#that i thought rebecca was going to be at the house in kansas

[lasshoe]

Incorrect Ted Lasso + The Parent Trap (or an AU where Rebecca follows Ted to Kansas)

[fruitbasketball]

thoughts on the bracket?

Y’ALL KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS

okay so i might be him bc my final four is still the same i got:

UConn

UCLA

South Carolina

Texas

ALBANY 1 - i think obviously albany 1 is the hardest to get through. you’re looking at a bracket with south carolina, who is absolutely untouchable - but we know that from last march, that might not stay true.

that being said, i don’t see south carolina experiencing an upset before the final four. dawn run that shit like that navy bro - that is a team whose talent and discipline run deep.

that being said, notre dame has been tough this season, even without olivia miles. oregon state has recently been really holding their own, but my teams to watch are oklahoma and fairfield for upsets. i honestly do see indiana making an early exit from the tournament, but who knows!

ALBANY 2 - rebecca lobo might be onto smth here saying this is the hardest region. if you’re not iowa, ucla, or lsu, this region is a fucking nightmare. even if you are one of those teams, this region is a fucking nightmare.

the reason i have ucla in the final 4 is because both lsu and iowa have the huge potential to choke. ucla has also just been a very good fundamental team this year. they’re just a more polished team than lsu, and while i don’t think they’re more polished than iowa, i think they have the power to shut them down defensively in the way ohio state did their first matchup. they have very solid pieces in charisma osborne, kiki rice, and of course, lauren betts.

obviously, i’d still keep an eye on kansas state, but i would also look out for princeton with a great court presence in kaitlyn chen, as well as wvu, who had a really strong start to the season.

PORTLAND 3 - this vanderbilt columbia play in is going to be the most interesting thing to me in the beginning stages of the tournament. vandy isn’t a perennial powerhouse by any means, but they’re housing a slam? all american in justine pissott, but i haven’t heard from them at all this year. columbia’s got a serious threat in abbey hsu, so that should be a really nice matchup to watch.

y’all already know who i’m riding for out of here, but i’m serious when i say march madness p is a whole different beast. for those of y’all who just started watching, you’re not fuckin ready bro. you’re not ready. that’s why i have such confidence that they can beat socal.

y’all remember 2021 baylor right? yo that was a STACKED ASS TEAM. didi richards, dijonai carrington, nalyssa smith, queen egbo - and paige made the bubble her bitch. that sweet 16 rematch is definitely scary, but paige doesn’t like to make a habit of losing to the same team twice in a row (unless that team is south carolina). ohio state only beat us without paige. they’re not fuckin ready for this shit bro.

PORTLAND 4 - TEXAS FUCKING FIGHT BABY Y’ALLLLLLLLLLL TALK TO ME SO FUCKING NICE BRO. Y’ALL SEE THAT 1 SEED RIGHT?? Y’ALL SEE THAT SHIT TOO??? yeah stanny WIN YOUR CONFERENCE AND MAYBE YOU’D GET A 1 SEED TOO LMFAOOOOOOO

nah but real talk we just cannot stop making stanford our bitch

lemme brag on my school real quick: we had a team in the cfp, BACK TO BACK vball nattys, and both our teams in the ncaa tourn - and one of them is a 1 seed.

and because we’re just so good at making stanford our bitch? i’m not fuckin worried about a fuckin pine tree bro fuck outta here

that said, i’d keep my eyes on nc state and tennessee in this region, they’re bound to stir some shit up for sure

anyway, that’s it for now!!!! i’ll see y’all soon, and happy march 😈😈😈😈😈

[chainofclovers]

New thought about the question of whether the ending montage is a dream or not: it's not a dream in that all those things do happen, but we see it sped up and filtered through different light because we're seeing it through how Ted would want it to be. He has to believe everyone will be okay, and he has to trust that this will be true even without him rushing in to help everyone out, because otherwise sticking to his decision to return to Kansas will feel deeply painful instead of sad but peaceful. All the little projections into the future are things that occur, but the reality of them is so much more than these sunny little blips--they require work, hard conversations, disappointments, clumsiness, leaps of faith. They might not be the right relationships and jobs and decisions forever, but they all feel right in the moment. The people of Richmond are equipped to handle the complexities of that now, and Ted may hear about some or all of these things with the fullness of those complexities, but in this moment of leaving it has to be enough for him to believe in the happy moments.

As an audience, we get to experience the impossibility of seeing a reality Ted isn't physically there for through Ted's eyes.

And because it isn't Ted's story but it also obviously totally is Ted's story, his ending is the only one we experience more-or-less in real time, albeit with a jump from the day of his arrival to his experience coaching Henry's soccer team. The comparative smallness of his world (press conferences and parties at Leslie's house and big group dinners vs. one youth league soccer game) isn't because we're meant to believe his world is small now, or because all the distance from other people he loves has to be forever, but because zooming in on him as an active, present father is his happiest possible ending in this arc. Being with Henry is the happiness equivalent to his dream (or "dream," or manifestation) of the happiness his Richmond community finds with each other. It's sad but happy but sad but happy, how much this one choice to go to Kansas ripples into everything, just as much as Rebecca's choice to bring him to Richmond in the first place.

We have to trust there's more work and growth to be done, more choices and possibilities that will feel like choices and possibilities, but we also have to see enough glimpses of happiness to believe that work is worth it, and that's why the montage starts and ends while he's still on the plane, leaving one home, on the way to another, but currently in neither place.

(And yes, I know that Brendan Hunt's AMA confirmed that the vision was for the montage to comprise actual events, not just a dream. I respect that--and I was actually extremely into his explanation for why Ted isn't at the wedding. I still think there's something to be said for the way Ted jolts awake on the plane, as well as the lighting choices from basically the moment he's on the plane onward.)

[theheroheart]

Everyone's been going off the rails about the Wizard of Oz comparisons, so here's my contribution.

More thoughts under the cut. Many, many thoughts.

Canon references I've seen to Wizard of Oz:

"Coach, I've got a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore."

The Wizard of Oz pinball machine.

Rebecca's red-soled shoes immediately after.

"No place like home" on the pitch banner during a match.

The yellow lego brick under Ted's chair.

Roy's tie-dye shirt looking exactly like the swirl that begins the yellow brick road. (Unhinged, frankly.)

The biscuits being yellow bricks. (A stretch, but even so.)

The fact that in the upcoming episode, it LOOKS LIKE they might be watching The Wizard of Oz for movie night.

Further thoughts regarding character comparisons:

You could argue Ted and Beard are Dorothy and Toto. That's valid. Since we see Rebecca with the red shoes, maybe they're both Dorothy? They are soulmates after all. But...

Ted as Wizard because he's the one helping Jamie/Roy/Nate find their brains/heart/courage that they had in them all along.

And because the Wizard was originally also from Earth, then bumbled his way to Oz and became their leader, despite not knowing what he was doing, nor belonging there.

"You've got some sort of food that can teleport you back home?" Rebecca looks at the biscuits, which are yellow bricks, guiding her to the wizard aka Ted.

We've seen Rebecca wear red-soled shoes twice, and you need to click the ruby slippers THREE TIMES to go home.

You can have Rupert be the Wicked Witch if you want, I'm not currently sold on that beyond being the antagonist to Dorothy. (Does that mean Toto is Keeley?? I mean she's equally adorable.)

Nate being the cowardly lion also supports my theory that he'll return to coach Richmond when Ted leaves. (If you wanna be a stickler for the comparison, Jamie/scarecrow would be the coach with Nate and Roy assisting, but that seems highly unlikely.)

The wizard returns home, but accidentally leaves Dorothy behind. When Ted returns to Kansas, will Rebecca follow? (The Wizard/Professor does show up Dorothy's house at the end.)

Some of this feels far-fetched, which is the same thing I've had a problem with all along. I'm certain Ted's returning to Kansas, and I feel like they really have built up Tedbecca so hard. But how does it make sense for Rebecca to give up Richmond?

Please please share your own ridiculous theorycrafting. ♥

(Thank you to Kat and Ro for helping me go full rabbit hole on this theory, and also to twitter people sharing the canon references.)

[moprocrastinates]

okay, because we have four episodes left and I am nothing if not delusional:

Ted is the one with the truth bomb this time, not Rebecca (and it's that he's leaving after they've won the whole thing)

During this confession, he's fully aware that he's in love with her, but says nothing about it and goes home

Rebecca has also realized she's in love with Ted and was coming to tell him that, but decides not to because her heart's breaking

Higgins/Beard/Keeley tells her to go after him after giving a little speech

So she does, but she hops in that silly little buggy thing bc there's traffic or something

She barely makes it to the airport and she misses the plane by a hair

She charters her own plane

Ted, meanwhile, barely makes it on the plane himself

He's lost in his thoughts the whole way, cueing a montage of all the connections he's made over the last couple of years

Said montage, at the end, focuses on Rebecca

He doesn't have a place to go when he lands back in Kansas, so he heads to his mom's house

When he gets there, Rebecca's sitting on the porch with his mother and drinking tea. His mother LOVES tea and tells Ted so, who remains dumbfounded

Annnndddd obviously they end up together but I don't know much further than that!!!

[degrassi-fanatic]

Time, Wondrous Time

The first time Ted Lasso and Rebecca Welton meet is not in her office at Nelson Road in 2020.

No, the first time Ted Lasso and Rebecca Welton meet is in the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam in 1991.

It had been his mother’s idea to go on the school trip. She had a love of travelling that Ted couldn’t wrap his head around and she wanted to share that with him so he could go and live out some of her dreams for her. 

At least, that’s what she said. 

Ted knows that the real reason that she sent him off to Amsterdam was to get him out of the house.

It’s funny. 

Before everything with his father went down, his mother used to scold him for running around town with his friends, begging him to just stay inside for one night. 

Now, she begs at his bedroom door every night for him to come down and eat dinner. 

It’s funny in the worst way possible. 

His mother had told him that she didn’t want him to miss out on any memories with his classmates and Ted didn’t have the heart to tell her that he didn’t care much about memories. In fact, these days, Ted doesn’t care much about anything anymore. 

That’s how he ends up in some museum having a staring contest with some damned sunflowers. 

“What did Van Gogh ever do to you?” he hears a British accent pipe up from behind him.

He turns to the source of the sound and finds a girl about his age dressed in a school uniform.

Her blonde hair is tied up in a neat ponytail with a couple of stray pieces framing her face. She’s so tall that he has to check that she isn’t wearing six-inch stilettos. She flashes him a smile and he can see the pink bands of her braces. 

His palms grow clammy and he wipes them on his slacks as sneakily as possible. 

“Uh…I...” he stammers, “Just don’t really get the appeal of sunflowers, there’s about a bajillion better flowers to choose from.”

She barks out a laugh.

“Is that your real accent?” 

His heart sinks.

He should’ve known better. How on Earth would a girl like her, who's probably from some expensive part of England, be into the whole Yankee Doodle situation he's got going on?

Ted simply nods before turning his attention back to Van Gogh and his damned sunflowers. 

“I like it.” she says warmly as she walks over to stand beside him, “Where’s it from?”

“Uh, Kansas.” he answers, “What about you? Where are you from?”

“Surrey.”

“Oh, I was just asking where you’re from.” he repeats as he faces her front on, enunciating a little bit more. 

She gives him an odd look. 

“Surrey… As in South East England.”

“Oh!” Ted exclaims, “I thought you were just saying sorry!”

She laughs loudly, breaking some silent rule or two in the museum as they garner the attention of other patrons. 

Ted pays them no mind as he stares at the way she throws her head back chuckling. He smiles when he hears her snort.  

“What’s your name?” he asks. 

“Becca Welton.”

He offers his hand and Becca accepts it, shaking it firmly like she’s probably been taught in those posh etiquette classes. 

“Theodore Lasso.” 

In the corner of the room, he sees girls dressed in the same uniform as Becca begin to make their way to an adult holding a clipboard. 

“Hey Becca, I think your class might be leaving.”

He points in the direction of the group. As soon as Becca makes eye contact with the group, they begin to motion her over urgently, tapping insistently at imaginary watches. 

“Oh, shit, thanks” she answers, “It was nice meeting you, Theodore.”

For a moment, Becca doesn’t make any move to leave despite her words indicating a goodbye. Instead, she stares at his face intensely. For a moment, Ted's worried he broke some cultural norm and Becca is going to sock him in the jaw for it. 

Then, she grabs a hold of both of his shoulders and reels him in to press a short kiss to his cheek. 

Becca backs away shortly after, burning bright red. She turns away without another word and rushes over to her class, her ponytail flicking back and forth as she goes.

Dazed, Ted brings a hand up to his cheek to feel the sticky imprint Becca’s lip gloss left. 

Maybe, Amsterdam wouldn’t be all bad. 

[daydreamgoddess14]

Serenade

MASTERLIST

For the Tedbecca Prompt Party, based on prompt No.27 - A team karaoke night that changes everything.

Ted Lasso / Rebecca Welton- fluffy fluffy.

Rebecca sighed into just one more kiss, relaxing her body against his and letting him hold her up.

“I gotta get downstairs, sweetheart,” he mumbled from behind her ear, making her shiver.

“I know, I know.”

“Don’t want anyone sneakin’ up here to get me and findin’ out what we’re up to.”

“No, not just yet. I want to keep you for myself for a little longer.” He pulled away and looked her in the eye,

“I am yours. Nothin’ and no one gonna take that away, I promise. Gotta go, love you darlin’.” 

“Love you.” She whispered, watching him close the door carefully behind him. Not ten minutes later, she heard him out on the training pitch. She’d just touched up her lipstick when Keeley barrelled in. 

“Baaaabe! Karaoke on Saturday? Whole team’s in! There’s a new place where we can hire a private room just for us. Ted’s in - he’s gonna tell the lads after training. We haven’t done karaoke since Liverpool - it’s gonna be amazing!” She laughed as Keeley recounted the songs she thought every player should sing. “...Barbie Girl for Jamie, of course! Do you think I could get Beard to do a Meat Loaf/Bonnie Tyler duet with me? That would be so much fun. What about you? I can’t wait to hear you sing again! Oh my god, what do you think Ted would sing? Probably some country song, maybe like-”

“Kenny Rogers.” Rebecca interrupted. She cleared her throat, “I mean, I think he likes Kenny Rogers.”

“Wicked, yess - the Gambler! Right, I’ve gotta shoot. I’m taking Babs for lunch. Sorry you can’t join us.”

“Maybe next time. See you Saturday, darling.” Keeley blew kisses and hustled for the door, finally leaving Rebecca alone. 

~~~~~~

The new season was about to start, it felt like a million years since Ted had returned to Richmond after a lonely and destructive month in Kansas. He’d left her sobbing and heartbroken at the airport, watched as his best friend refused to join him, and still gone back. The feeling of instant regret as he walked into Michelle’s house still made him feel nauseous even now. It took an awful lot of prodding from Henry to get to the bottom of why he’d returned. His boy had talked and talked his ear off for weeks, trying to convince him it could just be a holiday and of course he could go back and all he had to do was say sorry and ask very nicely (and use his very best manners) to get his job back from Rebecca. To say she was surprised when he had knocked on her door - the rest of the building miraculously semi deserted due to the summer break - was an understatement. The other coaches had been in, peering around the doorway as they watched him through the corridor and up the stairs. He hadn’t said a word to them, just given them a little nod. 

“Hey boss,” he said with a little knock on the door. She’d been sitting in ‘his’ chair at her desk, looking over paperwork. Though she stood quickly, her knees buckled. He rushed to catch her, the words tumbling from his mouth. “I’m sorry, boss, I’m so sorry.” They’d both sunk to the floor in tears. After 20 minutes, the other coaches couldn’t wait any longer and stormed up the stairs en masse where they found Ted and Rebecca both still crying, both apologising. Roy held out a hand and pulled Rebecca to her feet, offering her a tissue from the box on her desk.

“So you think you can fucking waltz back in here and just get your job back?” Roy asked, looking at Ted but taking a step closer to Rebecca.

“Only if that’s what you all want. I’m under strict instructions to use my best manners and ask very nicely, but if you guys don’t think it’s a good idea then I understand.” They looked around at each other almost as if they’d expected this very situation to occur and had a plan for handling it. Rebecca took the lead and motioned to Nate.

“Can you step outside for a moment please, Ted.” He asked politely. Ted nodded and left the four alone. They spoke in hushed tones, in case he could hear them,

“What do you think?” Rebecca looked around the huddle. With Leslie on holiday, the three gentlemen around her had become her musketeers in recent weeks. Leslie had chuckled on the phone about being their d'Artagnan when he returned.

“I knew this would fucking happen,” Roy grumbled.

“We all did,” Beard agreed.

“Good job we kept this,” Nate held up a folder. He opened it up and pulled out a contract with Ted’s name printed on the top of the page.

“I nearly shredded it last week.” Rebecca admitted.

“So did I,” a chorus from the other three followed.

“So it’s a yes then?” Rebecca asked. Three nods of accord. “Ok, Nate, call him back in, please?” When Ted went back into the room a second time, he was greeted by a line up of Rebecca, with Roy and Beard either side of her looking like a protection detail, and Nate on the end. All arms crossed, all looking stern. “So what is it you’d like to say exactly?” She spoke firmly. Ted cleared his throat.

“Well, uhh… Turns out I made a mistake. You were right, boss. This is my home. I’m sorry to all of you that I made you feel like this wasn’t enough for me. I was worried that it wasn’t enough for Henry but I needn’t have, he loves this place just as much as I do. I’ll get on my knees if it helps, but I want you to know that I apologise and if you’d have me, I’d love my job back.”

“On your knees.” Roy growled. Ted moved to kneel but Rebecca punched Roy on the arm.

“Don’t be a dickhead. Get up, Ted. I can’t promise immediate forgiveness, but we’re all willing to have you back.”

“I can offer some tips on grovelling, if you like.” Nate added. Ted smiled,

“I appreciate you, Nate the Great. Coach?” He turned to Beard at last,

“Missed you buddy.” Beard sniffed, breaking the line to hug Ted. Nate joined them, followed by Rebecca who then pulled Roy in. “We got you something.” Beard said from the epicenter of the hug. Nate’s hand appeared in the air waving the contract. They broke apart and Roy grabbed a pen from the desk.

“Now fucking sign it.” Rebecca took the pen off him,

“Don’t be daft, Roy. At least give him a chance to get settled and sleep and make sure that this is what he wants. Because I tell you now,” she turned to Ted, “I’m not letting you fucking leave again once you’ve signed this. You have to be sure, Ted.” He nodded firmly,

“Yes ma’am.”

“Right, where are you staying?” His eyes swivelled to Beard,

“No room at the inn, pal.”

“With me then.” Rebecca concluded. “And tomorrow we’ll get the flat sorted. I’ll call my housekeeper and ask her to go there first in the morning, by the time you’ve slept off some jetlag she’ll have it all straightened out and ready.”

“We should celebrate,” Nate said, “I’ll call Jade and we can go to Taste of Athens tonight?”

“Good idea, I could murder a gyros.” Roy agreed.

“Excellent. I suggest you go with these lot and find out what you’ve missed out on for the rest of the afternoon? My driver will be here at 3pm.” Considering himself dismissed, Ted joined the others downstairs where he got brought up to speed on pre season plans. The team had started to come in three or four sessions a week to start ramping up their training. Next week would be their first full time week back. In their shared office, Ted realised that Roy hadn’t taken his desk.

“Been waiting til the start of the season.”

“You knew I’d be back,” he concluded.

“We hoped so. Didn’t want to announce a new coach, move onto your desk-”

“Rip up the contract.” Nate added.

“Right, none of that, until we were certain.” Beard explained. 

~~~~~

At 3pm, he heard the click of Rebecca’s heels in the corridor.

“That’s tools down.” Beard announced. He took Ted's case and put it into the boot of Rebecca’s car, tapping the roof of the car and giving them a wave, "see you at 7pm." He called. She unlocked the house and he diligently followed her, leaving his case in the hallway. 

"You'll have to excuse me, Ted, I'm not usually much of a day drinker but this is not a usual day." She poured a large glass of wine from the fridge. "Want one?" He handed her a second glass. 

"Are you OK?" He asked. She slid the glass over to him. 

"I'm fine, Ted. You probably know we've all sort of been expecting this. Or hoping for it at least."

"Yeah but… I didn’t leave the others crying in the airport." She brushed off his comment. 

"I was overwhelmed, that's all, I hate goodbyes."

"I'd Oklahoma you, but that feels a little cruel."

"Why, Ted? What do you think it would reveal?" He didn’t reply. He took his glass and walked around the kitchen slowly, taking in the miniscule details of her life. The little heart-shaped dish with a couple of pairs of earrings and a button sitting inside. The book open on the sideboard - spine cracked and pages down. A framed photograph taken at Ola’s, the team hardly able to all fit into frame, sitting on each other and squeezing in close - Rebecca and Ted in the centre. 

“Y’know, it wasn’t actually a realisation that this place was my home? It is, or at least, it’s part of it. It was actually something else that came to me. The reason I came back.” He looked at her fridge door, more photographs held down with magnets, a slip for an opticians appointment. “It’s you, Becca.” She didn’t turn to look at him, she kept her gaze down on the stem of her glass as she twirled it in her fingers. “Say something? Please?” He pleaded, coming round the island to face her. She shook her head,

“I don’t know, Ted. I don’t think I can put my heart out there again.” She looked sadly at his case down the hall and shook her head again. “No. No, I’m not really ready to talk about this. I’m happy to see you back here, but I hope you’re not back because you think I’m just going to open my arms to you. I have a headache, I’m going to lie down before dinner.” She took her glass and left him in her kitchen, dumbfounded.

Dinner was a happier affair. Ted watched with a smile as Rebecca talked animatedly with the Coaches, it was evident that they’d all become closer over the last month and that they’d been a big support to Rebecca when she’d needed it. They were clearly very protective of her, Nate and Roy sat either side of her and Beard directly across, giving her easy ways to avoid Ted if she’d wanted them. He resolved to give her the space and time she needed. He jumped right back into their original routine. The morning after his return, she woke to the smell of biscuits wafting up the stairs. Each day he went to great lengths to show his commitment to Richmond, and to her. He spent time wooing the team again, and separately, wooing Rebecca. With flowers delivered at home, meals, books he thought she’d like. Nothing overt and nothing at work, but he left her in no doubt over how much he really loved her. One night, he’d knocked on her door and sat with her while she watched Bridgerton, another night they’d looked through the final proofs of the photographs of the players which would be used across the season in their programs and literature. Each time, he left her at the door with a smile and a wave. He’d been the one completely unprepared when she’d kissed him. He’d spent the last couple of weeks trying so hard to win back her affection that he missed it when he’d actually been successful. They’d cleaned up after dinner and he’d boxed up the leftovers, “Here you got Wednesday and Thursday. Think I’ll do a stir fry for dinner on Thursday so that’ll give you lunch for Friday too.” She’d been standing directly behind him when he’d turned back from the fridge, and she’d kissed him so fiercely he’d backed up into the fridge.

He’d spent every night since with her. He’d maintained the flat, and no one at all knew of their relationship.

~~~~~~

The team were in exceptionally high spirits, ready for one big night out before they knuckled down to work and attacked for the Premier League trophy and the Champions League title. Rebecca chatted happily with Keeley and Jamie, Beard and Roy were passionately not-arguing over drinks at the bar, and the team milled around sharing laughs and stories of their summer breaks. Jamie, as Keeley had predicted, gave a roaring rendition of Barbie Girl which had everyone dancing and laughing hysterically, Beard and Keeley killed Holding Out for a Hero in the very best way and Rebecca had been encouraged to get up and sing Rolling in the Deep. The evening was drawing to a natural, happy end when Ted ushered the whole team onto the stage. Keeley and Rebecca stopped talking to look up at the little stage where the players had gathered,

“The fuck is this?” Roy asked.

“Fuck if I know.” Beard added.

“Uhh, the fellas and I put this together earlier today.” Ted confirmed with a nod. Keeley, sensing something incredible was about to happen, picked up her phone to record them. 

“I'm running out of ways to make you see

I want you to stay here beside me

I won't be ok and I won't pretend I am

So just tell me today and take my hand

Please take my hand” 

Rebecca could see Richard and Jamie shrugging at each other, none the wiser, Jan and Moe looked equally confused as the team all joined Ted in unison.

“Just say yes, just say there's nothing holding you back

It's not a test, nor a trick of the mind

Only love”

Ted continued, while again, Thierry and Isaac looked utterly baffled,

“It's so simple and you know it is

You know it is

We can't be to and fro like this

All our lives

You're the only way to me

The path is clear

What do I have to say to you

For Gods sake, dear”

The team again picked up on the chorus. All at once, the penny seemed to drop, beginning with Sam.

“Just say yes, just say there's nothing holding you back

It's not a test, nor a trick of the mind

Only love

Just say yes, 'cause I'm aching and I know you are too

For the touch of your warm skin

As I breathe you in”

He looked across excitedly at Ted, over to Rebecca and back again, and then began nudging the other players. He looked directly at Rebecca, and Jamie audibly gasped into the microphone. 

“I can feel your heart beat through my shirt

This was all I wanted, all I want

It's all I want”

The whole team were rapturous in the final chorus, they’d been participants in a declaration of love that none of them had seen coming, 

“Just say yes, just say there's nothing holding you back

It's not a test, nor a trick of the mind

Only love

Just say yes, 'cause I'm aching and I know you are too

For the touch of your warm skin

As I breathe you in”

Ted let them finish the song alone as he surprised them all even further by stepping down from the stage and getting to one knee in front of Rebecca. 

“Whaddya say, boss?”

FIN

[kadi219]

The #TedBecca fandom went nuclear after that ending, and I get it. I’m not going to comment on how people should feel or not, because I’ve been there.

Sweet Lords of Kobol, have I ever been there.

I have seen some shitty finales. It’s why I hate them now. I loathe final seasons, and I’ve gotten to a point where I just don’t watch a lot of television while it’s airing. I have honestly gotten to a point where if my faves made it out alive, it’s a win. Fix-it fic is a very happy place.

#TedLasso and #StarTrekPicard were the exceptions to that rule, and probably the only thing besides football that I’ve watched live in a long time.

I have shipped some ships that went straight to shit. I have shipped some ships that ended tragically (Voyager, House and Major Crimes left their mark on me, okay? And it’s deep, scarred, and I’ll never trust an EP again).

That said, with #TedLasso, I did not feel the same old trauma that I’m used to. I liked that ending. I laughed, I cried, and I thought it was great.

1. Jamie and Roy — We’ve been told since almost episode 1, Season 1, that there is no such thing as perfection and people are a work in progress. They got drunk, and like idiots, their drunken mouths and egos overloaded their good sense. The point was not their regression though. Roy acknowledges at the end of that scene that they are both “fucking idiots”, and Jamie acknowledges that. Then they go eat. I think they’re okay, as far as the friendship we saw grow. And we see Roy working on himself, both as a Diamond Dog, and in therapy. These are not perfect guys, and we were never going to see a perfect resolution to their issues, but I love how far they’ve grown…. Roy in therapy with Dr. Sharon? LOVE IT! BUT – As I said, the point of that scene is not their regression. Keeley chooses NEITHER of them. She chooses herself. I think she and Roy could end up in a place where they could get back together, but he’s got some work to do on his own, and then there’s the point of Keeley’s storyline this season (IMO), she has some work to do with being happy about who she is, in her personal life and her professional. She needs to feel secure in that, and she’s almost there. To me, the series ended with the potential of their reconciliation. There’s hope! Which has been one of the main themes of the show.

2. Beard and Jane — that chick is hella weird, and I don’t get it, but Beard does. I think the wedding part of the montage might have been a dream, because I agree – in no universe is Ted missing that. Either way, I just didn’t care about them. It doesn’t bother me.

3. Rebecca and Boat Guy — I don’t think he’s the lightning. But I think she deserves the opportunity to be with someone else post Rupert, before anything serious develops anywhere else. She hasn’t had many post-Rupert relationships. She deserves to have those, given how long she was with that asshat.

4. Ted and Michelle – Ok, this is probably going to be the controversial, unpopular opinion. Ted was always going to go back to Kansas. The entire show has been leading toward that. The question is whether he ends up staying in Kansas, or not. Ted feels, very strongly, like he needs to be with Henry. This is what he feels will make him happy, and will make Henry happy. Rebecca gave him solutions to that, and they’re great ones. He's not there yet. Here’s why: Now that Ted knows Michelle was with Dr. Asshole, but we’re given the idea she isn’t anymore (I’m going with that), Ted deserves to know how much of their marriage breaking up was truly about THEM growing apart, and how much of it was Dr. Asshole being an unethical shit. And, IMO, Michelle deserves to know that too. How much of her thinking Ted was must “too much” and pushing him away was Dr. Asshole influencing her? How much of that was this absolute Frakweasel being so unethical that, I can’t even find the words. Michelle was vulnerable, and the question is, did he use that vulnerability and her trust in him to break them up? It’s a question that needs to be answered for Ted and Michelle, before either of them can move on, and it needs to be answered for Henry too. What I think, honestly, that they would find is that they really did grow apart. I think that it would make them better co-parents. They are still family, there is no reason they cannot be amicable in their split & their joint custody of Henry. I also feel, very strongly, that neither of them is going to be comfortable with the other moving on, or with themselves moving on, until they know the answers to those very big questions. I also think, ultimately, in my damaged, scarred, very traumatized shipper heart, that this will lead Ted back to Rebecca, and to a place where the two of them, Ted and Michelle, could have that conversation about her and Henry making the move to England.

So really, for TedBecca to happen, Ted had to go home.

I also think, for Ted to truly be happy, he had to go back. Not that being in Kansas is what will make him truly happy – but what will make him feel strong in himself, as a person, and a father, and a friend. There are so many unresolved issues for him in Kansas, that, I agree – in that final scene he doesn’t look totally happy with his choice. He didn’t WANT to leave the people he loves in England behind. He’s going to miss them. He felt like he needed to. But to me he looked content in where his choice could take him. There was hope there.

There was hope there for all our characters to get the futures they deserve. That’s the kind of finale I can live with. That’s why I loved it.

[katiedido2]

Meet Cute Chapter 2

Also posted on AO3

I thought this was a one-shot, but Virgil Tracy had other ideas, and I wrote this on a train from London to Amsterdam. Now that I have internet again, I can post it.

I had hoped to get this up before ThunderPride ended. I think I'm squeaking in under the wire (It's just after 5:30pm my time.)

I'm surprised at how much I am enjoying this rare!pair of Virgil Tracy and Stephen Furnier.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

-o-o-o-o-

Chapter Two

The First Date

Stephen stood outside the Sydney Opera House, fidgeting with his cuffs. He was wearing a linen suit - something he rarely wore, but he wanted to look nice for Virgil - and his shirtsleeves weren’t lying right in his coat sleeves. He briefly wondered if a broken three-piece suit - broken because he wore it without a tie - was too much, but looking around him showed other men were similarly attired. He breathed a sigh of relief and relaxed slightly.

“Hi, Stephen.”

Stephen turned and saw Virgil, who was also wearing a broken linen suit, only his was two-piece. It was dark gray and fit perfectly. Virgil has paired it with a light sage green dress shirt.

He looked good.

Really good.

Stephen swallowed and smiled at his date. “Hi. You look amazing.”

Virgil blushed. This pleased Stephen to no end.

“Thank you. You look great, too.”

“Thank you. I wasn’t sure-” Virgil took Stephen's hand, lacing his fingers through Stephen’s, and leaned in, kissing his cheek.

Virgil was wearing his cologne, and Stephen, lost in the addicting scent, forgot what he was going to say.

“Ready to go in?”

Stephen nodded and let Virgil lead him into the venue. 

-o-o-o-

Once inside, Virgil directed them towards the venue space. “Have you been here before?”

Stephen shook his head. “No, first time…Where are we going?”

“The concert is in the Joan Sutherland Theatre. The musicians won’t get lost in the space - there are about a dozen of them - and the acoustics are really good. It’s the home of Opera Australia!”

Having never given any thought to acoustics or opera or Australia (though given the nature of his work, he probably should), Stephen hummed agreeably and continued following Virgil.

Once inside the theatre, they found their row, about five rows from the stage. Virgil gestured for Stephen to enter the row and followed after. Their seats were in the middle of the section, and the view of the stage was excellent. 

The men sat, and Virgil took Stephen’s hand again, lacing their fingers. He smiled at his date. 

-o-o-o-

Date!

Virgil had wanted someone to share this with for so long; he was giddy to finally have this dream come true and for that person to be Stephen.  

Stephen Furnier was his date. He was dating Stephen Furnier!

Virgil squeezed Stephen’s hand. Stephen smiled at him.

“I don’t know anything about Ms Ha. Is she a favourite pianist of yours?”

“She’s one of my favourites.”

“Who is your favourite?”

“Rebecca Montague.”

“Rebecca Montague? That sounds familiar.” Stephen tried to place the name but couldn’t. “How long have you been a fan.”

“Since I was fourteen.”

“Oh? That’s a long time.”

“Yep. Sadly, she’s retired and doesn’t perform live anymore.”

“Oh.” Stephen had no idea what to say to that.

“Fortunately, she will occasionally put out an album.”

“Really?” Rebecca Montague. The name niggled at Stephen. Why did it sound familiar?

“I first saw her perform at a Christmas concert in Kansas City, Missouri. ”

“Really?”

Virgil nodded. “Yep. She was amazing to watch, and she was so sweet when we met.”

“You met her?”

“Mmm hmm. My father took me to meet her afterwards. He wandered off, and we talked about our love of music…and the piano.”

“Your father left you? He didn’t wish to speak to her?”

“No…he mentioned something about finding her parents.”

“Why would he be looking for her parents?” Stephen was confused. Did musicians routinely bring their families with them?

“He was friends with her father.”

Stephen stared at Virgil. “But why would her parents be there? Were they celebrating Christmas in the States?”

Virgil blinked and chuckled, recognising the source of Stephen’s confusion. “She was ten.”

“She was ten what?”

“Ten years old.”

“She was a child?!”

“I believe they’re called prodigies.”

Stephen huffed. “You could have led with that!”

Not wishing to fight, Virgil tried to soothe Stephen’s ruffled feathers. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think about it.”

Also not wishing to argue, Stephen smiled at his date. “Fair enough.”

They sat in companionable silence while the auditorium around them filled up. When the musicians came out, followed by a lovely petite woman who was greeted with thunderous applause. 

Virgil leaned over and whispered in Stephen’s ear. “This is very exciting. We’re in for a real treat tonight!”

-o-o-o-

Seventy minutes later, Stephen had to agree. The entire evening had been an eye-opening, delightful treat.

He could definitely see what Virgil enjoyed about contemporary instrumental music, as Virgil called it.

They sat chatting in their seats while the auditorium emptied before rising and heading outside. 

The night was beautiful and clear, the full moon lending a romantic air. Virgil and Stephen strolled hand in hand, enjoying the views.

Virgil stopped and, tugging Stephen’s hand, pulled the doctor into his arms. Stephen placed his hands on Virgil’s shoulders to keep from crashing into his handsome date. He felt Virgil’s arms snake around his waist.

“Oh!”

“I’ve got you.”

“You certainly do.”

Virgil chuckled, causing Stephen to blush.

He stammered. “W-what I-I meant was-”

Virgil leaned in close. “Shhh. I know what you meant.”

Virgil’s face was so close to his that Stephen could feel his soft lips touching his ear.

“Virgil…”

Virgil pulled back slightly. Their noses were nearly touching.

“May I kiss you?”

Stephen stared at Virgil, overwhelmed by the opportunity before him and didn’t reply.

Sensing Stephen’s hesitancy, Virgil pulled back a little more. He wanted to make sure this was something Stephen wanted too.

“If you feel we’re moving too fast, I can slow do-oof!”

Stephen roused himself, eager to let his date know he was indeed agreeable to kissing him, rose on his toes and planted his lips on Virgil’s. He felt Virgil’s intake of breath and a small smile on his lips as Virgil returned his kiss.

The kiss was everything Stephen imagined a kiss with Virgil Tracy would be. First, being so close to him, he could smell the man mixed with the scent of his cologne, and it made Stephen heady. 

Next was the way Virgil held him - one arm around his waist, the other tangled in his hair, holding him at the base of his neck. He felt safe and cared for in a way he couldn’t remember feeling with anyone else. 

Last, but Stephen conceded, never least, was the man’s kiss. Virgil’s lips were soft, but his kiss was just firm enough to show his interest without overwhelming. Stephen could spend days kissing Virgil like this. 

Just as he was getting into the kiss, Virgil broke it and moved back, enough for Stephen to see his face clearly. A small noise of disappointment escaped him. 

Virgil chuckled, slightly breathless. “If you make that noise every time we kiss, you’ll never get rid of me.”

“Why did you stop?” Stephen heard the whinge in his voice but didn’t care. That was the best first kiss of his life! 

Virgil smiled at his pout. Stephen saw he hadn’t wanted to end the kiss either. Virgil dropped a chaste kiss on Stephen’s lips and smoothed the blond locks he had ruffled. 

“Remember where we are, Stephen. This isn’t the place to get carried away.” 

Wide-eyed, Stephen looked around the area they were in. There weren’t many people, but there were enough that two people making out might attract attention. An older couple strolled past. The wife smiled at Stephen, glanced at Virgil, and, to his surprise, looked at him again, nodded her head and winked(!)

Stephen blinked and looked at the handsome man in his arms. Virgil was right, but it was their first date, and he wanted to lock in the memory of their first kisses. 

Emboldened by the woman’s wink, he rose on his toes, tangled his hands in Virgil’s mane and kissed him. 

Virgil thrilled him by moaning slightly and kissing him in return. Stephen felt giddy when Virgil’s tongue touched his lips and went weak in the knees when, deepening the kiss their tongues touched. 

Groaning, Virgil broke the kiss and leaned his forehead against Stephen’s while he caught his breath. 

This time, Stephen understood why Virgil had stopped. The opera house wasn’t the place for a prolonged make-out session. But he knew a place that could be.

“Come back to my flat. We can have coffee and talk or kiss…or both…” Or more.

-o-o-o-

Virgil heard the clear invitation in Stephen’s voice. No one could have missed the implied or more in his suggestion. He was tempted - some parts of him were very eager - but he didn’t want to rush this. He wrapped both arms around Stephen’s waist and pulled him closer. 

“God, Stephen, I want to. You’ve no idea how much I do-”

Stephen chuckled, feeling Virgil’s interest. “Oh, I have a little idea.”

Smiling, Virgil kissed his nose and rested his forehead against Stephen’s again. “Okay, you do.” He sighed, trying to gather his thoughts. “I think what we have here is special, and while it’s tempting to rush forward, I want to go a little slower and savour every moment with you…That probably sounds corny.”

Stephen cupped Virgil’s face in his hands. “No! No, it doesn’t, Virgil.” He caught one of Virgil’s hands and laced their fingers together. “It’s just….”

Virgil stared at Stephen when he bit his lip in thought. He shook his head. “It’s just?”

Stephen chuckled. “It’s just I’m terribly keen to do more.”

Virgil brought their joined hands to his lips and kissed Stephen’s knuckles. “Honey, you’ve no idea.”

Stephen hummed. “I have a better imagination than I’ve often given credit for.”

Groaning, Virgil released Stephen and stepped back so they weren’t touching. “Stephen,” he said seriously. “You can’t say things like that to me when I’m trying very hard to behave.”

“Why not?” Stephen Furnier had spent most of his life behaving. Having just been perfectly snogged by Virgil Tracy, he no longer wanted to. 

“Because gorgeous, brainy blond doctors with beautiful eyes are my kryptonite.”

A blond eyebrow rose. Stephen playfully rand a finger down the buttons of Virgil’s shirt. “I have very good coffee at home…and a new sofa that was made for making out on….”

Good coffee and more of Stephen’s soft lips. Virgil could feel his resolve weakening. Still, he made an effort. 

“One cup of coffee and thirty minutes of making out.”

“Two cups of coffee and an hour of making out.”

Virgil groaned. He hadn’t expected Stephen to fight so temptingly dirty.

“One cup of coffee and forty-five minutes of making out. And you spend tomorrow with me.”

Stephen bit his lip adorably. “I have some work to do in the morning.” He took Virgil’s hand in his and kissed his knuckles. “One cup of coffee, fifty minutes of making out, and I will meet you for lunch at a cafe of your choosing, and I will spend the rest of the day with you.”

Virgil waggled a finger at Stephen. “You drive a hard bargain, Dr Furnier.”

“Do you accept, Mr Tracy?”

“Yes.”

“Shake on it?”

“Nope.” Virgil gathered Stephen into his arms and lowered his face close to Stephen’s. “Kiss.” 

As their lips met, Stephen realised he had fallen completely in love with Virgil Tracy. 

Given the isolated nature of his work, Stephen Furnier had never expected to find love. And to find it here, in Sydney - of all places - filled him with joy. He was going to love Virgil Tracy for the rest of his life. He couldn’t wait.

[distortedlightbeam]

‘i’m so fucking sad bro’ <- the tag on the ted lasso post you reblogged: LITERALLY ME. it captures quite nicely how i feel about whatever that ending was. they really gave us some of the best comedy/sitcom writing for seasons and then made Choices in s3 that seemed to actively contradict everything this show supposedly was about. evokes nothing but sadness lol.

I KNOW RIGHTTTTTT. like tbf the season was full of ups and downs when it came to the individual episodes— some mediocre, others really great— and characterizations (poor roy tbh), but by god that finale fell flat like a pancake.

for example i'm not shocked keeley didn't get back with roy or jamie or preferably both even though i thought (and hoped) they seemed to be leaning in a poly direction in the second-to-last episode. it would've been amazing, but... whatever.

ted though.... i mean i guess going back to kansas was always on the table so it shouldn't have thrown me so much but it absolutely did??? i felt like there was very little build-up to that revelation. we don't see him discussing it with anyone; we don't see wtf he's even going to be doing back in kansas in terms of housing or employment or life goals. i dearly hope he didn't move back in with michelle at the very fucking least. being a dad is important, i'm not discounting that at all, buttttt there's also more to life, and there didn't seem to be hints of that "more to life" for ted.

idk after all the love and care poured into the story and the characters, for the main character who helped orchestrate massive change in literally everyone else's life but HIS OWN I GUESS to have been shafted so severely really burns.

plus nothing happening with rebecca even though i thought we had been in for a nice slow burn from the beginning too. i think the absolute shittiest thing there was (and pls correct me if i'm wrong) that i don't think he ever even admitted to personally baking her the biscuits everyday😭

[catierambles]

Public Relations Ch.12

Pairing: Clark Kent/Superman x Charlotte Danvers (OFC)

WC 1172

Warnings: Toxic maternal relationships

@kingliam2019 , @greensleeves888 , @peaches1958 , @brattymum96 , @ouroboros113 , @summersong69

Charlotte’s birthday came around the following month and they stayed in for hers, too, watching movies in her theater after he cooked her dinner. Once his lease lapsed, he moved into her place, the furniture he didn’t need to bring with him being put in a storage unit. Articles and podcasts started popping up about their relationship and Lois was right, Jimmy wasn’t the last person to assume things about their relationship. The term “sugar baby” and “gold digger” got thrown around a lot, especially after they dug into him and found out that he was from a small farming community in Kansas, but he did his best to ignore them. He knew he wasn’t and so did she, and that was what was most important.

It was the weekend and Charlotte was in her workshop, working on her newest restoration project, something he wasn’t allowed to see for some reason, and he was in the kitchen fixing both of them lunch when the doorbell rang. Setting aside the sandwich fixings, he went to the front door and opened it, seeing the older woman standing outside.

“Can I help you?” He asked.

“Who’re you?” She asked and Clark looked at her curiously.

“Who are you?” He asked back.

“I’m Meredith, Charlotte’s mother.” She said, “She never mentioned me?”

“No, she didn’t.” Clark said, his confusion growing, “I’m Clark, Charlie’s…boyfriend. Why don’t you come in? I’ll let her know you’re here, she’s down in the workshop.”

“You call her “Charlie”?” Meredith asked as she stepped inside, “Her name is Charlotte.”

“And she likes being called Charlie.” Clark said, thinking that was odd as she should have known that. Going over to the intercom, he pressed the button for the workshop. “Hey, babe. Can you come up here? Your mom is here.” He knew the confusion was in his voice and there was a pause.

“Yeah, I’ll be up in a sec.” Charlotte responded, but she didn’t sound happy. They stood in the entranceway in awkward silence until Charlie emerged from the back of the house, a dirty rag in her hands that she was wiping them on. “I thought I told you no.”

“Charlotte…” Meredith started.

“I told you very clearly that the last time was the last time.” Charlotte said.

“Charlotte, please, I--.”

“I don’t care.” Charlotte said and Clark looked at her in surprise. “I’m not giving you any more money.”

“Why do you always assume that’s why I come to see you?”

“It always ends up that way, doesn’t it?” Charlotte said, “Every single time.”

“How’s your father?” Meredith asked.

“He’s dead, but you should know that seeing as I sent you an invitation to the service. Guess you just threw it out, but then again you have a habit of doing that with things you don’t care about.”

“Charlotte Rebecca Danvers--”

“Meredith Faye Roberts.” Charlotte said, “See? I can say full names, too.”

“Charlie,” Clark said, “Can I…talk to you for a moment in the kitchen?”

“Yeah.” Charlotte said, “Just…stay here, Meredith, and don’t touch anything.”

“Maybe you’ll be able to talk some sense into her, Clark.” Meredith said and Clark held Charlotte’s arm gently, steering her around and they went into the kitchen.

“You want to tell me what’s going on?” Clark asked.

“It’s not obvious?” Charlotte responded, “She’s here looking for a handout and I’m not giving it to her.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because that’s what she does. She shows up every few months asking for money, and I’m done with it.” Charlotte said.

“Charlie, she’s your mom, and if she needs your help, I don’t see--”

“No, you don’t.” She said, cutting him off, “I get it, Clark, you have a good, healthy relationship with your mom. I don’t. She may have pushed me out, but I don’t owe her anything.”

“Okay, let’s just take a step back here.” Clark said, not wanting the conversation to devolve into an argument. “There’s obviously some…history here. Why don’t you explain it to me?”

“She left, Clark. She decided that she didn’t want to be a wife and mother anymore, and she left.” Charlotte said, “Now she shows up a couple of times a year acting like she wants to foster a relationship, but it’s bullshit. “You don’t have to give me that much, sweetheart, just enough for me to get by”, is what she says every time. I give her money, I get her set up, and then I don’t hear from or see her again until she’s blown through it on stupid shit and she wants more. I decided the last time was the last time I was going to do it.”

“I get it, you’re angry at her, but please, just think--”

“I was six when she left.” Charlotte said, “Six years old when she decided she didn’t want to be my mom anymore. You want to know when was the first time she reached out to me acting like she wanted to be in my life again?”

“When?” Clark asked after a moment.

“The first time I was on the cover of Forbes.” Charlotte said and he sighed, crossing his arms over his chest and closing his eyes. “She doesn’t give a damn about me. She doesn’t see me as her daughter, she sees dollar signs.”

“I’ll get rid of her.” Clark said.

“I’ll come with you, I don’t trust her not to try to pull something.” Charlotte said and they left the kitchen, going back to the front of the house and seeing Meredith exactly where they left her.

“Charlotte--” She started but Clark held up a hand, stopping her.

“You’re leaving.” He said, “You’re leaving and you’re never coming back. You understand me?”

“Who the hell do you think you are? Talking to me like that?” Meredith said, “I am her mother.”

“No, you’re not.” Clark said, “Get out and don’t come back. As for who I am,” He approached her slowly, “Between the two of us, I’m the only one who actually cares about her. Now get out.” She looked like she was going to say something, but all words died at the hard look Clark was giving her. In the end, she just nodded, turning and opening the front door, leaving the house and closing it behind her.

“Thank you.” Charlotte said and he went to her, pulling her into his arms with a hand at the back of her head. “Love you.”

“Love you, too.” He said and pressed a kiss to her hair. “Lunch?”

“Can I drink a beer with it?” She asked and he snorted softly.

“Yeah, babe, you can, I won’t fault you for it.” He said and pulled away from her, rubbing her arms gently. “You going to tell me what your new project is?”

“Nope.” She said, shaking her head. “And you’re not allowed to peek, either. In any way. Stay out of the workshop.”

“Okay, okay.” He said and reached up, holding the side of her jaw. “Come on, let’s go eat.”

[lunar-years]

any last episode predictions now that the stills are out 👀

omg. I read this ask and immediately went, "WAIT THE STILLS ARE OUT?!!" so thank you for sending this to me hahahah.

Somehow my entire twitter For You page is the tedbecca community and they are currently losing their minds over the Ted and Rebecca still hahaha. I can kind of see it working out for them, actually, so maybe they will be quite pleased this episode? Though I still don't know how Tedbecca would work out logically because:

I do still strongly feel Ted is going to decide to go back to Kansas at the end of the season. I wonder if this episode will end on a sort of cliffhanger where he announces it to the team and Rebecca, etc. as a lead in ~what's going to happen with Ted??~ setup for the finale???

More importantly to me is whereeeee is Keeley standing in her still? Is it a hotel room? Is it Jamie's mum's house (that's the outfit she's wearing in Jamie's bedroom!!! it's really finally happening!!!) Thrilled to see her looking so happy, though. No new thoughts on the press conference RoyJamie photo but I remain deeply intrigued.

Stupid comments:

Keeley Jones' hair looks so damn good Like That

The Nike product placement of those tennis players in the Ted walking photo is for some reason cracking me up lmao

[footballshowrot]

season 3 ted lasso, just pissing some thoughts after watching the finale. talkin about things they fumbled unbelievably hardcore this season jsyk.

- the unrelenting force of forgiveness and tying everything up with a pretty bow extending to both the sam's restaurant being destroyed storyline and the james tarttt sr storyline. just wooooooof... Terrible. sam and jamie i'm literally gonna get u out of there.......

- keeley's plot this season was So disappointing. she used to be a driving force and here she felt like an afterthought, and i don't know if it was because KJPR was separate from the club, but she was just so disconnected. they dropped shandy, they dropped jack, hard. thank god for barbara because i liked a lot of her and keeley's scenes [snow globe :)]. and then in the finale relegated keeley to role of object of affection for jamie and roy to fight over👍awesome😐 love triangle plotlines suck ass majority of the time, and maybe jamie and roy in the finale could have been played funny for me [sorry to royjamie brain it for a sec, but they alone still are. intricate rituals and all that. that ripped shirt, bloody nose combo etc etc lmaoooo] but because the show has continually fucked keeley over this season it leaves a bit of a bitter taste. her kicking them out her house like yesssss literally. get their asses outta here. idk, romantic relationships aside, it just felt shit that for keeley's last episode she didn't even get to reap any positives of the platonic relationships she has with roy or jamie. [at least we have rebecca. society if keeley kissed rebecca in the finale] lol not really but u knooow. just after the shoddy love bombing plotline with jack, and the way her relationship with jack concluded and this in the finale, i hope she stays single for a while, and i think the show settled on that at least which okay.👍 she's literally keeley fuckin jones waaaaoough....

- the fucking locker room information PSA's........ maaaan i Know the show is cheesy feelgood tv but season 1 was not just morality lesson central with characters talking like npcs delivering do good greeting card messages one after another.

- ted's marriage plotline was dogshit 👍 just yaaaaaaawns all round idk. rewatching scenes from season 1 and bein like? this dude used to make me chuckle! what happened..... thank god they didn't fumble the bag on sending him back to kansas to be with henry. [henry having the same strip number as jamie was a nice touch]. i just wonder that if this season had some more jamie ted scenes [that weren't him telling jamie to forgive his father 😐] that it might have strengthened that ache to get back to his son even more, as opposed to reopening a perfectly concluded plotline with michelle because oh no....she's... dating?

- naaaaaaaate. my guy nate waaaaaaahh. they sidelined you so fucking hard. did not know what to make of nate's plot this season with jade. i think they had sweet scenes together but concerning the actual footie of the show [the football show in question] they made nate a fucking afterthought too. some episodes it was like and uhhhh... yeah... quickly !! show the west ham building and get a reaction shot from nate!! we forgot we set him up at the end of season 2 as an antagonistic force for richmond to go against. like come onnn man. think that international break was nate's strongest episode outta the whole season, what with his depression slump, attic rummaging, family photo album reminiscing, violin playing, father reconciliation, will apology with lavender, just a really solid nate episode all round. its just sad it came so late in the season.

yeah that's the main thoughts spinning right now i guess lol. BOSH.

[crazypenguintacofan]

So after letting it shimmer for a while, some reasons why the Ted Lasso finale didn't quite land for me:

- I get what they were trying to do with Roy and I thought the message was beautiful, BUT I feel like they shoud've shown his 'relapse' in a more subtle way. Having him get into a physical fight with Jamie, after all they've grown, didn't feel right to me.

-Also the whole "we're letting YOU choose" thing felt uggggg. I wouldn't mind it if they'd spent a whole episode adressing it, but it was not something to just toss into the finale and run.

-Maybe this is the Keelroy shipper in me, but I feel it's a bit of a waste that they spent 2 seasons developing a relationship that was flawed, yes, but still it was one of the healthiest and most wholesome m/f ships I've seen, and then not give them proper closure. I feel like Roy and Keeley shoud've had at least 1 truly positive and heartfelt scene together in the finale. Even if it were only Roy saying that, after all, he's not ready yet to be in back in a romantic relationship, and they hug it out.

(Honestly, Roy's arc this season shoud've been entirely about accepting that he is enough and that he deserves love and happiness even when he doesn't perform perfectly, and have him spend the final episode basking in that love and happiness. But I would've taken the aforementioned option as well)

- Keeley was barely in the episode, she barely said goodbye to Ted, and she didn't get to voice her own view on her feelings about the bloody love triangle (other than "get out of my house you jackasses"). Overall her arc has had great moments but it has felt all over the place this season.

- Beard and Jane. Enough said.

- It was great seeing Sam playing for Nigeria at the end, but honestly, they shoud've devoted a whole episode to dealing with the aftermath of the attack to his restaurant and closing his storyline with Edwin Akufu.

-I expected a bit more of the Ted-Nate reunion. I understand that after a whole year to process and forgive, Ted wasn't angry anymore, but still. That was one of the most important relationships in the show and deserved more screentime for closure.

-In general, I personally would've liked more Nate. Maybe one last genius strategy for the road.

(As I said before, this shoud've been 2 episodes to fit in proper goodbyes for everyone.)

-Ted should've cried as much as Rebecca in the airport. It would've shown that he's gotten better at accepting and expressing negative emotions. And it just felt wrong to me to see him so dissaffected while Rebecca was going through the 7 stages of grief.

-The reapperance of the Dutch Guy felt a bit tonally off in respect to the rest of the episode. They were going for a subversion of tropes of the genre and a vibe of "real life is not like stories, sometimes the perfect happy ending isn't possible and that's fine" with all the other storylines, and then...then they go and pull off a rom-com deus ex machina, "destiny" or "serendipity" brought them back together, with Rebecca. It felt weird to me (though I never quite warmed up to the Dutch Guy, so I may be biased).

-As sad as it makes me, and as much as I love found families, Ted going back to Kansas to be with Henry made sense. He clearly missed his son, and making a kid leave his school and his friends and all that's familiar when there's another option it's just harsh. HOWEVER they could've shown that Ted was still part of the life of the Richmond crew and viceversa. They could've shown him facetiming with them while they were at Higgins' barbacue, for example.

(I didn't get the vibe that he got back together with Michelle, just that they are co-parenting? But if they'd gotten back together my answer would be NO)

Anyways. It's been a good run. I love this show and overall I've really enjoyed season 3. Headcanons and fix-it fics can deal with the rest.

[immoralfag]

just finished the last episode of ted lasso, some of my Thoughts™️

I'm glad ted and rebecca didn't get together, I never really saw their friendship as romantic (for me anyway)

happy that roy told jamie he was proud of him to his face.

thought their fight was stupid, and keeley definitely had the right to throw them both out of her house lol.

dani is the king of polyamory

beard and Jane still cringe and bad and the only part of their wedding that was real and not in teds head is dani and his girlfriends

everyone should go to therapy so I think it is good that roy went

ted was always going to go back to Kansas, he is a father he needed to return to his son.

I wish we saw more of jamie and his dad, I want to know how the boundaries for their relationship, because jamie should never forget the things his father has done to him but it's not wrong to want to have a relationship with your father.

Rupert got what he deserved

this season had a lot of problems but there are still a lot of parts I love, I think they could've stuck to a more plot pointed season but overall it is what it is.

ANYway

[tea-with--honey]

The Ted Lasso Finale has left me EMPTY. like man I knew they were gonna be kind of realistic about and it stuff but a lot of it just didnt feel like an ending to me? Do I think its probably what would happen if the show was completely realistic? Yes. Do I think it made ANY sense narratively? NO.

Like I'm actually very happy about what they've done with Roy and Colin and maybe maybe maybe Nate but thats it. Nate on paper worked okay for me but I just felt like he didnt have his big moment? That could have been intentional though.

I may ship Tedbecca/Tedpendent but I would have been fine without it if they didnt??? Do them so dirty like that???? Like they did NOT need to tease us like that throughout the entire episode that was just plain mean. Like hello????? the scene in Rebecca's house?? The 'you go, I go?' Ted actually saying that Rebecca pulled a rom-com moment on him? Hell Rebecca getting a first-class seat and Coach Beard leaving the seat next to Ted open? Its like they loaded MULTIPLE Chekov's guns that didnt fire. i would have been fine okay and THEN they pulled up with Boat guy coming back. What. Even. I hated that so bad.

And guys Trent not even getting a moment to really say goodbye to the man who he got fired over was so??? AHHAHSHSJDDGSB

AND IM MAD ABOUT COACH BEARD AND JANE. Especially after so many scenes that indicated that the better choice for Beard was to break it off. And also jane was just, incredibly toxic.

Also I would have hoped that they spent a better part of the season establishing that Ted needed to go home? Idk it just felt like I was waiting for Ted to reveal that he stayed in London the entire time. Henry is obviously a very important part of his life but we didnt even get to see Ted being fulfilled and being there for the reason he went back home in the first place!!! At least give us some scenes where Ted doesnt look like hes about to have another panic attack back in Kansas and he's actually spending time with his little boy.

Okay im just gonna put all the other things that bothered me in a list because im sleepy but I gotta get this all out

The way we have 0 idea what rebecca found out from the doctor

The green matchbox thingy not being addressed

The lack of Bex and the Rupert's ex assistant girlie in the episode. I know them going into Rebecca's house served as a plot point but I wish we still got to see them yknow

Not getting to see Sam's restaurant again

We literally dont even get to hear what Trent wrote in 'The Lasso/Richmond Way' I had hoped there would be at least a reading of it played over some 'future' scenes

Also that Ted looks so unhappy at the end and he just as always steps aside. WHERE DID HIS CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT GO

Also how OOC Ted seemed this episode, I thought they were setting up him revealing to be just really upset hence the behavior but nope nothing nada

Lack of Jade

Doctor Sharon's reaction scenes feeling shoehorned in

While I do love her getting her own official position in the team I wish they just saved showing her character for that scene specifically. Idk the rest of her cheering scenes just didnt really add much

the lack of discussion on mr awful therapist

Ted seemingly still living in the same house as his ex wife who is currently dating his ex marriage counselor

Theres more I just cant think about it anymore

Anyways they did the Diamond Dogs and the Sound of Music routine so right but thats really it for me. Would love to rant about the ending with anybody so DMs are always open