Spoiler: More speculative non-spoiler spoiler discussion Rupert buying a competing team was what popped into my head as well, because in order to avoid accusations of conflict of interest or cheating, he would have to give up his shares in any rival football clubs before buying a new one. He never does anything out of the goodness of his heart, so his gift to Rebecca was immediately suspect. My first thought with Nate was that Rupert was asking him to be a spy of sorts, but it's not as if Team Lasso has any sort of top secret strategy that needs to be stolen, beyond "Be excellent to each other". Rupert asking Nate to be a coach on his new team makes a lot more sense, especially given Nate's dickishness of late, though it's kind of reminiscent of Jamie leaving the team last season. I'm worried that Ted is heading down his father's path. I'm sure he'll be rescued from it at the last moment by Coach Beard or Rebecca or Dr. Fieldstone, but it's gonna go to a dark place before he can be pulled back from the proverbial ledge.
Damn, that was a big setup episode for the season finale next week - i'm still deciding if it felt a bit too rushed or not since so many things happened in rapid succession. - Nate getting nastier by the episode, really gutwrenching to see it happen because we know where it comes from and he's just overcompensating his own insecurities. Might be that Rupert noticed this somehow and put extra oil into the fire last week when he whispered into his ear but this will be ugly in the next episode judging by the end of this because Ted looked PISSED - Roy & Keeley, i don't know what's happening there. I thought he'd propose to her on the spot right there when they looked at each other during the photoshot but it seems all went to hell after she revealed that Jamie is still in love with her - Sam having to make a big decision with nothing really holding him back from leaving, the offer is just perfect for him and Rebecca is unsure Less fun this episode and more drama ( Roy's eyebrows being psychotic according to Coach Beard was hilarious though) but that's ok.
I think Trent Crimm (The Independent) undersold his affection for Ted just using the word "respect." The man burned a source, unasked, immediately. Even if he loves Ted like a brother and thinks Nate was being a back-stabbing little prick with his inept palace-intrigue horseshit, that's still a major thing for Trent to do that could seriously damage his career and reputation. If it comes out, he might never get an on-background or anonymous source again.
Agreed but that's the kind of respect and loyalty Ted inspires - he will still publish the article, that's his professionalism but he also knows what damage this will cause and he wants to make sure it doesn't happen again. So in a way he honors his profession while remaining human. Now i'm curious what Ted will do with Nate. He forgave Rebecca in season 1 just like that and she had a horrible plan, which Ted torpedoed simply by being an awfully decent and lovable person. I just can't see that happening with Nate and we've seen glimpses of rage that Ted is capable of - Nate better look out.
Nate better knock this shit off, or maybe Roy will have to intervene. That leak to the press was fucked up.
Nate will most likely play a big part in the season finale and it's been coming for the entire season, ever since he got a taste of fame when he made that good tactics decision a few episodes ago. Since then his ego has ballooned up like crazy and now it burst - i don't know if he'll be written off the show or actually get a new club and sort of becomes an arch rival to Ted, well see in a few days.
Nate kept talking about "credit", and this seems to go back to his insecurities around his parents. He seems desperate and kind of sad actually. Trying to kiss Keeley was one thing, leaking Ted's condition to the press was another. Total dick move. I hope he comes back to the fold, having gone through this and coming out better for it. I like Nate (or at least I used to). BTW: Trent Crimm actually texting "The Independent"?
Is Nate the head coach? Because hiring a coach who's only been an assistant for one season and was the equipment guy before that to be the head coach is really stupid. Second only to hiring a college football coach to coach professional soccer overseas.
I keep reading people saying that Ted Lasso was like the Empire Strikes Back season, and I'm having a hard time with that. I actually look at Season 2 (If you want to make a Star Wars comparison) as kind of like Revenge of the Sith and Nate was Anakin. Nate feels neglected, and tearing up the "Believe" sign was like killing the Younglings and really going to the Dark Side. His scene at the end was like Darth Vader in his final form. It was a good episode. I loved how Jamie gave Dani the kick, kind of bringing things full circle from the premiere. I also liked how Ted handled the issue of the article, even though I wanted to hear more from him during the conference. Hopefully now that Trent Grimm is actually independent, we will see more of him next season. I think I liked season 1 better overall, but that was lightning in a bottle. This season really did a nice job building up the characters and taking them to different places. Watching the journeys of these characters was pretty good, especially Ted and Sharon and Keeley and Roy.
Sorry I'm late to the game here, but I just finished Season 2. I'm really not sure what to think about this whole situation with Nate. It just seemed to have come from left field. I get that he got a little drunk with power once he proved his worth as a coach, but I just don't get why he thinks he's been abandoned by Ted. He went from kit manager to assistant coach and then Ted let him design the false 9 play. Yes, Roy basically brushed off the kiss with Keeley with barely a "by your leave" but still. Did I miss an episode somewhere? Just seems his turn on Ted came too quickly. He'd been a dick to the new kit manager all season, but still... Hmmmm.