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Where Lasso begins and Sudeikis ends has become a recurring fascination over the past few years. When the series first aired, Sudeikis would make a joke of the comparison, saying something along the lines of: Lasso was like Jason Sudeikis, but after two beers on an empty stomach. At the White House, Sudeikis referred to Ted Lasso – the show and the man – as “wish-fulfilment”. “You know, ‘Be the change you want to see in the world,’” says Sudeikis now, paraphrasing Mahatma Gandhi. “Well, how about, ‘Write the change you want to see in the world’? Part of the joy of getting to do this neat job I’ve got to do is the wish-fulfilment. Not just getting to play the characters, but also, what do you want to put out there into the world?” At its core, ‘Ted Lasso’ conveys a message of unwavering determination and the relentless pursuit of excellence, even when faced with adversity. Throughout the series, it becomes evident that Ted’s unyielding can-do spirit alone cannot single-handedly transform the team’s fortunes, leading to initial skepticism regarding his ‘Believe’ sign. However, as Ted’s coaching philosophy and personality become more apparent to his colleagues and players, the significance of the sign as a representation of his life approach begins to influence those around him. Meanwhile, in a move no one predicted, Coach Lasso has become a guru for our age: a case study of kindness and decency triumphing in a cynical modern world. Sudeikis and the rest of the cast had been invited to the White House to discuss mental-health strategies. Someone – presumably not President Biden himself, but you never know – had taped up a blue and yellow sign reading “BELIEVE”, the motto of AFC Richmond, above the door to the Oval Office. Jason Sudeikis Recruits 'Ted Lasso' Co-Stars Hannah Waddingham, Brendan Hunt for Kansas City Charity Concert Exactly. There are so many microaggressions against Nate — all from different people, and really tiny things which we think of as jokes and are inconsequential, like when he doesn’t get given a free coffee machine. Or when, just before Roy joins as a coach, they say they need a big dog to talk to Isaac the captain; Nate says he’ll do it and Ted almost laughs in his face and is like, “No, we need a real big dog.”
Right before Nate turns to the camera for that final shot, Rupert (played by Anthony Head) whispers something inaudible in his ear. What did he say?Belief doesn’t just happen because you hang something on a wall. It comes from in here [he points to his heart], and up here [his head] and down here [his gut]. The only problem is, we’ve all got so much junk floatin’ through us, a lot of times we end up gettin’ in our own way. Crap like envy, or fear — shame. I don’t wanna mess around with that shit anymore, know what I mean? Do you? You know what I wanna mess around with? The belief that I matter, regardless of what I do or don’t achieve. Or the belief that we all deserve to be loved, whether we’ve been hurt or hurt somebody else. Or what about the belief of hope? That’s what I want to mess with. Believing that things can get better —that I can get better. That we will get better. You believe in yourself, you believe in one another — that’s fundamental to being alive. If you can do that —if each of you can truly do that —can’t nobody rip that apart.” Nate’s character journey in Ted Lasso culminated at the ‘Believe’ sign, serving as a stark contrast to his own beliefs. The pivotal moment arrived in the season 2 finale when Nate, driven by his insecurities and misinterpretations, tore the ‘Believe’ sign in half. This act was not only a reflection of Nate’s inner turmoil but also a commentary on Ted and his coaching philosophy.
Ted Lasso was never about true realism. This was not a show that aimed to explore the ins and outs of professional soccer. It was a workplace comedy, with the struggles of a team being an extended metaphor for life.I don’t think my midwestern sensibilities would even allow my wildest imagination the opportunity to think the thing would become what it’s become’: Jason Sudeikis. Photograph: Julian Broad/Contour RA
Given the journey that Nate’s gone on in Season 1 in building his confidence — not completely, he’s still got insecurities and demons and a toxic relationship with his dad and so on — he’s been feeling empowered because of Ted, and now suddenly Ted and others are slightly blindsiding him a little bit and it’s tearing him apart. He finally voices that in Episode 12. Zava retires because he wants to spend more time with his family and the avocado farm. This is the day after he gives a stirring speech on how Richmond does not need him to win.
Nothing has been more grating and insufferable this season than watching people hate on Ted Lasso to earn internet cool points. There are absolutely valid criticisms of the third season. Nate’s character turn came too fast, Sam didn’t get enough time in season three to close out his story properly, and for a show that centered so much on mental health, I think it’s a shame that Ted was allowed to more or less work through his issues by himself, rather than work Dr. Sharon more. Still, with Lasso closing out the big three series finales this week (along with Succession and Barry) it’s so tiresome to see critics lean on the same tired tropes about this show and remain unable to experience its joy due to Tall Poppy Syndrome. The end of Ted Lasso is now in sight: if you are watching it as the episodes are released, every Wednesday, there are three left. Sudeikis has not ruled out that there could be spin-offs from the series, but he’s also been adamant that the show, in its current form, ends here. “That was one thing we spoke about on our final day of filming,” he says. “The show may be over, but what we learned here… It’s not like Vegas: what happened here, stays here. No, what happened here, take it, take it to your village, take it to your family, take it to your next project. For real. Aren’t funerals not always to celebrate the dead, but also to remember you’re alive?” Fact is, it’s just a sign,” Ted replies — before ripping it up some more, causing an uproar among the players. Ted then delivers what is maybe the most pointed speech he ever has to the team (and himself). Here’s the whole thing:
It’s nuts, man,” says Sudeikis, shaking his head. “I haven’t even looked at the pictures of the White House yet because I want it to just live up there for a while” – he taps his forehead – “as this amazing firework show rather than saying, ‘Oh, boy, why did I wear sneakers?’ Haha, on the day I got a text from my mom saying, ‘Make sure you don’t wear sneakers to the White House.’ I was like, ‘Too late, Mom.’” There’s been more: a “bombshell interview” from their former nanny (Sudeikis and Wilde then united to refute her claims as “false and scurrilous”). But reps for Sudeikis request not to go there today, to avoid stirring the pot further.
Yes, and with a shot that matches the opening shot of the season. It was something I remember Brett texting me about, just before we started filming. He said, “Just so you know, the opening and closing shots of the season are Nate’s eyes, and it’s really important you know that for the journey that he’s about to go on, because the eyes are very different in the end.” The writer and director of ‘Carol of the Bells’ take us inside the Apple TV+ series’ midsummer Christmas episode, balanced ‘on the edge of schmaltz.’ After their loss, Ted talks to them and rip the BELIEVE sign himself and tells the players that it's just a sign. They need to believe that they can do the best they can instead of depending on a piece of paper. Because 'Believe' is something that is coming from within, not from the outside. So Long, Farewell” wasn’t necessarily about closure, but coping with change — and how it needs to be a personal decision independent of anyone else. I admire that Ted Lasso’s finale didn’t strive to wrap EVERYTHING up with a neat bow, because some of the issues were too big to fix in 114 minutes.
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