On the previous Ted Lasso, coach finally decided to go to therapy with Dr. Fieldstone but that doesn’t mean he’ll be cooperative. Elsewhere, the direct messages are getting hot between Rebecca and Sam on their dating app and it might be a good time to meet up. In “Man City,” we get progress on both fronts.
Though the good doctor was introduced in the season two premiere, it’s not until now that we explore her character more. Right at the beginning of the episode, we learn something unexpected but explains why she’s very patient with Ted during their sessions. It’s more than professionalism. They might deflect in different ways, but Sharon and her patient aren’t that different.
A bike accident puts her in an uncomfortable position. The details we see in her life are telling. The person who helps her home from the hospital is not a family member but Ted Lasso. When they arrive at her place, it’s rather plain and lonely looking corporate housing and Ted notices the abundance of half-filled bottles of booze in the apartment, not too different from his own in the holiday episode.
Relationships involve give and take and here we see the evolution between Sally and the coach. She was advised to show some vulnerability in order to encourage her patient to open up and here, she is already physically vulnerable and requires help. But she takes it another step further speaking about her love of riding bikes and what the accident could mean for her favorite hobby moving forward. This personal share, along with all the things they learn to have in common, help connect Dr. Fieldstone and Ted.
The father/son dynamic is a theme that is featured in this episode of Ted Lasso. There’s the very positive and loving example between Sam and his dad, especially when Sam’s old man says how proud he is after learning that the big oil company back in Nigeria has been ordered to stop thanks to the younger Obisanya’s social activism.
That is paralleled with the toxic relationship between Jamie and his father. We’ve already seen how big of a douche that James Tart is but it’s turned up to eleven in “Man City” where he almost becomes a caricature of the stereotypical obnoxious, deadbeat dad. There’s a physical altercation in the locker room and the event triggers Ted to call the team’s sports psychologist where we discover a very traumatic experience from his past. Dr. Fieldstone’s attempts earlier have paid off and helped pave the way to this breakthrough.
Ted Lasso has served as a roller coaster ride with high highs and some heartbreaking lows. With all the good fortune the past episodes, it was only a matter of time before things became more difficult. As the episode’s title alludes to, there’s a big match up between AFC Richmond and Manchester City, who caused their relegation.
It’s a bit disappointing that the team doesn’t redeem themselves but also the nature of the defeat hits harder. It’s quite the shellacking and the humbling loss probably added to the Ted’s stress even before the Tart family drama. It could be nothing, but it is also a little ominous when Coach Beard heads out on his own to walk off the blowout.
There are some happy notes in “Man City.” The short subplot with Roy and his niece’s cursing is hysterical and cute but still plays with the parent/child motif. Ted Lasso has been building up their eventual face to face meet most of the season and we finally have Sam and Rebecca going on their first date. There’s some awkwardness and hesitation initially but it’s good to see these two great people find each other. At least we know Sam is all in cashing in his one haircut from Isaac before the blind date. It is a fun spectacle with the whole team involved and the scene is so well made with the soundtrack, lighting, and different camera angles.
This week’s episode gives us an insightful peek behind Dr. Fieldstone and drops some big bombshells from character secrets to a workplace romance.
New episodes of Ted Lasso drop Fridays on Apple TV+.
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