Screenplay: ‘Ted Lasso’ Shows ‘The Magic of Female Friendship’

in the tenth episode ted’s bowRebecca Welton (Hannah Waddingham) attends her father’s funeral. In a room near the church altar, she is joined by Keely Jones (Juno Temple), Rebecca’s mother Deborah (Emmy-nominated guest star Harriet Walter), longtime friend Sassy (Ellie Taylor), and Sassy’s teenage daughter. , Nora (Kiki Mae). . As Rebecca and her mother cry, the friends who have joined them add a little levity to the sad scene, especially when the women discover that Rebecca has a new secret boyfriend.

Jane Becker says that writing this scene was exciting, particularly for its novelty. “I wanted so much [moment] Where a group of girls have a really fun scene together that you don’t see a lot,” he says, noting how strangely masculine he is. ted’s bow And also “television in general”. Becker adds with a laugh, “Except when you’re looking real housewives. That’s when we see him at his best.”

This scene also served a narrative purpose: Rebecca’s mother and friends found out she was dating Sam Obisania (Tohib Jimoh), the AFC Richmond right-back. Becker explains: “He doesn’t clean himself.

In addition to writing a scene centered on female characters, the moment connects a group of women of different ages: “three solid generations”, as Becker points out. “I’ve never written a scene where multiple generations of women are talking, and it’s fun and there’s not a lot of drama or someone hurting someone,” she says. But if the scene lacks tension, it makes up for it in the playful camaraderie between Rebecca and her loved ones. “There are a lot of interesting things happening.”

The presence of Sassi’s daughter, Nora, in this scene shifted the focus of Becker’s writing. “It’s basically a boy, so you have to be a little less grotesque,” he says. The same goes for Rebecca’s mother Deborah, although earlier in the season she proved to be a polite joke.

Becker points out that this scene was not full of jokes. “There’s not a lot of preparation, a joke,” he says, adding that he worked with star and writer Jason Sudeikis to set the tone. Ultimately, the humor comes from a quick shootout between best friends Kyle and Rebecca. “With them, it’s like candy for dinner,” says Becker. As for Kiley deciphering Rebecca’s new fantasy on a hunch, Becker adds: “It’s the most banal clue. That’s the magic of female friendship, and that’s Kaylee and Rebecca.

This story first appeared in the separate August issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine.