Ted Lasso Season 2, Episode 2 recap: Lavender

This week on Ted Lasso Season 2, things aren’t looking good for Jamie Tartt. He gets eliminated from his short-lived reality show stint on Lust Conquers All, and Manchester City publicly announces that they don’t want him back on their team.

As for why Jamie left Man City for reality television, he reveals to Ted over pints that he did it to get back at his father. At the end of Season 1, we learned Jamie has a bad relationship with his father. According to Jamie, his dad hounds and berates him at every single game, pressuring him about his playtime, his goals, and everything other little things.

Without his show, Jamie doesn’t have anything else left. He’s at his lowest point and admits to being depressed. Still, Ted tells him that it won’t work out at AFC Richmond. Jamie burned too many bridges.

But some of the bar’s Richmond fans snap a photo of Ted and Jamie together, which makes its way back to the team. Sam, in particular, is upset that Ted would let Jamie back on the team without even talking to anyone. Jamie constantly belittled his teammates and caused a lot of problems. He doesn’t understand why Ted would let him return.

MORE: Ted Lasso has done it again

Of course, Ted didn’t say Jamie could come back, making Sam’s angry outburst on the field unnecessary and awkward. But Sam, being the sweet, lovable guy we know, is immediately contrite and willing to run laps to make up for his attitude.

But talking to Sam gets Ted thinking that he and Sam have something in common. They both have great dads, while Jamie doesn’t. Perhaps that means they should give Jamie another chance? Ted confers with the Diamond Dogs. Beard and Nate are against bringing Jamie back, while Higgins thinks it could help them beat their streak of ties and start getting actual wins.

In the final seconds of Ted Lasso Season 2, Episode 2, we see Jamie run onto the field. It looks like Ted has decided to invite him back after all. I’m curious as to why he didn’t talk it over with the team first?

Ted Lasso Season 2, Episode 2 recap: Ted adjusts to Sharon

Sharon is back. Higgins decides to hire her for the season since it can’t hurt to have a sports psychologist around for the long haul. Ted tries his best to bond with Sharon, but even his magical biscuits don’t impact her the same way they did on Rebecca. Sharon doesn’t eat sugar.

And Ted isn’t the only one struggling to adjust to a newcomer. Nate is incredibly critical of the new waterboy, who puts lavender in the laundry and pineapple essence in the water. Nate has actually transformed into something of a harda** this season. It’s a significant difference from his sweet Season 1 personality, at least until Ted coaxed him into an outburst, and it seems like Nate hasn’t looked back since.

Ted Lasso Season 2, Episode 2 recap: Keeley and Roy bond

After saying goodbye to his little under-nine football team, Roy returns home to find Keeley wanking it to his press conference, where he tearfully announced his retirement from the game. Roy is shocked that Keeley would think that was sexy since he considers it one of his most embarrassing moments. Keeley disagrees.

She thinks it’s hot because he showed a passionate, vulnerable side. Actually, Keeley points out that Jamie and Roy are in a similar place right now. They’re both lost and confused post-football careers.

Based on their discussion, Keeley finally encourages Roy to give the Sky News pundit job a chance, so long as he’s allowed to hire a team of children to run around yelling “I told you so” to Keeley for a century afterward if he hates it, “I look forward to the attention.” I love them.

But Keeley really does know best. Roy does an excellent job on the show, albeit using far more colorful language than the network would like, but fans love it, and social media goes crazy with reactions to his commentary.

When Roy returns home after his live debut, he is very grateful to Keeley for helping him help himself. We get a sexy little scene where Roy thanks Keeley by letting her watch his crying video while he goes down on her. The scene feels particularly timely given the big Batman/Catwoman debacle from earlier this summer. It’s so rare we get to see scenes of women getting sexual pleasure separate from a man, so thanks Ted Lasso and thank you, Roy Kent.

New episodes of Ted Lasso Season 2 air Fridays exclusively on Apple TV+.