Ted Lasso: Friendships and the Power of Healing

In its purest form, the TV comedy is put out there to make us laugh. However, every once in a great while, there comes a comedy moment that is more heartfelt than funny.

That is what makes Ted Lasso unique above the rest, it leans into the significance of having heartfelt moments that bond us together. More specifically, the show chooses to make sure that all the comedic and major moments are created through the bonds of the characters themselves.

One of the most unique things about Ted Lasso is the way it breaks down all prior TV stereotypes regarding female/female and male/male friendships. There are no tropes here, just natural, organic human moments. And while tropes can be fun, sometimes we want something that’s real and feels like part of our lives. 

The Power of Friendship

The phrase “Richmond Til We Die” runs rampant with the AFC Richmond football club, but it speaks to a deeper theme. Family is family, but also friends and teammates can be family just as much. 

One of the strongest portrayals of this is during Ted Lasso Season 2 Episode 4, “Carol of the Bells,” when Higgins invites the team over for Christmas festivities. There is a warmth to the way all these very different individuals manage to come together in harmony for a meal and festive activities.

This show has never shied away from making sure friendships were portrayed in the strongest, deepest ways possible. It’s part of what makes this show so comforting and helps us to heal from whatever plagues us.

The whole of AFC Richmond is one big love fest from player to player and even coaches to players. There is no “I” in team, and everyone who is a Greyhound knows there is family within the roots of Richmond.

Just ask Sam Obisanya, who recently turned down an exclusive team to stay amongst his brothers. The love runs deep, even if outsiders don’t fully understand it.

These guys are from all different parts of the world and have many backgrounds, but somehow they are bonded together as if they are all one and the same. It’s something that not even the shiniest of opportunities can take one of them away from. Jamie left, but even he saw the beauty in being a part of this team and chose to return. 

From a Panda to a Lion

The greatest friendship on the whole show is hands down Rebecca and Keeley. These two women came together in the most unexpected of situations and from that, mutual love and respect have blossomed.

Ted Lasso shows us that the strongest women are the ones who build each other up and encourage each other’s success. We get to see this time and again with Keeley and Rebecca.

We get to see what women can do when they spend all their energy on supporting each other instead of tearing each other down out of jealousy or envy.

As Rebecca starts to move on from her divorce and date again, Keeley never judges her for her decisions in how to do that. Instead, Keeley strongly encourages her. 

Transversely, as Keeley grows into her own as a PR agent, Rebecca moves mountains to make sure her friend can succeed at every turn. In fact, it is because of Rebecca’s experiences with dating apps, that Keeley finds it in her to create a new kind of dating.

These two phenomenal women use their skills to their advantage to create success and encourage nothing but love for one another. Their tearful exchange during the Season 2 finale is a moment for the ages that really solidifies how much they mean to each other.

It shows us that women can love each other and encourage each other, but still know when is the right time to step aside and let the other shine. Keeley and Rebecca were the exact friend the other needed in her life — and the friends we all recognize in our own personal bonds. 

It’s important for us to see Keeley and Rebecca be this for each other because it reassures us that even in the most professional of settings people can come together instead of always being in competition with each other. For the longest time, TV has set up this trope that two women who are equally successful can’t possibly like each other or even be kind to one another.

Yet, here are two women who love each other unconditionally and thrive best when the other is at their best. They were sad to see each other go separate career paths because they loved working together and challenging each other to be the best that they can be.

The Real Man

One friendship we never saw coming in Season 1 is the backbone of what makes Season 2 so phenomenal. I am talking about the bond between Roy and Jamie. 

These two men on any other show would never dare to cross close paths with each other considering their tangled-up histories. However, the show turned that cliché on its head and created a male bond to rival all other friendships.

Jamie starts off a bit strong in the spoiled “young blood” sort of way, but Roy manages to take him down a peg or two just by being his rival teammate turned coach. Their friendship develops from Jamie’s initial jealousy of Roy’s experience and talent which makes it all the more impactful.

Roy has every right to punch Jamie in the face, so many different times. And yet, he is the one who gives Jamie comfort immediately after the situation with his dad, and he’s the one who simply forgives Jamie for his transgressions with Keeley.

It’s the kind of positive male figures our world needs so much more of. Ted Lasso understood the assignment — men are allowed to be emotional and friendly with one another in ways that extend beyond the masculine male trope. Toxic masculinity has no place here. 

In fact, Roy and Jamie are just the beginning of how this show chooses to portray men. Barring a few examples, most of the men are portrayed as being kind, understanding, and loving toward everyone around them, especially their love interests or significant others.

It allows us to believe that men can actually be decent humans every once in a while, despite what current media has us believe. Ted Lasso is changing the book on what makes a man “manly.”

Diamond Dogs

Diamond Dogs is a group that has been the backbone of the show since Ted and Beard created it in Season 1. However, Season 2 got to see it evolve into something more than just the coaches gathering around and exchanging nuggets of encouragement.

This group became Ted’s form of therapy that he could handle when even Dr. Sharon was too much. It became Beard’s voice of reason with regards to his toxic relationship with Jane.

More importantly, Diamond Dogs is what showed us that we can all engage with our feelings as well as share them amongst those we love and trust the most. Diamond Dogs helped mold Roy into the man he is now, more willing to show weakness as well as love for others. 

The strongest example, who has been subtly guiding all the “Diamond Dogs” since the beginning, isn’t even Ted himself. It’s actually Higgins, the quietest of the group who has nuggets of wisdom on occasion.

It’s Higgins’ way of going through life to please only himself and his family that encourages these major changes in Roy, Jamie, and even Ted. Despite this, I’m not even sure the men realize it. 

Not everyone in the Diamond Dogs made it to the end of Season 2. Yes, I am talking about Nate “The Great.” His betrayal could easily break up the special bond that these other men have with each other.

However, I truly believe that the strength of loyalty and care the rest of the group has will help them to survive this ultimate back-stabbing come Season 3. They may even become part of the story to help Nate gain some kind of redemption.

This part of their story shows us that even with a group of friends at your side, sometimes that’s not enough. For people like Nate, they need friends even more strongly because they don’t feel their worth. 

This is why I think these Diamond Dogs are in for a huge reflection in the mirror once all of Nate’s actions come to light in the coming season. But, that doesn’t diminish the beauty of their friendship overall — because it is a strong bond that will survive even this.

The Power of Healing

One of life’s biggest positives is the friendships we make along the way. Friendship portrayals are something many of us look for in our TV shows, and while they are not necessarily the only thing, they can make a great show stand out above the rest.

When it comes to Ted Lasso, we got to see only positive friendships portrayed and encouraged. In this world, men are willing to share their feelings and show weakness as a sign of strength while the women build each other up. It gives us hope and a sense of comfort like no other show has been able to before.

Through Keeley and Rebecca and Roy and Jamie and the Diamond Dogs we got to have a bit of that family feeling back in our lives. They show us that life is so much more fun when you have someone you can count on through the good times and the bad. 

By showing mostly positive reactions to the hardships in life, Ted Lasso is giving us our hope and community back. This show has become our best friend that comes at us like a warm hug through stories that make us laugh and cry. 

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Ted Lasso is streaming on Apple TV+.

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