Ted Lasso 2×03 “Do The Right-est Thing” Spoilers Ahead
Ted Lasso‘s third episode of the season, “Do The Right-est Thing,” paints its theme clear as day through the title, making sure audience members understand just what this show is all about. (And since the Frozen conversations return in this episode, I can’t help but draw comparisons to my personal favorite Frozen II song, “Do The Next Right Thing.” And yes, this means we have finally met Nora (Kiki May), and it’s Rebecca’s turn to make up the last six years.
“Do The Next Right-est Thing” is an episode that fortifies Rebecca’s noticeable growth and clarifies that someone like Jamie Tartt can get there as well. In Ted’s words, “doing the right thing is never the wrong thing,” but most of the time, it’s also the hardest route to take. If it were easy, the world would be a brighter place, but the episode clarifies that weighing the penalties often changes the trajectory of the goal when necessary.
Do The Right-est Thing aka the Boss A$$ B-tch Way
If I appreciated Rebecca Welton less, I might be able to take about her more. There is character development, and then there’s the exemplary journey of growth Ted Lasso has taken Rebecca through. Sassy is back in town for work, but she needs someone to watch Nora, and thus, fairy godmother duties commence.
Before we get to the analytical portion of this, I must take a small moment and commend the show for delivering on the little things, like actually allowing us to meet and get to know Nora. I feel like any other show at this point would have skewed us to believe that making amends happened off-screen. But Ted Lasso shows us the little moments because writers understand how crucial it is to the entire story.
Bonding starts with high tea, which seems to be at a place where there are many more children than adults, but also, where is this place because I’ll never say no to afternoon tea. When the activities Rebecca has planned don’t work out, Roy is the one who advises her to do what she’d normally do and let Nora join in. (I mean, Phoebe is willing to go to his podiatrist appointment, so I suppose he’s not wrong…)
It turns out, on this day, a lot is happening at the office. Sam decides he must step down from the Dubai Air campaign because he learns from his father that it’s owned by Cerithium Oil (a company that’s refusing to clean up the oil spill in Nigeria).
And thankfully, he is met halfway with ample support. No one is angry at Sam for the decision he makes, but no friend of Rupert’s, and ultimately, no human owning such a company would make letting go of someone easy. After Rebecca breaks the news, Richard tells her to essentially get rid of Sam Obisanya.
Season 1 pre “All Apologies” Rebecca might have done whatever necessary not to upset a partner company, but today, Rebecca cares about her team and every single person in it more than she cares about money and business transaction. Thereby, doing the right-est thing equates to making the important choices that will benefit humanity more than a paycheck.
It was easier to make such a choice this time around because not only is Rebecca giving in to her more compassionate side, but she is surrounded by people who will back her decisions as opposed to belittling and scrutinizing her. She is surrounded by people who believe in her. She’s surrounded by people who look up to her as a boss because they see her worth and believe in all she is capable of. Where Rupert once made her feel small, today, everyone at AFC Richmond not only acknowledges her worth, but they make sure she knows she is never alone.
Today, no matter the losses they face, Rebecca’s primary goal is to ensure that her team is protected, cared for, and heard.
“Do The Right-est Thing” is also an exemplary episode for bringing to light why decisions like this matter as prodigiously in the real world as much as the fictional one. Companies that bring more harm than good should not be at the center of a team’s jersey. For the longest time, no one has stood up to corruption in companies with the kind of language they’d understand—that of stepping down. Money talks, but stepping back screams even louder.
If Dubai Air is no longer what the team is willing to wear across their chests, then maybe, just maybe, people like Richard will rethink the damage they’re causing.
And if people like Rebecca Welton continue doing the right thing even if the team loses, at some point, their humility will overrule the wins and reputation. If AFC Richmond is the kind of team that is spreading positive messages dealing with the treatment of humanity and, inadvertently, homelands, then they are bound to gain recognition for being more honorable. They also get to sleep better at night, and for someone like Rebecca, the enrichment she gets from making better choices continues to help her feel both less alone and more free.
Hannah Waddingham is a class act in this episode because, for a moment, it wasn’t clear if Rebecca would make the right choice as it’d still be human for her to stumble. But when she does, Waddingham’s performance crystallizes the detail that no decision has helped her feel more fulfilled. Spending time with Nora, learning from her, and setting the kind of example a godmother should, is more important to Rebecca today than any other business deal she could make. Richard can go to voicemail when she gets to cheer and celebrate with those she loves.
Teamwork and Standing Together
Teamwork is still fairly clunky over at AFC Richmond, especially considering the fact that the majority of the team didn’t want to see Jamie Tartt return. However, growth is still happening, and in “Do The Right-est Thing,” Jamie decides to step up and publicly apologize to everyone in the locker room. Credit goes where credit is due. Sincerely apologizing isn’t easy, and so often, it’s glossed over, but where it’s authentic, it needs to be proven too.
The team is rightfully hard on Jamie because, as mentioned last week in “Lavender,” nothing is an overnight fix. They’re all frustrated, they don’t trust him, and a large majority of them don’t know the details that Ted does about his father. They have a faint idea based on the sacrificial ceremony from “Two Aces,” but none of them know just how much it’s weighed on him, and thus for the team, giving him a second chance understandably feels like going backward.
But Sam Obisanya made an extremely courageous choice this week that would impact the team as well when he covered the Dubai Air sign with black tape, and they each made the choice to follow him.
Let’s break this down for a moment. Sam’s decision was remarkable, and Toheeb Jimoh’s delivery of that scene, along with the cinematography, was outstanding. The camera panning from the picture of his parents to his face in the small mirror brought forth a hopeful comfort, and you could pinpoint the exact moment Sam makes the decision to take his stance one step further.
It’s also easy to appreciate that after last week’s conversation, Ted gives Sam the platform to speak on something he’d understand better. No one is perfect, and that includes Ted Lasso, but the episode is also proof of the fact that doing the right thing can happen at any time.
Also, for the whole team to back him, along with Jamie choosing to be the first to toast to him, was stellar. There is a gentle softness in Sam that is so transparent when people allow themselves the chance to be charmed by it, and that’s happening with Jamie too. He is seeing just how much bravery doing the right thing entails, and it’s clearly inspiring him, which is a beautiful thing to see.
Sam did a brave thing, and now, Sam isn’t just in the presence of coaches who cares about him, but an entire team who are by his side to back him along with the causes near to his heart. They aren’t just a team on the field, they are family off of it too. And this, friends, is the absolute start of beautiful teamwork. This is where everything will start to really change, and I can’t wait to see how it unfolds.
Led Tasso
We were also introduced to a new character in “Do The Right-est Thing,” Ted’s Mr. Hyde, Led Tasso—the last resort. And as Dr. Fieldstone figures out, this side of him comes out when he needs the team to see him as the common enemy as opposed to Jamie. It’s an interesting tactic, as is Jamie talking to Dr. Fieldstone because Keeley tricked him into it. But really, if there is anyone that’ll give therapy a try as easily, it is Jamie.
But Led Tasso is so fascinating because it gives us an insight into the character we already appreciate and just how much he’s willing to do for his team. (Except give therapy a chance, but could that be his real last resort? The foreshadowing is clear as day.)
Ted Lasso’s third episode is an astounding step that jumpstarts a plethora into motion, including the fact that though they lost, the team’s tie streak is now broken. Cheers to that. But more importantly, it’s a reminder that even when there’s loss after doing the right thing, the right people will still stand by your side and cheer for you. They’ll still believe in you, root for you, and love you even harder because of the bravery that stepping up took. Ashley Nicole Black’s writing style is both remarkably hilarious and gorgeously heartfelt. It left me stunned, and I can’t wait until we’re given more from her point of view.
Ted Talks and Further Thoughts
- Keeley calling Sam “a mood, a moment, a mantra” was delightful. Toheeb Jimoh is also a mood, a moment, a mantra.
- Ted asking Sassy if Nora is his had me howling. Jesus, and I thought I was bad at math.
- From this day forward, I will refer to Chuck E. Cheese as Charles Edgar Cheeserton III.
- Nora is single-handedly the luckiest person alive because of that picture with the Greyhounds. Also, her godmother is the Rebecca Welton.
- Jane and Beard are now sharing an iCloud account. Oof, will things work out with this new digital intimacy?
- “Fairly certain this is my third life reincarnated.” I had this exact thought the other day after having déjà vu (funnily, about this show too).
- Roy calling kids, “little idiots” and Phoebe with that “thank you for helping me set boundaries.” Lol!
- Higgins hyping up Rebecca in front of Nora was hilarious.
- I love that the conversation about John was brought up and Rebecca states: “because you were right,” to Roy’s “is it because of what I said?” Because heck yes, he was right. Has anyone else exercised Roy’s advice since “Goodbye, Earl?”
- Good to know Sam also appreciates Frozen and the beautiful metaphor for many of life’s journeys. Also, is there anything more infectious than Sam’s smile?
- That moment when the whole team stepped out with tape covering Dubai Air was so brilliantly chilling in all the right ways. What a shot.
What are your thoughts on Ted Lasso’s “Do The Right-est Thing?”
The events from this episode are based on real occurrences in the world today. For more information on the Niger Delta Negligence, visit: https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2018/03/niger-delta-oil-spills-decoders/?fbclid=IwAR2L4hM6vzB6TswdX5lxEhOULwNbEmdyRRSBtNIj7EOLliTHw7aifMVjHvU