Be a Goldfish: Ted Lasso’s beautiful tragedy.
It’s August 2020, the world is on lockdown, my scalp is bald, and there’s a streaming war going on. Apple TV released one of its first shows. This one was about the beautiful sport that few Americans play but call “soccer.”
It was a fantastic moment to release content; many of us were at home watching shows, and stadiums were closed, so there are worse ways to spend your time than watching Hollywood’s take on football.
Despite drawing inspiration from a football-themed advertising campaign, the show emphasises the players’ off-field antics more than it does the actual game.
Even if you know nothing about football, you and your friends can head to the Crown & Anchor and have Mae draw a pint as you digest it.
Ted Lasso’s distinctive combination of humour and compassion gives a new take on toxic masculinity, childhood trauma, mental health, ambition, and many more through the arcs of its many beloved characters.
Rebecca wants to ruin the squad out of spite and resentment.
Jamie’s egocentric actions frequently push his teammates away and limit his development.
Roy has a tough exterior that makes it hard for him to show his true feelings and connect with others.
Nate falls prey to the dangers of stardom and becomes arrogant and inconsiderate over time.
Keeley has self-worth issues and must make decisions that support her development and happiness.
Sam is under pressure from his loved ones and the community to stick to his roots rather than follow his passions.
I could go on and on about the show’s characters and the challenges they face…
But then, let’s talk about the show’s main character, Ted Lasso, played wonderfully by Jason Sudeikis.
Even though Ted Lasso is depicted as a happy and optimistic guy, he frequently battles with his mental health. His unwavering optimism might sometimes be deceiving since it conceals his underlying struggles with anxiety and sadness.
This results in a reluctance to seek help or accept his needs, harming his well-being.
In the season finale, he tells his son to “be a goldfish.” This is Ted’s main philosophy, which he has given to his son. It’s also a callback to season one when he told one of his players to follow the same philosophy and “be a goldfish.”
What it means to “be a goldfish.”
In season one, Ted originally stated this to Sam when the player was homesick and fouled up during practice. Ted informed Sam that the goldfish was the happiest animal on the planet since it had a 10-second memory.
Ted’s mentality is to move on from errors rather than dwell on them. We are moving forward without focusing on mistakes.
Ted Lasso’s optimism is a light of hope and encouragement for others around him, and he frequently uses the term “believe.”
His upbeat attitude elevates his team’s spirits, encouraging confidence and motivating them to overcome obstacles.
Ted’s persistent optimism fosters a welcoming environment where people express themselves and address their concerns.
His empathic demeanour and encouraging character generate a sense of belonging and emotional well-being among the team members.
Ted’s optimism enables him to recover from failures and retain a positive outlook. It allows him to tackle hardship with grace and tenacity, motivating others to do the same when faced with obstacles.
Not only are there flaws in the Believe signs themselves but also in Ted’s various analogies and the idea that being like a goldfish is an imperfect philosophy. The suppression of emotions is the crippling road that Ted ventures on, which is the root cause of his recurrent anxiety episodes.
The Suppression of Emotions
Ted’s unwavering optimism keeps him from thoroughly addressing and processing his unpleasant emotions. He unintentionally conceals feelings of grief, rage, or irritation by continually putting on a happy front, resulting in unsolved difficulties and emotional pressures.
Ted’s optimism sets excessive expectations for himself and others, which isn’t the only negative aspect of being overly optimistic. By continually looking on the bright side, he overlooks practical problems or rejects the gravity of some situations, impeding problem-solving and decision-making.
Ted’s unwavering optimism often led him to avoid uncomfortable talks or disagreements. While his intentions were beautiful, his method unwittingly caused underlying issues to fester.
I see much of myself in Sam’s struggle with cultural identity and ambition. I feel like Ted practically every day of my life with internal fights that I haven’t learned how to fight in healthy ways, which is why I find this series so relatable. Sometimes my optimism serves as a shield from feeling exposed, and I admit that I often bury my feelings to better weather life’s inevitable storms.
As the series ended, the most important thing to learn was that balance and growth are essential. At AFC Richmond, Ted Lasso’s optimism helps bring about good changes and inspires those around him.
Even the most optimistic people experience difficulties in life and may benefit from assistance from others. Ted learns to face his frailties and seek them out when necessary. Finding a middle ground between unwavering optimism and acceptance of life’s complexity, openness to being vulnerable, and direct engagement with adversity is crucial.
