Happy Monday, all! Another Friday has come and gone, and with it, another week of Ted Lasso - or this week, Led Tasso.
I don’t know about anyone else, but I have become very emotionally invested in Sam Obisanya's wellbeing. This, unfortunately, conflicts with the other part of me that is very emotionally invested in the wellbeing of Jaime Tartt. I know not everyone agrees with me, but gosh - I just want to see them both succeed. Luckily for me, both Sam and Jaime were the stars this week!
At the beginning of the episode, we find out that Sam’s campaign with Dubai Air, the team’s biggest sponsor, was finally released. And Sam looks great! But when he goes to tell his father about this achievement, he is met with some devastating news. The parent company of Dubai Air is responsible for polluting the shores of Sam’s home country, Nigeria, and bribing the Nigerian government into allowing them to continue doing so. Sam quickly falls on the side of the Nigerian government and requests that Keeley and Becca take him off the campaign. Part of me was worried they would refuse them, as I am always mentally preparing myself for the worst on this show. But, somehow, it never seems to come. Becca and Keeley both kindly accept Sam’s resignation, fully understanding the gravity of the situation and the internal dilemma Sam must be facing in order to come to such a decision.
We turn now to Jaime Tartt, who is still the common enemy of every single member of the Richmond squad. He tries briefly to apologize in the locker room, only to be bombarded by everyone as they air their personal grievances with him - which they have clearly been harboring since the moment he left the team last time.
Ted decides he must turn to his last resort to reunite his team - now including Jaime. This is when we are fortunate enough to meet Led Tasso - Ted’s alter ego - who comes out guns blazing to practice, screaming his mustache off at the entire team until he ends up canceling the practice as a whole after Jaime calls him out for his attitude. This earns Jaime a couple of pats on the back and thanks you’s - none notably from Sam.
Poor, poor Jaime. He just needs a friend. And when he tries to turn to Keeley as just that, she sends him back to our favorite sports psychotherapist, Dr. Fieldstone.
However, when Richmond returns for their first official match with Jaime back on the squad, Sam decides to tape over the Dubai Air logo on his kit as a symbol of protest for the airline’s involvement with pollution and corruption in Nigeria. Jaime finally begins his true redemption arc by joining Sam and persuading the rest of the team to do so as well, in solidarity. It was a moment that made a viewer go “Aw," and then "Uh-oh," collectively. There will most certainly be repercussions next week as we dive into a battle with the airline CEO, who already wanted Sam off the team for dropping the Airline campaign.
What’s the rest of the squad up to? Becca is watching Sassy’s daughter Nora, played boldly and perfectly by Kiki May, and the two compose a lovable duo. Rebecca learns more about the goddaughter she regretfully abandoned for six years and Nora takes the wheel as girl boss-in-tow at Richmond headquarters. I love listening to British children talk. All of their scenes together are nostalgic and charming. The two of them have a sweet chemistry that really adds a loving touch to an otherwise more serious episode. That said, I think I may have laughed out loud more in this episode than any thus far this season.
Roy and his literally outstanding niece Phoebe are also out and about this week, offering some necessary comedic relief. Let's be honest, besides Jason Sudeikis, Brett Goldstein does the second-most heavy lifting on this show. I love Phoebe because her one-liners are just as funny as any of the adults and because she humanizes Roy juuuuust enough that he doesn’t seem completely fictional as a character. I almost choked when he asked Phoebe to join him at his podiatrist appointment and she joyfully responded, “Yes, PLEASE!”.
I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again - Lasso is in its own league when it comes to dedicating time and genuine effort to each of its characters. We have multiple storylines that are going to need resolution moving forward (can Ted and Sassy PLEASE kiss some more), but as always I am content to sit right here and enjoy the ride. Until next week!
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