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Ted Lasso does whatever he can to help and encourage his players, but in “Lavender” he sacrifices one’s mental health to give another a second chance.
WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Season 2, Episode 2 of Ted Lasso, “Lavender,” now available on Apple TV+.
Coach Ted Lasso is known for his compassion and for putting the development of his players as people above the usual sports priorities of winning. For the most part, that has worked with his AFC Richmond team. At the end of Season 1, Jamie Tartt was responsible for relegating the Richmond club as Ted made him a better person and player by encouraging him to benefit the team as a whole instead of just himself. In Season 2, Episode 2 “Lavender,” Ted continues his mission to help Jamie reach his full potential, but now Ted’s support of Jamie is a betrayal of Sam Obisanya.
Jamie, recently kicked off of his reality television show, is looking to return to football though no club is interested in picking him up. Therefore he turns to former coach Ted and asks to be reinstated with Richmond. While the two talk about Jamie’s possible return, the regulars at the pub photograph the conversation and post the photos to Twitter without all the details of the story. Ted turns Jamie down, but the rumor mill implies that Ted is actually welcoming Jamie back to the team.
The news of Jamie’s possible return sends a ripple through the Richmond locker room, which is felt especially painfully by Sam. During the next practice, Ted notices the tension running through his team, but doesn’t actually understand the source. After Sam gives the ball away as a result of a weak pass, Ted steps in to do some coaching. Sam snaps at him uncharacteristically before storming off the field in frustration. Ted chases after Sam to find out what the problem is, because Ted does truly care about his players.
Sam explains that he is upset because of the rumors of Jamie’s return. He continues to explain that he has never had a teammate more detrimental to his emotional and mental health than Jamie, who tormented and taunted him continuously throughout their time as teammates. He feels betrayed that Ted would consider bringing back a toxic presence like that to a locker room that may not be winning games, but is more importantly functioning in a healthy, positive way.
Ted then explains that he actually turned Jamie down, which comes as a huge relief to Sam. This leads to Sam opening up to Ted about his father. Sam’s dad told him that he’s really happy that Ted is there to make sure Sam is okay and to protect and look after him. It’s an emotional moment for both Sam and Ted that ends with Ted letting an embarrassed Sam know that he definitely has to run laps for storming off from practice — which Sam accepts with a smile.
Despite his heart-to-heart with Sam, however, Ted ends up welcoming Jamie back to the team — which seems like a slap in the face for Sam. Ted explains that Sam’s story about his father reminded him that not everyone has a good, protective and supportive father like Sam, and Jamie needs that sort of guidance. Therefore, he thinks Jamie deserves a second chance on the team. Ted’s actions may have good intentions, but they have unintended consequences against Sam and the team, potentially signaling that Sam’s mental health is less important than Jamie’s personal growth.
Season 2 of the record-setting Ted Lasso is under way. Its first two episodes are streaming now on Apple TV+.
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