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tv_talk2023-08-17 06:32 pm
yourlibrarian) wrote in tv_talk2023-08-17 06:32 pm
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Ted Lasso S3
I finished S3 of Ted Lasso over a month ago but found it difficult to write about. Spoilers for the season behind the cut. I can see why people weren't that enthused with it. As I discussed in comments on an earlier post in my blog, they tried to take on bigger things this season which didn't work well given the show's limitations. At the same time, other developments rather lost some of the "feel good" aspects of the show.
For one thing, I felt that Nate's storyline had an abrupt and unconvincing turn. I could understand why dark!Nate came about, but understood less how he could do a U to return to take on even less than what he had before. I felt the show was trying to tell us that had Nate felt the love and respect he felt he needed (from a girlfriend and his father) that he would have never taken his dark turn. And that once he and Jade were together and his father explained himself, that he no longer needed the sort of validation that came from the public and from a well rewarded, high profile job.
But this makes little sense given that his father called him a genius child. A genius child needs challenges and work that exercises their skills. It's quite understandable that he was never given that opportunity under Rupert's original ownership -- due to Nate's personality, his lack of connections, and probably racism.
So I could understand why Nate wouldn't want to work with Rupert anymore (and also why he went to work for him in the first place). But are there really no other opportunities in the sport for him to serve as a coach? It didn't seem that he was just taking jobs as a waiter or as an assistant equipment manager in order to do something while waiting for other job opportunities to arise.
I mean, not that much in Ted Lasso is realistic (Keeley's work life, for example), but this is a character development issue which served as a centerpoint for much of two seasons.
At the same time other stuff just seemed to be tied up with a bow in the epilogue yet a central feature of the season -- the developing relationship between Keeley, Roy and Jamie -- was left hanging. They were clearly all still friends but that seemed a cop out.
While it certainly seems possible that producers could spin the show off to follow Richmond generally (especially if we consider Trent's book title) or various characters, I think it's good that the show ended here. Unless there's a very clear idea for what to do with a connected show that doesn't change characters in order to fit an idea, I feel it's better to leave it with the ending we got.
What were the pluses and minuses of the season to you?
For one thing, I felt that Nate's storyline had an abrupt and unconvincing turn. I could understand why dark!Nate came about, but understood less how he could do a U to return to take on even less than what he had before. I felt the show was trying to tell us that had Nate felt the love and respect he felt he needed (from a girlfriend and his father) that he would have never taken his dark turn. And that once he and Jade were together and his father explained himself, that he no longer needed the sort of validation that came from the public and from a well rewarded, high profile job.
But this makes little sense given that his father called him a genius child. A genius child needs challenges and work that exercises their skills. It's quite understandable that he was never given that opportunity under Rupert's original ownership -- due to Nate's personality, his lack of connections, and probably racism.
So I could understand why Nate wouldn't want to work with Rupert anymore (and also why he went to work for him in the first place). But are there really no other opportunities in the sport for him to serve as a coach? It didn't seem that he was just taking jobs as a waiter or as an assistant equipment manager in order to do something while waiting for other job opportunities to arise.
I mean, not that much in Ted Lasso is realistic (Keeley's work life, for example), but this is a character development issue which served as a centerpoint for much of two seasons.
At the same time other stuff just seemed to be tied up with a bow in the epilogue yet a central feature of the season -- the developing relationship between Keeley, Roy and Jamie -- was left hanging. They were clearly all still friends but that seemed a cop out.
While it certainly seems possible that producers could spin the show off to follow Richmond generally (especially if we consider Trent's book title) or various characters, I think it's good that the show ended here. Unless there's a very clear idea for what to do with a connected show that doesn't change characters in order to fit an idea, I feel it's better to leave it with the ending we got.
What were the pluses and minuses of the season to you?
no subject
Personally I was most disappointed by the lack of Roy/Jamie/Keeley endgame, though I didn't REALLY think they would do something that cool lmao. It just seemed like they were potentially inching there through the whole season and I was like 👀 but sadly no dice. What I was genuinely surprised about though was them not making Ted/Rebecca endgame?? I had no real skin in that game like I wasn't out here reading Ted/Rebecca fic or anything but it genuinely seemed like they were setting them up to be endgame, so no idea why they dropped the ball there. I guess because they planned to send Ted home they didn't want to tie them up like that?? (Me giving the writers the benefit of the doubt that they went into any of this with any foresight lol)
I did like Trent a lot, which seems to be the common sentiment haha. (If I was going to ship Ted with anyone it'd probably be Trent/Ted.) I'm glad they made him gay/he got to have that conversation with Colin, that was a nice scene. And I loved Trent just hanging out with them in the office and working his way into the gang. Otherwise yeah a lot of season 3 felt like...a problem would crop up just for the sake of drama and then be neatly solved 45 minutes later. Keeley's relationship drama, Nate's storyline, Ted sort of just coasting along the whole season with nothing to really do...
All that being said I'd totally watch a spin-off if they did one anyway lol
no subject
Had they kept Keeley single they might have felt more pressure to explain why she wasn't going back to either Jamie or Roy. Yet if they introduced another man into the picture, that would have complicated the threesome setup. Instead they set her up with a woman, which would be seen as less threatening and also fan service for many viewers.
They definitely seemed to be teasing Ted/Rebecca until the last 20 minutes of the season, as if afraid they'd lose part of the audience if they didn't.