Ted Lasso Season 3 Is Redeeming Nate Too Fast

At his core, Nate isn't a bad guy. He just has a lot of personal baggage that he hasn't done the work to sort through yet. Up until the beginning of "Ted Lasso," his whole life is defined by bullying, insecurity, and a gnawing absence of self-worth. Before Ted (Jason Sudeikis) shows up, even the players of AFC Richmond treat Nate like trash. It's understandable why he's angry at the world, and why he feels justified in acting selfishly.

But the sympathy we have for Nate as viewers only goes so far. At some point, just like in the real world, TV show characters are responsible for their own actions. It's Nate's prerogative to hold a grudge against the likes of Colin and Jaime, but when he starts actively harming people himself, that's on him. Leaking Ted's panic attacks to the media and taking a job with a rival just to spite his former friends is low. There's no way around that. And in Season 3, Nate doubles down on his cruel behavior by bashing Richmond in the press at every opportunity. There's also that time he kisses Keeley nonconsensually, which is just, well, despicable.

Nate's complicated history makes redemption possible, but he still has to earn it. When Jade agrees to go out with him in Season 3, Episode 7, he's done nothing to justify it. We know that he feels guilty and unhappy, but he hasn't actually changed anything in penance for his crimes. Placing him on the happy path this early is just putting the cart before the horse.