#tlasso

Because we see how Nate is in the beginning. We root for him and we love the attention that he gets and how he gets his time to shine. Ted’s methods clearly work for a lot of the characters, it has its merit, and Nate (at first) is no exception. He’s promoted to being a coach, he’s getting attention, the team is also improving so they’re being kinder and everything is better now, right? 

Except in season 2 (and 3!) we see the cracks - in Nate, but for all the coaches, really, because ironically the coaches who are mentoring the players and telling them to believe are also the ones we see struggling with that mentality the most. Beard’s one of Ted’s strongest supporters, his right-hand man, but we see in Beard’s episode how deep his depression and self-hatred run. Roy isn’t exactly screaming Ted’s methods from the rooftops, but we see how he slowly accepts it and appreciates it, and how it does help him - but he struggles with finding his purpose and feeling wanted and needed, and it shines in quitting things early and never getting proper closure in things he really loved, with him constantly wondering if he ever really made the best choice (his team, his job, his relationship with Keeley). Ted struggles to express these negative emotions and it spirals quickly, especially in season 2. 

And Nate? Nate watches as his life objectively gets better, but struggles because his anger and resentment don’t go away. He gets the attention from Ted but (even though it’s not the intention!) feels as if Ted drops him the second things improve. He gets a better job but his father will never say he’s proud. He tries to exude confidence but Jade (who’s most likely seen him for a while since it’s his favorite restaurant) immediately sees through through his persona and Doesn’t Care and Nate is so thrown off by it. He keeps looking for that validation through other people and we see that clear frustration because everything is better on paper so then why are the bad feelings still there? With every win, with every improvement, he gets angrier and more frustrated and then it spirals into him leaving for West Ham and Rupert. With Rupert, Nate leans in on hey, nobody loved me at my lowest and nobody loved me at my best, so maybe I’ll try being my worst. 

And god, I LOVE that even though fans thought he’d fail and that this would humble him into a redemption, he hasn’t. He tries to go with Rupert and get that validation from him and we see how much he struggles with that, because now he’s leaning in at what Rupert wants and we see how much he hates that, but Nate’s also at a point where Rupert’s attention is clearly conditional, he’s still not getting that fatherly validation, and he knows that and that’s where we see him finally start to come into his true self. Jade finally softens because she sees Nate holding strong to his opinion on Taste of Athens and admitting he’s putting on an act, he’s being honest and himself for the first time in those scenes. He tries to cultivate a relationship with the other employees and even if the Diamond Dogs ripoff didn’t work? They still invited him to drinks this episode! He sees Rupert for who he is and he goes back to Jade, and he wants so, so much to apologize to Ted for everything. 

"Am I growing on you yet?" With some Roy/Jamie friendship vibes? 👀 (If it sparks joy) thank you ❤❤

"Are you fucking what?" Roy asked incredulously.

"Growing on yeh," Jamie said, and he smirked at Roy, a gleam in his eye that Roy didn't like one fucking bit. Roy glared, and Jamie continued, the gleam becoming a fucking twinkle in his eye.

"I mean, I am your best friend, after all - and don't say I'm not," Jamie quickly added when he saw Roy open his mouth to protest. "Not just anyone gets invited to Uncle's Day, yeah? So I guess I'm growing on you." The last sentence trailed from smug confidence into a questioning tilt, and Roy's head whipped up to see Jamie's grin falter just for a moment. Oh fuck him. Fuck him.

"You're not growing on me," Roy growled. "We're way past that now. You've already grown on me, dipshit."

"You old people are so easy," Jamie joked, though Roy could see the relief clear on his face. "And I'm your best friend and you've never mentored someone b-"

"Don't fucking push it," Roy said, pushing past Jamie.

Jamie grinned at Roy's receding figure. "Bye, Uncle Roy," he yelled. "And hey! You've grown on me too!"

"Prick," Roy grumbled, shooting up a middle finger at Jamie, but he smiled as he walked away all the same.