WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Ted Lasso Season 2, Episode 5, “Rainbow,” now available on Apple TV+.
Season 2 of Ted Lasso took a huge swerve in the last episode, hinting Coach Ted (Jason Sudeikis) and owner of AFC Richmond, Rebecca (Hannah Waddingham), might be striking up a romance. They seem to be messaging each other on the anonymous dating app, Bantr, leaving fans wondering if the series is indeed setting them up to be a couple. On the surface, this is a very enticing notion, as both Ted and Rebecca are such wholesome characters. However, seeing as this might be too predictable and cheesy, even for a feel-good show of this nature, the series might just be having some fun with fans, faking them out.
There’s nothing like a good prank, after all, and the intent might just be to toy with us, striking up some online chatter and getting fans to help promote the show with their theories. After all, there is room for a new character to enter Rebecca’s life, particularly one with a clean slate — which feels like something she’d benefit from. As for Ted, the same might apply to him, because whilst familiar can be good, it doesn’t have to be the only option. Besides, Ted is not just a bit shy and still hurting over his past, but seeing as he’s old-school, he may prefer to wait on an old-fashioned romance. This then creates a comedic dynamic where he and Roy could compete to give Rebecca romantic advice.
Admittedly, while they’re different people, Ted and Rebecca both make everyone’s lives around them better so it’s easy to see why hopeless romantics would indeed want them to get together. Ted helped Rebecca get over her ill-feelings towards her ex in Season 1, allowing her find the light in her life again. It’s part of the reason why she’s inspiring people once more, working with Nate on his confidence, not to mention back to performing various charity acts selflessly, as seen in the Christmas episode.
This makes her the kind of partner Ted could stick with, especially as she returned the favor, ensuring he wouldn’t be alone on the first Christmas after his own divorce. Plus, the way they connect suggest the possibility of that lightning love which Roy spoke of. They’ve already helped heal one another, so if Ted’s brave enough to be on the app, it could be the show’s way of saying two people literally from different sides of the world can be together.
The show can even chart more dramatic ground by having them thinking they have a duty to the love that came before them — the club, first and foremost, and that a relationship might be a conflict of interest. This storyline could be the reason why the show seems intent in getting us to invest in the possibility that they could get together. It wouldn’t even have to end in a successful romance, instead it could culminate in a decision to be good friends who lean on each other.
Ultimately, as much as we love the idea of them getting together, there may just be too many complications. Ted slept with Rebecca’s best friend, he still has feelings for his ex-wife, he’s still struggling with missing his kid, and there’s the fact that Rebecca’s rich and famous lifestyle might to be too much for him, as much as she’d try to make it work.
They may share biscuits, secrets and the same philosophies on life, but all this baggage would complicate any possible romantic future. That’s why perhaps the show’s endgame might truly be the two of them as friends. They do have that bestie vibe, and despite who they decide to pursue or not pursue, it’s obvious they won’t stop caring for each other.
See if Coach Ted and Rebecca embark on a romantic journey in Season 2 of Ted Lasso. New episodes are available every Friday on Apple TV+.
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