‘Ted Lasso’ Recap: ‘We’ll Never Have Paris’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 308 of ‘Ted Lasso’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.

Over the course of the past few weeks, the Apple TV+ series, Ted Lasso, has helped us to learn a lot about a subject we don’t discuss all that often. Specifically… what life is like when we obtain our dream. Simply because everyone believes that the story ends when the big moment happens, but it doesn’t. There’s still life to live, ups and downs to deal with, and it is wonderful to encounter a story that points all of this out and of course… has more to say on the matter. Because this week’s episode of the series took the time to examine another corner of life within the dream, specifically, why it is so crucial that we work hard and maintain that which brought us to the dance in the first place. 
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Because to maintain our success allows for us to have a source of constant happiness, something that we can rely upon to counterbalance the tough days and a foundation… to deal with the tougher stuff that life will continue to send our way. Because as mentioned before, the ups and downs still come, and they most certainly did in ‘We’ll Never Have Paris’. But since everyone was in a good place in this tale, they were able to deal with what life threw at them in a dynamic and incredible manner, regardless of the size of life’s little surprise, as evidenced by Keeley’s journey in this tale. For she sadly… had some very private videos released out into the world, the kind that hurt her deeply and well, the success of KJPR, and having the right people around her, mostly, allowed for Keeley to handle this matter with incredible grace.

Which was amazing to see play out, since let’s be honest… so many of us would freak out and likely hide if by chance that happened to us. But she received kindness from just about everyone on the matter. Since Rebecca was there for her bestie and helped her to understand there was little, she could do about a hack this size, but ride it out and hope accountability came into play. And even Roy tried to offer solace in his own awkward and embarrassing way and even Jamie went the extra mile and took the blame for something that might not have been his fault. All of which, helped her heal fast and helped her to see, she might be in a toxic relationship. Because the one person that wasn’t supportive, was Jack. Who tried to get Keeley to release an apology that made her look guilty and denied her agency and visibility because she thought somehow… this was Keeley’s fault, and well, had it not been for maintaining success, she might not have such clarity regarding Jack. 

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But there were more reinforcing lessons regarding maintaining success to be found in this tale, and that was handled via Ted. Because now that AFC Richmond was winning again, he turned his attention to handling something that’s been nagging at him for some time, with grace. Specifically, his family related worries. Because the good doctor and Henry and Michelle dropped by for a little bit to see Ted and visit Europe and well, since we all clearly know that Ted wants a second chance with Melissa badly, the fact that she was headed to Paris with Doctor ‘Steal My Ex-Wife’ left him worried a proposal was coming and she might be gone forever. But since the team was doing well, and because Ted also had a successful support network around him… he was able to handle this and also, ironically get great advice from Rebecca. Wherein she informed him all he can do is control what he can control and that he should live in the moment and let fate handle the rest, and well, he followed that advice and handled his emotions accordingly because success let him focus upon that.
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All of which perfectly hammered home how success in what we love and what we know will bring us happiness, will help us to find balance in this life. Since it will afford us the chance to fix what we need to fix, and that made for one beautiful episode really, one full of emotional and wonderful moments and some interesting hints of things to come. For Colin was outed thanks to Isaac and that has us wondering as to whether or not a new problem might be brewing, one that will hurt to watch because love is love. Not to mention, it’s hard to be angry at Nate these days or see him as the heavy, since he continues to be better, making it seem as though Rupert is the real problem when it comes to Nate’s darkness… and this does leave one to wonder if perhaps… redemption is in the cards for Nate, courtesy of love and kindness. Not to mention, there was that unique spark between Ted and Melissa at the end of this tale.

But while we wait to see where all of that takes us, we can in fact, celebrate one beautiful tale. One that truly explored the majesty of finding balance, of being able to rise above that which ails us and how success does in fact help with that. A move that makes it clear that this season isn’t designed to swear us off of chasing our dreams, but to present them in a realistic light and it continues to find new ways to do that, and it continues to charm us every step of the way with its incredible characters and the realistic moments they share with us. And well, now that we’ve reached the end of this particular journey, once again we are left wanting for more. More of the charm, more of the lessons and more of a world that oddly reflects our own, courtesy of its portrayal of life and all the wonder and troubles it provides us with. Until next time.

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