The Apple TV’s hit comedy, Ted Lasso, has released its fifth episode this Wednesday, titled “Riches of Embarrassment” with a whole new look on Ted’s character. For diehard cult TV fans, there are two special easter egg references hidden in plain sight. The episode embraces the romantic reversal of hope for the characters in their love lives and accept the change it leaves them with.
In the new episode, most of the Lady Greyhounds keep asking about Ted’s love life, thinking he is lonely and try to understand him. Ted would usually dodge these personal questions in this season. Then Keeley is planning to rekindle her romantic relationship with Roy until she finds out he has moved on with a woman he has been seeing repetitively during his “10-date experiment.” And then in two other subplots with similar unhealthy situations in their romantic relationships. It leaves the episode with unfinished romantic expectations for the main characters.
During the Half-time between Chelsea, Ted tells the Lady Greyhounds this line that really brings a shift for the series: “And the day came, when the risk to remain closed in a bud became more painful than the risk it took to blossom” (Season 4, Episode 5).
It is layered into a reference towards The Maxx (1995), a 90’s anime mini show that is based on Sam Keith’s comic book. It has superheroes protecting the dangers of the real world that maybe subconsciously made up from the hardships around the heroines. One of the characters in the series, Sarah, whose depression and exhaustion from the world’s negative impact on her life makes her think about the same quote Ted says. From a horse statue on the side of a building, she keeps staring at to a big-eyed kid poster that her mother had coming back to her mind, Sarah questions her struggles of her existence and only being guided by her spirit animal – as asked by a magical clay package to do so—can she go through those struggles. It helped her accept the pain and embarrassment she was feeling to try to help those she cares about. Start the video at around the 6:00 mark.
Ted opens for the first time to the team about his loneliness with the quote to show he is embarrassed but is willing to take a risk in trying to date, to do more for his team. And in doing so, he hopes his speech helps the Lady Greyhounds try to score a goal.
Then there is also a reference to Aaron Sorkin’s (The West Wing) comedy-drama Sports Night (1998-2000), which is a show about two anchors and their crew creating a sports show while managing network pressure. Anchor Dana Whittaker (Felicity Huffman) and Executive Producer Casey McCall (Peter Krause) have an on-again, off-again relationship across the series. When Dana suggests Casey should be going out with other women from questioning if their relationship will last, it strains the trust they have for each other and what they did believe in this relationship. Start the video around the 10:30 mark.
Going through the same concept for Ted Lasso as Keeley has Roy date other women to only loose him to an ideal, perfect match. All out of luck for both stories but still trying to risk the chance of getting what they want and only accepting what they already have is good enough.