Puts "(unrequired?) TedTrent was meant to be canon" tinfoil hat on
Hear me out. James Lance in this interview he gave between S2 and S3 says the following:
"Lance was told by Jason Sudeikis about Ted’s specific trauma incredibly early on, and also that the way he makes Trent look at Ted, like he’s the most fascinating and appealing thing in the world, is worth paying attention to. (“There’s a truth that you’ve hit on there and until it gets revealed — I wouldn’t be laughing like this unless there was something there.”)"
The expanded quote from that same interview, according to a different article, reads:
"I wouldn’t be laughing like this unless there was something there. I love that. I could talk loads about it but there’s a lot going on. There’s a lot going on, is what really is the truth of the matter.”"
Like.. WHAT TRUTH IS THERE? that will be REVEALED? I cannot accept is merely about Trent being gay, cause just cause a character is gay doesn't mean we as audience are meant to think he'd just look at any guy like that.
My theory is that Trent' crush on Ted was meant to be part of the plot and be made explicit, and Jimmy was told so at some point. But eventually somehow they decided to make it just implicit, give it less space?
I know we already have the "He absolutely had a crush on Ted" interview given by Jimmy, which to me, as amazing as that was, read like it was his own take on the character. But that plus this interview make me think that was meant to be canon-canon, and eventally got pushed to the side / cut.
AH: also, have some more He/They genderqueer Trent from that same interview as a treat ❤️
This was the episode that inspired the letter in the first chapter of Class Outside and so I’m gonna post an excerpt from that letter. And yes, I fully believe it might easily be one of the best metaphors I’ve ever written.
This letter was from Trent to Ted, two days before we found out he was leaving Richmond:
This last weekend, I was planning our summer garden and my daughter and I poked a few sunflower seedlings she’d received from a teacher into paper cups for planting. It got me thinking, I suppose since I’d missed seeing them in Amsterdam.
Bear with me.
Even now, even having resolved to be the best of friends and co-parents, I can look at my ex and see that she is objectively beautiful. But for me, she is beautiful in a way that I might look at Van Gogh’s Sunflowers hanging on a wall and appreciate it for it’s use of color and it’s symbolism, and how fucking thoughtful it all is.
Your beauty, on the other hand, while also objective, is like those seedlings. Certainly when they are fully grown they will be lovely to look at, but from the outset, they are engaging and immersive. They get dirt under my nails and require water and sun and will require pruning and possibly debugging. They will grow tall and bring me shade when I stand under them. They will live and die in perennial cycles and I will continue to interact and connect with them for as long as I am alive and present to do so. Your beauty, for me, begs my participation and expands my entire world.
I spent months buying sunflowers as inspiration to keep me writing. I even loved writing this fic so much I went back to start it from the very beginning of the series. (See: I Like Your Glasses — 🤓)
I adore the episode. It is easily my favorite of the entire series. Also, Jimmy and Jason both looked rull pretty. Even if Jason looked like a sad pup for most of the episode.
(I dream of owning that overcoat.)
The episode also introduced us to Dream Boat Rebecca, Shakespearean Isaac, Bi-Angles, Piggy Stardust, Roy/Jamie, and got me to listen to Chet Baker and a whole slew of Bebop Jazz. Not to mention, it was at least as queer as me.
Now if only I could go back in time and talk some sense into the team and have them submit this episode for Emmy consideration. 🌻
I feel so lucky to have ducked under the wire to see the streamed version. Jimmy really showed his range: funny, intelligent, scary, and moving. I loved his physicality - stalking, mooching, raging, flinching at Elena’s touch. A great ensemble cast. Immensely enjoyable.
Jimmy was interviewed by Chris Evans (UK Chris Evans, not US Chris Evans) on Virgin Radio on 8 March, the opening night of Uncle Vanya. He talked about his chill, the velour jumpsuit he’s wearing (😍), and jelly tots. Beautiful man.
crawling out of the well of fandom hiatus to report that I MET JAMES LANCE?!
I went to see him in Uncle Vanya at the Orange Tree Theatre (loved it even though he was so wretched throughout, his epic breakdown scene was fantastic, give this man all the leading roles! I can't believe he made me actually enjoy Chekhov) and afterwards I was debating with @leupagus @themardia etc if I should stage door (I usually don't, as I have a horror of intruding on people at their places of work) and while I was dithering he suddenly appeared! He was wearing a velour tracksuit and one of his tweed caps. I started babbling about how Trent Crimm changed my life by inspiring me to quit the only job I'd ever had and follow my bliss. He seemed genuinely moved by the notion and asked me about the work I am doing now and signed an autograph and gave me a hug and said "goodnight my darling" and strolled off into the Richmond night. He is the sweetest man and even though I could not convey the specific details of this (i.e. the 100,000+ words of fanfiction I have written on the subject) I hope he somehow grasps how much Trent meant to so many of us, and that he carries all the love from these anonymous people around the world with him in his future work.
canon divergence tedtrent au where instead of ted sleeping with sassy in liver pool, ted sleeps with trent. it’s not a stretch to say trent would be there to watch the game as many other reporters were, and not even that far of a stretch to say he was staying in the same hotel. they run into each other soon after the team gets there and of course ted lights up seeing trent and trent blushes about 10 different shades of red. after the game and singing the divorce papers ted goes down to the hotel bar where he finds trent, and ted’s just vulnerable enough to act on that little part of his brain that has always been attracted to men (especially trent, since he had met him.)
ted freaks out after they hook up, much the same in canon, however it’s for a few more reasons. for one, trent is probably the first man ted has ever been with that seriously, and the first time since like college, and secondly it is right after he divorced michelle so there’s that guilt, and third, he really really likes trent. ted talks to the newly formed diamond dogs about his predicament (using very vague terms as to keep both his and trent’s privacy) and decides that he is allowed to want things, especially this.
ted doesn’t see trent again after that until the next press conference. (the next one that is shown in the series is 1x9, which is probably about a couple weeks after 1x7) ted, excited to see trent again makes a point of answering his questions with a smile, and catches trent after the conference to officially ask to see him again. I just love the idea of ted and trent having been hooking up since season one and having a messy on and off again relationship because they’re middle aged divorced dads and they’re figuring it out!!
now i probably won’t write this but if any tedtrent writers got inspired by this, by all means you should write it lmao, that would be very fun, i would read 100%
If you’re interested in just the hook up, this was the first fix I posted to AO3. This one ends after the first night and it’s a complete story. I might get back to it someday as a series.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
gert's masterlist of 2023 ted lasso fics! which is. all my ted lasso fics lol
there are so many here buckle up
crack/primarily humor fics:
semaphore - rated: G - chapters: 1/1 - Trent/Ted
Four bracelets and thirteen mugs later, Colin might have finally gotten the hint. Because it was directly pointed out by a crowd of himbos, but you know, still! We got there! Right?! Right?!
birds of a feather - rated: T - chapters: 1/1 - Trent & Colin (Gen)
Colin notices Trent's mug, alright.
(Or: Trent's increasingly less subtle attempts at broadcasting that he is a Safe Person and Also Queer do reach Colin, but Colin gets the wrong message.)
(It could be worse. He could have thought Trent was flirting.)
exercising restraint - rated: E - chapters: 1/1 - Trent/Ted; ft Diamond Dogs
Following a fun and informative encounter with his favorite ex-journalist, Ted has a rather uncomfortable meeting with the Diamond Dogs.
Featuring: Trent Crimm and the be-catted bag, Leslie Higgins knowing a lot about BDSM, Roy Kent being the world's most unwilling participant in this conversation, and Beard being Beard.
☆ Ted Lasso Kisses Trent Crimm On The Mouth - rated: T - chapters: 1/1 - Trent/Ted; Richmond Ensemble
In the locker room, Coach Lasso kisses their resident emotional support biographer, casual-as-you-please, and then leaves like nothing happened.
Chaos ensues and the entirety of the club somehow gets involved. Trent wishes for the sweet release of death.
a preacher, a bikini, and a kiss or two - rated: T - chapters: 1/1 - Trent/Ted; Diamond Dogs, ft Will
The Diamond Dogs discuss first kisses. This leads to… a series of events sure does happen. And did happen.
☆ Rupert Mannion Is Batman (He Isn't) - rated: M - chapters: 13/13 - Trent/Ted; Richmond Ensemble
A series of bizarre, loosely related events occur, all kicked off by Trent absently mentioning that he may or may not have once hooked up with Rupert Mannion.
☆ painting the town richmond blue - rated: T - chapters: 1/1 - Trent/Ted; Trent's ex-wife
Ted Lasso unexpectedly runs into a very drunk Trent Crimm (the Independent), along with his equally drunk ex-wife. They're having a GREAT time. Ted is… pulled along for the ride.
Trent and the Vampire! - rated: M - chapters: 1/1 - Trent & Colin; Trent/Ted
Trent has a truly stupid amount of hickeys to hide thanks to SOMEONE.
(Ted is unrepentant and he WILL do it again.)
The Portal Incident™ - rated: T - chapters: 1/1 - Trent/Ted; Press Room
It's a lovely day in the Richmond press room, and you are a horrible portal.
best seat in the office - rated: E - chapters: 6/6 + an additional snippet - Trent/Ted; Roy and Beard - note: some chapters lean more Smut, Angst, etc
Trent has many problems (chronically low self-esteem, deeply hopeless crush on co-worker, being helplessly attracted to said co-worker) and the bizarre lack of chairs ain't one. He can just sit on his desk—he's sat in stranger places.
That is, until Ted somewhat jokingly offers his lap as a replacement.
Trent immediately falls off the desk.
For additional snippet: In which Ted just asked.
the two ring circus - rated: M - chapters: 1/1 - Trent/Ted; Diamond Dogs
[sent] – Lara, do you remember being lectured on the dangers of peer pressure?
lara<3 – Aw has someone offered you a cigarette :)
[sent] – a large swathe of richmond staff is trying to make me get nipple piercings :(
lara<3 – trent what the fuck does that mean
snippets:
The Thumbs Up Saga - [part one] [part two] - Trent & OCs; ft Trent/Ted
of throuples and genders - Trent/Ted/Rebecca; ft Roy/Keeley/Jamie
Ted Kisses Trent In Front Of A Business Of Journalists For Probably Just Mischief Reasons - Trent/Ted
Trent's into how much of a bastard Ted is unfortunately - Pre Trent/Ted
Similar to that one: Trent's into Ted cursing (specifically in how much of a bastard he is about it) unfortunately - Pre Trent/Ted
☆ A weird alternate meeting/pre-canon meet-cute - [main] [additional snippet] - Trent/Ted; Beard [POV Outsider for second one]
Trent embarrasses himself in front of Michelle and it's cute - Ted/Trent; Michelle
☆ Ridiculous FMK Games - Diamond Dogs; ft Trent/Ted (could be interpreted as some combination of Ted/Trent/Roy/Beard if you want); also ft Colin
oops rebecca made them kiss - Trent/Ted; Rebecca [season one!]
Trent Crimm Is Fuckable! Everyone Agrees - Trent/Ted; Ensemble
Check time travel AUs section for those lol
smut fics (Rated E)
the best ones; primarily smut
☆☆ off the record - chapters: 1/1 - Trent/Ted
Intrepid reporter Trent Crimm earns his scoop.
☆☆ trick & treat - chapters: 1/1 - Trent/Ted
In which a relatively harmless prank causes everyone at the Richmond Halloween party to be somewhat transformed into their Halloween costume.
The charm is supposed to be fun. And it is! Really, it is! It's just that it really is effected by your mindset and by what you like about the costume, and Trent is--well, Trent's leaving the party early.
He swears he wasn't thinking about this when he chose his costume. It's just. He saw Ted's costume and a few fantasies may have gotten away from him a little. Which would have been harmless, had it not been for all this.
OR: Some deeply, deeply silly and contrived Halloween smut. Read the tags for more details.
☆ snippet: embarrassing venom au - chapters: 1/1 - Trent/Ted
Uh oh sisters it's the deeply embarrassing CRACK VENOM AU NO ONE ASKED FOR!! Everyone clap and cheer Trent has an alien inside him if ya know what i m--
snippet: "desperation" + sub trent - chapters: 1/1 - Trent/Ted
diversity win! your journalist is now a sub [For the prompt "Desperation"]
a wonderful wreck - chapters: 1/1 - Trent/Ted
Ted, while tipsy as hell, realizes he's bisexual, has a drunken hookup with Trent Crimm, wakes up, and then is… weirdly chill about all of this, considering.
sweeter than heaven (hotter than hell) - chapters: 1/4 - Trent/Ted
Trent has a hard time letting go--at least, letting go completely. He learns a little at a time.
Or: 3 times Trent is on top, one way or another, and 1 time he gets utterly railed.
Beard joins Ted and Trent for a threesome in the funniest, stupidest way possible.
☆ an odd sort of comfort - chapters: 1/1 - Trent/Ted - Kinda angsty/pensive but sweet
There's a fantasy Trent has that he tries not to touch. He fails.
oh, in the strangest dreams - chapters: 1/1 + additional Roy POV - Trent/Ted - CRACK
Ted and Trent are both feeling weird about all the extremely vivid sex dreams they keep having about each other, completely unaware of the fact they are, in fact, the same dreams. Shenanigans ensue.
some specific AUs/groups
time travel AU snippets:
s3 Roy & s1 Trent - Serious; Angst - Trent & Roy
s3 Roy & s3 Trent; ft Press Room - Crack/Humor - Trent & Roy
snippet: ROY IS NOT TRENT'S SUGAR DADDY SHUT THE FUCK UP - rated: E - chapters: 1/1 - Trent/Roy
"I can't believe Roy Kent is your sugar daddy," his ex-wife says, and he flings an aptly named throw pillow at her. Which she dodges with a cackle.
see aforementioned snippet: of throuples and genders - Ted/Trent/Rebecca (ft Jamie/Roy/Keeley)
basically crack wherein these two groups make jokes about gender among other things
also see aforementioned snippet: coach sandwich - Ted/Trent/Beard
Beard joins Ted and Trent for a threesome in the funniest, stupidest way possible.
☆ "caught in the middle" - rated: T - chapters: 1/1 - Ted/Trent/Beard
Uh oh, there's only one bed! Ft. Trent desperately needing a hug.
☆ "helpless in a game of kisses" - rated: M - chapters: 1/1 - Ted/Trent/Beard
Ted and Beard argue over who is a better kisser, as homies do. Trent is somehow made the referee. Surely this won't be weird at all.
Or: How to break Trent Crimm's heart with seven simple kisses. And fix it with a few more.
☆☆ matters of the heart - rated: E - chapters: 2/2 (will be a series) - Trent & Everyone; Trent/Ted - somewhat angsty, character study
5 times someone had sex with Trent Crimm and it made him feel worse, and 1 time it actually felt good.
☆ lost sight of (who you are)- rated: T - chapters: 1/2 - will be Trent/Ted in ch 2 - somewhat angsty, character study. My first TL fic, written before s3
Trent Crimm, and becoming, and unbecoming, and becoming again.
Or: Eventually, Trent writes a book. No, not that one.
Five times Ted forgives someone… and one time he doesn't.
something to get off my chest - rated: T - chapters: 3/3 - Ted & Trent & Roy (Gen)
Three perspectives on the scene in the locker room.
to have hope - rated: T - chapters: 1/1 - Trent & Colin; Will (Gen)
Will overhears a conversation between Trent and Colin.
other fics
☆ moonlit - chapters: 1/1 - Trent/Ted
Trent wakes up snuggled close with one Ted Lasso. And immediately overthinks it.
two (not) pieces of shit - rated: T - chapters: 1/1 - Trent & Colin (Gen)
In many ways, Trent's sort of become a mentor to Colin. But Colin has some things to teach Trent, too.
☆☆ being right - rated: T - chapters: 1/1 - Pre Trent/Ted - episode tag
Trent's opinion of Ted Lasso goes from utterly dismal, to slowly wearing down into something generally negative but with an edge of reluctantly impressed, to, abruptly, turning on a dime, something glowing.
off the handle - rated: T - chapters: 3/3 - Trent/Ted
Ted lets himself be angry, kisses the man of his dreams, accidentally makes said man of his dreams cry, acquires a boyfriend, and smashes some shit with Trent Crimm in a parking lot at 3 am. Not in that order. No one ask where Coach Beard got those mugs.
(The man of his dreams, the acquired boyfriend, and Trent Crimm all happen to be the same person. This is a surprise to no one but Ted and Trent Crimm himself.)
creme, dough, and other jars - rated: T - chapters: 1/1 - pre Trent/Ted - primarily humor
Ted receives an unexpected voice message from one Trent Crimm. At 3 am. About a jar of marshmallow crème.
linger - rated: G - chapters: 1/1 - Trent/Ted; Rebecca
Rebecca comes to see why Ted hasn't gotten off the team bus yet.
some small comfort - rated: T - chapters: 1/1 - Trent/Ted
Trent finds Ted having a panic attack in the coaches' office.
☆ wayward thoughts - rated: G - chapters: 1/1 - Trent & Ted (Gen, but could be pre Trent/Ted)
Ted reads Trent's article, and lets his thoughts wander.
the dregs at the bottom of the glass - rated: T - chapters: 1/1 - Pre Trent/Ted (could be interpreted as Gen)
Trent tells Ted a story.
Or: Trent, throughout his life, has realized over and over again that his parents actually Weren't Great, Actually. This is one of those times.
snippets:
truth liquor/confession - Trent & Press Room; mentioned Trent/Ted
Trent crushing his own recorder - Trent & Colin/Richmond Players (Gen)
Touch-starved Jamie - Gen; mention of past Keeley/Jamie - one of my few (only??) non Trent fics lol
kaledo-art
dededos
theartofmadeline
germansingergirl
pixelskylines
annaxmalina
snowghoul
dailybridgerton
tangentwithtanner
