The episode can be called “The Big Week”, but what once again the writers ingeniously showed us is that Ted Lasso likes to mess with our heads. And yes, we are all too aware of the coach’s “toxic positivity” that is questioned and confronted even by those who love him the most. Let’s go to what happened on the field and off the field.

The number 1 rule of the game here is to be aware that the series messes with our perceptions all the time. Do we want Tedbecca? They openly explore the possibility, they are our “Ruperts” by exposing how perfect they are for each other and ready to fall in love, but it doesn’t happen. Seriously, I’m resisting as much as I can not submit!

The same applies to Nate. I hate Nate Shelley and of course, when he reached the height of that dislike they come to humanize him again. I will not accept! Nate’s weakness of character may have its explanations, but what he did and is doing is unforgivable and I’m with Beard and Roy on this one. You have to answer for your choices!

But then there’s Ted, the buffoon, the guy everyone underestimates who’s in the game alone. Ted is a mess, as Sassy puts it simply. Those who have already gone through separation (and follow the gossip of Jason Sudeikis’ personal life) identify all the situations and triggers placed in the series. Sassy is still in her own personal overcoming process but is “three years ahead” of Ted. Rebecca about six months ago. Ted is still disoriented from being dumped by Michelle and switched with the couple’s analyst. Former couple. But finally, you want to move on.

Nate’s betrayal is felt and hurt, but Ted refuses to let the anger stage decide for him. It’s beautiful and manipulative to make him superior to others, but Beard, Roy, and Rebecca have confronted him so many times that you have to fight back. Assertively, but Ted doesn’t want to. How are you going to get out of this?

Nate, who I control myself here not to curse, deserved the scorn and hatred of the team that discovered that his departure was worse than they imagined. Thanks, Trent Crimm! This time you appear to be keeping Colin’s secret, see how long, but you’ve exposed Nate for the despicable being that he is. Thanks to Jade too! I know you’re still a racist snob, but today, still treating Nate like he wasn’t famous was our best revenge in the entire episode. He has every appearance that he’s going to change and go out with him, but we’ll wait.

Nate is suffering from being what he knows is a bad person, but I’m sorry, there have to be consequences. Ted can forgive him, but I hope the others don’t.

And our dear Keeley? Poor thing! I also hate Barbara, an aggressive employee I so wanted to see her get fired! Apparently separating Keeley from Roy was bad for her. So much so that she fell for the fake Shandy, who confirmed to us that she is “the new Nate”. Barbara’s passive-aggressive energy, which Keeley despises, is turning her back into an insecure woman, something she’s overcome with great work with Rebecca, and Shandy is capitalizing on it. Shandy has always been clear: she envies what Keeley has achieved and is robbing her of everything (including Jaime). See if Jack Sanders, who has a very romantic vibe for Keeley, will fall for it. She watched everything just like us. By the way, entering the field of female relationships is dangerous for a male writing team. So far they’ve been obvious but clever in showing the sisterhood between Keeley and Rebecca. Showing falsies in action can be a trap!

Rupert… how disgusting, what a man most perfectly symbolized as all the straight white men who took over the world. In his case, with money, no less. Rebecca can’t get over her heartache over being switched and he loves tormenting her. His game is to destroy her and not let her move on. This relationship deserves another post, but for now, let’s point out that he remains relentless. The only one immune to it is Ted Lasso. Rupert is doing with Nate what Rebecca commented he does: seduce, and support but destabilize to create emotional dependence on approval. He’s rotten and very real. Even defeated, he does not lose. Seeing if Richmond wins the Champions League.

Zava looks like he’s leaving soon. He’s in another universe, he has no connection to anyone, and he’s kind of already done what he had to do – save the team – so his divisive figure was cleverly reduced in this episode. But I wanted Zava to stay… he is God!

And we end up with Ted moving forward with his mental health as a priority. He left Nate in his corner, waiting for the moment when they would have to have a good talk, but it had to be at the right time. Denying using the video of Nate destroying the BELIEVE sign, the moment he lost faith in good deeds, was smart because just playing with anger and hatred on the pitch causes more losses than wins, as Richmond demonstrated. And so he took on his anger at Michelle’s betrayal and opened up with her, brilliantly with the Bob Dylan classic “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright” in the background.

I don’t know if isolating anger is the answer for everything, but Ted has a lot more to surprise those who underestimate him. And we believe in Ted Lasso.