Actually, Roy and Keeley Should Have Ended Up Together in ‘Ted Lasso’

Well, it’s official, folks. Ted Lasso has concluded, and it appears to be the end of the road. The third-season finale of the Apple TV+ series tied up many loose ends. AFC Richmond triumphs over their rivals, West Ham United, securing a commendable second place in the Premier League. The scheming owner of West Ham, Rupert Mannion (played by Anthony Head), is shown the door, and AFC Richmond’s owner, Rebecca Welton (portrayed by Hannah Waddingham), sells a 49% stake in the team to the fans. Jamie Tartt (played by Phil Dunster) also reconciles with his father. However, the most unexpected twist is Ted Lasso (played by Jason Sudeikis) himself bidding farewell to AFC Richmond to return to the United States and be with his son. Roy Kent (played by Brett Goldstein) is appointed as the new manager, Nate Shelley (played by Nick Mohammed) rejoins the team, and Coach Beard (played by Brendan Hunt) remains entangled in his peculiar relationship.

Almost everyone gets a happy ending, but what fans of Ted Lasso were eagerly anticipating the most, the reunion of Roy Kent and Keeley Jones (played by Juno Temple), unfortunately didn’t materialize. The episode, and later, the show’s creators in interviews, provided thorough explanations for this decision, but let’s face it, who wouldn’t have loved to see that reunion? Roy and Keeley seemed destined to be together forever!

you are watching: Actually, Roy and Keeley Should Have Ended Up Together in ‘Ted Lasso’

Roy and Jamie Literally Fight Over Keeley Jones in the ‘Ted Lasso’ Finale

Undoubtedly, one of the standout aspects of Ted Lasso’s third season has been the remarkable character development of Roy Kent. The perpetually gruff player-turned-coach had quite the journey to undertake. Just when it seemed he had it all with Keeley, he made the heart-wrenching decision to break up with her. Loving her meant embracing vulnerability, a step he wasn’t quite prepared to take at that moment. It was a choice that he would soon come to regret deeply. Throughout the season, we witnessed Roy’s transformation into a better person, someone who genuinely cares about the well-being of others. He opened up to Ted and the rest of the coaching staff about his relationship struggles and took the unexpected step of mentoring his longtime rival, Jamie.

By the season’s end, Roy had become an integral part of the Diamond Dogs male support group, was seen embracing Jamie, and had an honest conversation with Keeley about his past mistakes. Keeley was taken aback by his heartfelt words, and it appeared as if she might have reconsidered her stance. In fact, they were later shown in bed together. While they may not be officially back together, things were certainly looking up.

However, tensions reached a boiling point when Roy informed Jamie, Keeley’s previous boyfriend, that he and Keeley had rekindled their connection and were on the verge of reuniting. Yet, Jamie also yearned for a second chance with Keeley, leading to a physical altercation between the two men over her affections. The brawl ended with both of them at Keeley’s doorstep, undecided about who should stay. It was an undeniably messy situation.

see more : Why ‘Only Murders in the Building’s [SPOILER] Is a Great Next Victim for Season 4

While we all root for Roy and Keeley to be together, the current circumstances don’t seem promising. Roy’s actions weren’t particularly well-thought-out, and this isn’t the ideal way to win her over. We can’t expect a heartwarming scene where Keeley simply chooses Roy and dismisses Jamie at this point. Frankly, Roy might not be deserving of her just yet. So, it’s not surprising when Keeley looks at both men and makes the surprising decision to be with neither of them. They, unfortunately, brought this complicated situation upon themselves.

Why Didn’t Keeley Choose To Be With Roy?

Perhaps it was the right choice at the time, but it’s hard not to wish that Ted Lasso had given us one more scene, a crucial moment where Roy, on his own, goes to Keeley, humbles himself, and apologizes for not putting her first. A scene where we witness that Roy is indeed capable of growth, where Keeley chooses him with a second chance, and they ride off into the sunset together, happier than ever. Unfortunately, we didn’t get that. As the credits rolled on what might be the final episode of Ted Lasso, Roy and Keeley remained apart.

Brendan Hunt, the co-creator, writer, and the man behind Coach Beard, touched on the Roy and Keeley relationship during an Ask Me Anything session on Reddit. He shared his perspective, saying:

“As for Roy and Keeley, I have known couples who seemed perfect together, and then suddenly find they broke up. People who haven’t (at least started to) work on their sh*t can sometimes find that they lose something they wish they’d kept. In this way, Roy’s story with Keeley is parallel to Nate’s with AFC Richmond. IMO, IMO.”

Juno Temple, the actress who plays Keeley, provided more insight in an interview with Deadline. She discussed how Roy and Jamie were destined to clash, but that it’s alright because they’re becoming best friends and genuinely need each other. She also offered an explanation for why Keeley didn’t choose between Roy and Jamie:

see more : Where to Watch ‘The Last Thing He Told Me’ Premiere Date, Episode Schedule, and More

“I think she chooses to be the independent woman that she needs to be so that she can really listen to her heart and allow that to be her guide when she feels she’s stable and unstable in her workspace and in her thought space… She needs her heart. I think that’s where people fall in love with her as well. I fell in love with her. I think that that triangle is also an incredible support system that actually, hopefully, they’ll all be in each other’s lives forever.”

Temple makes a compelling point. From the very beginning, we’ve almost always seen Keeley’s life revolving around a romantic relationship. First, there was her relationship with Jamie, where it was all about his desires and not hers. Then came Roy, seemingly perfect until he decided to leave because he hadn’t quite finished growing to be ready for a committed relationship. After Roy, there was her boss at the PR firm, Jack, who initially appeared to be a good fit for Keeley but quickly vanished when a compromising video of Keeley surfaced. Now, it’s her time to focus on herself, to work on self-improvement, as her own business flourishes and discussions with Rebecca about launching an all-women’s football team take shape. If men want to behave childishly and fight over her, well, that’s their problem.

‘Ted Lasso’ Should Have Ended With Roy and Keeley Together

Despite Juno Temple’s valid points, can’t we just have had Roy and Keeley together anyway? Keeley has indeed grown into an independent woman, and Roy has undergone his own transformation. He’s accustomed to solitude, keeping people at arm’s length. He’s always been fiercely independent. But now, he’s come to realize that life is richer when shared with others. He needs Jamie, and he undeniably needs Keeley. It’s not about being needy or desperate; it’s about acknowledging that life is more fulfilling when lived in the company of others. Despite his past mistakes, Roy has put in the hard work to earn her back.

This is precisely what Ted Lasso has been leading us toward all season – Roy’s journey of personal growth for the sake of others, not just himself. So why does the series conclude with him still on his own? Keeley is no stranger to being mistreated in relationships, so why deny her the chance to have everything she’s ever wanted in Roy, who has genuinely transformed into a kinder, happier person for everyone around him, not just to win her back? Keeley seemed ready to take him back; her expression said it all. But then the fight between Roy and Jamie happened, and she decided not to choose him. Was she always planning to reject him, and the fight simply made it easier, or did the brawl change her mind?

The ideal ending for Ted Lasso would have seen Roy and Keeley both becoming the individuals they needed to be while also finding each other. Unfortunately, everyone rooting for them was left disappointed. Still, there’s room for hope. The final scene with Roy, Keeley, and Jamie sitting together, sharing laughter, is telling. Roy and Jamie aren’t off sulking somewhere; they’ve accepted their current situation. Perhaps Roy has accepted it because he knows there’s still hope. He’s not done growing, and he’ll keep trying. Maybe one day, he and Keeley will be ready for each other. There’s been chatter about a possible Ted Lasso spinoff. How about one centered around the new AFC Richmond manager, Roy Kent? It could show him learning how to lead a team while also pursuing the woman of his dreams. To quote Ted Lasso in one of his memorable Lassoisms, “As the man once said, the harder you work, the luckier you get.”

Source: https://dominioncinemas.net
Category: TV FEATURES