Although Ted Lasso may not be an after-school program, Season 2 of Apple TV+'s hit series has a very important message about being a good man.
Good men are a common trait in the Ted Lasso universe. You might describe Jason Sudeikis' titular character, Jason Sudeikis, using words like empathy, vulnerability, humor, self-compassion and inner strength.
These men are not heroes. They can be made into role models by being stripped of all their faults. They make mistakes. They can get angry and shout at others. They miss vital emotional cues. They also learn to reflect, connect and apologize. Sometimes, the process of redemption is too simple. The writers, on the other hand make it seem possible for men to admit wrong and accept forgiveness. This is contrary to what many men have learned.
Ted Lasso's witty, clever humor and optimism about human nature are what make Ted Lasso so appealing. You can choose to make the best of yourself, and if you fail, you can learn from your mistakes. This is a lesson that everyone can learn, no matter their gender. The series allows men to explore the most noble aspects of their inner lives. These traits are often stigmatized in a culture which rewards masculinity as dominating the field or room and winning at all cost (hello Nate and Rupert!) .
Ted Lasso is a great show because it gives viewers the opportunity to compare and contrast, and allows them to draw their own conclusions. The show shows that a good man doesn't have to be a single ideal.
Roy Kent (Brett Goldstein), who has an Oscar the Grouch-like vibe with his menacingly bushy eyebrows and menacingly bushy hair, is actually just the surface of a complex human being who feels deeply about everything. Roy is awkward and distant when he meets Keeley Jones (Juno Temple), who is a groupie who eventually becomes AFC Richmond’s publicist. Season 2 sees him lose his defenses. He gives in to his love. He learns to put Keeley first, when necessary. He is the father figure to his niece who doesn't have her own dad. He is capable of vulnerability, devotion and cursing beneath the grunting and cursing.
Take Jamie Tartt (Phil Dunster), a team star who transforms from a selfish, egotistical playboy to a self-aware player. Jamie confronts his father about his verbal and physical abuses. He realizes that it made him a bully. The locker room fight between Jamie and his dad is one of the most touching scenes in season 2. It sees Jamie punching his father after a few humiliating provocations. The episode's title "Man City" is not accidental, despite the fact that AFC Richmond faces Manchester City in a crucial match at Wembley Stadium. Roy embraces Jamie, despite years of rivalry with Jamie, and its flashes and violence. His teammates are stunned. This is the essence of caring between men. If it is rooted in empathy and not competition, the bond between men can transcend stereotypical limits and be a healing tool for deep emotional wounds.
Nate Shelley (Nick Mohammed) is an assistant coach and equipment manager whose insecurities eventually lead him to the Dark Side where he believes being cruel, unfeeling, and self-loathing is the only way out. One moment in the finale, Nate looks at Ted's Pyramid of Success poster, which was created by John Wooden, an ex-basketball coach. This illustration of 25 characteristics and behaviors that will lead to success is a great example of what it means being a good person (or human). It lists loyalty, friendship and cooperation as virtues. These are all qualities Nate possessed at one time but has gradually lost over the course of the season.
The viewer can see the reasons behind his spiral downwards: his constant disapproval of his dad, off-hand comments from his colleagues, and his inability to be masculine. He also feels invisible to everyone, from Roy to a waitress to his father. It sounds like Ted is giving a speech to his father when he confronts Ted about feeling neglected.
Ted tells Nate that he felt like he was the most important person on the planet. "I worked my a** off trying to get your attention again, to prove myself, to make me like you again. You didn't care as much for me the more I did."
Nate tears up Rupert's "Believe” poster, and finishes the season looking ready to take revenge on both Rupert and himself. As the episode ends, he stares at the camera and seems soulless. He is ready to live out his fantasy: to ravage everyone who looks at him wrong.
This Nate version is just as bad as Rupert (Anthony Steward Head), who was the controlling and vindictive ex-husband to Rebecca Welton (Hannah Walddingham). Although Ted Lasso is unambiguous in its judgement of Nate, it does have some empathy for him. Season 3's questions are, of course: How much damage will Nate cause and can someone (or anything) get him out of his stupor of unworthiness?
Gary Barker is the president and CEO at Promundo. Promundo is a non-profit organization that promotes gender equality. I was told by Gary Barker that the show provides a different and needed portrayal of manhood. For example, when AFC Richmond players see a team therapist and flourish after having epiphanies about their irks. Or when Beard (Brendan Hunt), sweetly surprises three nerdy male fans at the team's field with an unexpected visit. Or when Leslie Higgins, the team's director for communications, hosts an annual Christmas party to which all players are invited.
Barker describes Ted Lasso as "Showing men that they are there for one another."
It's a simple, but not taboo idea. Ted Lasso appears determined to make this the norm.
