In season two episode 11 of Apple TV’s Ted Lasso, titled ‘Midnight Train to Royston,’ some time has passed since Richmond’s loss to Manchester City, and the team has turned their season around on Sam’s (Toheeb Jimoh, Anthony) shoulders, which prompted a dramatic offer from Ghanian billionaire Edwin Akufo (Sam Richardson, Veep), who hoped to buy Sam out of his Richmond contract and place him in a Nigerian team. In this penultimate episode of the show’s second season, Sharon (Sarah Niles, I May Destroy You) leaves the team like a modern-day Mary Poppins to help the next group in crisis – much to Ted’s (Jason Sudeikis, We’re The Millers) dismay. Meanwhile, Nate (Nick Mohammed, Intelligence) officially hit his breaking point when he grows so confident in himself and so jealous of Ted’s authority that he leaks unspeakable information to the press.
This offer should have been a no-brainer for Sam – if it weren’t for Rebecca (Hannah Waddingham, Game of Thrones), who still hadn’t given him an answer regarding their relationship. While Rebecca clearly has feelings for Sam, neither of them can deny the complications that would arise from their relationship if it would become public knowledge. However, Sam still maintains hope that she will eventually come back to him. After Edwin comes to Rebecca with his offer, she spends the rest of the episode agonizing over Sam’s decision and ultimately visits his home to tell him that while she won’t tell him not to go, she hopes he doesn’t. Still, this is not an answer to the relationship question, so it is unclear whether Sam will hold off on his career for an unsure thing.
Speaking of trouble in paradise, Keeley (Juno Temple, Killer Joe) and Roy (Brett Goldstein, SuperBob) make shocking confessions to each other, albeit at the worst possible time, that could jeopardize their relationship. Keeley begins the episode excited about being featured in Vanity Fair as a powerful woman who is “on the rise.” She announces that photographers will be going to her house for a photoshoot with the happy couple. While Keeley shops for clothes for the photoshoot, accompanied by Nate who asks for her help looking for a suit, Roy looks for Phoebe at her school and soon realizes her mom had already picked her up. He has a conversation with her teacher while helping set up for a fundraiser, in which she asks whether he’s married; he says no, with no mention of Keeley. Meanwhile, while shopping, Nate misreads the situation and kisses Keeley. Keeley confesses this to Roy at the photoshoot while Roy confesses to Keeley his conversation with Phoebe’s teacher. Keeley then confesses her conversation with Jamie (Phil Dunster, The Rise of the Krays) at the funeral in which he tells her that he still loves her. She does not confirm or deny whether she feels the same. Who knows what’s in store for this fan-favorite couple, however, it is possible that they could work out these issues like mature adults, as they have always done.
In possibly the most emotional portion of the episode, Ted is forced to say goodbye to yet another constant in his life – first his father, then his wife and son, and now Sharon. She writes him a goodbye letter in which Sudeikis performs a stunning and flawless still scene, despite the audience having no idea what’s written in the letter. Niles performs a similar scene after reading a goodbye letter written by Ted. Later in the episode, Ted receives a text message from Trent Crimm (James Lance, Me, Myself and Di) of The Independent, who sends him an article that will be published the following morning about Ted’s panic attacks, which were not public knowledge just yet. Out of respect for Ted, Trent made his anonymous source known as Nate. This is sure to cause trouble among the coaches with Nate’s newfound power-hungry tendencies coming back to haunt him. Most fans were rooting for Nate in the beginning, but over the last season, he has become overly-confident and arrogant in his treatment of the players and his replacement as equipment manager, as well as his consistent habit of undermining Ted.
The next and final episode of Ted Lasso will tell what’s in store for Nate, and more importantly, for Ted. He has had a tough season – both on the pitch and off – and he deserves all the privacy he can get. Questions regarding Sam’s place at Richmond, as well as his place in Rebecca’s life will also hopefully be answered in the next episode, as well as Keeley and Roy’s status as a couple.
Rating: 9/10