Ted Lasso S1E4: No Fight Club!

Transcript

Marisa

Welcome back to the dog track greyhounds This is Richmond till we die and episode by episode conversation about the Apple TV plus show Ted lasso where we explore the characters, their relationships to each other, and how they're able to make us laugh until we can hardly breathe one moment and then feel with the deepest parts of our hearts the next. For this episode, our conversation is all about Episode Four titled for the children. I'm Marissa and I am still figuring out how I feel about podcasts. But I really absolutely love Ted lasso and his beautiful mustache.

Christian

I'm Christian. I am the soccer and barbecue guy.

Brett

And I'm Brett, the one who insisted we do a whole dissertation on Vivaldi and our last episode, so please direct your complaints to me directly.

And I also want to say that y'all Rebecca Welton always looks so classy and elegant in the show, but I think we can all agree that she outdid herself on this episode, right?

Marisa

For sure.

Christian

She had a lot of dresses to choose from.

Brett

She did. Much like how you have a lot of jerseys to choose from. So why don't you tell us about why you picked this so fashionable one.

Christian

Well, Ihave a throwback, Newcastle United jersey on that my friend Josh picked up when he was doing study abroad in Europe. And I picked this today because it's their classic home strip, which is black and white stripes. And it felt quite formal for this formal affair we have going on this week.

Brett

Yes, it looks very classy. Much like much like Rebecca.

Christian

Yes.

Brett

I also want to say Newcastle Did you ever see that movie goal?

Christian

No, missed it.

Brett

I think that's the team that the main character plays for which I'm blanking on his name, but

Christian

it's a very large but also very dysfunctional club and maybe has the worst ownership in the English Premier League. And so while we've talked about Crystal Palace is a place where something Ted Lasso-y could happen. Anything else like bad or malicious that could happen would probably happen at Newcastle.

Brett

Alright, shall Are we ready to recap this episode?

Marisa

Absolutely.

Christian

Fo show.

Brett

After a fight in the locker room, we find Rebecca planning a seating arrangement for the 10th annual benefit for underprivileged children. Ted asked Rebecca if he Jamie and Roy can all sit at the same table to resolve some interpersonal issues.

Christian

Once everyone's all cleaned up, the members of the AFC Richmond organization posts for red carpet photos and then we enter the venue space and find that Rebecca's ex husband Rupert has decided to make a last minute appearance.

Marisa

Rupert hosts the option of the players to raise money. Keely finds out during this event that Jamie has invited an extra plus one to make her jealous. She gets back at him by bidding on Roylater in the episode which upsets ROI.

Brett

Later, Ted finds an upset and unhappy Rebecca outside the event and consoled her by inviting her to take a ride on a rickshaw. Meanwhile, Jamie and Roy begin to find mutual respect for one another like Ted has suggested.

Christian

After the auction ends Roy confronts Kelly and she apologizes to him then enter romantic relationship with Jamie when he fails to show remorse for his selfish and inappropriate behavior.

Marisa

Ted him Higgins bring in one man Street Band cam Cole from outside who saves the event despite Robbie Williams cancellation. The episode ends with Keely andRebecca riding off into the night on a rickshaw bike with lots of alcohol.

Brett

And that is the recap we are going to give you

Christian

we didn't mention him too much. But there were some Beard crumbs that were dropped in this episode.

Marisa

We can't wait to gobble those up.

Christian

We have a beard using his thumb language. When he is told that he's having chicken we get a very enthusiastic yet I would say stern thumbs up. We also see some unhealthy competitiveness from Beard. We talked about that in our earlier episode, just the differences between him and Ted where beard is always trying to win. Unfortunately, this is putting his relationships in peril.

Brett

Yeah, the thumbs up makes for a very giftable moment.

Christian

It does. It's one of my favorites. And I like to use it a lot especially for our folks who are tweeting at us in other languages.

Brett

Yeah, and in addition to the beard crumbs. We also need to show our man Higgins some love. We haven't talked about him a lot yet. I promise that both beard and Higgins will have their day in the hot sun. But for now, I just want to bring up the fact that Jeremy swift as Higgins makes some amazing facial expressions and not just in this episode, but so far all through all four of these episodes like amazing communication with his face. He uses the myriad of muscles that are in one space to I think maximum of

Marisa

Yes, and I think there's just a bit of brilliant physical comedy with his dropping his phone and catching it that just lasts a little bit too long. But you know, like is is just long enough for him to get you laughing really hard.

Christian

Surprisingly enough, not CGI moment that was actually in there.

Brett

Wow. I've thought for sure they somehow like did movie magic to cut that catch in.

Christian

I actually don't know for sure i'm just giving him credit because I want to affirm him.

Brett

I mean, I believe it.

Marisa

He's brilliant.

Brett

The other funny thing that happens in that scene is that after Higgins has said he's on the case or whatever, and he drops his phone and catches it and makes another brilliant facial expression. He starts to leave and Ted hollers after him, thanking him in Rebecca Stead, saying Rebecca is thankful for all your hard work, which is just a great example of how Ted sees Higgins and is making him feel valued. And boy, talk about people using their faces to maximum effect. The look of incredulity that Rebecca gives Ted because he compliments Higgins

Christian

for her is intense, I myself almost melted in the heat of her gaze.

Brett

The other thing that we probably won't spend a ton of time talking about but we should definitely mention is that all of the AFC Richmond boys look so adorable in their suits, this episode

Marisa

Ya'll, let's just talk about for a moment how nice these soccer players clean up for the red carpet. You know, and Jamie and his little bit about how he he can do fashion, you know, and loses the shirt, which is again, a little bit of brilliant humor for later when he spills something hot on his nipple. But we also see how you know, just something again, as we're looking at the way men and women are treated and how they interact with one another on the show, just the red carpet alone opens up for you know, we see how the men are treated on the red carpet. And then how much more difficult it is for the for the women. And we see that in in Kelly's confidence, you know, on the red carpet, and then how she opens up and encourages Rebecca on the red carpet.

Christian

Which is an interesting moment, because it is reminiscent of Ted calling out and affirming Higgins and Rebecca being angry about it. But then when Keeley kind of gives this, like public call out to Rebecca, it fills her with energy, and kind of allows her to keep going at least for the time being.

Brett

Yes, it was moments like that, and so many more that made me made this the first episode that I cried, and I will admit more than once.

Christian

As we've been doing this project and visiting with people online, I've mentioned that the season starts to get really good and really intense in Episode Five. But on this rewatch, I really realized how hard this episode is to watch because because of the concentration of emotional intensity. There's not a lot of the other stuff that we like to talk about and laugh about. And certainly there are jokes, but there are just so many deep feelings in a way that we probably haven't seen since that final scene in episode one where Ted's talking to his wife. Yeah, I would agree. I think the hardest part for me to watch is this introduction of Rupert. He's been built up and we've been introduced to the idea of him in he's kind of like, laughed at and seen as, you know, an unfaithful guy. But here we see that he's like, a textbook abuser and narcissist.

Marisa

Yeah, and I think we also get to see how everyone reacts to him entering the gala. And most people are charmed by him or at least acting charmed by him, but you will immediately see kill us just face it. It's just filled with hate and disdain and just like, Oh, she she does not like him. She's not fooled by him. And then also Ted's face. You know, there's a little bit of that, like, this is uncomfortable, and I'm worried about my friend Rebecca here.

Brett

Yeah, and speaking of that entrance, I thought it was so Rupert, that the very first thing he says is something sexually inappropriate. So he makes his big grand entrance and he swings his arms out

Christian

wide. And his intention is to be the good guy. And the hero here is literally wearing white. And that frustration that so few people can see through him. And one of the things that really did kind of hit at the core in this show for me is knowing women who have been in abusive relationships, maybe not physical relationships, but there can still be this emotional, controlling abuse and knowing how hard it is For them, when everybody sees their abuser as a good person or a hero, and can't be convinced otherwise or doesn't have an inkling that they're being intentionally hurtful toward their significant other, it abuse doesn't have to be just physically abusive. What we see here with Rooper is that abuse of control. And Rebecca can see it. She knows in hindsight that he told her what to eat, he told her what to wear, he isolated her from everybody else. So when she has no relationship, she doesn't have a lifeline to get out of that by herself. Until, you know, she literally at some point in time, just couldn't anymore and hit that emergency brake. But that's really, really hard to do, especially if you're in a different place from Rebecca, or that option of a financial parachute, isn't there for you. But even with all of that, with all that she gained with resources, and with power, she still knows that she is a person who is lonely and alone, because Rupert was abusively controlling.

Marisa

It's hard not to make that like you disgusting, like, nasty face when you're watching like any of the scenes in this episode with him. Because Oh, I just like hate the way he makes me feel when he's talking to Rebecca about her dress. So you know, earlier in the episode, she's picking out something to wear for the gala. And Ted's there. And of course, we get to see this juxtaposition between how Ted treats Rebecca and how Rupert treats Rebecca, all wrapped up in in what she's going to wear and she's deciding on this dress, and she thinks, I can't pull this off and Ted's like, yeah, you can your you can do anything. You know, it's all about confidence. And, and you've got this, and he, of course, he's encouraging her and in a healthy way. And then we see Rupert, talking about Rebecca's dress, and and complimenting her, you know, and saying, Oh, it's so useful. And congratulations for getting that back out there looking like that. And just the way he can manipulate with his words, you know,

Christian

it's easy for me to hate him. There are a lot of people who are fans of the show Buffy the Vampire Slayer, who really have a hard time because Rupert comes on the scene and, and surprises them in the same actor played a father figure and a mentor toward Buffy in the show. And so there are a lot of people out there who have this a loving attachment to him. And it seriously puts them in a place of existential crisis, when then he comes in as kind of this personification of evil in this other show that they love.

Brett

Like, it's gonna be really hard in the future when Jason Sudeikis plays a villain with that same mustache, dude,

Christian

he punched baby Yoda once,

Brett

but he was wearing a stormtrooper true,

Christian

that does help me to keep those things separate in my head. And I'm even sorry to myself that I brought it up.

Marisa

He plays a mean villain, like, you know, he is just charming and manipulative, and he does a great job at it. Which is why it's so easy to hate him.

Brett

I think the hard thing too, is that for us, as viewers, we can easily see kind of how smarmy and sort of icky he is. And you know, we can see it we get the close ups on, you know, Hannah Waddingham as Rebecca spaces when like the tears are welling up, and you can tell she's just barely holding herself together, even when he just enters because he's able to do it without shame. You know, these people. He's been the owner of a premier league football club for however many years before this, people just give him sort of a free pass because he's a, you know, he's a celebrity and in his own right. And Rebecca just has to deal with the fact that people give him that free pass. And even though you know, the tabloids may have even said exactly what happened. Like she says that they don't, they're never awful to men, they never make them out to be the bad guy. And so it's just that much harder for the actual people in that room. to kind of understand that. I think that's what you were getting at Christian with the way abusers are able to sort of put on this veneer of being the good guy and everyone buys into that.

Christian

Not only are these guys able to get away with it, but they're really rewarded and held up as a standard. There's that term, white knighting, which we get the visual representation of with Rupert and his outfit, a literal

Brett

white suit tuxedo,

Christian

literal white suit comes in the only thing he's missing is a white horse or a white limousine. But it's this idea of a fake or a self interested nobility. As we talk about the ethics of this show and the ethics that people carry in and of themselves, as it pertains to their definitions of nobility, or as we've talked about with Roy valor. This is essentially the Opposite of somebody doing things that may seem generous or nice, but purely out of selfish ambition and for purposes of other people's perception,

Brett

we see that demonstrated in the show in very real ways. And he kind of one of the things about white knighting is you can sort of set yourself up to be the hero in different ways. And I think we see later in this episode, that maybe he was the one who texted Robbie Williams and asked him not to come because he called in a favor to get back at Rebecca. And we see too, that he, you know, when he comes in, he says he so badly wants to help, right. And he's just like, he knows that he can work this, this crowd of these people and just undermine Rebecca that much more. And we see that she then tries to get back at him by when Ted is talking to Roy at one point, she calls him over, she makes a big point of like making him come meet Rupert. so that she can get this small, she can experience this small bit of shot in Florida in a way to have Rupert be disappointed about the losses and to be able to kind of tell Ted like I don't love our last two losses, I had to say it, and you see her, you know, it cuts it goes, there's a close up that I've never noticed until the most recent rewatch where you can tell she kind of gets joy out of the fact that Oh, yeah, Rupert, like your team has lost twice in a row, and it's not looking good for them. So there's that little bit, but then I think we turn it around later, when there's like a real moment of catharsis and a real moment of being cared for at the very end of the episode when Ted, you know, after everything's kind of all the drama of this episode has happened. Ted, at the end, you know, is able to come up to her in the quiet outside on the stairs and say, You think you're the only one who can see who he really is, but you're not. And that is like so much more of a healing moment than that manufactured moment that Rebecca tried to get back at her abuser with?

Marisa

Well, I think white knighting also assumes that someone needs to be saved, right. And we see him as this sort of villain representing this idea of white knighting. Whereas really, later, we'll see what that looks like. I think, especially in a modern setting, with someone who really wants to help a friend and like do it in a healthy way, rather than just trying to save a broken woman, you know,

Christian

the thing that makes Rupert indestructible in this case, are his superpowers. The first one being a rich white dude, like they can pretty much do anything in this world. And then the second simply being his shamelessness. And the fact that he never has a second thought about anything he does, and he does it with such confidence, that certainly taking over Rebecca's crowd, but then even asking out backs, this like younger model woman who is come there to be the plus one, whatever, for one of the most popular players on the team, he still walks out, not out the back door, not shyly but braggadocious Lee, as Rebecca is trying to get these reactions out of him. It's almost like you can't reach him at his core, because he has no shame about any of the veneer.

Brett

So speaking as we were a little bit before about these ideas of nobility and valor, which are kind of high minded ideals, but you know, they apply in real life too, like those are those are still concepts that we we aspire to. And we see that play out in the different ways that people are held accountable to each other in this episode, and obviously the big, you know, most obvious one is Jamie right? We literally have Kelly Taylor him in the end, accountability matters. But what what is it about Jamie in this episode that makes us really start to turn on him as viewers.

Marisa

Early on in the episode we see that Ted has a plan for how he's going to sort of unite Roy and Jamie in at least being good teammates. But every time we see Jamie he's just a jerk. He's mean to Sam when they're on the field. He will not even like listen to Kelly for fashion advice which she is actually trying to give him you know life advice like here's how you're going to be more successful if you if you listen to me. He's a complete ass on the red carpet. doesn't care about his teammates at all. only cares about how he looks. He invites a second woman to bid on him like what a what a complete narcissist and, and you know, we're talking about Rupert being a textbook jackass like Jamie's one in training.

Christian

Before this Jamie shows a lot of these behaviors and and mentalities. I think this episode is the one where we first start where I first start to think there's no hope. redemption for him. Because it's one thing to maybe not get at once is another thing that blank look that we see again on his face when somebody tries when Keeley tries to appeal to him on an emotional level, and he literally walks away, erases this serious question as to whether or not there is going to be a redemption arc for him or if he is just spiraling into the abyss.

Marisa

This is kind of a carryover from last episode where we see Keeley and Roy sort of connecting on this idea of being honest and that there is accountability toward one another. And so we see that more so in this episode, as Keeley expects that from Jamie does not get it. And then the reverse. You know, she was kind of using ROI to get back at Jamie and Roy calls her out on it. And she she is very honest in her response back to him. And she's like, yeah, I'm sorry. Like, it's important to be accountable and to, to own up to what you've done.

Brett

Yeah. And everything ends up sort of coming full circle in a way, in this episode, too, because I think there is it may be on a smaller scale. But I do think there's a moment of Jamie sort of holding. I think there's a moment of Jamie holding Roy accountable to his role in the team. that yes, even though Jamie says I had a post review, I loved watching you play when I was a kid. I think on that moment, it dawns on Roy that like, oh, there are people in this locker room who looked up to me and I'm sort of, I'm being a gruff person who's just sort of pushing them all away or like not really giving them the wisdom of age, like Ted says. And I think though, all of those things kind of combined to start to make Roy realize how he needs to step into this leadership role. And part of it comes from being parent trapped by Ted,

Christian

for all of his gruffness. And as difficult as he is to approach, we do see that one of the things Roy holds most dear in values most highest is honesty. And he's incredibly honest with people in a way that is not always helpful in his fact can be hurtful. But he really respects honesty from other people, when he's talking to Jamie, he really does want to hash it out with him, like the defining moment of their relationship isn't going to come from a fight at halftime of the game. It's going to come from Roy being able to say, these are the things I don't like about you, Jamie, accepting those and saying, These are the things I don't like about you. And then Roy being able to accept those. We see it in a softer way when Nate comes over to Roy. And there's this really awkward moment. And Nate is completely honest with Roy and says something that hardly any other guy would say, which is, I just want to come over here and give you a hug. And gruff. Roy just says, okay, and lets him hug him even

Brett

but only for three seconds.

Christian

It was uncomfortably long. I mean, that was a

Marisa

I mean, May is lovely, but awkward. So let's just own that.

Christian

Yes. And then Roy doesn't push them away. He's just like, okay, man, that's enough. But you do see tangible examples of how, what Roy wants his relationships where people are honest with each other, and can be totally honest with him, even if at first is difficult for him to accept those things. He'll come around.

Brett

Yeah, because if he wasn't, he would have just said like, No, man, don't hug me Don't touch me. Right. And speaking of the amazing hug between Roy and Nate, let's just take some time to appreciate that Nate is continuing to come further out of his shell. And it seems like some of these seeds that Ted has planted are beginning to take root.

Marisa

I love that Ted brings Nate along as his plus one. And doesn't just do so and like let him flounder. I think it's one of them. Like my, like, favorite moments in this episode, is where they meet on the street. And you can tell Nate's wearing an ill fitting suit. And Ted's a great leader, because he's nice, but not too nice to not do the right thing. So he sees Nate in this ill fitting suit. And he even asks him before he says something, you know, he says, Do you are you the kind of friend who likes when someone tells you there's something in your teeth, you know, and to me, I just think it's more of him allowing Nate to, to be confident, but also setting him up for for success. So being a good mentor, being a good teacher, getting him in a place where he can enter this gala and feel really confident and comfortable. And I just think it's a really sweet moment. And one that doesn't take that much, you know, time and effort to do.

Christian

It's also a cool little throwback to a bygone era. There was a time where leaders in a sports locker room the older leaders, the guys who had made a lot of money. When a rookie would come up or in baseball a minor leaguer would come up They would take them out. And they would buy them a suit or multiple suits to kind of like get them up to speed. It doesn't happen anymore. Because there's so much money in sports that even when guys like get on their rookie contract, they're incredibly wealthy and their agents will like front them money, and they'll just be given things. But it did remind me of that previous era of sports have established people taking younger people under their wings and helping them look the part so they could be the part. Yeah, I

Brett

think Ted's experience in coaching college players probably plays into his thinking on that, you know, not that he is a college or university student, but same type of deal where he can just he can spot like, Oh, I can, I can help sort of mentor this person in a very real and physical way. And I think that the suit in this episode, kind of gives us the outward transformation on nature that were that we're beginning to see inside. You know, he he gets that new suit on and he walks in. And you know, he does this little like strip thing that has twice kind of told him a little he's Yeah, it is noticeable. Yes. Yes. And Ted has commented on it both times he has done it. Even though Ted does that. One of the first things he says when they run into Rebecca at the gala is he compliments Rebecca's dress, like you mentioned Marissa, but then he also says, and doesn't Nate look sharp or something like that, and you know, and then for Nate, that's when Rebecca says, nice to meet you. When she's already asked, Who, whenever Ted says Nate's gonna be my plus one. So like, Rebecca, come on, like, there's no excuse for this anymore. You got to get your life together, Rebecca, she

Christian

had a lot on her mind,

Brett

you could tell she definitely was not cool and calm. As she said, when she was holding her tea earlier in the episode,

Marisa

her hot brown water

Christian

needs coming into himself as an interrupter as well, as he gets more confidence. He's kind of turning into annoying Well, actually guy, which you don't want to be as the best version of yourself, but seems like unnecessary progression in his maturation.

Marisa

I think it's cute, that he feels comfortable enough to interrupt, you know, and even said, in his correction of that he is still very patient with him. You know, like, I appreciate that. But now is not the time.

Brett

Well, I think you start to see this bridge of trust that's being built between them, you know, we already see like an amazing version of what that looks like, kind of between Ted and beard and how they get each other. And I think this is, you know, this is sort of the beginning of a smaller bridge between Ted and Nate. And even though like we said, he interrupts him one of the, I love when he corrects both Ted and beer when they're talking about West Side Story. Right? So in the beginning of the episode, Ted says, This reminds me of this reminds me of something and beard immediately says West Side Story. And they there's a little bit of banter. And then Ted says, I think Griffin Bernardo, you know, got killed at the at the dance. And Nick says, No, it was the rumble. Like he clearly he knows, they all know, this subject matter, which is amazing in itself, just three men on on the practice pitch, you know, training pitch, talking about musical theater and moving musicals, is amazing, and just so much in the DNA of the show. But, you know, I think it's not a deep reference by any means. But I do think that it's a very fitting reference, especially when you consider some of the themes there in that show. You know, the, the premise of that show is a turf war, essentially. And that's what's happening in the locker room. And so the way that Ted recognizes that and begins to try and deal with it is through the medium of musical theater, which is just amazing.

Marisa

Nate's coming into his own, but we see Rebecca starting to grow and accepting some help and some advice from people around her. Especially Keely, I love this romance.

Brett

And not only does she begin to accept more help from an advice from Keely, as we've seen her do already, but she also then sort of offer some advice down to Keeley in this episode. So it's starting to go two ways, which is a really beautiful moment.

Christian

That was an interesting moment for me, because I wasn't sure I'm still not sure what Rebecca's intention was in revealing to Keelythat Jamie's plus dead Jamie had another plus one. In some ways, it kind of felt like to me keeping Kelly a little bit separate from her and maybe Kelly scales or bust through that wall. Or maybe Rebecca is just not in a place to fully like let her guard down. So even when she's being kind to someone, it doesn't feel super warm yet, but certainly their relationship continues to develop in that scene.

Marisa

Well on the fact sheet I think that she doesn't bristle so much at at Kelly's comfortability with her where she just says like, Can I can I have your drink and you know, Rebecca doesn't seem too shocked by it I think shows a little,

Christian

a little bit of bristling having some,

Marisa

but I think she's, she's quite like interest interested in Kelly and just how comfortable Kelly is in her own skin. I think she desires that so much, I would say she's so

Christian

I'd say she is willing to give Keely her drink, but she's maybe not willing to take a swig following.

Brett

That sounds right, which is still growth.

Christian

There is a difference in this episode in how Ted is able to get through Rebecca the extent to which she's able to and the extent to which he's able to get through to Rebecca, Ted kind of his feeling out Rebecca, and I view it as he is looking for a place where the wall is shorter, or maybe where the fence is a little weaker, where he can kind of squeeze through any tests, and she kind of pushes back and he knows not to go too far with her. And so he only gets a certain distance with her, which is fine. Kelly and Rebecca's relationship really does come into its own, I think there is that kind of romance woman woman dynamic that's going on there. I also there's there's a different power dynamic. Whereas Rebecca at this point is not Kelly's boss, so Kelly can kind of do whatever. And then there's also Kelly's obliviousness to social norms and what you should and shouldn't do with people that continues to be disarming to Rebecca. It allows her to be the one that then gets in the rickshaw bike with Rebecca at the end of the episode, or as it was Ted, who first offered that. And Rebecca said, know,

Marisa

one of the things that I find most caring for Rebecca from Ted, in this episode, is when he he wants to kind of go after Rupert about the whole Robbie Williams thing and the canceling and, and he kind of comes to that conclusion of, well, if you could get them over here, then you could have easily told him not to come. But when Rupert first offers, you know, to fix everything, basically, Ted doesn't, you know, just kind of think, oh, the best way to do this is to just let Rupert fix it. He says, I'm gonna go check with Rebecca. He shows her the respect of Rebecca is the boss, this is her choice. This is her night. This is her event, you know, and so just the fact that he doesn't just think like, Oh, I'm gonna wait night here, and, and let Rupert fix everything. And that'll make everything better. It's like, I want to go check in with Rebecca and see if this is a good idea or not. And I think that's definitely a way that I see him caring for her during that Gala.

Brett

Yeah, I totally agree. And I hadn't really thought about it that way, Marissa, but that B also allows him to, to check in with her. And when he does, he sees that she's already upset. She's already kind of, you know, falling apart a little bit. She's She's had enough of putting up with Rupert and she needs some space and some air right. And this, this is where Ted and Rebecca share their first hug of the series. Which is ironic considering that the joke she makes about herself at the beginning of the gala is that she's not much of a hugger. So we see Ted able to scale at least a medium sized wall there, even though he not he wasn't necessarily trying to he was just doing a decent human thing of saying, Hey, we can maybe text Robbie Williams Do you want that to happen, but in doing so he actually is able to have a much deeper moment of connection with Rebecca and build more trust. Ted is trying and is effective at caring for Rebecca.

Christian

I think Kaylee is trying and is effective at being with Rebecca, because Rebecca will almost fully she is there's still this thing hanging out there that she's used kewley as a pawn in her scheme and tried to like drag her publicly. But there is significant progress being made there of them being friends.

Marisa

I think to at the end of the episode, we see them all exiting the gala. And we don't we don't know who's gonna end up helping who at the end of the night, right? We still don't know. And Rebecca and Ted are there. And it seems as if, you know, they may go off into the night, you know, consoling one another and then beard shows up. So there's this weird moment of like, what's what's gonna what is gonna happen here and and I'm glad they kind of make us wait and again, as someone who's In love with this romance I'm so glad that it's Kaylee and Rebecca who end up in the rickshaw with a bunch of champagne.

Brett

Two bottles of champagne in a rickshaw can make any night better,

Christian

maybe,

Marisa

or a lot worse.

Brett

It's either gonna help a little or hurt a whole lot.

Christian

So many emotions so much substance in this episode in 35 short minutes did not leave a lot of room for other stuff that we like to dance about usually,

Brett

yeah, not a ton of pop culture or other things like that. There was a decent amount of music and some interesting things to look at there, though. So I would, we can't we can't not talk about cam Cole. Right. I mean, that's an amazing scene got to mostly because people don't realize he's actually a real person. Yes, a real person, a real artist called cam Cole who has real music on all the places that you listen to music,

Marisa

who has sometimes been outside,

Brett

and then sometimes inside, and just make sure that you will link to some of his stuff in the show notes just because I love the fact that, you know, another show could have just cast this person or you know, kind of made a fake Busker from outside. But in the TED lasso world, like we do things authentically. And so, you know, Cam Cole was sort of unknown until November 2019, when, you know, there was a Facebook and YouTube video of him that went, you know, sort of viral. And so I assume probably someone on the TED lasso team was like, hey, what if we work in this guy to the show, and it feels very natural. And I love that it's a callback, because if you remember, we didn't mention this in Episode Two. But Ted passes by cam Cole in Episode Two, and he puts some change into his guitar case there. And so they've already set this up for us. And then it's a great payoff where everyone comes to the dance floor and has a great time. And I would like to point out one of the most authentic things about this scene, are the black folks being the leaders in proclaiming what is cool, and everybody else following in behind them dancing enthusiastically, though, not nearly as well which is similar to what we see in a lot of other things in popular culture. Art imitates life.

Christian

Yeah, Elvis stealing soul people's stuff.

Brett

You know, who was dancing really well though, was Higgins and Nate.

Marisa

They like to party and so does beard once he gets out there.

Christian

I put them in the enthusiastic category. And I appreciate them dancing like nobody's watching in a room full of people where they are bumping up against each other.

Brett

The other great musical moment in this episode comes at the very end when we go to the credits there is actually a Robbie Williams song that is playing so we finally get we finally do get to hear Robbie Williams but it is only in underscore music. And this is the song is a great fit because it's saying like The Kids Are All Right, and let's take a ride. The episodes called for the children and here Here are Rebecca and Kaylee taking a ride on the rickshaw bike. So it's a perfect needle drop if you remember from your last lesson. But the other the other funny thing that I thought about this like kind of pop culture reference to Robbie Williams several times in this episode is that there's multiple times where Ted is like Who is that? And it's it's probably more funny to British audiences. Because if you are someone from the UK, you probably know Robbie Williams as one of the founding members of a boy band called take that that was very popular in the early and mid 90s and is still active though without Robbie Williams. And he had a solo career and he's won like 18 Brit Awards, so he's, you know, comparable, but maybe even more accomplished than Justin Timberlake. He's like the British JT British people. You can definitely correct me if I'm wrong on that. But it's funny that Ted would have no idea who that is when he's probably ubiquitous in the UK. There's also some interesting soccer connections there. Robbie Williams has had a song on FIFA 2000 he's established a celebrity soccer club that is now defunct in Los Angeles. So yeah, it's a great fit for the end of the episode really wraps everything up nicely.

Christian

Did he also perform in the 2018 World Cup opening ceremony?

Brett

He did that was him.

Marisa

Okay, I thought this was going to be a reoccurring thing but here we are. two episodes with no barbecue stuff Christian What's going on?

Christian

Cut me deep Ted. You come in real deep. Not really being the writer die BBQ homie. Beard did have a nice little meat moment. And I do appreciate that he requested both meats at the banquet. One of the things I love doing barbecue places is getting mixed meats. So I gates which we've talked about before, if you ever go there in Kansas City, the mixed plate is a great meat smorgasbord that you can share with your friends or I had a friend who used to eat the whole thing by himself. And then his doctor told him that his cholesterol was way too high and he was gonna die at the age of 30. So he had to like cut back on that. The other place I like to do mixed meats is Roy's hickory pit barbecue outside of Hutchinson, Kansas. Anytime I get ready to travel internationally, I like to go to Roy's and get the three meat sandwich. And that really just tides me over until I get back into the country.

Marisa

You got the meat sweats until you get back into the country. Yeah, I

Christian

eat that I get the meat sweats. I go home, I get a good nap. And that helps me then conquer any jetlag that will incur over the next week or days.

Marisa

It's truly amazing. Yeah, I love Roy's.

Brett

And y'all, if you're not following us on Instagram, already, there was an amazing Instagram story that happened a couple of weeks ago, that Christian hosted for us. So if you want more amazing smoked meat content, make sure you follow us there. Yeah, so not a lot of barbecue. Not a lot of soccer either. But there was at least one convincing soccer thing in this episode. Right

Christian

Christian there was at the very beginning of the episode when it's halftime and the team's not doing well. And Jamie and Roy have their little scarf shuffle the way that they fight. Touching noggins is a very soccer way of fighting. They reminded

Brett

me of two Rams butting heads,

Christian

yeah, in soccer, if you throw a punch, grabbing or pushing can do this also could get you a red card, definitely if you throw a punch. And if you get a red card, then you get ejected from the game. And unlike other sports, they can't bring somebody in to replace you. And so they're 11 players to start a game. And if you get thrown out, then your team has to play with 10 players for the rest of the game. Plus, then you have to sit out at least one game if not multiple games after that. So soccer players have kind of developed this way of fighting and trying to flex their masculinity where they just sort of like press foreheads against each other very tightly. And when they do that, typically the referees do not give them a red card. And unless that escalates into a full on headbutt,

Brett

which does happen sometime in soccer.

Christian

It does, and sometimes like in World Cups, doesn't get caught and then becomes a cultural touchpoint within the soccer community for ever and ever.

Brett

Ted Lasso S1E4: No Fight Club!

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