Ted Lasso Season 2 Discussion (Includes Spoilers)

Spoiler

The title says “Includes Spoilers”

 

It says something about the acting ability of Nick Mohammad with the amount that we all LOATHE Nate, after him being a character we so rooted for in Season 1. Claps all around. IRL, Nick seems like a lovely guy (his birthday was this week and he had so many nice birthday messages from the cast, who really seems very close).

Spoiler

But seriously, take your bullshit abandonment issues and redirect them at your father where they belong, NATE

Also you tore up the BELIEVE sign and that was one fucking bridge too far.

Ted's your boss. He doesn't owe you shit. You're an adult who doesn't need to be coddled 24/7 by your boss. He's been dealing with his own shit with his divorce and internal issues. Like, how DARE you put all of your own personal issues on Ted like that.

Everyone here will also be happy about Trent Crimm's outcome. It has been revealed that he will have a big role again in S3, so I think he writes Ted's autobiography.If you're on the Reddits, he posted his S2 thoughts.

Anyway, Nick has taken everything in stride. He wrote his thoughts on his Season 2 arc (obviously chock full of spoilers under the tag). He actually said he's already greying naturally to the point that they dyed his hair black to cover it up in season 1. So the added grey is a deliberate plan by the costume / writing staff to accentuate the changes in Nate. It's interesting that they are using something outside of their words and actions to illustrate a character change.

 

I did really enjoy the episode. Interesting that it looked like the calendar behind Beard said “playoff?” so they did sort of cover themselves for the promotion purist.

It was a nice moment that Dani took the PK, but I don’t know why Jamie did that. It felt like it wasn’t really explained.

 

Personal growth while giving Dani a chance at redemption and to slay his ghost.

I think Nick is personally scared to embrace Dark Nate for reasons I'm trying to figure out. Professionally, he just elevated himself into the kind of character that people around the world are buzzing about. Nate Shelley will be talked about for a very long time and as an actor Nick Mohammed should embrace that, should love that, and roll with it. But he's hesitant, scared ... embarrassed? I could be reading into it the wrong way but I think he's hedging and it diminishes what we just saw with him ripping Ted a new one. You can't take the role this far, and get worldwide acclaim, but get all squishy on Twitter to explain the nuances. For all of the Ted and Coach Beard and Jamie Tartt and Roy and Keely and Rebecca and Sam, Ted Lasso just became a whole different thing with Nate Shelley devolving to the dark side.

 

The announcers said that Jamie made every PK this year. Not sure it was the time to switch it up and Dani had his breakthrough with Dr. Sharon like 10 episodes ago.

 

You know how they like to tie things together.

Kill the dog on a PK in episode 1.

Make the PK with the replacement puppy watching in episode 12.

 

The theme of this season was without question mental health.

Maybe the theme of the final season will be living with the consequences of our decisions?

Dealing with conflict/bullies?

Just a magnificent second season.

 

Understood but they never mentioned that Dani didn’t want to take the PKs or that Jamie hadn’t missed one.

 

And at least in their last interaction, the advice from Nate’s dad was pretty sound.

 

Agreed. I had honestly kind of forgot about why Dani wouldn't take the PKs and the whole dog killing. In my defense, I don't think they've mentioned it since ... episode 2? It would have a lot more impact if we'd seen Dani struggling with his mental health through the season, but we saw Sharon help him immediately. We could have had her looking on from the sideline for her "last day on the job" (which should have been this week, not last.) As it was, I kind of forgot he ever had a problem.

 

I liked last week's a lot more than this week's episode. The last gut punch with the Nate reveal felt a lot more earned than some of the stuff this week.

— I thought Ted's final press conference was weaker than it could have been. I mean, we barely saw any of it, I guess, but I felt like a real world PSA more than our favorite character making a really difficult decision to open up personally at the podium.

— I was disappointed Ted didn't have anything intelligent to say when Nate berated him. One thing that always made "The Office" work was brief glimpses of Michael and Dwight being legit competent salesmen. That allowed them to be weirdo clowns the rest of the time. In that same spirit, I think we need to see that Ted has a backbone every so often, that people can't just stomp all over him, because that's what would happen to a person like that.

— And, frankly, as "earned" as I felt Nate's dark turn has been, I felt like his attitude this week was a little ridiculous. I get that he's angry. I feel like I've felt that before, where I know I'm being irrational can't make myself stop (fortunately never in a way that would ruin my career or relationships.) So I get it, I think, but I felt like they stretched a bit to create an inciting incident.

He's mad Ted is giving him credit for the formation after last week being pissed Ted likely wouldn't give him credit for the formation? Ok. Anger isn't always rational. That it all works out is what really breaks Nate, though? That he's about to get the credit again? I don't know. Felt like a stretch.

— I feel like they sold out their Trent Crimm reveal. Turns out Crimm ruined his career and everyone close to the situation knew it was Nate anyway. I didn't find it absolutely impossible Crimm would leak to Ted, but he then turns around and announces what he did to the newsroom? Weird. That text last episode was great, though. Maybe they just couldn't make it make more sense and find a way for that dramatic reveal.

— I know Beard is who he is, but he's on the list of people who F-ed up the Nate situation. He saw all this happening and didn't take it to Ted. That should have been happening all season, but even in this episode, he could have explained that Nate was having serious problems, explained how mean he'd been, etc. Ted would have gone into his confrontation with Nate much better informed.

— Do we assume Ted quit? Sure seemed like they were setting us up for the last "Flash forward" to be to Ted at home with his son.

 

Nate wants to go from washing towels to all the glory in 1 1/2 seasons?

Ted is not totally healed. That’s why he didn’t know what to do. His father did not leave this way - in anger.

I have a feeling Nate gets fired and asks for forgiveness. But he won’t be as coach able as Tart.