Ted Lasso's 'Be a Goldfish' Quote: A Double-Edged Lesson on Mental Health

In an increasingly unempathetic world, Ted Lasso was the series everyone needed. The perfect Apple TV+ show grew out of promotional material from NBC Sports's coverage of England's Premier League. When Jason Sudeikis' titular character made it to the streaming platform, he transformed into the optimistic light that television was missing. In Ted Lasso, the coach went across the pond to England to manage a football club. It didn’t matter that Ted had never coached the sport before. He was powered by his willingness to do good — and give his estranged wife some space.

Ted is met with understandable resistance from Richmond, considering they are on the precipice of relegation. Throughout the series, however, he inspires these players to believe even when doing so goes against their very nature. The coach is joined by his assistant Coach Beard (Brendan Hunt), as they attempt to make Jamie Tartt (Phil Dunster) a team player and encourage Roy Kent (Brett Goldstein) to take on more of a leadership role. The series is uplifting and humorous, and Ted gives sage advice in almost every episode. Many points, like his resistance to the English phrase “it’s the hope that kills you,” are extremely useful. There is one famous line, however, that came back to haunt Ted in the subsequent episodes.

Ted’s Advice to Sam Doesn’t Work As Well For Him

Ted always has wisdom to share, in the hope that it will make them not just better players, but better people. One of these characters who takes this to heart is Sam Obisanya (Toheeb Jimoh), a newcomer to the team from Nigeria. Arrogant hotshot Jamie often targets Sam, making him feel terrible for his performance. On one such occasion, Ted pulls Sam aside to help him through it. The manager tells Sam that the happiest animal on Earth is the goldfish because it has a 10-second memory. He advises him to “be a goldfish” and not let his mistakes haunt him. This helps Sam not be too hard on himself, and soon, he becomes a leader on the team.

This advice is important for Sam because he needed to hear it, but being a goldfish doesn’t work for everyone. Ted himself was severely hampered by not worrying about the past. In later episodes of Ted Lasso, the coach experiences debilitating anxiety, largely because he avoided confronting his past. He struggles deeply with the trauma of his father’s suicide, but when confronted with the concept of therapy in Season 2, he shrugs it off. He does the same in his relationship with his wife, leaning too much on optimism when he should self-reflect more. Sometimes, having a 10-second memory is not an asset but a barrier to growth. Ted can only be happy when he confronts his past and explores the root of his anxiety instead of repressing it. His road to self-improvement is an important journey that had only just begun when the series ended.

Ted Needs to Look Inward In Season 4

Writers Jason Sudeikis and Brendan Hunt understood that less was more. Both had been vocal that Ted Lasso would end when the story was complete, and they indicated the story would end with Season 3. This was a disappointment for fans who needed this optimism in their lives and, quite frankly, were less than enthused about where the show left Roy and Keeley (Juno Temple), among many other plotlines. Perhaps the powers that be saw the writing on the wall and knew that another season was necessary. True to Sudeikis's word, Season 3 was a conclusion to a story arc, and Season 4 will be something new.

When Ted Lasso returns this summer, Ted will be coaching a women’s team, with familiar favorites also coming back. What shouldn’t end is Ted’s journey of self-discovery. Mental health doesn’t have a definite start or endpoint. When Ted first meets with counselor Sharon Fieldstone (Sarah Niles), it is the start of what should be a lifelong journey. Ted’s return to television should mean a return to the conversation of looking inward. Ted Lasso has always been devoted to showcasing human emotions authentically and portraying therapy respectfully. Season 4 is a great opportunity to revisit these struggles and show how far Ted has come.

Release Date August 14, 2020