice for Ted use his time for the halftime talk to basically say his goodbye, and potentially make them cry again. I think halftime was another example of Ted wanting to be closed off. Yes, he told them how important they are. How much he loves all of them. But it saved him from having to do that on an individual basis. And allowed him to pivot back to the game. 

I loved the BELIEVE sign moment. I loved Ted’s speech about believing being more than a sign on the wall back in 03.05. It’s true. But symbols and metaphors are important too. Ted’s spoken about the power of them since season 1. So I’m good with the sign coming back. I did wonder, when Ted said “and that’s number 4,” if it was going to turn out they spelled LOVE with the scraps. Because I love the idea of number 4 being “love.” But I also really love that Trent was right. That Ted hasn’t changed tactics. He’s been doing this all along. To the point that number 4, which Ted always knew was important, was what Ted was trying to teach them from the very beginning.

Nate’s Play

I also love everything about the final play call. I love Beard and Roy quickly discussing options and the reasons they won’t work. I love that Ted is the one to think of the best play for the moment. I love how he tries to get the guys to understand that it’s Nate’s play that he’s calling. It doesn’t have a name. But they remember. Winning an Oscar at the Espy’s. That ridiculous and wonderful man. And Trent watching that moment so closely. I feel he’s got to recognize what’s being called. He’s got to be thinking about two years ago, watching this crazy American try to get these footballers to buy into this play devised by the kitman. Ugh, the ugly crying! And lol at Ted throwing the Oscar to the side. Reminds me of Roy throwing a pretend key at Jamie in season 1 and Jamie ducking it and telling him he missed, hahahaha. And Jamie and Sam and Bumbercatch realizing what the call is! And the execution of the play! Jamie’s amazing imitation of Ted! The hand gestures spot on and what he said not exactly the same but mostly and even including the “please” like Ted had. And Sam scoring and Nate and Ted celebrating, all of them celebrating. So goddamn beautiful.

Colin & Michael

Their kiss was one of my favorite parts! I know some people are upset because he said his coming out to the team was enough and that he didn’t want to be a spokesman, only to come out in a very public and dramatic way, and they wish we'd gotten his thought process to fully "coming out" but I don't think it was an actual thought process? I think his team has been so supportive of him and he had so many emotions from winning the game and seeing the fellas kiss their girls, he just lived in the moment and went for it! However, I also feel like there had to have been backlash/articles about it and it sucks that the show didn’t have time to address it. I’ve also seen people say that they just hoped no cameras were on them but … I think that is wishful thinking beyond what even Ted Lasso does. So even though it would have been incredibly hard to see the negativity, there should have been some positives too. Such as getting to see the team (including Ted) following thru on their promises to be there for Colin. But honestly even this complaint is minor for me when it comes to the queer stuff. It’s just something that isn't great in combination with the disappointment that we didn't get confirmed Tedependent or Reelie.

Rupert’s Lack of Redemption

I’ve been surprised to see some people upset that everyone got redemption other than Rupert. I don’t agree that’s true because our other insanely wealthy characters, Edwin Akufo and Jack Danvers, also didn’t get redemption. And for me personally, I don’t want the old rich white guy to get redemption while the rich Black guy and the rich queer lady don’t. I also like that we saw a moment of humanity from him only for him to revert back to his terrible ways. Few people are wholly evil. In 03.10, I was bummed that Akufo had become the cartoon villain when I preferred that to be Rupert. I imagine if we’d had more time with Akufo or Jack, we’d have more moments of humanity from them. And we did get Jack being likable prior to her treatment of Keeley. So yeah, I don’t want redemption for Rupert. Even in a show about forgiveness and about people becoming better, I think it’s good to acknowledge that not everyone does improve. And Rebecca was able to cut the hold Rupert had over her, perhaps her own level of forgiveness, but that doesn’t mean that he is a better person now. Which leads me to … 

Jamie’s dad

I agree with a lot of people upset about where it looks like the story went for Jamie’s dad. For me, I loved what Ted said to Jamie on the pitch in 03.11. I know some people are upset that Ted encouraged forgiveness for a man who participated in arranging his 14 yo son to be sexually abused by paying for him to be with a sex worker, especially when Ted didn’t know that James Tartt was in rehab. But here’s the thing, Ted also didn’t know that Amsterdam story. And he also didn’t do more than discuss the fact that forgiveness doesn’t need to be for or about the other person. If Jamie made the choice, it was for Jamie. 

Not his dad. It was gently presented as an option that Jamie easily could have ignored. I personally wish that Jamie had gone the route of forgiving his father but not inviting the man back into his life. And it’s too bad that Ted didn’t spell out that option for him. I also am taking the montage of what happens in Richmond after Ted leaves as a dream and that the part about Jamie and James is just … something Ted hopes can be possible and safe, in every sense of the word, for Jamie. And I further headcanon that, if Jamie lets his father back into his life, he does so with a lot of boundaries and support, both from his friends and from a dedicated therapist. Should the show have handled that better? Yes! But, as someone who has successfully let someone back in my life that most people would not have forgiven and who has also gladly cut off contact from emotionally abusive people in my life, I also know that it’s easy for me to see both options working out for Jamie. Even though I fully agree that the work and support should have been shown on screen if they were going to show any kind of contact again. I would have very much preferred the conversation with Ted, the shot of James Tartt in rehab, and maybe Jamie talking about how free he felt now that he’s not obsessed with his father, similar to Rebecca being fully free of Rupert.

Dutch Boatman

I love Rebecca with Dutch Boatman. I also kinda love that he’s nameless still, after all the times there are nameless female characters paired off with male main characters, it’s kinda refreshing. Rebecca running into Dutch Boatman and his daughter after she fully embraces Richmond as her family, and though she jokes about not liking the “club matriarch” line, makes it even better. I feel like Rebecca very much loves being that mother figure to the community. And because she fully embraced her team and her role with the team, I personally don’t have an issues with Rebecca then miraculously gaining a man and potential-step-daughter because I believe that Rebecca will see both families as important and fully … hers. It’s not about the man saving her from loneliness or whatever. She already felt peace and fulfillment at Richmond. This relationship doesn’t take away from who she is or where she’s gotten. Unlike Ted (sobs), Rebecca is able to have fulfillment both personally and professionally.

The Plane

Ted second guessing leaving, and how close they got to winning it all, and saying goodbye to their friends. I love the scene. Truly. And I LOVE the moment for Beard and Ted. But I also hate Beard being so desperately in love with Jane. I still have a lot of respect for Brendan Hunt. I still appreciate so much he’s done for this show that I still love. But that relationship is abusive. And I love this post’s fix for the situation. I also have an element of appreciation for showing that sometimes people don’t get out of those abusive relationships when they should. Sometimes, even great people and great friends, don’t take the stand that they should to help their friend see the abuse for what it is. Again, I’m okay with a show having something go wrong, as much as I hate it for Beard. And I still love the scene for what it was between Beard and Ted. I think it was a beautiful moment where Beard finally got to tell Ted that he didn’t want to abandon him, that he loves him. But that he wanted to stay. I just wish he had wanted to stay for the club and not Jane. And I fully refuse to believe that the wedding sequence wasn’t a dream. Brendan can say what he wants but we all have the right to our interpretations, even if they don’t line up with the creator’s intent. I personally choose to believe that Brendan was trolling us, like Jason “liking” hate-tweets about the show. But even if Brendan fully means it, I don’t care. For me, the Beard and Jane relationship is abusive. Further, they would never get married. And if Beard ever married anyone (which I don’t see happening), Ted would one hundred percent be there. But yeah, I love the “whatever is about to happen, that’s a great start.” And I love the reveal of Beard’s name and the fact that Ted used the “what you talking about, Willis?” line back in S2. And Ted helping Beard out with where the appendix is (which Beard only would have gotten wrong because of nerves or something, Beard knows these things) and the flight attendant calling Ted a fucking asshole for not wanting to go to hospital with his friend, lol.

The Dream

For the dream itself, I read someone say (I wish I could remember who and link it!) that the moment of the golden light falling over Ted’s face after looking at the snowglobe symbolized the start of the dream. The lyrics of Father and Son even reference dreams in that moment! Sorry, Brendan. You might not have intended it but this being a dream is better and makes more sense than whatever was intended. So from that point on, until Ted wakes up on the plane, is a dream. And sometimes we do dream things that come true! 

As many have pointed out, the first person Ted dreams of is Trent. Trent is on his mind and I love it. Trent picking up Beard’s annotated copy of the manuscript also makes me feel like it’s a dream because none of the cross throughs on the cover that we watched him do are there! It’s a dream version where there are still MANY notes but it’s not real. And Ted remembers leaving the note for Trent that he loved the book. And that he suggested that Trent change the title. All that I believe. And I can believe that, due to Trent’s deep love for Ted, Trent would respect Ted’s wishes and change the title. But you can’t convince me that Ted would not be part of the cover shot with the team. You just can’t. (And you also can’t convince me that Ted wouldn’t be there for the book release. Just like you can’t convince me that he wouldn’t be at Beard’s wedding or he wouldn’t be there for Sam’s debut on the Nigerian National Team.)

Ted was right about Keeley and Barbara’s business flourishing. Maybe even Keeley had told him how they were going to rename it to KBPR. And Ted is right about Roy becoming the coach because Ted and Rebecca would be on the same page with that. They’ve both been witness to his growth and would find him deserving and capable of carrying on the Richmond Way. I agree with those who aren’t happy with the coach’s jackets. That made it feel like a dream too, though. And it makes sense that things would continue on going well with Nate and Jade, who Ted knows about. And Ted knows something of Nate’s family being a sore spot, so of course he’d dream about them all happy. And he’d dream of Sam’s professional dream coming true. I believe that will happen as well, but not before Akufo loses some of his money and power, perhaps through a corruption scandal. I’ve already talked about Jamie and his father. And man, if I don’t adore the BBQ scene, with Jamie and Roy sitting so close to each other and Keeley close to them with Phoebe. And the entire found family together (minus Trent, gah) and everything else. It feels like the perfect combination of everything great about Richmond alongside with Ted’s affinity for BBQ. So even though I hope that things like this do happen (plus Trent and Ted), it also very much tracks as Ted’s dream. Who cares there are extra people who Ted doesn’t technically know about. Rebecca’s psychic was technically right in this world, and Ted did call himself a little bit psychic previously. And he has talked about the dream world as though it’s a real place. [Edited to add: also just saw this great post about why it’s a dream, yes, 100%] So Ted dreams of somethings that do end up happening, even if they aren’t complete or fully accurate to how those things actually happen. And even if he’s completely wrong about other things. But he’s right about the pub guys and Mae buying shares of the club. He’s right about Shannon coming to Trent’s book signing and the book being a wild success, though his dream misses that he and the team will be there supporting him too. He’s right about Keeley coming up with the idea for the women’s team, though it’s his brain that comes up with the marketing line of “A ‘KBPR’ Joint.” He’s right that Richmond would hire a full time therapist, and hopefully right that it’s Sharon Fieldstone. He’s right that Roy wants to continue working on himself. He’s right that Nate would repair the BELIEVE sign and the coaches would work together to put it back up but maybe he’s missing them doing it together as a full team. He’s right about a lot. But he’s wrong about these people going on without needing him and wanting him as a part of their lives. He’s wrong that his absence from these things that wouldn’t have been possible without his influence need to happen without him there. And, as I’ll always say every chance I get, he’s wrong that Beard and Jane would get married.

Kansas and the Future

When Ted is awoken by the landing, he’s holding How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence by Michael Pollan (who also wrote The Omnivore’s Dilemma and This Is Your Mind on Plants). It’s like he’s trying to convince himself that he wants to embrace going home. He’s been struggling with it ever since he dropped that “truth” bomb on Rebecca but he hasn’t really believed it himself. But he wants to. At the same time, the lyrics of Father and Son are telling him that it’s not time to make a change. He’s making this huge life change, and reading this book that references back to Ted wanting to make a change in Amsterdam. But the song seems to be saying at the same time, no, this isn’t time. Not like this. It’s telling him to sit down and take it slowly. He rushed into this decision. And while I’ll always argue that the decision is in character, that doesn’t mean it’s the right decision. Michelle and Henry don’t meet him at the airport. They wait for him at Michelle’s home, where Ted will be a guest and have to be around Dr. Jacob. Ted is truly happy to be back with his son but there’s still a hole. A hole that he tries to forget about, just like he advises Henry to be a goldfish in that last scene (this post does a phenomenal job pointing out the queer implications of Ted and being a goldfish). The last moments of the series switch to a Flaming Lips song, Fight Test, which (as I learned from @stevecarrington) Yusuf/Cat Stevens sued the Flaming Lips over because Fight Test plagiarized Father and Son. I don’t know about you all but I absolutely thought Ted was about to have a panic attack when the song started. Tonally, it does not seem like a happy or contented moment. It seems like someone on the edge. And considering his family history, it scares me for Ted. And there is no way that the creators of Ted Lasso just happened to pick the song that is linked to Father and Son over plagiarism accusations. It does not feel like Ted is living his true or authentic life by being in Kansas and that song (as are many things on Ted Lasso) is a metaphor. I’m reading it as a metaphor of Ted’s inner conflict. To me, it feels intentional. I can't fathom a situation in which the writers really think this is the best choice for Ted. Just that this is the choice they think Ted is most likely to make.

I don’t know if Ted Lasso will come back in any capacity. And I honestly see myself grieving for a long time over this ending, and the dangerous and tragic place that I think Ted felt like he had to put himself in, in order to be a good father. I don’t think it was the right choice. And whether we get it in canon or not, I’ll believe that Ted (hopefully through the help of Henry, as referenced in the great tag reply at the bottom of this amazing post and in this fic) realizes that he made the wrong choice. I’ll believe that Michelle will also realize her mistake in getting together with Dr. Jacob. Ted and Michelle absolutely will not get back together. But Michelle will see what Richmond did for Ted, how much Henry has loved his time there, how she (and Dr Jacob) were the ones to insist upon Ted giving her space. And she’ll see that could use to put some physical distance between herself and Dr Jacob, how a new start could benefit her as much as Ted and Henry. And all three of them will return.

It won’t be the same. But that’s okay because Ted will still be able to merge his actual family with his found family. I don’t see Ted rejoining the coaching staff of the men’s team. I personally love the idea of him being an assistant coach for the women’s team, under a kickass woman as the head coach. And their won’t be anything romantic between the two of them, just like their wasn’t with Rebecca, but instead of this will-they/won’t-they bullshit, Ted will realize that he’s been falling in love with Trent for a very long time and we will finally get the queer rom-com that we all (audience and characters) deserve.

Extra Odds & Ends

I love the many callbacks we got! I’m a sucker for it, I’m not even sorry. My favorite is shown in this gifset, specifically the gif for the S2 finale compared to the 3rd gif from the bottom. In the S2 finale, Jamie gives himself a fist bump when Roy snubs his offered double fist bump. In the 3rd gif from the bottom, Roy offers the double fist bump, which Jamie completes, and then he gives himself a fist bump. It feels as though he can’t quite believe that they’ve gotten to this point. He looks as amazed as Nate that they’re friends now, and like Nate, Jamie clearly thinks it’s wonderful

The unresolved player fines scene was wonderful on its own but I also love that we got Nate’s collection box

Loved the callback to the Keeley and Roy parking lot moment, though that made me hope even more desperately for a Ted and Trent parking lot moment

I didn’t notice this the first few times but I love that Higgins says he included a basketball coach from New Zealand for prospective managers to replace Ted, lol

Roy’s hesitation to end practice the last practice, him taking in the moment, is really lovely

Everything about So Long, Farewell is perfect – but especially their sweet, sweet voices. All of them – and especially Sam Obisanya

Paul, Baz, and Jeremy thanking Rebecca for all she’s done for Richmond, just beautiful! And I honestly appreciate the direct articulation of Rebecca being a mother figure to the community. Perhaps a bit on the nose but it really worked for me.

Sad we never got a follow up of Trent not being able to ride a bike (this is less about the finale, because I didn’t expect it here but just something I’m bummed about overall)

I love Michael picking up the ticket at Will Call as Wynona Judd. I miss that the team and Ted didn’t have a chance to be there for Colin through the follow-out that had to follow that public kiss. But it was good to know that Ted was almost definitely the one to arrange for Michael to have a ticket waiting for him, just as he did for Roy last season.

My first viewing of each episode is with my mom and she totally called that Isaac was going to kick the ball so hard that it would go straight through the net. And I loved that Higgins protected his wife the second he realized that Isaac would be taking the penalty, lol! 

And Barbara cheering John Wingsnight getting a bloody nose is relatable. And related! I feel like Barbara came to the match mostly because she’s gotten closer with Keeley (and she loves Rebecca) but it also occurred to me that she was probably hoping for violence on the pitch again since it was against West Ham, just like the other match she went to, lol.

Ted’s confidence and, let’s be real, pride in recognizing offsides when the other coaches didn’t catch it was beautiful. 

Favorite completed rule of three of the night: Chris Powell saying that he never knows how to react when a white man does the running man in front of him, calling back to Keeley never knowing how to react when a grown man beatboxes in front of you and Roy never knowing how to react when a grown man does the Carlton in front of you, both in S1, 01.01 and 01.09, respectively.

I think Ted was fully in the moment during the game, and he truly celebrated the victory. However, by the time he got to his dance, I do think his energy for it was lower than the dance with his American football team. I think his dance was the beginning of him falling out of the moment, and even though he put on a good show, he started to detach and put up his wall. He would do this dance, he’s seen the season through. And now … he believes he must return to Kansas.

Ted responding to “Wicked” with “Kinky Boots” was perfect, and harkens back to him responding to Jamie’s “Cheers” with “Night Court.” I love this stupid show so much.

Overall, with time, I feel like getting back to my mostly positive views of the episode. Like I’ve said, I’m probably always going to be grieving parts of this episode specifically and this show overall. Specifically the tragedy of Ted in Kansas and of us losing out on our beautiful queer rom-com that they set up perfectly. And I want to do a separate post about how upset I am about them not following through with that queer love story, but I just couldn’t get as deeply into that now. And this is already far longer than it needs to be. So yeah. I’ll probably be in a completely different spot about it all two days from now, or even two hours from now. And, again, I fully get and appreciate where people are coming from in their interpretations, especially the people who are upset about any number of the many issues. Like I say, this is just how I process these things, and how I allow myself to still love something even after it deeply disappoints me.

[ughhhdavid]

Rebecca not understanding his Casablanca references. Not having seen the movie. Not wanting to see it ever.

Literally the following scene, we see Ted having a Casablanca poster on his wall. Trent referencing Casablanca in a romantic way. The episode "We'll Never Have Paris", in which Ted thinks Paris is the most romantic proposal spot, including Trent saying he would propose in Paris, while looking directly at Ted. Thinking they would be the ones who will never have Paris.

Casablanca is and always will be their movie.

[celisconfused]

I have chosen for the record to go into season 4 of Ted Lasso with a “curious not judgmental” attitude. But more than that an extremely optimistic one. I believe in believe! I believe Ted Lasso is a good show!

Happy season 4 premiere! Get ready for me to be insufferable!

[depsidase]

[oh-little-owl]

Do My Thing (SVU, Barisi, Rafael Barba & Sonny Carisi)

THEM 💖

[1uciusspriggs]

thoughts.

the whole dream sequence felt like an actual dream. the future he hopes to happen. because he thinks none of them need him anymore.

i feel insane for thinking there will be another season, movie, spin-off, etc. to see what actually happens to everyone after he is gone, and ted lasso himself, but i feel like they are hinting at it?

rebecca and sam never got resolved, because ted didnt know about rebecca and sam.

he imagines beard and jane getting married, but it was stated from the beginning beard doesnt like marriage. and i know you could argue that he changed his mind because of jane, but i personally see them doing some weird shit and ted somehow being involved. i don't understand why ted wouldn't be there (unless he thinks beard doesnt want him anymore)

can keep going on about all the different futures and how ted isn't in ANY of them, AND it cuts to him waking up?

it's depressing because it seems like ted only feels like he is useful for helping people better themselves, and once they are good he leaves. like that is his job. he helps others. he keeps finding people to help.

never once doing anything for himself. it's like he doesn't think he can be part of anything that is lasting. it is just so fucking sad

and in the end he is coaching his son, but to me he doesn't look happy? i dunno if it is because i am autistic or something?

also, bitter that ted and trent never had a heart to heart like everyone else did. i'm not saying they needed to acknowledge ted and trent being a thing, their story just seems unfinished.

in his dream sequence, he finishes it, thinks it needs to be renamed, and trent becomes a best selling author

i dunno, it just feels unfinished because we don't know anything about trent's book or how ted actually feels about it, and if he ever reads the full thing at all. from what we have seen from ted's perspective, is him making it to 40something. we never see him read the entire book, he always puts it down.

the whole future montage just felt like a dream to me the whole time of what ted thinks is best for everyone

i dunno. i could be completely wrong, but the show feels unfinished. i guess i'm a BELIEVER there is going to be closure in some way kind of

or MAYBE that is the whole point. we have to look at everything that was shown to us, the implications that ted dreamed of that future, where he ultimately ends up, and we need to BELIEVE he is going to do what's best for him, which is going back to Richmond.

they don't want to show us it, we have to believe?

oh boy do i got them clown shoes on you best believe

[bookofmirth]

end-of-year book ask

How many books did you read this year?

Did you reread anything? What?

What were your top five books of the year?

Did you discover any new authors that you love this year?

What genre did you read the most of?

Was there anything you meant to read, but never got to?

What was your average Goodreads rating? Does it seem accurate?

Did you meet any of your reading goals? Which ones?

Did you get into any new genres?

What was your favorite new release of the year?

What was your favorite book that has been out for a while, but you just now read?

Any books that disappointed you?

What were your least favorite books of the year?

What books do you want to finish before the year is over?

Did you read any books that were nominated for or won awards this year (Booker, Women’s Prize, National Book Award, Pulitzer, Hugo, etc.)? What did you think of them?

What is the most over-hyped book you read this year?

Did any books surprise you with how good they were?

How many books did you buy?

Did you use your library?

What was your most anticipated release? Did it meet your expectations?

Did you participate in or watch any booklr, booktube, or book twitter drama?

What’s the longest book you read?

What’s the fastest time it took you to read a book?

Did you DNF anything? Why?

What reading goals do you have for next year?

[r-osehips]

(bleeding slightly from the eyes but with a sincerely cheerful smile on my face) HELLO fellow NaNoWriMo people! I was going to spend October writing and planning so I could hit the ground running November 1 and finally finish the first draft of the project I started last year...

...but instead I have spent 100% of my free hours the past few weeks on: crafting a spreadsheet.

a beautiful, beautiful spreadsheet for NaNoWriMo participants. ("it's for NaNo," I told myself over and over as the hours crept by; "IT COUNTS AS PREPARING. IT'S FOR NANO.")

the spreadsheet is simple, yet elegant. intuitive, yet complex. informative, yet not too heavy on the data. a soothing periwinkle shade greets you upon opening it, followed by an energizing indigo.

the spreadsheet says: "shh. come here. you will reach your NaNoWriMo goal and you will do so beautifully. no don't look at the hidden row; it contains Math. look at your word document. and then come back here and update me and see how my charts spring to life for you, my brave writer."

and then it kisses you on the forehead and/or mouth.

all for the low low price of $4.99!!! and PLEASE can 3 to 5 people kindly purchase it so I can justify to myself how I have written (checks my own copy of this spreadsheet) less than 2,000 words this month when I was supposed to have written (checks spreadsheet again) at leaset 3,000 by now. IT'S FOR NANO.

^this is her btw. if you even care. my lover. my darling. my spreadsheet. i had to use exclamation points due to the Etsy of it all but please know that this spreadsheet was crafted by a true tumblrina who has been in the posting mines since 2010. thank you. goodnight.

[devotioncrater]

he would do numbers on here

[probablynottola]

I am so deep in the tedtrent brainrot and i read so many fics that i often forget it is not a canon ship and that they did not, on screen, meet at richmond greens by chance, had drinks at mae's, walked home together at night, mulled over how to declare their crush, slow-burned their friends-to-lovers romance, met each other's kids, had to come out, faced the press, told their exes, went together to kansas for holidays, fell in love and got it going in all sort of ratings levels?????!!!!! idk seems unlikely to me? I am sure i saw it happening with these eyes. (i think i could hallucinate some scenes as if they were filmed, i dont even know what is in the series and what not at this point).

.

.

i just want to thank anyone who writes for this ship, you are my personal goddesses (gn) saviours i dont know how i would live my life without you as of late

[larkin21]

It sure sucks to be a queer school librarian right now.

It sure sucks to be a librarian right now.

It sure sucks to be a teacher right now.

It sure sucks to be queer right now.

It sure sucks right now.

[sparrowsfallingfromthesky]

they really implied that Trent's daughter had struggled with his divorce. and then had Ted worried about his son struggling with the divorce. and never had them chat about it.

[larkin21]

I also find it interesting that in his first meeting with Rebecca, Ted talks to her about her divorce and she admits it hasn't been the best year. Ted starts bringing her biscuits, yes to get to know her, to bond with her, but also to bring her comfort. Ted either meets or hears of Trent's daughter, maybe hears of Trent's divorce, and brings biscuits for her birthday, and perhaps to bring her (and Trent) comfort during a hard time. And it's also remarkable that we only ever see Ted go out of his way to bring biscuits to Rebecca and to Trent's daughter. All other biscuit gifts were originally intended for either Rebecca or Trent's daughter, not for Dr Sharon, Higgins, or Keeley.

[cassiopya-deactivated20231006]

I love the Tedpendent banter in season one, it’s so cute Trent is sitting there silently knowing that Ted will call on him.

[loveexpelrevolt]

Trent, what do you l o v e? I love our chats. 

[elivanto]

INQUISITOR REVA in OBI-WAN KENOBI Part IV

[ughhhdavid]

Was thinking about this conversation:

So if we have to let space for Number 4 to walk into the room, and Number 4 is not God, who is it?

Who is seen walking into the room to talk to Ted 3 times this episode?

2 out of those times him being the fourth person in that room?

[thedanceronthestreets]

NOOOOOOO WAAyy,,,yYYYYYYYYYY

[lolmemez]

I need a little help here

[uncle-mojave]

[theminingengineer]

Ouch