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The latest episode of Ted Lasso is called ‘Lavender’ and I still am not sure why. But confusing name aside, the episode was actually pretty good, giving the characters some interesting growth opportunities and forcing them to make difficult choices. The parallel storylines are mainly about Jamie and Roy going through attempts of connection to soccer, both ending in potentially complicated places.
Roy’s storyline is more straightforward and ultimately quite sweet, and the more consistently funny plotline. After Roy’s coaching of his niece’s soccer team comes to an end, he ends up hilariously finding out that Keeley is pleasuring herself to Roy’s retirement video because he was so passionate and vulnerable. Both things that we know aren’t exactly typical for Roy to connect to.
Despite his resistance, he does agree to go on Sky Sports with fellow pundits, including actual real life pundits Jeff Stelling and Chris Kamara, alongside George Cartrick (Bill Fellows), who played the manager that Rebecca fired in the very first episode of the show. Roy is incapable of filtering his language, but his ‘salty’ and honest way of talking immediately strikes a chord with the picky fans, and he does feel reconnected with the game again. The final image of Keeley watching Roy’s retirement video while he goes down on her is one of the funniest moments of the episode and the season so far.
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Jamie’s plotline is a bit more complicated, as he’s legitimately trying to be a better person, but has been stymied by own issues — much (as we already knew) from his difficult father. Ted mentions his own father being more hard on ‘himself than us’ which is an interesting little tidbit for later, one assumes. But Ted specifically tries to be the therapist who’s not literally a therapist to his team and it’s interesting to see how he is able to connect with Sharon and struggle with connecting in the same way — she clearly has an ability to see through his attempts at passive-aggressive friendliness to see how he’s uncomfortable with her and her position.
Ted and Rebecca share a moment of agreement about their disdain (and fear, let’s be honest) of therapy but neither seem to want to address their own underlying concerns (or even be entirely aware of them). The episode really plays up Jamie’s lack of intellect to help us root for him more as an underdog, and it’s mostly successful (even if there’s still quite a ways to go).
Some other highlights are Jamie’s agent calling him like his dead son, Roy’s complaining that his kids can’t do ‘headers’ yet, the Twitter account for Ted’s mustache, and of course, the ongoing running gag about Higgins’ lack of a proper office. It’s a good continuation from the first episode, setting up some interesting potential conflicts with Jamie on the field and Roy in the commentary box.
Otherwise it’s a pretty solid episode, some solid moments of comedy and a lot of good setups for storylines and intriguing ideas for some of the character arcs. I’m mixed on the whole ‘real people playing themselves’ thing, but for now I think it ultimately works — we’ll see if that changes as the season goes on.
What did you think of this episode? Give us your thoughts in the comments section below.
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