If you caught the Ted Lasso season 2 finale last night then, much like me, you probably have only one thing to say: fuck you Nate. Fuck. You.
After Nate (Nick Mohammed) leaked that Ted (Jason Sudekis) had a panic attack in the middle of an important game to The Independent’s fictional sports reporter Trent Crimm (James Lance), we had already grown to hate him.
Then we watched as his jealousy and toxic feelings of abandonment and neglect led him to openly bully the new kit man Will (Charlie Hiscock) and Colin (Billy Harris).
But, after last night’s episode, it’s clear there’s no redemption plan in store for the bloke formerly known as Nate The Great.
In case you missed it and want to be spoiled, Nate – butthurt by apparent ‘abandonment’ – verbally abused Ted’s wholesome ass, RIPPED UP the “Believe” sign hanging in the locker room like a true psycho and yeeted over to Rupert’s (Anthony Head) crew as a coach, presumably in preparation of wreaking havoc as our Bond-style villain in Season 3.
“You made me feel like I was the most important person in the whole world and then, you abandoned me,” Nate tells Ted.
“And I worked my ass off trying to get your attention back. To prove myself to you. To make you like me again. But the more I did, the less you cared. It’s like I’m fucking invisible.”
“Everybody loves you. The great Ted Lasso, well I think you’re a fucking joke.”
Nate 😒😒😒#TedLasso pic.twitter.com/Zf4H4OXWy2
— Tony Clements (@TonyCMKE) October 1, 2021
The entire #TedLasso fandom assembling to find Nate: pic.twitter.com/tbyO2FyfMb
— 🌻The Spoilin’ Mandalorian🌻 (@CatchingClassic) October 1, 2021
just watched ted lasso s2 finale 🧍♀️ pic.twitter.com/lLIss8EP6s
— meri lemon (@milfsexuals) October 8, 2021
Nate Shelley. It’s on sight. #TedLasso pic.twitter.com/PL8QVKZAEM
— Rohit Koratkar (@Ro_Exotic) October 8, 2021
I don’t think I’ve been more pissed off in my life. #tedlasso pic.twitter.com/Y4ngRIj1Cr
— Charlie Tweeter (@charlie_tweeter) October 8, 2021
Seeing the ripped BELIEVE sign in the finale. #TedLasso pic.twitter.com/nssYyROS5F
— Shelby Heaton (@HeatonShelby) October 8, 2021
Nate in the end of the season 2 finale of #TedLasso 👀 pic.twitter.com/vVWey6h2AP
— Alej G (@Cinephile420) October 8, 2021
https://twitter.com/advitinsoho/status/1446313381061742598
Remember Nate, the sweet and earnest water boy turned coach from season one who owed a big part of his success to Mr. Lasso? Well, now he’s Nate the football coach who just stabbed Ted and his kind soul in the back.
According to Mohammed, while Nate’s behaviour this season isn’t something he condones, it makes sense when you realise what he’s been through.
“Season 2 is jam-full of microaggressions against Nate, from Ted laughing at the prospect of Nate being a ‘big dog’, to Roy not being bothered that Nate made an inappropriate move on Keeley, to him not receiving a Nespresso machine,” he said.
“The latter for me is a great example of jokes having consequences which Jason has spoken about a lot. It feels like a joke (and is essentially played that way in the scene) but you know this is the kind of stuff that is ripping Nate in two.”
Me again! CONTAINS SPOILERS so maybe don’t read until you’ve watched the season finale, but here are a few thoughts on Nate and responses to your tweets! X #TedLasso PS Also, huge shoutout to the magnificent @joekellyjk47 who cowrote this episode with Jason ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/Z1Rvuok422
— Nick Mohammed (@nickmohammed) October 8, 2021
Interestingly, it’s worth noting that Nate’s season 2 villain arc can be visually traced over the season by his hair gradually turning grey. Initially, there are very few but by the final shot of the season, when we learn that Nate has fucked off to coach Rupert’s team, his hair is full white.
Speaking with Variety, Mohammed said that it was an intentional decision inspired by the actor’s own “few flecks of grey” and was used to “track his descent”. I guess that’s the price you pay when you act like a mega dick to your friends.
nate the grey #tedlasso pic.twitter.com/51iLicmn4U
— krisna (@thlonelyisland) October 8, 2021
Let’s talk about Nate’s villainous transformation in season 2 of @TedLasso.
Remember, this show is based on Star Wars. When a Sith Lord turns to the dark side and becomes powerful, they also become physically disfigured.
“Nate the Great” is now “Nate the Grey”. pic.twitter.com/TJjupIkkDP
— Gabe Sanchez (@iamgabesanchez) October 8, 2021
how nate’s hair is even MORE grey in this ted lasso episode what happened 😭😭😭
— elli (@timmyscinema) October 8, 2021
I mean, the writers and creatives of Ted Lasso are geniuses. Like, Nate’s grey hair symbolizing transformation literally the entire season? What a small detail that makes so much sense now. #TedLasso
— Elizabeth (She/her/hers) (@elizanhurd) October 8, 2021
Anyway, some of us, like PEDESTRIAN.TV’s own Josephine Rozenberg-Clarke, had hoped that Nate would be redeemed in the Ted Lasso season 2 finale. I mean, it worked for Richmond FC boss Rebecca Welton (Hannah Waddingham) and their star player Jamie Tartt (Phil Dunster) from season one to season two. But, I guess life is not all that simple; or at least not clearly defined by short-lived conflicts with an immediate and easy resolution.
Maybe Nate will come crawling back to Ted in season 3 or maybe he’ll continue to ruin his career and personal growth under Rupert’s leadership. Either way, for now, all I gotta say is: fuck you Nate, soooo fucking hard.
You can watch the Emmy-sweeping series, Ted Lasso, on Apple TV.
