It’s rare for a series to consistently dole out feel-good material over conflicts, and Ted Lasso has experienced its success for delivering here. Jason Sudeikis’ breakout comedy has been very well received because it seeks to uplift in more ways than one, and the characters have excellent material to do so.
The second season continued the original’s basic outline but the quality of the dialogue is better. Ted and the supporting cast of AFC Richmond affiliates all had eloquent quotes that even non-fans will appreciate. It’s worth diving into the meaning behind these words to appreciate the show’s ability to make viewers care for the characters.
Higgins: "A Good Mentor Hopes You Move On. A Great Mentor Knows You Will."
Leslie Higgins starts off wanting to help Rebecca ruin Ted’s team but has since mellowed down due to the latter’s influence. He was surprisingly insightful to Keeley when he delivered this quote, which reveals a lot about the value of a good mentor when looked into detail.
After all, a person who molds their protege into facing the world would need to understand their chances when on their own, making these very fitting words. The series is about helping people while allowing them the space to grow, and Higgins really was onto something here.
Roy: "You Live, You Die, You're Done. End Of Story. Good Night."
Roy has undergone a significant character evolution in Ted Lasso, going from something of a jerk to an irritable but likable man. Still, he carries that gruff nature to the present day, with Roy having this quote to say to Coach Beard when the latter pondered over the existence of a soul.
Roy shut the discussion up straightaway by claiming there was no need to consider an afterlife because there wasn’t one, according to him. While it’s no doubt a highly cynical approach, the quote sums up Roy’s mentality very well as a person who believes in himself first and foremost.
Paul: "How Do You Cope Knowing The Universe Is Infinite But Your Consciousness Ends At The Same Time?"
Baz, Jeremy, and Paul are mainly side characters than part of the core cast but the latter did have an interesting question for Beard. When the three were asking a flurry of queries to Beard, Paul hit him with one that is a lot more introspective than it appears.
It’s a valid thought, seeing as the expansion of the universe is ultimately meaningless when a person’s consciousness will always be limited and has an expiration date. The quote showed that Paul may have more to offer than just to be a superfan of AFC Richmond.
Coach Beard: "I Want To Be With Her. All Her, All The Time. Is That Love Or Do I Just Have A Problem?"
Beard and Jane may not be the very best Ted Lasso couple but watching Beard fall in love is definitely entertaining. He’s a mixture of a straight man and a surreal character, with the “Beard After Hours” exploring his personality the most.
Beard was unable to understand what he was feeling, ultimately figuring there must be something wrong with him if he wanted to spend all his time with the woman he loved. That feeling can very well be attested to by many people in the world, which makes Beard all the more human.
Sharon: "The Truth Will Set You Free, But First It Will Piss You Off."
This quote is actually the title of a book by Gloria Steinem that Dr. Sharon used to put things into perspective for Ted. The two had an uneasy relationship earlier on when Ted wasn’t a fan of her influence on the club members but he came around when they formed a bond.
Ted is an upbeat man in general, yet he has many inherent issues that Sharon is perhaps the only person who really finds. She helped him confront problems with mental health that he didn’t even know he had, so this quote does a good job of summing up Ted’s situation.
Sharon: "Well, I Can't Be Your Mentor Without Occasionally Being Your Tormentor."
“Headspace” showed Ted dealing with his skepticism surrounding therapy with Dr. Sharon, going from complete denial to explosive contempt, and then an eventual acceptance. Sharon played her part well during this time, telling Ted that part of being a mentor is to dole out tough love.
Ted even acknowledged that he liked the quote and Sharon responded that she chose it because he would. At its heart, the words carry feel-good sentiment since that’s exactly how a good mentor-protege relationship is supposed to be based upon building trust.
Ted: "It May Not Work Out How You Think It Will Or How You Hope It Does. But Believe Me, It Will All Work Out."
Ted’s way with words is exactly why everyone around him mellows to his presence. When the team was down in the dumps in “Rainbow,” he told them of his belief in “Romcommunism.” According to him, it involved believing everything will work out, no matter what.
It was a good life lesson overall, as the quote is meant to uplift even when there doesn’t seem to be a solution. Ted had no idea if his team could actually pull through but he had the will to believe that some kind of miracle could happen if a person thought it was possible. It's one of the best quotes of Ted Lasso in the show's entirety.
Ted: "Hey, Doing The Right Thing Is Never The Wrong Thing."
It’s a simple thing to hear, but Ted’s words can be used to overcome issues in real life. Take the instance when Sam learned that the team’s sponsor was owned by an oil company that had caused environmental problems in Nigeria, for example.
As a sign of protest, he refused to wear the company’s logo on his shirt. Sam eventually found the guts to accuse the government of their part in assisting the unethical practices, which Ted gave his approval for. His quote summarizes Sam’s struggle in the episode, as doing the right thing instantly eliminates what’s wrong.
Roy: "You Deserve Someone Who Makes You Feel Like You've Been Struck By Lightning. Don't You Dare Settle For Fine."
Roy doesn’t have much to comment about other people’s problems but he does speak from the heart when it counts. When he saw Rebecca’s date, Roy realized she was just going for someone who was financially stable and age-appropriate rather than a person whom she could truly love.
Not holding back on his sentiments, Roy laid into Rebecca for settling for “fine,” arguing that she was doing herself a disservice by choosing convenience over passion. It applies to people everywhere who want to rush into things like marriage and commitment, as holding out for the right one is ultimately more important.
Ted: "I Think Things Come Into Our Lives To Help Us Get From One Place To A Better One."
Bringing up the topic of mental health is one of the reasons why Ted Lasso’s second season is arguably better than the first, with the premiere focusing on Dani’s guilt at accidentally killing the mascot dog named Earl. He overcame this by the end when he realized it wasn’t his fault.
Ted pondered over it by the episode’s conclusion, claiming that things come into life to allow people to move on when they didn’t know they could. He hoped Earl’s demise was just a way for him to find peace in whatever came after death, and that it was a lesson everyone should learn from.