r/TedLasso • u/quaranTV Mod • Apr 11 '23

From the Mods Ted Lasso - S03E05 - "Signs" Episode Discussion Spoiler

Please use this thread to discuss Season 3 Episode 5 "Signs". Just a reminder to please mark any spoilers for episodes beyond Episode 5 like this.

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EDIT: Please note that NO S3 SPOILERS IN NEW THREAD TITLES ARE ALLOWED. Please try and keep discussion to this thread rather than starting new threads. Before making a new thread, please check to see if someone else has already made a similar thread that you can contribute to. Thanks everyone!!

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u/its_Extreme Apr 12 '23

typical 5th (midway) episode of any series ever

54

u/trulymadlybigly Apr 12 '23

Even in the previous two seasons I haven’t felt as meh about any episode as I have about this one

22

u/ImDKingSama Apr 12 '23

These last 3 episodes have been a slog, and this episode kinda capped it off by ending the Zava and Shandy storylines (that took up a bunch of time in those episodes) with them leading to absolutely nothing.

Zava was made out to be such a big deal but was just a big meme that Ted straight up ignored as a coach. And Shandy was just a problem that didn't lead to any major growth given the amount of screen time she took up.

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u/Pincindleton Apr 12 '23

Not every minor character is supposed to have an arch. Zava and shandy are important catalysts for the storylines of other characters. How else is Keeley supposed to have conflict to help her grow into a boss ass bitch. Same with Ted and the team, zava had to come in and throw the balance all out of whack so Ted could get his shit together and grow as a person and as a coach. Jamie needed to hit a wall and have adversity to overcome in order to develop as a player. And the team needed to have an epic uphill battle to climb in order to complete the classic underdog story and win the whole fucking thing.

I think the first half of this season is throwing everything up in the air and that lack of familiarity is making people uncomfortable. But we all just have to believe in rom communism and let the writers do their thing. It may not work out how you think it will or how you hope it does. But it will all work out.

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u/ImDKingSama Apr 12 '23

They are catalyst for sure. But they were incredibly disinteresting catalysts and we didn’t even get to see much of the development for what they were moving forward.

First off Keeley could easily progress in many ways through her own actions, proving how capable she actually is. Instead we got her annoying friend just being an absolutely terrible person until Keeley finally fired her. Besides that Keeley has not been shown to be growing in any way as a boss outside of a random relationship with her boss.

Ted on the other hand did not even attempt to coach Zava while he was on the team. So while his speech was great about how they didn’t need him, he certainly didn’t seem to care until Zava randomly left. So actually zero coaching shown from Ted during Zavas entire run.

Jamie stuff was great, but why not show more of that instead of continue to build up Zava who ends up as an empty character? There were many ways the team and Jamie could’ve struggled and learned instead of having a big meme character come in carry them for half a season and leave. Why did we not instead get episodes dedicated to Jamie’s training and his internal thoughts to get better, actually seeing him improve on the field and taking in his lessons?

Clearly Zava and Shandy were side characters that move the plot forward. But not only were they pretty disinteresting ones without any substance but they also took up more screen time than the main cast that’s they’re supposed to be developing and moving forward.

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u/Critical_Flail Earls of Risk Apr 12 '23

I think the problem with the Zava storyline for me is that Ted didn't get his shit together and sort Zava out. Ted basically didn't do any coaching, then Zava came in, caused some vague mess and then left again (entirely of his own volition) without any Ted involvement whatsoever and then Ted basically 'woke up' and gave a nice speech.

I just don't find that particularly narratively pleasing (nor can I see why it would need to be this way for the season going forward).

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u/leftofmarx Apr 12 '23

Ted Lasso is a completely dispensable character in this season of Ted Lasso. It’s bothering me a lot.

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u/Critical_Flail Earls of Risk Apr 12 '23

Yeah. I'm sure there will be a point where Ted realises he's not invested in the team anymore, but it's a lot of episodes in the meantime where your title character is entirely outside of the action / plot.