Make the Friendship Bracelets – Taylor Swift
Make the Friendship Bracelets
Originally created as a character for Premier League TV commercials, Ted Lasso captured viewers’ attention so much that he received his own comedy show. Ted Lasso brings the titular American football coach to Richmond, London, as Rebecca Welton, the owner of AFC Richmond, hires him in an attempt to run her ex-husband’s beloved “real” football club into the ground. Cultural differences between the United States and the United Kingdom comprise much of the early comedic dialogue, as does Ted’s inexperience and ignorance about the sport. However, for Ted, “success is not about the wins and losses. It’s about having these young fellas be the best versions of themselves, on and off the field” (“Trent Crimm: The Independent”). As the show progresses, the focus shifts from sports and comedy to Ted’s positive influence on the players’ lives as he builds individual connections with them. Through it all, Ted continuously chooses to extend love and compassion to each team member, admitting that, while it is not always easy, “neither is growing up without someone believing in you” (“Trent Crimm: The Independent”).
Despite its status as a comedy, Ted Lasso tackles serious themes, particularly focusing on childhood trauma and its effects on the characters’ abilities to enter meaningful relationships. Jamie Tartt, the top Richmond player, starts off as an egotistical individualist who never considers how much his cruelty hurts his teammates and his girlfriend, Keeley. However, the show slowly reveals Jamie’s past, exposing his dad as an abuser who only cares about the bragging rights Jamie’s fame brings him. Eventually, Jamie admits that his dad called him “soft” any time he failed to dominate in a football game, and he “made a vow to be so tough that he could never call me soft again” (“Two Aces”). Due to his father’s destructive words, Jamie struggles to show vulnerability to those around him, instead pushing them away with his callous bullying and disregard for anyone other than himself. In addition, Season 2 brings therapist Sharon Fieldstone on the scene, as she helps Ted work through the trauma caused by his father’s suicide. As Ted finally acknowledges that he still hates his father for quitting on his family and on himself (“No Weddings and a Funeral”), Dr. Fieldstone becomes “the catalyst for growth in Ted in ways that stay true both to him and to the show’s comic, tender spirit” (Mangan). While Ted’s never-give-up attitude persists, his dependence on humor as a coping mechanism decreases as he grows increasingly comfortable with emotional honesty, and asking his friends for help when he needs it. With its heavy focus on parental relationships, Ted Lasso emphasizes the impact that familial relationships have on the life of an individual, and how often they can affect all other relationships, both romantic and platonic.
Initial challenges aside, the gradual character development in Ted Lasso leads to beautiful friendships, particularly between Roy Kent, former captain and current assistant coach of AFC Richmond, and Jamie. At the start of the show, Roy and Jamie have an incredibly disharmonious relationship, but, as they slowly learn humility and vulnerability, they form an unbreakable bond. After Jamie has an altercation with his abusive father, Roy – who has spent the episode reflecting on the impact his actions have on those around him – drops his tough-guy persona to hold Jamie while he cries (“Man City”). Their bond only grows from there, and, by the end of Season 3, they have one of the strongest relationships in the show. Ted must receive credit for his unconditional kindness towards and patience with Roy and Jamie. His determination to befriend them, even when they made it nearly impossible, served as the catalyst for their development from arrogant rivals to the best of friends.
While Ted Lasso features excellent characterization, Season 3 struggles to maintain the cohesive storyline of the first two seasons, specifically in the case of Keeley Jones. As she steps away from working for AFC Richmond and starts her own firm, Keeley’s distance from the team makes the season feel “both too stuffed and like many of those threads were woefully underdeveloped” (Webster). Since the writers planned to end the show after two seasons, there is a noticeable disconnect between Keeley’s actions in the first two seasons and Season 3. While this does have a negative effect on the season, Keeley’s ongoing friendship with Rebecca, if not with the Richmond boys, shows how some relationships naturally last longer than others. Even with Season 3’s drawbacks, Ted Lasso continues to display strong, lasting friendships.
Ultimately, the actors make the show outstanding. Their connection manifests both in the show and in interviews, reminding viewers that Ted Lasso was never really about football, providing an excellent reminder that everyone needs strong, healthy relationships in their lives, and creating a show worth watching.
Works Cited
- “Man City.” Ted Lasso, created by Jason Sudeikis and Brendan Hunt, season 2, episode 8, Ruby’s Tuna, 2021. Apple TV+, tv.apple.com.
- Mangan, Lucy. “Ted Lasso Season Two Review – the Most Joyous Show on TV Scores Again.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 23 July 2021, www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/jul/23/ted-lasso-season-two-review-the-most-joyous-show-on-tv-scores-again
- “No Weddings and a Funeral.” Ted Lasso, created by Jason Sudeikis and Brendan Hunt, season 2, episode 10, Ruby’s Tuna, 2021. Apple TV+, tv.apple.com.
- “Trent Crimm: The Independent.” Ted Lasso, created by Jason Sudeikis and Brendan Hunt, season 1, episode 3, Ruby’s Tuna, 2020. Apple TV+, tv.apple.com.
- “Two Aces.” Ted Lasso, created by Jason Sudeikis and Brendan Hunt, season 1, episode 6, Ruby’s Tuna, 2020. Apple TV+, tv.apple.com.
- Webster, Andrew. “Ted Lasso’s Third Season Was Unfocused and Unwieldy, but It Stuck the Landing.” The Verge, The Verge, 31 May 2023, www.theverge.com/23743849/ted-lasso-season-3-review-apple-tv-plus.
| Script Writer | Studio | Streaming Service |
|---|---|---|
| Jason Sudeikis, Bill Lawrence, Brendan Hunt, Joe Kelley | Ruby’s Tuna Inc., Doozer, Universal Television, Warner Bros. Television Studio | Apple TV+ |
Copyright: Taylor Swift 2022
Ted Lasso trailer
This shows Ted Lasso meeting a fan on the plane, and introduces the premise of the show: Ted Lasso, an American football coach, becoming the coach of a British football club.