Ted Lasso 3x10 - International Week
Icon chosen for Tartt & K*nt.
This show keeps topping itself and I don't know how. Also a mystery to me, how anyone can still say after this episode that this season is garbage. *shrugs* Must be watching an entirely different show than I am.
My goodness, was there a more beautiful scene than this (*points up*)?!
AKUFO LEAGUE
Wow, what a spectacularly bad idea whose only merit is filling the coffers of already obscenely wealthy people. There are definitely parallels to sports here (including real-life attempts to create exactly this kind of superleague), but it reminded me of how live concerts have gone on a similar path and only people who can casually drop thousands of dollars (or are willing to remortgage their home) can get close to the stage and not have to experience everything on a jumbotron. [/soapbox] Rebecca's speech was spectacular (highlighted by Nate playing that gorgeous Arvo Pärt piece, which already shattered me three years ago on THE GOOD PLACE and has come back to get me AGAIN) and arguably the best moment in the episode. Love Rebecca picturing all those owners as little boys, and that she managed to tank the whole endeavor and inspire another Akufo tantrum.
RUPERT REDEMPTION ARC?
LOL of course not, but this *was* the most human he's been in the entire series run and I'm quite pleased they actually made an effort to make him not such a cartoonish villain for two seconds. Judging from his new assistant - Miss Bread, following Miss Kakes LOL - it seems like he got a "MeToo"-ing (a fairly mild one, since he's still head honcho at West Ham and news of his skeeviness hasn't spread across Britain). Whatever his reasons, I'm glad he invited Rebecca to the Akufo meeting, giving her the opportunity to upset the apple cart (as previously mentioned). I also really liked Rebecca's story about him sneaking into Nelson Road as a kid. But I *knew* he was going to try to kiss her because apparently that's the only way he has of expressing himself to a woman he admires.
NO GOOD BILLIONAIRES
UGH, I also figured the whole sext fiasco was going to result in the end of KJPR (or potential end, anyway). I don't buy for a second that Jack wasn't part of it or couldn't possibly have prevented it. I hated that for Keeley, but it did result in another great Rebecca moment, where she became Keeley's new backer. And speaking of terrible billionaires, I *KNEW* Edwin Akufo was behind Sam's not getting chosen to play in the Nigerian match. Also, LMAO that he made all those reservations in different voices! He's terrible, but he's also hilarious.
Sidebar: Is Rebecca also a billionaire? The show has never really addressed it, other than she got a truckload of money and a football club in the divorce from Rupert. If she's a billionaire, she's not so bad, obviously.
REBECCA THE LION
This was Rebecca's episode, full stop. I will never be over that mirror scene, with baby Rebecca in those pigtails, and her doing her power ritual that she showed Nate and Keeley last season ("F***, you're amazing. Let's invade France."). Everything about her this week was power. She actually dismantled an attempt at an elite football superleague. She realized that Rupert is irrelevant to her success or failure. And instead of investing in the Akufo League, she used her wealth to invest in her friend and share her power with her. What a legend.
We also get the return of the matchbook, which has the little green army man wedged inside it. I still don't think this is romantic. I went back and watched the psychic scene and she doesn't say one word about love or romance. Just that she sees a green matchbook and that it's very special. If it's meant to be associated with Ted, of course he's special to her, and she to him. Doesn't mean they're subconsciously in love.
KEELEY ATOP THE MOUNTAIN
After being ghosted in just about every way by Jack and having to start packing up the office, we get a lovely, unexpected scene between her and Mae, the owner of The Crown and Anchor (which I will be visiting just before the finale is released! - though it's The Prince's Head IRL). I have always loved Mae, and Annette Badland has been a fave since she was Margaret Slitheen on DOCTOR WHO. She gives Keeley some sage advice about shit and about lightning. We also get a few lovely moments with Barbara, culminating in her leaving Jack's employ and staying with Keeley's newly reorganized company.
And she also gets great moments with arguably the two most important people in her life -- Roy Kent (who includes his last name in the letter because he doesn't want to assume he's the only Roy she knows) and Rebecca. I was glad to see that it didn't take a whole operatic to-do to get her and Roy back on good (nay, GREAT) terms. No grand gestures (she's had quite enough of those for now), just Roy being honest and telling her she did nothing wrong and that she is and always will be amazing. He makes it all about her and healing her wounds. And then there's Rebecca making the BEST kind of power move, and I cackled when Keeley wrote down the funding figure because "that's how they do it in the movies."
ROY GETS UNSTUCK
I've heard that Brett Goldstein's work on SHRINKING kept him (and thus Roy) from being a larger presence earlier in the season. It doesn't explain that when he *has* been there he still hasn't really had much to do until last week's episode. After this week, though, I can rationalize it by pointing out what Roy realized about himself in this episode -- that he's been "stuck in his shit" since late last season. In any case, I'm glad to see this absolute king back in his true form. Loved "Uncle Day" (thank goodness Phoebe is back!) and that she invited his "best friend" Jamie -- and that Jamie took time out from preparing for his international match to come. His gift was perfect, and I loved that he had them change the E in Kent to a U, so that it (sort of) spelled That Word, which is essentially British-speak for "I love you." Watching that scene a second time, I swear Phil Dunster broke character after he said Roy's sister was fit and Roy said "I will cut your eyes out." He clearly starts laughing and tries to lean back out of frame.
And then he patches things up (and then some ... *cue porn music*) with Keeley and it was perfect. I kind of liked that the teacher from last season that he inexplicably bonded with was the catalyst for his realization of what he actually did to Keeley. And I'm very glad that Keeley caught him trying to slyly deliver the letter and made him read it aloud to her. You can tell there's going to be more to this encounter after he walks to his car because you see her start to follow him like half a second before the cut to the next scene. And when he came down the stairs in her pink Versace robe, I SCREAMED!
PERCHTENLAUFEN
What exactly is it and how can I get involved?
NATE
I was genuinely surprised where this thread went this episode, starting with the abrupt announcement that he was no longer with West Ham. The public details are very slim, which I think has confused some fans who seem to think he was fired. I'm sure that's what Rupert and the rest of the West Ham administrative team hope is the story that sticks, but Nate says himself that he quit. Presumably because of what happened last episode with "guys night" (unless there's something even worse that we'll learn about in the last two episodes). I could have done with fewer scenes of him moping in bed (we get it, Nate, you're adrift). But his bonding with his family, reconciliation with his father and of course that wonderful performance of "Spiegel im Spiegel" by Arvo Pärt (mentioned above) are such lovely notes that suggest to me that him returning to Richmond and coaching in general is beside the point and might not even happen. He clearly wants and needs some time to figure out what he wants and just generally heal. (Fun fact: That is actually Nick Mohammed playing the violin, and his real-life wife playing the piano part.) And then, as if I wasn't emotional enough, there's the scene with Will walking in on a pristine locker room and a formal written apology accented with lavender. Hardest I cried the whole episode.
Sidebar: I had to pause the episode and laugh for a solid five minutes at Jade's Polish "lightbulb" joke. Way to take me back to 3rd grade, show.
TED WHO?
I've seen people complaining that Ted was barely in this episode, which they somehow translate to his barely being in the whole season. True, this was a Ted-light episode, but his fingerprints are all over everything that these characters did. I don't see how you can watch Jamie wearing Sam's number and showing up for Uncle Day, Nate's apology to Will, Roy's letter to Keeley, Rebecca's passionate defense of the tradition of football, and even Dani's roleplay feud with Van Damme (which fans have dubbed Rani Dojas), and not see Ted's influence. None of these characters would be where they are in this episode if their lives hadn't intersected with Ted. I've seen theories that we're seeing less of Ted because they show is weaning him away from us, preparing us for life without him. I don't know about that, or if it's intentional, but I love that Ted doesn't have to be the literal centerpiece of every episode to still be the heart of the show. Every moment reinforces "The Lasso Way."
LINE OF THE EPISODE
Higgins: I hate to break it to you, Rebecca, but those children are dead.
This show keeps topping itself and I don't know how. Also a mystery to me, how anyone can still say after this episode that this season is garbage. *shrugs* Must be watching an entirely different show than I am.
My goodness, was there a more beautiful scene than this (*points up*)?!
AKUFO LEAGUE
Wow, what a spectacularly bad idea whose only merit is filling the coffers of already obscenely wealthy people. There are definitely parallels to sports here (including real-life attempts to create exactly this kind of superleague), but it reminded me of how live concerts have gone on a similar path and only people who can casually drop thousands of dollars (or are willing to remortgage their home) can get close to the stage and not have to experience everything on a jumbotron. [/soapbox] Rebecca's speech was spectacular (highlighted by Nate playing that gorgeous Arvo Pärt piece, which already shattered me three years ago on THE GOOD PLACE and has come back to get me AGAIN) and arguably the best moment in the episode. Love Rebecca picturing all those owners as little boys, and that she managed to tank the whole endeavor and inspire another Akufo tantrum.
RUPERT REDEMPTION ARC?
LOL of course not, but this *was* the most human he's been in the entire series run and I'm quite pleased they actually made an effort to make him not such a cartoonish villain for two seconds. Judging from his new assistant - Miss Bread, following Miss Kakes LOL - it seems like he got a "MeToo"-ing (a fairly mild one, since he's still head honcho at West Ham and news of his skeeviness hasn't spread across Britain). Whatever his reasons, I'm glad he invited Rebecca to the Akufo meeting, giving her the opportunity to upset the apple cart (as previously mentioned). I also really liked Rebecca's story about him sneaking into Nelson Road as a kid. But I *knew* he was going to try to kiss her because apparently that's the only way he has of expressing himself to a woman he admires.
NO GOOD BILLIONAIRES
UGH, I also figured the whole sext fiasco was going to result in the end of KJPR (or potential end, anyway). I don't buy for a second that Jack wasn't part of it or couldn't possibly have prevented it. I hated that for Keeley, but it did result in another great Rebecca moment, where she became Keeley's new backer. And speaking of terrible billionaires, I *KNEW* Edwin Akufo was behind Sam's not getting chosen to play in the Nigerian match. Also, LMAO that he made all those reservations in different voices! He's terrible, but he's also hilarious.
Sidebar: Is Rebecca also a billionaire? The show has never really addressed it, other than she got a truckload of money and a football club in the divorce from Rupert. If she's a billionaire, she's not so bad, obviously.
REBECCA THE LION
This was Rebecca's episode, full stop. I will never be over that mirror scene, with baby Rebecca in those pigtails, and her doing her power ritual that she showed Nate and Keeley last season ("F***, you're amazing. Let's invade France."). Everything about her this week was power. She actually dismantled an attempt at an elite football superleague. She realized that Rupert is irrelevant to her success or failure. And instead of investing in the Akufo League, she used her wealth to invest in her friend and share her power with her. What a legend.
We also get the return of the matchbook, which has the little green army man wedged inside it. I still don't think this is romantic. I went back and watched the psychic scene and she doesn't say one word about love or romance. Just that she sees a green matchbook and that it's very special. If it's meant to be associated with Ted, of course he's special to her, and she to him. Doesn't mean they're subconsciously in love.
KEELEY ATOP THE MOUNTAIN
After being ghosted in just about every way by Jack and having to start packing up the office, we get a lovely, unexpected scene between her and Mae, the owner of The Crown and Anchor (which I will be visiting just before the finale is released! - though it's The Prince's Head IRL). I have always loved Mae, and Annette Badland has been a fave since she was Margaret Slitheen on DOCTOR WHO. She gives Keeley some sage advice about shit and about lightning. We also get a few lovely moments with Barbara, culminating in her leaving Jack's employ and staying with Keeley's newly reorganized company.
And she also gets great moments with arguably the two most important people in her life -- Roy Kent (who includes his last name in the letter because he doesn't want to assume he's the only Roy she knows) and Rebecca. I was glad to see that it didn't take a whole operatic to-do to get her and Roy back on good (nay, GREAT) terms. No grand gestures (she's had quite enough of those for now), just Roy being honest and telling her she did nothing wrong and that she is and always will be amazing. He makes it all about her and healing her wounds. And then there's Rebecca making the BEST kind of power move, and I cackled when Keeley wrote down the funding figure because "that's how they do it in the movies."
ROY GETS UNSTUCK
I've heard that Brett Goldstein's work on SHRINKING kept him (and thus Roy) from being a larger presence earlier in the season. It doesn't explain that when he *has* been there he still hasn't really had much to do until last week's episode. After this week, though, I can rationalize it by pointing out what Roy realized about himself in this episode -- that he's been "stuck in his shit" since late last season. In any case, I'm glad to see this absolute king back in his true form. Loved "Uncle Day" (thank goodness Phoebe is back!) and that she invited his "best friend" Jamie -- and that Jamie took time out from preparing for his international match to come. His gift was perfect, and I loved that he had them change the E in Kent to a U, so that it (sort of) spelled That Word, which is essentially British-speak for "I love you." Watching that scene a second time, I swear Phil Dunster broke character after he said Roy's sister was fit and Roy said "I will cut your eyes out." He clearly starts laughing and tries to lean back out of frame.
And then he patches things up (and then some ... *cue porn music*) with Keeley and it was perfect. I kind of liked that the teacher from last season that he inexplicably bonded with was the catalyst for his realization of what he actually did to Keeley. And I'm very glad that Keeley caught him trying to slyly deliver the letter and made him read it aloud to her. You can tell there's going to be more to this encounter after he walks to his car because you see her start to follow him like half a second before the cut to the next scene. And when he came down the stairs in her pink Versace robe, I SCREAMED!
PERCHTENLAUFEN
What exactly is it and how can I get involved?
NATE
I was genuinely surprised where this thread went this episode, starting with the abrupt announcement that he was no longer with West Ham. The public details are very slim, which I think has confused some fans who seem to think he was fired. I'm sure that's what Rupert and the rest of the West Ham administrative team hope is the story that sticks, but Nate says himself that he quit. Presumably because of what happened last episode with "guys night" (unless there's something even worse that we'll learn about in the last two episodes). I could have done with fewer scenes of him moping in bed (we get it, Nate, you're adrift). But his bonding with his family, reconciliation with his father and of course that wonderful performance of "Spiegel im Spiegel" by Arvo Pärt (mentioned above) are such lovely notes that suggest to me that him returning to Richmond and coaching in general is beside the point and might not even happen. He clearly wants and needs some time to figure out what he wants and just generally heal. (Fun fact: That is actually Nick Mohammed playing the violin, and his real-life wife playing the piano part.) And then, as if I wasn't emotional enough, there's the scene with Will walking in on a pristine locker room and a formal written apology accented with lavender. Hardest I cried the whole episode.
Sidebar: I had to pause the episode and laugh for a solid five minutes at Jade's Polish "lightbulb" joke. Way to take me back to 3rd grade, show.
TED WHO?
I've seen people complaining that Ted was barely in this episode, which they somehow translate to his barely being in the whole season. True, this was a Ted-light episode, but his fingerprints are all over everything that these characters did. I don't see how you can watch Jamie wearing Sam's number and showing up for Uncle Day, Nate's apology to Will, Roy's letter to Keeley, Rebecca's passionate defense of the tradition of football, and even Dani's roleplay feud with Van Damme (which fans have dubbed Rani Dojas), and not see Ted's influence. None of these characters would be where they are in this episode if their lives hadn't intersected with Ted. I've seen theories that we're seeing less of Ted because they show is weaning him away from us, preparing us for life without him. I don't know about that, or if it's intentional, but I love that Ted doesn't have to be the literal centerpiece of every episode to still be the heart of the show. Every moment reinforces "The Lasso Way."
LINE OF THE EPISODE
Higgins: I hate to break it to you, Rebecca, but those children are dead.