Ted Lasso “All Apologies” Spoilers Ahead
“All Apologies” is the kind of episode that not only changes the trajectory of the character journeys, but it cements the thematic importance of belief that Ted Lasso is grounded in. It tells its audience that the person we choose to be, when taking frightening routes is what matters most and it reiterates the importance of an apology, which we’ve been seeing from the start.
The thing with apologies is that so often, they are glossed over, and especially in media, they are left to the viewer’s imagination. I can’t count the amount the times I’ve wondered when on earth the apology took place, but I can count the amount of times that a show has gotten the angle right. Ted Lasso gets this right because this show is adamant to emphasize just how vital apologizing actually is.
This is also the episode where we’ve done a few scene breakdowns to really dig into the importance of the scene, such as Rebecca apologizing to Ted and Keeley creating a safe space for Roy to be transparent and vulnerable. Be sure to check those out after reading this because they go hand in hand with the episode, and thus, are also just exemplary scenes to talk about further.
All Apologies and No One’s Left Behind
In order for Rebecca to get on the right path, she needed to apologize to Higgins too. And ultimately what this comes down to is the fact that these characters, much like all of us as human beings, really need to normalize sincerely apologizing and actually being held accountable for our actions.
It’s also crucial to note that Rebecca even asks Keeley why it matters anymore, and her answer is stunning because she states: it’ll matter to her. Keeley sees Rebecca as a force to be reckoned with, and Keeley understands that the strongest people are those who aren’t afraid to be vulnerable, and the strongest people are the ones who own up to their mistakes.
Rupert is a giant prick, and we’re all in agreement that he is the absolute worst on this show, but it doesn’t change the fact that Rebecca isn’t what he has said she is—Rebecca is who she chooses to be and right now, she is choosing to be the bigger person. She is choosing to own up to everything she is done, and she is choosing to make amends, fully and completely.
On the other side of the pitch, Coach Beard is no longer having it with Ted’s indifference towards losses and wins, but ultimately, in some ways, he’s not wrong. What matters however, is that people are given a choice, and sometimes, people learn things on their own.
The Second Believe Tap
Roy is the second person to tap the believe sign, and it’s one of the most haunting scenes in the series after you’ve watched the finale and know just how much weight his desire carried. This isn’t easy on Roy. As much as he wants normalcy and to be known as just Roy Kent the man, that is still going to take some getting used to, and ultimately, when it happens on your own terms versus when you’re forced into something, it makes a monumental difference.
This isn’t Roy’s decision to stand down; he’s essentially being asked to do so because of his age and his body’s inability to perform as needed. And that’s never easy on anyone. The idea that you can be robbed of the thing that defines you because you’re forced to stand aside is jarring, and the series giving us real insight into this will always be one of my favorite things because I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again, I imagine that his journey will inspire a lot of people dealing with similar situations.
Thereby, when Roy taps the believe sign, it’s his one last choice to try. In discussing the emphasis on belief, I had said that it’s a choice to believe. Ted makes the choice every single day to, we all do—whatever that choice is. To try, is to believe. And in tapping it, Roy Kent tries. He shows the audience just how much he wants this, how hard this actually is, and most importantly, that he’s trying to believe in something bigger than himself.
He is trying to believe in the team, the aftermath, and maybe just maybe, that his body can hold out for one more game. One more try. One more tap. And it’s beautiful in every way because even though we know the trajectory of the game, this is a scene that tells us Roy Kent is going to keep trying. Whatever it is, he won’t give up on believing in something bigger than himself. Whether that’s football or not, whether there are good days or bad, it’s the promise that he is going to try.
Mysterious, Silly, and Powerful
Little girls are mysterious, silly, and powerful and teenage girls are mysterious, dark, and dangerous. And women are so complex it’s a beautiful thing. “All Apologies” explores female complexities remarkably by showing just how important it is for men and women to be on the same page to understand universal human languages.
And as mentioned multiple times, the universal language this show continuously touches on is kindness. Kindness and love. And when men belittle women, it’s up to other women to see them as they truly are, but ultimately it’s up to other men as well.
The men on Ted Lasso understand this notion beautifully, and the respect they have for women continues to be one of the most admirable details that adds to the series’ magic. It touches on the detail that choosing to understand why people do things, whether a good reason or not is the very key to ensuring that people find ways to become the best versions of themselves. In choosing to understand that this universal language could work to breakthrough even the darkest corridors of a person helps in creating the safe spaces for people evolve.
“All Apologies” gives these characters the necessary means to do the right thing even when it’s seemingly a little late because effort will always matter.
Ted Talks and Further Thoughts
- Paul calling Beard a beautiful man was hilarious.
- The shot of the stadium with Ted sitting super close to Roy is actual footage of my mother sitting next to me on any couch. It’s such a parent thing. And really, isn’t that Ted Lasso in a nutshell?
- Someone get Ted some lavender earl grey tea, mix it with oat milk, and let the man try it. Guaranteed that won’t taste like pigeon sweat. What kind of tea are we giving this man? Inquiring minds need to know.
- I never want to see Higgins’ beard again. Please and thank you.
- Nate apologizing for the sexist shoe comment was also aces, a small moment but vast in an episode like this.
- The concept of ice bathing sounds and looks terrifying. No thank you.
What are your thoughts on Ted Lasso’s “All Apologies?”