Ted Lasso season 3 has seen Nate both embrace and struggle with his new role as the series’ main villain and West Ham manager, but it's too soon to warrant a true redemption arc.
Nate began as one of Ted Lasso’s most lovable characters, starting out as AFC Richmond’s kit man before Ted promoted him to assistant coach due to his tactical knowledge of the game, something Ted sorely lacks. His transformation from the shy and timid kit man to an outspoken and confident coach made him self-important and rude. His attitude and behavior were only worsened by the encouragement of Rupert, Rebecca’s ex-husband. Nate soon stooped down to his new boss’s level, and while Ted Lasso season 3 has suggested Nate won’t be a villain for long, more time needs to for a natural redemption arc to occur.
Nate's Date With Anastasia In Ted Lasso Proves He Still Cares About Richmond
Ted Lasso season 3, episode 5 saw Nate return to his family’s favorite restaurant, A Taste of Athens, this time with a supermodel by his side. Nate was introduced to Anastasia through Rupert following West Ham’s win over Richmond but showed his old timid self when it came to asking her on a date. While Anastasia was not a fan of the restaurant, Nate held his ground about not leaving, stating it was an important place to him and his family and where they had gone to celebrate many life events, such as him being promoted to assistant coach at Richmond.
Along with birthdays and anniversaries, this was the only specific event that Nate mentioned to Anastasia in Ted Lasso about being important to him. This means that he not only still cares about Richmond, but getting promoted to assistant coach was one of the most important moments in his life - more important than getting the job at West Ham. A Taste of Athens is both a special place to Nate that is emblematic of who he once was, and the place where he started his villain arc. It’s nice to know he hasn’t changed completely and that he still cares about Richmond, but a redemption arc hasn’t been earned yet.
Why Ted Lasso Needs To Embrace Nate As A Villain Before A Redemption Arc
Ted Lasso season 2 did a good job of showing Nate’s arc to becoming a villain, but Ted Lasso season 3 needs to embrace the end result of that more than it has so far, with just a few scenes really showing how awful Nate has gotten. It would be an easy cop out to have Nate start his redemption arc at the mid-season point, but not enough time has been spent with his character as a villain to warrant a true redemption arc. Embracing Nate as a villain in Ted Lasso is required to make an eventual redemption arc satisfactory, and it hasn’t been fully done yet.