‘Ted Lasso’ Recap: ‘International Break’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 310 of ‘Ted Lasso’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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Perception is a word that we cherish in our modern society and understandably so. Simply because… so many of us will seek it out in life, and on several occasions. Largely because, we are an emotional species. One where those emotions can cloud our judgment and understanding of where we actually are in life, where we are headed and what we could be. So, we search for objectivity and perspective and hope we can obtain it but even that at times… seems quite elusive. Since life and the situations that demand perspective can become so overwhelming. Which begs the question… how then… do we find it? Well as it turns out, there are several ways we can obtain perspective, and they were explored during this week’s episode of Ted Lasso on Apple TV+.
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For ‘International Break’ featured a little downtown for the majority of the club. For indeed the International Game had arrived and aside from Van Damme, Colin, Dani Rojas (doing his best Led Tasso impersonation, or as Apple called it on social media, Rani Dojas), and Jamie Tartt… everyone could kick back and chill and well… downtime is a good way to bring perspective to people. For instance, it helped Roy Kent a ton in deciding what he wanted to do about his love life and how he presented himself around others. Since the quiet just helped him to understand the mistakes he made romantically and through the ultra-masculinity he’s been taught and that brought him back to Keeley’s arms with a little honesty. But what mattered more, is that we came to learn here, sometimes we just need a little quiet to find perspective and sometimes… we need to lose and stay lost for a bit. 

Which is what happened to both Nate and Keeley in this tale. For their dreams were shattered here. After all, Nate decided he could no longer work for a man like Rupert, who indulged his worst demons and clearly cared little about monogamy and moral standards… so he quit. He quit and slipped into a deep depression. Because he simply didn’t understand how he could have been duped and encouraged by a man of that caliber and well… that prompted Nate to get lost, at home, and just drift for a bit and think about his life, his choices and what brought him here. And that, and a powerful moment with his father, wherein many of our questions about their relationship were answered… gave Nate perspective on the kind of man he needs to be, and that was a fine way to teach us how just losing ourselves and wandering can help us to see things objectively and give us direction. 

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As for Keeley’s journey, well that offered up a different angle of what getting lost can do for us. Since Jack decided to go full Jackass in this tale and pull the funding for KJPR and shut it down. Of course, she took no accountability for such an act, and why would she? But sadly, that of course… put Keeley in a deep and dark place as well. One that left her wondering her worth and her standing in this life and she too… just got lost for a little while and wallowed in her sorrows. Because sometimes, to gain perspective… we need to just let the pain and the sorrow wash over us and feel our feels. So, that it burns out and clears our head and then we can handle life again and go get what we need. Which for her was fine words from her Best Friend for Life in Rebecca, and that helped complete the perspective she needed, and a wonderful financial gesture from her ‘BFFL’ didn’t exactly hurt, either. Since a generous investment from Welton Holdings got KJPR back on its feet.
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Speaking of Rebecca, well she too offered up a lesson on perspective in this tale. For her journey informed us that sometimes… the best way to find what we need in that respect, is to confront that which confuses us and generates an emotional response. A lesson learned by way of the return of Edwin Akufo. Who continued his own special brand of ass-hattery in this tale by giving Sam the business and by trying to have Rebecca and the other owners join his stupid super-league. One that would box out the average fan in the name of making money and after Rebecca humiliated him for his greed, and got the other owners on her side, she finally had perspective regarding Rupert, and what she wants out of being the owner of AFC Richmond. For Rupert once again made a move at Rebecca romantically and that taught her… he was just a small man that used the moment and manipulation to engender trust and admiration. And because of that, she was fawning and worrying over nothing.

Not to mention, she’d been pushing Ted and the team forward for all the wrong reasons. For revenge, instead of for the love of the game and what it means to win. But now… she has perspective on that as well, and she even expressed a new and more wholesome direction to Ted and all of this… brought forth a beautiful episode. One that was meaningful and intimate and really put a lot of the characters and their needs and wants in perspective for us, while teaching us how to find our own. And it changes everything for the rest of the season. Since we were of the belief that a showdown with West Ham and Nate and Rupert was in the cards for the ending. But instead… this story appears to be barreling toward a concept that isn’t really seen in television. Specifically, personal closure and achievement of personal goals when we’ve found greater success. Which is as intimate a concept as this tale, and it will be interesting to see if that this where this story goes or if it has more surprises in store for us down the line, as we inch toward the season three finale of this unique and wondrous tale. Until next time.

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