‘Ted Lasso’: Why Roy and Jamie Should Be in a Relationship — Season 3

Something turned very clear throughout Ted Lasso’s Uncle’s Day celebration this week — and it wasn’t simply the reveal that Roy Kent’s sister is, in reality, the physician who handled Dr. Sharon after she was hit by a automotive in Season 2. (But whereas we’re on it: Great throwback!)

No, it was one thing thrilling, one thing profound, one thing so apparent I believe even Roy’s niece, Phoebe, may need picked up on it as she counted her new Swear Jar donations: that Roy Kent and Jamie Tartt should get it collectively and, nicely, get collectively.

For the document, I’m not Team TVLine’s resident Ted Lasso guru; that may be my colleague Ryan Schwartz, who gives good, insightful protection of the Apple TV+ comedy every week. So, I notice that my contribution to the Lasso discourse up to now is, “Can Roy and Jamie be boyfriends, please?” But given how the present has developed their beforehand contentious dynamic into a beautiful, honest, mutually significant bond, it feels solely pure that Ted Lasso’s third — and doubtlessly closing — season ought to culminate with one thing greater than platonic for these two.

I say that with nothing in opposition to Roy and Keeley, after all. In reality, I adored Roy and Keeley’s preliminary romance. It was, like each of these characters, candy and horny and a little difficult. And but, their obvious reunion in Episode 10 felt unearned, and even a bit complicated. Keeley and Roy have shared minimal display time since they known as it quits firstly of the season, and neither of their subsequent arcs appeared to clarify why they weren’t proper for one another, or what sort of emotional work they had been doing to warrant reconciling. I need to need them to patch issues up — and but, now that they apparently have, I’m left questioning how Attempt No. 2 will likely be any completely different, or whether or not it’s the precise transfer for them in any respect.

Meanwhile, we’ve acquired Jamie and Roy proper there. The early-morning exercises. The bike-riding lesson in Amsterdam. And now, Uncle’s Day. Have I talked about that sufficient but? How Jamie Tartt really got here to have fun a largely made-up vacation in Roy’s honor? And introduced a sentimental, custom-made present, about which he was sheepish? And dangle on — what about that expression on Jamie’s face, simply earlier than Roy confirmed he cherished the current? You imply to inform me that’s a look exchanged by — [checks notes] — finest friends? I believe Roy would respect my grunt of bitter disagreement.

And, certain, up till this level, each males have been canonically straight. My counterpoint: So what? The present has confirmed a number of occasions this 12 months that it’s comfy exploring its characters’ sexuality, from Keeley’s short-lived romance with Jack to Colin’s coming-out storyline. But the place Keeley and Jack’s fling felt aimless and hole, Roy and Jamie’s elevation to More Than Friends seems like a logical subsequent step for a pair that has solely grown nearer, in deeply gratifying methods, with every passing episode. (And no, I haven’t forgotten that Episode 9 second in which half of AFC Richmond turned to Jamie in the locker room, assuming he was their homosexual teammate earlier than Colin spoke up. Make good on that foreshadowing, cowards!)

There’s a lot about Ted Lasso’s third season that hasn’t made sense. Ask me what’s up with Nate’s arc, and I’d come up empty. Here’s one factor — perhaps the solely factor — that does make sense. Roy and Jamie’s bromance has been high quality. But drop the “B” from that phrase, and all of us may really feel like we’ve been struck by f—king lightning.