S03.E08: We’ll Never Have Paris

[MMLEsq]

Does anything think Jack might pull her funding of Keeley's business if/since they've broken up?  I could see that happening and Barbara deciding to stay with Keeley rather than moving on to Jack's next start-up project (and her next snow globe).

 

[Good Queen Jane]

40 minutes ago, shapeshifter said:

Anyone else think Barbara might turn out to be instrumental in the video leak? 

Actually, I think Shandy's behind it. I also think Jack is going to pull out her financing of PRKJ, Keely gets funding elsewhere (Rebecca maybe?) and Barbara asks Keely if she can stay as her CFO.

Added: Sorry, @MMLEsq, didn't see your post until I did mine. Obviously great minds think alike.

Edited May 3, 2023 by Good Queen Jane

[DEL901]

48 minutes ago, shapeshifter said:

Yes! Floved Trent's adorable "tentative" Woof too!

 

Interesting possibility that I didn't consider. 
Keeley didn't seem to consider it either.

Anyone else think Barbara might turn out to be instrumental in the video leak? 
Probably not, but only because there's not enough story-telling time left.

 

Don't know if Rebecca's snark about the Eiffel Tower is a common utterance, but it was a great line here.

To be honest, I thought Shandy might have had something to do with it. 

[EtheltoTillie]

Shandy:  good suggestion.  I agree that Barbara would not do that. 

I love the Beatles.  Not overrated IMO.

Coincidence:  I took some Peruvian visitors to NYC Strawberry Fields on Monday . . .  Some busker was singing "Imagine."

I have visited Liverpool and seen everything!  Including Penny Lane. 

[Night Cheese]

1 hour ago, MMLEsq said:

Does anything think Jack might pull her funding of Keeley's business if/since they've broken up?  I could see that happening and Barbara deciding to stay with Keeley rather than moving on to Jack's next start-up project (and her next snow globe).

 

That was my first thought and also the reason I've been so against the Keeley/Jack relationship from the beginning. Jack has power over Keeley, which will always make their relationship problematic, even if she's not her "boss" per se. There have been enough red flags with Jack that her reacting that way is definitely a possibility, I think.

I pictured Keeley heading back to Richmond full time if that happens, but I like your idea of Barbara sticking with Keeley better.

[Schweedie]

I mean, I wouldn't put it past Shandy to try to do something like this, but I think this was a case of Keeley just getting caught up in a larger hack.

Also, this episode was when I finally broke and had to look up where Jodi Balfour (Jack) is from, because it was driving me nuts that I couldn't place her accent. (South Africa. Now it makes sense.)

2 hours ago, MMLEsq said:

Does anything think Jack might pull her funding of Keeley's business if/since they've broken up?  I could see that happening and Barbara deciding to stay with Keeley rather than moving on to Jack's next start-up project (and her next snow globe).

I would love it if Barbara sticks with Keeley. I think she's developed a grudging respect for Keeley, has maybe even started to like her a tiny bit - she definitely looked like she felt for Keeley in this situation, and like she didn't particularly like that first statement Jack wanted her to put out.

I kind of hope Jack does pull her funding. Not that I want Keeley's business to fail, but I'm so ready for Jack to just go away. It annoyed me that Jack said "I don't know" when Keeley asked if she was coming back because I wanted it to be unambiguously over with them, but surely Keeley wouldn't take her back after what she said and her just walking out like that?

[Trillium]

2 minutes ago, Schweedie said:

I kind of hope Jack does pull her funding. Not that I want Keeley's business to fail, but I'm so ready for Jack to just go away. It annoyed me that Jack said "I don't know" when Keeley asked if she was coming back because I wanted it to be unambiguously over with them, but surely Keeley wouldn't take her back after what she said and her just walking out like that?

While this is the more likely scenario, I’d love if Keeley was like “Fuck your funding.” and ends on her own terms and gets back the being The Independent Woman.

[Schweedie]

7 minutes ago, Trillium said:

While this is the more likely scenario, I’d love if Keeley was like “Fuck your funding.” and ends on her own terms and gets back the being The Independent Woman.

Ooh, that would definitely be better.

[iMonrey]

Quote

It was written for Julian Lennon when his parents split. 

That's . . . odd. It seems to be about finding a woman.

"Remember to let her into your heart. Then you can start to make it better."

"The minute you let her under your skin then you can begin to make it better."

"Hey Jude don't let me down. You have found her, now go and get her. Remember to let her into your heart, then you can start to make it better."

WTF does this have to do with parents divorcing? Who's Jude supposed to be letting into his heart?

[Crs97]

“More specifically, “Hey Jude” was officially released in August of 1968 during a period of personal turmoil for the band. Lennon had just left his wife, Cynthia Powell, for Yoko Ono who he would later marry in 1969, which caused upheaval within the Beatles as well as Lennon’s family.

McCartney, witnessing this emotional shift in his partner’s life, began to write “Hey Jude” for Lennon’s son, Julian Lennon. “I started with the idea ‘Hey Jules,’ which was Julian, don’t make it bad, take a sad song and make it better. Hey, try and deal with this terrible thing. I knew it was not going to be easy for him. I always feel sorry for kids in divorces,” McCartney is recorded to have said in a 1997 biography written by Barry Miles.”  — From this history of the song

The lyrics about finding a woman are apparently meant to tell Julian not to be afraid of love as he gets older.

I think it’s hilarious and telling that Lennon first thought Paul write the song for him.

Edited May 3, 2023 by Crs97

[DEL901]

35 minutes ago, Schweedie said:

I mean, I wouldn't put it past Shandy to try to do something like this, but I think this was a case of Keeley just getting caught up in a larger hack.

Also, this episode was when I finally broke and had to look up where Jodi Balfour (Jack) is from, because it was driving me nuts that I couldn't place her accent. (South Africa. Now it makes sense.)

I would love it if Barbara sticks with Keeley. I think she's developed a grudging respect for Keeley, has maybe even started to like her a tiny bit - she definitely looked like she felt for Keeley in this situation, and like she didn't particularly like that first statement Jack wanted her to put out.

I kind of hope Jack does pull her funding. Not that I want Keeley's business to fail, but I'm so ready for Jack to just go away. It annoyed me that Jack said "I don't know" when Keeley asked if she was coming back because I wanted it to be unambiguously over with them, but surely Keeley wouldn't take her back after what she said and her just walking out like that?

The way Jack behaved/talked when her dad’s lawyers drafted that statement… I don’t know how much autonomy she really has.  If dad gets pissed because Keeley won’t do the statement, he could order Jack to pull funding and she, for all her performative free-spiritedness, still seems overly concerned about appearances, and also does what daddy says. 

[MissLucas]

Okay show, enough with the green matchbooks!

Things I loved:

• The little double-take Jamie did after catching a glimpse of what was on Will's phone. I guess it was a memory from Amsterdam (and not the jazz session).
• Keeley choosing a maroon dress with white polka dots for the golf outing. Clearly a shout-out to the dress Julia Roberts wore in Pretty Woman for the polo tournament.
• Trent's woof.
• Beard, Roy and Trent wondering about child labor and capitalism.
• The shot of Rebecca's home.
• Rebecca giving once again sound advice to Keeley.
• Lawyer ick!
• Jaimie apologizing (I'm one of the few who think they should get back together).
• Hey Jude.

Now that Jack's gone can we also drop Keeley's hair of sadness and shame? It's getting distracting.

 

[chitowngirl]

5 hours ago, tennisgurl said:

Oh please. The Eiffel Tower is just a lamp post with a publicist." 

and “oh this has lawyer ick all over it!” were the best lines of the episode

[Ellaria]

There was way too much of Keeley/Jack and Nate/Jade. These are just not the relationships that interest me. The writers obviously believe that this amount of screen time is important to the story arcs of these characters. I’m not sure that I agree.

It is pulling too much time away from the heart of this show which, for me, is Ted, Beard, Rebecca and the team.

Loved the scene between Henry and Beard. So sweet.

Hopefully Ted is now able to move on from Michele’s relationship with Dr. Jacob.

I would like to have seen more of “what happens next” between Colin and Isaac rather than push it into another episode. Again, that’s a friendship that interests me.

Love that Trent has joined the Diamond Dogs.

[PurpleTentacle]

The only acceptable statement to make would be:

"I'm a sexually active woman and of course me and my boyfriend at the time were also sending sexual videos to each other. Whoever these hackers are, they can suck my dick!" (you could maybe word it a bit more politely, but that should be the jist)

That Jack wanted Keeley to put out that sex-negative bullshit really disgusted me and I was sad when Keeley asked her if she was coming back. I wish she had had the strength in that moment to say "Good riddance. Stay gone!"

Edited May 3, 2023 by PurpleTentacle

[Captain Carrot]

We've been wondering for weeks if Jack was another rat like Rupert. However, to paraphrase Holly Golightly, she's not a regular rat or even a super-rat. She's just a scared little mouse, that's all.

Seeing how happy Will is this season, and thinking about the scene when he closed the blinds after Nate screamed at him. I've come to the realization that there's someone that Nate needs to apologize to even more then Ted.

[Abra]

1 hour ago, MissLucas said:

Keeley choosing a maroon dress with white polka dots for the golf outing. Clearly a shout-out to the dress Julia Roberts wore in Pretty Woman for the polo tournament.

Wait wait wait Keeley's dress was brown/beige with polka dots and not maroon...right? This isn't another instance of The Dress, is it?

[DEL901]

10 minutes ago, Abra said:

Wait wait wait Keeley's dress was brown/beige with polka dots and not maroon...right? This isn't another instance of The Dress, is it?

Looks browny to me too.  

[braziliangirl]

I thought Isaac took Colin's phone because he wasn't believing he was erasing videos/photos. When the news got out of the leak Colid said something like "I know what I'm going to do this weekend". Then he goes out of the lockeroom and Isaac says he's serious about everyone deleting and Colin tells him to fuck off.  Jamie already had said that he deletes things and I don't think he would've said anything to Roy at that moment.

 

[MissLucas]

41 minutes ago, Abra said:

Wait wait wait Keeley's dress was brown/beige with polka dots and not maroon...right? This isn't another instance of The Dress, is it?

No, just linguistic confusion - I thought that shade of brown was called maroon in English. Carry on😁

[overtherainbow]

Poor Nate, he's conflicted again. At least he's found some happiness. 

That was sweet of Beard to give Henry advice. He's been very side-kicky yet loveable throughout this show and that was nice to see. How old is Henry supposed to be? The actor looks like he's 10 or 11 but presents as much younger, like he's playing a 7 or 8 year old. Anyway, probably irrelevant. 

Poor Ted - he's not over his ex. 

Jack and Keeley - didn't think her and Jack would work out. I wonder if she's going to get back together with Roy. I think he's the only one who really "gets" her. 

So now that Isaac knows Colin's secret, I guess there will be some tension between them next episode? 

Hard to say how the finale will turn out.

[PurpleTentacle]

6 hours ago, monagatuna said:

I find it interesting that practically the entire team was excited about the celebrity sex video leak until it was revealed that someone they care about was impacted. Women only exist for my consumption until it's a woman I care about, then I'm outraged. Very much shades of "what if it was your daughter/sister/mom" without consideration that a woman deserves respect and autonomy regardless of her relationship to a man. I appreciate that they're showing growth and publicly decrying revenge porn, but I'm really angry that it takes this (seeing someone you love and respect being objectified) to stop doing it yourself. I'm glad Keeley decided not to make a public apology or statement. 

Except that's not what happened. They all pretty quickly came to the conclusion that leaking videos and photos against somebodies wishes wasn't cool, way before they knew Keeley was a victim. What they were discussing for a while was if they should delete videos and photos on their own phones, because they maybe possibly could be hacked in the future. Here learning that Keeley was a victim made that descision easier. (also let me tell you, if those phones have cloud backup, deleting the material does nothing, those companies hold on to data like the devil holds on to souls).

[debraran]

33 minutes ago, overtherainbow said:

Poor Nate, he's conflicted again. At least he's found some happiness. 

That was sweet of Beard to give Henry advice. He's been very side-kicky yet loveable throughout this show and that was nice to see. How old is Henry supposed to be? The actor looks like he's 10 or 11 but presents as much younger, like he's playing a 7 or 8 year old. Anyway, probably irrelevant. 

Poor Ted - he's not over his ex. 

Jack and Keeley - didn't think her and Jack would work out. I wonder if she's going to get back together with Roy. I think he's the only one who really "gets" her. 

So now that Isaac knows Colin's secret, I guess there will be some tension between them next episode? 

Hard to say how the finale will turn out.

I like how Nate is coming out of his hard shell. He's so sensitive and insecure even if a jerk. I can't keep hating him, he's not Rupert. He's redeemable. There would be no issue with Ted or Henry (he's still in Lego set as a player) but the others, it would take some groveling.  He wants what they had before now that he sees it in hindsight. We all make mistakes, his were big.

I hate seeing Ted mourn his ex, she moved on. Let her have Paris. I feel for Henry though. I never liked Hey Jude much either but likd how they did it.

I know the videos weren't meant to be shown like many , but this is 2023, sexting and guys as young as teens and older have been sharing photos and treating women like sex objects for decades...polaroids and paper photos not quite as damaging but if you take anything like that, you have to know a hack or angry partner, anyone can take it and make it public. This was tragic but not uncommon.  I feel Keely's pain but you don't write anything or film anything that you don't want getting out. That's just a reality.  I think most of us have learned that in some way.

 

[DEL901]

5 minutes ago, debraran said:

I like how Nate is coming out of his hard shell. He's so sensitive and insecure even if a jerk. I can't keep hating him, he's not Rupert. He's redeemable. There would be no issue with Ted or Henry (he's still in Lego set as a player) but the others, it would take some groveling.  He wants what they had before now that he sees it in hindsight. We all make mistakes, his were big.

I hate seeing Ted mourn his ex, she moved on. Let her have Paris. I feel for Henry though. I never liked Hey Jude much either but likd how they did it.

I know the videos weren't meant to be shown like many , but this is 2023, sexting and guys as young as teens and older have been sharing photos and treating women like sex objects for decades...polaroids and paper photos not quite as damaging but if you take anything like that, you have to know a hack or angry partner, anyone can take it and make it public. This was tragic but not uncommon.  I feel Keely's pain but you don't write anything or film anything that you don't want getting out. That's just a reality.  I think most of us have learned that in some way.

 

I think Kelley’s upset was driven by two things other than just the usual anger and embarrassment.   One is that she is the face and head of KJPR and this could hurt her brand.  The other is Jack and her reaction, with that stupid statement, cancelling polo and then introducing her as a friend.  Keeley saw her girlfriend’s feet of clay.  

[angora]

19 hours ago, anna0852 said:

I wish Ted had stuck with calling Jake "Dr. Jake" to his face. Or even commented that since he only knew him in a clinical sense, he'd stick with 'Dr'. Just to mildly drive home how unethical this relationship is and that Ted is going to make the guy squirm.

Me too. Dr. Jake was so slimy with that. Sure, he can be all chipper like, "Hey, we're all friends here! No need to be formal--just call me Jake." We all know it was really, "Okay, can we avoid the reminders that I was your marriage counselor?"

8 hours ago, tennisgurl said:

"Oh please. The Eiffel Tower is just a lamp post with a publicist."  

Your whole post was great, but I loved this line from Rebecca so much. I love her friendship with Ted.

7 hours ago, sharifa70 said:

I interpreted Isaac’s response as maybe hurt that Colin hadn’t confided in him? I hope that’s it because I love Isaac.

 

He handled it terribly but it’s also normal for surprised people to handle things terribly. Yeah, it sucks for the person dropping the surprise, but sometimes people need to process. It doesn’t make either party wrong. I’m speaking as a heavy-duty processor who once found myself so completely incapable of thought that I just pointed across the room and told the other person “I’m going over there now.” Is it helpful? No. Is it necessary? Sometimes.

Roy refusing to join the Diamond Dogs (while still being very much a Diamond Dog) cracks me up. Trent’s tentative “Woof” was adorable.

Except in this case, Colin *wasn't* dropping the surprise. He wasn't coming out, Isaac accidentally found out, which puts his bad reaction even more on him. I agree with most who think he was just surprised and maybe hurt when he realized Colin hadn't felt safe enough to tell him, but I'm definitely gonna need to see him making it up to Colin. While I'm in the group who thinks that was a taciturn head-nod of respect, it wasn't nearly enough for Colin in that moment.

The whole Diamond Dogs scene was great; they always are. I loved that Roy was the one who asked Ted if he wanted to talk, then left when the howling started but still couldn't resist chiming in. And Trent was just too cute. Like you said, the "woof" was adorable, and I loved, "Can I just talk whenever?" Also, I laughed so hard at Leslie racing down to the coach's office after Beard called him and just barked into the receiver.

1 hour ago, PurpleTentacle said:

The only acceptable statement to make would be:

"I'm a sexually active woman and of course me and my boyfriend at the time were also sending sexual videos to each other. Whoever these hackers are, they can suck my dick!" (you could maybe word it a bit more politely, but that should be the jist)

That Jack wanted Keeley to put out that sex-negative bullshit really disgusted me and I was sad when Keeley asked her if she was coming back. I wish she had had the strength in that moment to say "Good riddance. Stay gone!"

The thing is, you know Jack would've been plenty happy to *receive* a video like that from Keeley. But no, when her old video leaks, it's "her fault" for having made it in the first place. Don't let the door hit you on the way out, Jack.

I would love for Keeley to find new funding and keep Barbara as her CFO. Keeley was on such a Boss Ass Bitch trajectory at the end of last season, but so many things have derailed that. I want to see her take charge and see her plots intersect more with Richmond's *without* losing her business and going back to Richmond full-time. I know time is short, but I feel like it's doable. Keeley is a smart and capable person, and I think that if she can access that part of herself again, trusting her instincts while also leaning on Barbara's knowledge, she could thrive.

I like that Isaac made everyone delete their private explicit photos/videos. He rightly recognized how easily any of them could be targeted by hackers--unbeknownst to him, Jamie already was--and got strict to protect the team *and* their sexual partners. He takes his role as team captain so seriously.

It's wonderful to see how much Jamie has grown over the course of the series. I really appreciated his apology to Keeley, as well as the detail that he'd tried *not* to be careless--he'd deleted everything from his phone but had forgotten about the original emails (and didn't know how to spell "password," oh Jamie....) In terms of people talking to Keeley about her situation in this episode, I'd rate him second, only behind Rebecca, who was fabulous. Consciously or unconsciously, Jack has monopolized a lot of Keeley's time, and we haven't seen her with Rebecca as much this season. It was heartening that Keeley immediately left the office and went over to Richmond after getting Jack's horrible "statement"--it was the start of a wake-up moment for her, and she knew that she needed Rebecca.

As soon as the assistant coach arrived at Nate's office, I said, "omg, he's trying to do his own Diamond Dogs, isn't he?" That was painful enough, but the fact that he'd invited *Rupert*??? Nate, dude, what are you doing?

And I know he gets all grumbly about it, but if there's anyone who needs the Diamond Dogs, it's Roy. I'm sure he approached Keeley with the best of intentions and really wanted to offer her sympathy/comfort, but he couldn't get out of his own way. Even though he seemed to realize his mistake as soon as he asked who the video was for, the damage was done. He and Isaac are both gonna have some making up to do for reacting badly in a sensitive situation.

I can generally take or leave Henry, but he was involved in some good scenes this week. Will's "game" for him in the locker room was really cute (along with Roy, Beard, and Trent wondering if it was fun or just child labor,) and I liked the team cheering for him on the pitch. Mae not wanting to serve them when she realized they'd gone to the West Ham game was funny too. And I loved Beard's conversation with him about "Hey Jude."

[Phebemarie]

13 minutes ago, angora said:

And I know he gets all grumbly about it, but if there's anyone who needs the Diamond Dogs, it's Roy. 

Oooh, Roy hasn't really talked with the DDs about his break up with Keely.  Maybe after his horrible reaction/question to her in this episode, he will finally talk with the guys and have some sort of break through.  

 

[Girl in a Cardigan]

11 hours ago, tennisgurl said:

I have been pretty disappointed by Keeley's plot this season, I like the idea in theory of her running her own company, but its seemingly made her drop several IQ points, led to her nonsense break up with Roy, and kept her away from the rest of the cast, like she's on her own show with the occasional cameo from Rebecca.

I was really, really hoping that after Keeley finished reeling from the video being leaked that she would put on her Keeley Jones, Independent Woman pants on and actually do PR for herself and the other women affected by the leak. There should be lawyers involved - for the hackers, not for Keeley. I really hoped we'd see Keeley circle the wagons, start working together with the other celebs' flacks to put out a GOOD statement about what happened.

When Jack offered to make it go away, I thought that Jack was rich enough to actually call in favors to get stuff taken down. With enough weight and cash, you can move the world. I mean, KJPR is a public relations firm, so Keely wouldn't need anyone else to tell her what to say, how to spin, what to do next - that's literally her entire job right now. I just kept waiting for Keeley to step up - after she read the BS statement from Jack, after Jack canceled their appearance at the polo match (and never told Keeley!), after Jack distanced herself from Keeley at mini golf. Obviously, I don't know what it's like to have a sex video released about me, but I just kept hoping we'd see the old Keeley in there.

Maybe now that Jamie has taken accountability for what happened, she can start to get her groove back!

[Ms.Lulu]

11 hours ago, Enigma X said:

That is what I always heard, and many stories on the internet state that. So...

Julian Lennon has confirmed that Paul McCartney wrote it for him when John left his mother for Yoko Ono. That is who Julian was supposed to let her under his skin into into his heart.

[lovinbob]

23 hours ago, Athena5217 said:

I feel like Jack isn’t a real character. She’s a device to move Keeley’s story forward and will just say and do whatever is needed in that moment to make it happen.

Nailed it. 

23 hours ago, anna0852 said:

I wish Ted had stuck with calling Jake "Dr. Jake" to his face. Or even commented that since he only knew him in a clinical sense, he'd stick with 'Dr'. Just to mildly drive home how unethical this relationship is and that Ted is going to make the guy squirm. 

I think Nate is really starting to realize what he lost when he left Richmond. He's ultimately very lonely (aside from the new thing with Jade) and deeply misses the genuine friendships he had.

I think Jade is going to be the one to help Nate see what he lost by cutting off Ted and the team. Maybe that's her purpose. 

20 hours ago, HelloooKitty said:

 I cared about a Nate a teeny bit only bc the kid cared about him and Nate DID wave back at him.

I didn't see him wave -- I thought he kind of snubbed them. But maybe I just missed it. 

5 hours ago, MissLucas said:

Keeley choosing a [not maroon] dress with white polka dots for the golf outing. Clearly a shout-out to the dress Julia Roberts wore in Pretty Woman for the polo tournament.

Loved that! Also, her hat looked like a nod to Eliza Dolittle at Ascot. Which then made me think that Juno Temple bears a fairly striking resemblance to Audrey Hepburn.

I love Keeley and Jamie's chemistry but I really don't want to see Keeley just passed around from relationship to relationship. She's such an interesting character, strong and independent in so many ways, but she always seems to be letting people off the hook after they mistreat her in some way. When Nate kissed her, this episode with Roy ... I'd love to see a moment where she holds someone accountable for treating her like an object. Maybe that moment will come with Jack. 

Higgins had only a couple of minutes, but he was a delight nonetheless.

I was really hoping that the Colin-Isaac thread would be resolved by episode's end. I think they made this a cliffhanger for dramatic effect. But in the end, I don't think Isaac is going to be anything but supportive, and the team will jump on board. This show makes a point to portray the team's locker room culture as refreshingly kind and progressive, often comedically so. One of the things I love -- I don't need gritty reality from this show. 

[MerBearHou]

I can’t believe how bored I am by the Keely / Jack and Nate / Jade storylines.  

[AngieBee1]

-As much as I don't want Ted and Rebecca to get together, I equally do not want Ted and Michelle to reconcile. Yes, we don't need to see everything played out onscreen, but what could possibly have changed from her wanting distance, then nudging Ted on signing the divorce papers to now? Yes, we got a scene this season (IIRC) where she seemed impress how he didn't fall into his standard pattern, but other than that why would she want to be back with him? Hoping it's a misdirect (as I'm hoping that green matchbook is a misdirect).

 

-Proud of Isaac doing captain tings and letting his team know it's not on to hang onto nudes, or in O'Brien's case pic of someone defecating.

 

-I loved that they had Ted reading Marcus Rashford's book to Henry. Very nice touch.

 

-The mad thing about the leak storyline is that Juno and Olivia Wilde were part of The Fappening. The bit about it Keeley posing nude versus this leak was that one was a choice and that's very true. I know Keeley Hazell put every bit of her personal sentiment into that storyline.

 

-Jamie and Rebecca being there for Keeley was lovely.

[pennben]

Some very nice scenes scattered within an episode and season that lost thread and heart of its own show. I miss Bill Lawrence’s guiding hand. I’m sure there will be a satisfying ending, but 8 (at least) of 12 episodes being at least a half (some more)  a bubble off is a very bad ratio. Sigh. 
 

[iRarelyWatchTV36]

Gotta be honest .....

Someone mentioned above that the show is moving out of the Dark Forest.  God, I flipping hope so.  Because this season (so far) - as well as the majority of S2 - has been really fucking depressing, at least on most of the relationships and/or personal situations front.

Either get everyone to their happy places or spend much more screen time on Richmond winning matches.  In fact, please spend more time on the actual sport regardless of the other story lines!

Honestly, I've reached the point that I plain just don't even care what the endgame relationships, or lack thereof, end up as.  With so much drama every episode - for most of the last 20 eps - it feels like this show is continually tap dancing on the line between being what its actually billed as and masquerading as a 'daytime soap'.

[Juneau Gal]

2 hours ago, MerBearHou said:

I can’t believe how bored I am by the Keely / Jack and Nate / Jade storylines.  

Oh goodness, me too! I kept looking at the time remaining throughout this whole dull episode. Really feel it was a waste of an episode. Move on Ted, your manipulative ex-wife has. Grow some brain cells back Keeley. Nate has never been and will never be a cute, likable character. From the very first time we saw him running across the pitch yelling at Ted and Beard in season one episode one he’s been a jerk. Any romance he may have that “redeems” him is meaningless to me. He can stay in West Ham, win or lose, I could not care less. The show is better when he, and Keeley and Michelle and Henry, are not in it. 
The team is the heart of the show and that needs to be resuscitated.  

[shapeshifter]

4 hours ago, AngieBee1 said:

-I loved that they had Ted reading Marcus Rashford's book to Henry. Very nice touch.

Thank you, @AngieBee1, for identifying the book Ted read to Henry. I was not able to see the title or author, even on a large (albeit older) screen. 
Here’s the Google Books link for Marcus Rashford's “The Breakfast Club Adventures: The Beast Beyond the Fence,” including information about the author, a noted Manchester United footballer:
books.google.com/books?id=v5JREAAAQBAJ

 

[debraran]

8 hours ago, DEL901 said:

I think Kelley’s upset was driven by two things other than just the usual anger and embarrassment.   One is that she is the face and head of KJPR and this could hurt her brand.  The other is Jack and her reaction, with that stupid statement, cancelling polo and then introducing her as a friend.  Keeley saw her girlfriend’s feet of clay.  

 I agree, I don't know why Keely after the first blow of embarrassment, didn't treat it for what it was, a hack. Just say little and then nothing at all. The haters saying she did it on purpose etc, well you can't stop that on the Internet or fix stupid. Making her seem dumb this season, just a doll in different outfits,  is hard. I mean be more like Rebecca. Own your stuff. Look at Jack for what she is, which she is seeing now but more because of the tape. I thought dress was cute but they seem to making Keely look a bit haggard, her hair, her complexion, maybe it's just me, but she looks unwell.

I always said No to most pics, I just didn't want anything out I didn't want out, if I owned the pics, were proud of them, me on a nude beach for example, although that didn't happen, I'd say whatever.  If I wanted private, then it would be private. I don"t judge others but today with all the hacking, it's scary and you really have to trust someone. I felt so bad for Jaime. It was a very honest talk and hug.

Edited May 4, 2023 by debraran

[shapeshifter]

2 hours ago, debraran said:

I don"t judge others but today with all the hacking, it's scary and you really have to trust someone. I felt so bad for Jaime. It was a very honest talk and hug.

This episode could have been the most effective PSA for not ever sending explicit selfies, given Jamie’s/Phil Dunster’s palpably sincere apology, together with his frank admission of technological stupidity. 
But the weakness of the season pretty much guarantees that the moral of this cautionary tale of sexting won’t have legs.

I suspect the only thing wrong with the season is cramming too much story into overly long episodes. 
These are superior writers who should know when to cut their favorite bits.  
Maybe the episode bloat is the result of the (misguided?) respect the writers have for each other’s work.

Edited May 4, 2023 by shapeshifter

[justmehere]

7 hours ago, Phebemarie said:

Oooh, Roy hasn't really talked with the DDs about his break up with Keely.  Maybe after his horrible reaction/question to her in this episode, he will finally talk with the guys and have some sort of break through.  

I hope so.

As much as I love Jamie's arc - and that Roy has been an integral part of it - I'm disappointed that we haven't seen Roy dealing more with his own issues. There have been some personal bits but not what feels like the elephant in the room. Rebecca told him earlier that Keely was off with someone who knew they deserved her (or whatever the line was), but then nothing more from him. He messed up in this ep and knew it - but he was already at that point, having had other "recognition" moments while he was with Keely (generally followed by a loud exclamation of "Fuck!"). Part of the beauty of Jamie's changes is that they've occurred over time, as would happen in real life. There isn't much time left for Roy, and although being a work in progress isn't a bad place to leave it, I want to see more than a single conversation.

They are giving that time to Nate, but it's frustrating. Of course, people aren't going to heal or progress at the same rate - plus, Nate doesn't have anyone helping him; no Roy of his own - but it does feel like there should be more ownership on his part by now and not just longing for what he threw away. His impulses of wanting to reach out haven't made it past opportune moments that he let pass by or didn't even recognize (the lack of handshake at the end of the game). At the least, even if he stays away from Richmond (which I think he should), he needs to make amends. Maybe him gazing at the picture of Ted, Henry, and Beard will turn out to be more than wistful longing. 

And then Ted - another wounded person needing to heal. I really hope that Rebecca's comment got through to him and he is finally ready to move on from Michelle. I'd love another... a better instance of him being direct with her. He was still all "yeah, it's all good, how wonderful for you both" with her, and I wanted him to punch Jake in the face. Or at least speak with raw honesty. That was so frustrating. I really hope that Ted & Michelle don't reconcile. She doesn't deserve him. The only reunion I want is Roy & Keely.

Rebecca has been the fount of all wisdom lately - which is great; she's great at that - but there's been no further development of her own story. How is she doing, moving on from Rupert? I want to see that progress!

It feels like such a central part of the show, moving forward, becoming a better version of yourself - even the team has done this - but other than Jamie, we're not seeing enough lately from others on that front, and Keely, unfortunately, has regressed. Well, that happens too in real life. But there isn't much time left, there are so many threads, and they all deserve more than a few quickie lines to resolve. There have been some real gem moments and fun moments and moving moments this season, but it has also felt at times like the extra room in episodes has been wasted. I just wish the writing was tighter across the board.

[curbcrusher]

3 hours ago, shapeshifter said:

I suspect the only thing wrong with the season is cramming too much story into overly long episodes. 
These are superior writers who should know when to cut their favorite bits.  
Maybe the episode bloat is the result of the (misguided?) respect the writers have for each other’s work.

I think what's wrong it is too 2 years to get here.  I didn't watch seasons 1 and 2 when they came out since I didn't have apple so I was able to stream them for the first time in the middle of 2022. According to IMDB Season 1 ran Sept-Oct 2020, Season 2 ran Jul - Oct 2021 and then we waited until March of 2023 for season 3 to start.   I think the delay in the timing of season 3 gave the creators and writers too much time to reflect on what they had produced and let the great press they were getting go to their heads.

Instead of a show that was about a goofy but effective football turned soccer coach, they started writing for all the supporting stories that came out of that premise and lost the charm and cohesiveness of the original and sidelined the main story. As it is, I feel like I'm watching a different show in season 3.

[MicheleinPhilly]

Can this show please stop wasting so much time on KJPR and West Ham (i.e. Nate)? It's supposed to be a show about Richmond, ergo I want to see Richmond. In the stadium training, at matches, in the locker room, hanging out with one another. All of these side stories are just distracting from the magic. 

These expanded episodes have been such a blessing and a curse. 

[DEL901]

One thing that gives me hope for the season - they wrote this show as a three season arc and are committed to it.  Even if there is some kind of spin off or continuation of some sort, all of these conflicts and story lines will have a resolution, unlike those shows that drag things out for years or even decades.  

[Schweedie]

21 minutes ago, MicheleinPhilly said:

Can this show please stop wasting so much time on KJPR and West Ham (i.e. Nate)? It's supposed to be a show about Richmond, ergo I want to see Richmond. In the stadium training, at matches, in the locker room, hanging out with one another. All of these side stories are just distracting from the magic. 

These expanded episodes have been such a blessing and a curse. 

Every week I get excited when I see the running time of the episode, and almost every week I'm disappointed that most of that time is spent on things I don't care about. I don't need to see Nate worrying about brushing his teeth before Jade wakes up when we apparently could've seen Richmond beating Everton for only the second time in sixty years and having another wild night out in Liverpool that Jamie gets to be part of this time.

I love this show so much, but I'm starting to really worry that they won't stick the landing. I'm gonna need for the last four episodes to be *really* good.

[AD55]

10 hours ago, AngieBee1 said:

-As much as I don't want Ted and Rebecca to get together, I equally do not want Ted and Michelle to reconcile. Yes, we don't need to see everything played out onscreen, but what could possibly have changed from her wanting distance, then nudging Ted on signing the divorce papers to now? Yes, we got a scene this season (IIRC) where she seemed impress how he didn't fall into his standard pattern, but other than that why would she want to be back with him? Hoping it's a misdirect (as I'm hoping that green matchbook is a misdirect).

Maybe months with the most boring character since "don't-you-dare-settle-for-fine" John have made Ted look pretty darn good. On the other hand, Michelle also has zero charisma, so that's probably not it. I'm with you. I don't want Ted and Michelle to reconcile, and I'm also not a Ted and Rebecca shipper. I love Ted and Rebecca's friendship, and I think they have zero chemistry as potential romantic partners.

I wish Michelle were more appealing. The writers have made it too easy IMO to excuse Ted for the dissolution of their marriage. He has serious issues that would make marriage to him challenging, but unless I have missed something, the writers identify the problem as Michelle's simply falling out of love with him for no readily apparent reason other than "that sometimes happens in a relationship."

Edited May 4, 2023 by AD55

[Phebemarie]

Has the music over the closing credits ever been significant before?  This is the English version of the song Come Softly, Darling for everyone not fluent in French like Rebecca. 

[juno]

I am just not enjoying this season. They took a great idea for a comedy show and turned it into a soap opera.

There is no focus anymore on the team and playing football but the focus is now on the team's relationships and the relationships of the leaders.

Ted has suddenly been sleepwalking through the season in a funk but rarely have we seen him helping the team and players and coaching. The team's games were the focus in the first 2 seasons and now they are background news.

Main characters such as Roy, Rebecca, Ted and Beard have basically no storyline and nothing to do. They refuse to show any of them spending much time doing their jobs so there are very few storylines coming from the workplace. We have not seen any PR coming out of Keeley's work except the woman she fired and that was amateurish. Their only storylines are based out of relationships and the drama from them.

Nate, a secondary character from the past 2 seasons now has his own storyline. Why? Why take time away from Ted's story to show us stories from the villian of the show? I don't get it. They turned Nate into a terrible heel and now expect us to watch his story? One of the dumbest character turns and writing I have seen in a long time.

[khyber]

This episode bored me.  The only good thing is maybe we got rid of Jack.

[EtheltoTillie]

Aw, so sorry to hear all the negativity.  Since the total amount of Ted Lasso we are ever to get is pretty limited, I'm happy to watch anything.  This show is still better than so much else out there. 

[iRarelyWatchTV36]

1 hour ago, EtheltoTillie said:

Aw, so sorry to hear all the negativity.  Since the total amount of Ted Lasso we are ever to get is pretty limited, I'm happy to watch anything.  This show is still better than so much else out there. 

Its not really negativity, on my part.

I just feel like waaay too much time is spent in these S3 episodes - so far, at least - on stuff that is either not very entertaining or drama that doesn't effect the main AFC Richmond core. And this is especially noticeable as we enter the final 3rd of the final season.

Another kind of big thing, is that since shortly after Zava retired, the series stopped spending any time actually showing Richmond winning on the 4-game streak.  Just voice-overs and shots of the standings, or else we wouldn't know anything about what's been going on.

[AngieBee1]

Quote

"He has serious issues that would make marriage to him challenging, but unless I have missed something, the writers identify the problem as Michelle's simply falling out of love with him for no readily apparent reason other than "that sometimes happens in a relationship."

Exactly. I was hoping that Rebecca asking Ted why he didn't take Michelle to Paris himself would loosen something out of him - to show that he realized that there was a failing on his part that wasn't solely down to him being too perky and accommodating. That bit showed us that he had time to honour everyone else and help them be better people and show that he appreciated them but didn't do that for Michelle.

 

 

Even with Henry. He's been tearing up inside about being apart from him, but he's too caught up in Michelle and Dr. Jacob to not give Henry his full attention. And when he does have his full attention at bedtime, he's asking him questions about Michelle and Dr. Jacob. He's not being in the moment with those he loves and instead just focusing on what's hurting him.

 

And if he does reconcile with Michelle (I assume Jake did propose and she turned him down, hence that awkward bit at the car and her looking back at Ted) I don't think we've seen enough in Ted to show that he has made any real substantial change in how he approaches his relationship with her.

[Trillium]

46 minutes ago, iRarelyWatchTV36 said:

I just feel like waaay too much time is spent in these S3 episodes - so far, at least - on stuff that is either not very entertaining or drama that doesn't effect the main AFC Richmond core. And this is especially noticeable as we enter the final 3rd of the final season.

This is where my frustration with it lies. I think if there was a 4th season I’d be more inclined to see where these side stories are going.  But since there’s only 4 episodes left, they are running out of time. Roy clearly needs to get his shit together, but that should have happened 4 episodes ago. Ted makes progress but now is back being consumed by what his ex is doing. Colin just now is having the team find out he’s gay. Slow burns are fine if you’ve got the time, they don’t. Unless they are going to say psyche! We’re doing #4!  Which at this point I’m not sure is a good thing. 
 

It hasn’t been terrible, and some parts have been extremely good. But this is where they should be bringing it home, spending time with the characters we’ve come to love. Yet we get Jack, Shandy, Jade, Zava far more than we’ve seen Sam. And even Roy has been relegated to a side character for most of the time. They’ve made the most of the time they are on but it’s been far too little of the things that make the show great.