The Lasso Way
Why Ted Lasso is the Weighted Blanket the World Deserves
In my never-ending quest to break through my intergenerational trauma, I gave myself some much-needed time away from screens this past week. I’ve been MIA online, which is healthy from time to time, especially when we’re emotionally weary.
This is where I’m currently at; I’m too tired even to feel tired because I know I have to pick up and begin my day all over again.
Being a caretaker isn’t easy. Neither is being an interim babysitter to my on-the-spectrum nephew, whom I love and adore, but there are no off days, no matter how much we need or deserve one. Add pandemic burnout, and that’s where I am. I share this not for sympathy or pity but for myself, not feeling ashamed and allowing myself to say aloud I’m struggling. Yes, it’s shitty, but once this depressive black hole of an episode is over and the initial shame subsides, this is my small contribution to help destigmatize mental health for someone struggling. Also, to be less cagey than the person I used to be. To be more honest and direct, which may sound strange since I’m very strong-willed and opinionated; however, this wasn’t always the case since anxiety’s ruled my life longer than I care to admit.
In my seemingly never-ending quest, I’m trying to be more honest and essentially more vulnerable since I’ve been cagey for a long time. Not my favorite descriptive word, but a comment repeatedly said to me by an emotionally manipulative ex who loved throwing stones at my emotionally self-created Frozen castle a la Elsa when he had his substance abuse fortress. How I managed to let someone so conniving with poor communication skills persuade me of anything is a bitter pill to swallow, yet it’s unrecognizable until the blinders are off.
Sadly, conceal don’t feel, don’t let them know became all too real (typing that made me cringe, but you get the idea). Although my exes words stuck with me post-breakup, regrettably, over time, I was hardening myself and becoming someone I didn’t recognize, an angry, almost nihilistic person that let trauma override them. With the help of therapy, I’ve been able to look back on my inner trauma before I propel forward.
Precisely why this week has been particularly challenging and why there wasn’t a TGIF post; my energy level is getting by on fumes while the combination of crippling self-doubt and writer’s block completely took over. Usually, when my depression rears its ugly and consuming energy, I tend to combat it with cognitive therapy that I’ve been doing since last summer. Except I’ve been so busy, which is great for my anxiety, that I didn’t see my depression ultimately blindsiding me. The last time I felt this mixed-up, which I mentioned before, I fell asleep for an entire day. Except now, I can’t sleep very much thanks to my anxiety keeping me awake even with the aid of some Sativa or edibles and my go-to comfort shows. I’m sure I’m not alone in this debilitating mixed-up time that feels like we have no control, and being sad is ok, as long as it’s temporary. Letting these emotions overrule all the hard work I’ve put in— I knew there was only one thing I needed during this bewildering time, Theodore Lasso.
I spent my Sunday binge-re-watching the Apple TV+ comedy series starring Jason Sudeikis as Ted Lasso completely changed my mindset (you can read my review via Play Into It).
Post-2020 never imagined that I’d willingly celebrate an unqualified white man holding a position in power. However, Ted Lasso is indeed an exception; even as he struggles with the cultural and sports divide, he lassoes his way onto hearts everywhere. With equal parts sports clichés and inspiration, Ted Lasso’s a treasure. All the while having a perfect mustache (eat your heart out, Ditka).
The Apple TV+ series’ (developed by Bill Lawrence [Scrubs, Cougar Town], Jason Sudeikis, Brendan Hunt, and Joe Kelly) centers around Ted Lasso making a fresh new start in England. Not quite the Emily in Paris expat tale, subjectively it’s better.
Coach Lasso goes from leading the division II Wichita State Shockers to their first national title in American football in his first season as head coach to the new head footy coach of AFC Richmond. Footy as in soccer or what we call it growing up, fútbol.
Ted’s self-confidence and sunny disposition in the Pilot episode seem like an overly cheesy satirical soft boi by the second episode, Biscuits (directed by none other than Zach Braff. We love another Scrubs connection). Except with each next episode, viewers find themselves watching more and become enchanted with the series. Perhaps it’s because Ted’s confidence is entirely different than mediocre men who mistake confidence for wisdom that we’re so used to seeing dominate. Ted Lasso’s the antithesis of all the scummy glorified antiheroes that took over our screens; Rick Sanchez, Walter White, and Gregory House, to name a few. This refreshingly progressive mustachioed white man from Kansas City wasn’t on my Bingo card, but Ted Lasso is gratifying.
Not to make it all about the men, because the series features beautiful and powerfully strong women; for instance, there’s Rebecca Welton, Keely Jones, and Mae. Their characters are scene stealers and dynamic to watch as they stand out all on their own and in different ways. A witty sports show that doesn’t objectify or rely on the misogynistic sports candor that some men seem to carry on as if boarding a flight.
The Lasso way, with a beautiful assist from Coach Beard (Brendan Hunt), is what I needed to re-watch in my “current emotional headspace,” as my therapist puts it. The hidden inner optimist that I tend to be is still within me; I’m just temporarily lost now, and that’s ok. Without divulging too much (review HERE), the season finale was what I needed from the aptly titled episode; The Hope That Kills You.
For me, it isn’t The Hope That Kills You since hope is what quietly keeps me going, even if my dry and sarcastic cynicism masks it. Hope is all I’ve ever known, and I refuse to give up on it now. While I may be the Nathan of my family, similarly, I’m on my way to utilize my voice to continue to speak the fuck up because no one can set new boundaries or change things for the better except for myself.
With hope, I know that I’ll get better and back to feeling like myself again, but mainly not having a solid support system messes with you. I need to remember that sometimes a reset is all we need. Even if it’s just a short mental one, we all deserve to rest not just physically but mentally and specifically emotionally.
✨ For fun, but mostly research that helps my writing process, I compiled a list of my favorite Lasso-isms, from my notes, of each episode (with zero spoilers or context to entice new viewers into watching). Please, enjoy the wholesomeness of “the Lasso Way.”
Ep. 1; Pilot:
Rebecca: Do you believe in ghosts, Ted?
Ted: I do. But more importantly, I think they need to believe in themselves, you know?
Ep. 2; Biscuits:
Ted: Sometimes the best way to stick to the man is to go right between his legs, huh?
Ep. 3; Trent Crimm: The Independent:
Rebecca: I spoke to the owner of The Sun—
Ted: You spoke to God??
Rebecca: *Inhales*
Ep. 4; For the Children:
Ted (to Roy Kent): You know how they say that “youth is wasted on the young?” Well, I say don’t let the wisdom of age be wasted on you. I just came up with that. I feel pretty good about it.
Ep. 5; Tan Lines:
Ted (to his son Henry and wife Michelle): Okay, now, little tip for y'all, all right? Fries are called "chips," chips are called "crisps," and "bangers" aren't great songs, but they do make you feel like dancing 'cause they're so darn tasty.
Ep. 6; Two Aces:
Sam Obisanya: We can’t change the past.
Ted: No, Sam. No, we cannot, but we can choose to honor it.
✨ Bonus:Ted (to Coach Beard): What about you, Coach? You got a favorite bath bomb?
Coach Beard: Crème brûlée honey.
Ted: Honey? Is that an ingredient or something you just called me?
Coach Beard: Ingredient.
Ted: Shoot.
Ep. 7; Make Rebecca Great Again:
Ted (to Coach Beard): Jeez, Louise. Why's everybody so down in the dumps? What happened? Did Beyonce dump Jay-Z or something?
Coach Beard: No, nothing like that.
Ted: Thank goodness. Just saying it out loud made me immediately sad.
Ep. 8; The Diamond Dogs:
Ted (to Coach Beard, Nate-the-Great, and Higgins) I mean, if you are, you know, nuts for butts, have at it. That's what I say.
Ep. 9; All Apologies:
Ted (to Roy Kent): You beating yourself up like Woody Allen playing the clarinet, I don’t wanna hear it, all right? So just, you know, knock it off. Go easy on yourself.
Ep. 10; The Hope That Kills You:
Ted (to Coach Beard and Nate-the-Great): No. No, no. Nope. Sorry, no. I hate ties, Nate. How many times I gotta tell you that? They ain’t natural, all right? If God wanted games to end in a tie, she wouldn’t have invented numbers, all right?
✨ Bonus:Ted: FOR THE LOVE OF MEGHAN MARKLE.
🦋 As I kept looking for comfort tv to help soothe and turn off my non-stop overthinking, I found myself re-watching RuPaul’s Drag Race: All-Stars (S3). I didn’t expect iconic Kristen Chenoweth’s words to hit me especially hard (even if it was mean for Trixie Mattell, but I digress).
Don’t forget what you have.
And what you offer, and who you are; whether this continues or not, okay?
Fight for yourself.- Kristen Chenoweth
Now, back to a little regular Monday post scheduling; courtesy of the Trailer Round-Up:
Danger, deception, and murder descend onto a sleepy country town courtesy of a professional assassin (Anson Mount) accepting a new assignment from his enigmatic mentor and boss (Oscar® winner Anthony Hopkins). Anthony Hopkins starring as a villain in a noir-style cloak-and-dagger thriller, yes, please!
On a mission headed to Mars, an unintended stowaway accidentally causes severe damage to the spaceship's life support systems. Facing dwindling resources and a potentially fatal outcome, the crew is forced to make an impossible decision.
An intriguing science-fiction drama about a gang of women, in the Victorian era, find themselves with peculiar new abilities, relentless enemies, and a mission that might change the world.
(Although if you remember, this is the project that Joss Whedon stepped away 6 episodes in as horrid accusations of abusive/toxic work environment against him).
Based on the novel by Alissa Nutting, the comedy series is a darkly absurd and cynically poignant story of love and divorce following Hazel Green (Cristin Milioti), a thirty-something woman on the run after 10 years in a suffocating marriage to Byron Gogol (Billy Magnussen), a controlling tech billionaire. More Cristin Milioti, please.
The further adventures of Harley Quinn, Rick Flag, and their assembled team of supervillains. I’m always just here for Harleen Quinzel, especially in her allegedly reported harlequin garb. FINALLY.
Mortal Kombat is a mysterious and intergalactic tournament of ancient martial arts, all I have to say is; GET OVER HERE.
In other exciting film news, the Tribeca Film Festival celebrates its 20th anniversary by ushering in the return of live entertainment as the first major North American film festival to be held in person.
For its 20th anniversary and in partnership with some of the most iconic outdoor sites, festival-goers will safely gather together once again to celebrate with their fellow New Yorkers as we welcome back the entertainment community. The following venues have been confirmed to take part in the expanded footprint and innovative approach to screening films: Brookfield Place New York, Pier 57 Rooftop, The Battery, Hudson Yards (Manhattan), Empire Outlets (Staten Island), and TheMetroTechCommons (Brooklyn).
In addition to the venues, Tribeca will host community screenings in all New York City boroughs, including the Bronx and Queens, using traveling 40-foot state-of-the-art LED cinemas, the first mobile HD screens in the country. Such optimistic news makes my hopeful, film-loving heart happy since I was starved for any music or film festival since the cancellation of SXSW last year. Festival dates are June 9 - June 20, 2021 (with even more hope, ya girl gets a press pass to finally make the NYC trip I had to cancel last year. Of course, if the panini permits travel).
“Tribeca Film Festival is insightful, important, and urgent. A revelation.” Award-winning filmmaker Kathryn Bigelow.
Besties, do your thing. Show some love or sound off! ✨
LYLAS. Or if you identify with they/them, then LYLAA (Love Ya Like An Angel), Youthquakes.
xo xo