‘Ted Lasso’ Recap: ‘Man City’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 208 of ‘Ted Lasso’.
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We are beings that love stability and security. So much, in fact, that we've built our entire society around structure and routine all so we can enjoy what we think we crave the most. And while all of that provides us with the stability and security that we need, it also comes with quite the drawback— it doesn't take long for that type of life to outright bore us because what we don't acknowledge is that we also desire to learn and grow. And the only way to properly learn and grow in life is to take chances and do things that bring about change. However, the norm of stability is such a standard that attempting to break free and become more than the routine can be downright terrifying. That is, until we take that all-important chance and go for it to see what happens— and the importance of taking chances is relevant to our discussion today because it serves as the focal theme of this week's episode of Ted Lasso.

The vast majority of stories in ‘Man City’ revolved around what happens when take those kinds of chances, and a majority of the folks that "went for it" enjoyed some pretty positive results. Rebecca and Sam finally found out that they shared a connection once they met up for dinner, and rather than let the awkwardness of that moment push them back into their usual routine, they took a chance on love and enjoyed some outright wonder in doing so. They came to realize that their spark is real and that something special can grow between them. It's going to be wonderful to see where Rebecca and Sam's story goes in the weeks to come, and the wonder of taking a chance didn't end there.

Dr. Sharon Fieldstone received some fine advice to indulge in a little risk by opening up to Ted to see whether he would return the favor. So, after Ted picked Sharon up from the hospital after she was involved in an accident, she took a chance and opened up and shared with him. Sharon's reward, as it turns out, was well worth the risk because taking the time to offer up some genuine honesty about her feelings in a way that wasn't formal or professional inspired Ted to also break out of his own routine and express his own emotions for a change. Ted got that opportunity before a big match between AFC Richmond and Manchester City, and the end result was quite positive. Ted's openness inspired others around him to also open up, which allowed for honest discourse and dialogue to happen between Leslie and the coaching staff.
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All of these wonderful results from taking chances made it seem like this episode might be mired in incredible positivity because there were no downsides shown after taking big chances. However, because this series is about as brave as it gets, it did take the time to point out that sometimes the chances that we take have some sour results… which was exemplified by the match between AFC Richmond and Manchester City and the events that took place after.

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Going after Manchester City with gusto was one of the biggest risks that this team has ever taken, and sadly, their gambit failed miserably. AFC Richmond was beyond embarrassed on the field by their opponent, and well, that definitely served to remind us that we will sometimes fail when we take risks and that we will fail hard. And sometimes, the universe might kick a little sand in our faces when we're down— as evidenced by the surprise that happened in the locker room after the game. Despite being kind enough to get his rotten dad some tickets to this all-important matchup, the senior Tartt decided to embarrass his son in front of his teammates and push Jamie to the edge— to the point where Jamie actually popped his old man in the jaw before breaking down in pain over years of abuse and bullying from his father. And what's scary about this is that the fallout from this match might not be over. Coach Beard was livid about how the match went down, he barely spoke to Ted after it was over, and he walked home— indicating a little dissension in the ranks.

But while all of that seems to reinforce our perception that taking chances is a horrible idea and will do nothing but bring strife and chaos into our lives, it's the subtle and powerful moments that took place that speak otherwise. Taking this chance against Manchester informed the team that they have work to do, that they must work harder to be better, and that everyone needs to expect better of themselves on the field. Plus, Jamie finally stood up to his father rather than be pushed around by him. But most important of all, Sharon's risk with her emotions brought forth breakthrough with Ted: Shortly after father and son went to blows, Ted excused himself to call his therapist and reveal the source of his pain and how it related to the Tartt family. As it turns out, Ted Lasso's father committed suicide when he was sixteen, and judging from Ted's tears, it's obvious now that this event had a profound impact upon Ted and on his life.

This tragic event is also undoubtedly what motivates Ted to be so gentle and so kind to others— so no one ever feels as alone as his father did all those years ago. And clearly, seeing a father and son fight with each other brings up all the unresolved emotions and pain that Ted buried regarding his own father, and well… that made for a powerful tear-jerking moment that brought the theme of this episode home in a stunning manner.
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Ted's admission, and everything else that happened in this episode, reminds us that risk will sometimes be rosy, but more often than not it will be messy and scary— and totally worthwhile. Taking chances is how we grow as people and find new direction in life, and this series once again deserves our awe and respect for putting together another bold episode that tackles an uncomfortable topic and sets the stage for so much more. We haven't a clue what's going to come from all the difficult change that took place this week, which means we're counting down the minutes to next Friday's tale. We can't wait to see where this stunning season takes us next and to indulge in the amazing lessons that it will undoubtedly offer us. Until next time.

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