‘Ted’ Recap: ‘Just Say Yes’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

TED -- "Just Say Yes" Episode 101 -- Pictured: (l-r) Max Burkholder as John, Seth MacFarlane as voice of Ted -- (Photo by: PEACOCK)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Series Premiere of ‘Ted’.
​
If there is one thing, we all search for in our journey, it’s a Best Friend for Life. Because we collectively know, that having a BFFL around us, does wonders for us. Because it means we have someone that we can confide in and connect with, and the bond we share will simply be incredible and energize us in so many ways. So, we seek out that amazing bestie, and deeply celebrate when they enter our lives, seemingly out of the blue. As though this pairing is some kind of cosmic miracle. Wherein the universe had our BFFL ready to go. But in reality, so much more goes into what forges best friendships than sheer luck and coincidence.

Instead, it truly involves a series of critical moments of bonding. Where we learn about the majesty of the BFFL to be and how they can make us better and where we can do the same for them. Where we discover what their support means to us and vice versa and well, it just so happens that a new series on Peacock is going to explore what forges a best friendship via the prequel series, Ted. For this particular series not only brings everyone’s favorite little foul-mouthed teddy bear back into the storytelling fold, but truly explores how he and John Bennett became the inseparable besties that would do anything for one another in the movies… courtesy of a trip back to 1993. 

Wherein John was in high school, and Ted was uh… on the couch… and well, a reckless incident involving a gun in ‘Just Say Yes’, allowed for that deep forging to begin. Because Ted was forced to go to school with John and he hated that through and through and decided the best way to get the hell out and back on the couch, was to get expelled. Which brought about grand shenanigans in this tale, wherein Ted and John worked hard to get their hands on some weed and smoke it, because that’s how it goes in high school when the opportunity is presented. But what mattered more here, was that bonds were forged by way of some major surprises in the quest to get hold of weed. Since the duo came to learn that Blaire, John’s cousin who also stayed with the Bennett family, was selling weed to make ends meet.

---

TED -- "Just Say Yes" Episode 101 -- Pictured: (l-r) Seth MacFarlane as voice of Ted, Max Burkholder as John, Scott Grimes as Matty, Alanna Ubach as Susan, Giorgia Whigham as Blaire -- (Photo by: PEACOCK)

A discovery that of course went beyond Ted and John’s knowledge and landed in the lap of one Matty Bennett, John’s dad. Who of course, lost his mind over this. Because so many dads in the 1990s were that conservative type, who believed in God, America, and Guns, in that order no less. And that also meant the weed could not be in his household, so he laid down the hammer and evicted his own family member. A move that brought protest from everyone, even Matty’s seemingly laid back, prototypical 90s wife, Susan… but he cared not. Which allowed for Ted… to go the extra mile and do something quite gentle and sweet. Because he didn’t think that Blaire’s eviction was the right way to go about this, and something positive had to be done about it to keep her life on track, because an eviction and navigating college would be no easy task. 
​
So, Ted did what any former celebrity turned impromptu high school student, would do, and pulled a valuable item from his vault to give to Matty, under the condition that Blaire would be allowed to stay. Specifically… a mouthpiece used by Sylvester Stallone for the Rocky franchise, a saga that Matty loved deeply. And well, after he actually put that in his mouth, because of course a guy like Matty would, Blaire was indeed allowed to stay. Which was a kind act that everyone in the household supported. And truly, it was one of those formative moments for close friends. Because going out there and caring about someone deeply enough to sacrifice and go the extra mile for them, is special and speaks to the good heart of these two individuals, and it informed both of them of why they should be around one another… and that made… for a lovely series premiere.

One that was of course, downright funny as well. Because this is a Ted story and what would that be without shenanigans and gags, and those were plentiful here and absolutely worked. But what mattered more here, was the humanity on display, and how it celebrated our wonders and the unique nature of our flaws and how we overcome them during tough times, and well… all of these elements brought together a hilarious and charming series premiere. One that informed us that this show is clearly going to offer up more beautiful lessons and observations about life, through the lens of a teddy bear that loves to drop F-bombs, and well… you simply cannot go wrong with that. Until next time.

To learn more about the genesis of this series, checkout our interviews with the show’s Executive Producers/Co-Showrunners, Paul Corrigan and Brad Walsh, and cast members: Max Burkholder and Giorgia Whigham, and Alanna Ubach and Scott Grimes.

---