In a television series full of incredible lessons, the series finale of Ted Lasso might have had two of the best ever.
(If you haven't watched it yet, this is your Spoiler Alert.)
The first happens when the Diamond Dogs are talking about perfection, and Higgins perfectly states why people are never going to be perfect...
...and why that's perfectly okay.
"Human beings are never gonna be perfect, Roy.
The best we can do is to keep asking for help and accepting it when you can.
And if you keep on doing that, you’ll always be moving towards better."
That's a perfect lesson, a sentiment to which all the Diamond Dogs agree.
The second lesson happens near the very end of the episode, but it's set up just seven minutes and forty-four seconds into it.
Right before the Diamond Dogs scene I mentioned above, Trent Crimm hands Ted and Beard an almost-finished "uncorrected proof" of the book he's been working on all season, which we see has been called "The Lasso Way."
As he hands them the book, he says, "Gentlemen. I can't finish the book until the season ends, obviously. But, before you leave, I'd love to get your thoughts. Let me know if there's anything you disagree with. I won't take it out, but I'm more than happy to tell you where you're wrong."
A few scenes later, when we find Crimm observing as Ted reads a passage from the book and gives "merely a loud nose breathe" instead of the big laugh Crimm was expecting, we understand why the coaches were provided early copies of the unfinished book.
It wasn't so they could faux fact-check it. It was because, as Crimm tells Ted, "I just want you to like it."
At the very end of the episode, after Ted has left AFC Richmond for the last time, Crimm finds the coaches copies of the books he gave them.
Beard's copy has dozens of little Post-it flags indicating points with which he disagrees, which should surprise nobody who watches the show.
But there aren't any flags on Ted's copy.
Instead, at the top of the book's cover, Ted has written, "Great job Trent, I loved it!!" along with a smiley face. (And because it's Ted, the smiley face has a mustache.)
Then Trent noticed that Ted has written something else at the bottom of the page.
One small suggestion...
I'd change the title.
It's not about me.
It never was.
Ted
And just 77 seconds later, we see that Crimm has decided to heed Ted's advice.
The new title of his book?
The Richmond Way.
Because Ted was right.
The team's success wasn't because of any one person.
It was because of the team.
Ted Lasso, Season 3, Episode 12 ("So Long, Farewell") might be the most feel-good series finale I've ever seen.
It might also win the award for the greatest number of valuable life lessons ever packed into a 75-minute television show.
P.S. Regular readers will know this isn't the first time I've written about a valuable lesson we can learn from Ted Lasso. But if you're new to this blog and liked this post, you'll almost certainly love this one.
P.P.S. This season (and the finale) sure did live up to the teaser trailer, didn't it? Wow...
