TV Review: “Ted Lasso” Season 3. E7 “The Strings That Bind Us” Allowed me to Enjoy Myself in all the Best Ways

First, shout out to the production team because each episode of Ted Lasso reminds me how much I want to move to Paris and spend as much…

Sam (Toheeb Jimoh) and his Dad Ola (Nonso Anozie).

First, shout out to the production team because each episode of Ted Lasso reminds me how much I want to move to Paris and spend as much time in London as possible. The cold opening of this episode is magnificent. It captures city mornings in a way that feels like a wonderful fairytale. Cut flowers in bloom overflowing out store baskets, a spectacular shot of a tower of multicolored macarons in a bakery shop window. Vibrantly colored shops reflect the city of London’s rich diversity. The sequence ends with Keely (Juno Temple) and her new girlfriend, Jack (Jodi Balfour, The Crown), enjoying their morning tea at a cute little cafe.

Keely (Juno Temple) & Rebecca (Hannah Waddingham)

The Strings That Bind Us is another episode that is storytelling at its best. This week focuses on Keely and Jack’s relationship. When Jack bombards Keely with expensive gifts, Rebecca gently points out a possible red flag, “I’m not saying Jack is like Rupert, but Shiny things can tarnish.” Rebecca’s insight propels Keely into actions that give her storyline more weight. We get to see some actual football with the Greyhounds practicing a new strategy and using it during the game of the week. Several penis jokes provide the proper level of unexpected raunchiness we have all come to love about this world. And we pick up on Nate’s problematic storyline as he attempts to woo the restaurant hostess, who acts like she’s a serious racist.

Sam (Toheeb Jimoh) and Chef Simi (Precious Mustapha)

The storyline that moved me most this week involves Sam (Toheeb Jimoh). When he sees his head Chef Simi (Precious Mustapha, The Power), and the kitchen staff upset after watching a video of a conservative politician spewing bigoted rhetoric about refugees, Sam tags the politician in a Tweet. The politician responds, pulling Sam into a Twitter fight that creates an unfortunate negative ripple effect.

European football is notorious for its racism. But the world of Ted Lasso is a racial utopia with a multi-ethnic cast where racial conflict is non-existent. It makes sense that Ted Lasso was an oasis away from the real world during the pandemic. In season two, Sam takes a stand about corporate interests. Even though Ted Lasso has knowledge of some aspects of Black culture globally, the show avoids getting into the intimate lives of any of the Black characters. The series has explored race through Sam, but how he deals with conflict is usually passive. “The Strings That Bind Us” allows us to see how Sam deals with race more directly and the price he pays when he speaks up in this way. I loved all of the scenes between Sam and his staff, including his head chef and who I hope will be his new love interest Chef Simi. Rebecca and Sam, as a couple, don’t work for me. When Sam’s father, Ola (Nonso Anozie, Game of Thrones) arrives in London and comforts his son, the episode shows a healthy, loving relationship between a Black father and son that we rarely get to see on TV. The ending came together in a way that lifted my spirits.

I give this episode 4 out of 5 stars.

Thanks for reading. I write about how TV & Film make me feel. I’m a Film & TV Critic, Entertainment Journalist, VisAbleBlackwoman The Podcast host, and a Contributor to Black Girl Nerds.

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