Thread by @snigdhasur

Some thoughts on Nate from #tedlasso that folks aren’t talking about … (spoilers ahead)

There were several moments in the series I felt super uncomfortable. Not because Nate was “going bad.” Mostly because I’m an immigrant / minority.

In one scene, Nate has the very reasonable request to reserve the window table at his favorite neighborhood restaurant for his parents’ anniversary. Even though he asks early and the eatery is usually empty, the host says no

The thing is, if you’re a person of color, these micro aggressions become such a normal part of your life. I once went into a shop in soho where the person at the store followed me and insinuated that I couldn’t afford the perfume ! I left and started questioning myself

I’ve eaten at restaurants where my party of two has sat down and we’re waiting for service. Another party of two will sit down and the wait staff will already be taking their order and laughing with them. What did I do wrong, I think?

There was another scene where Nate isn’t feeling too confident. So Keeley and Rebecca “teach” him power poses. I found that scene problematic, because it reinforced the usual trope of a poc character feeling “not confident,” and needs teaching from a dominant character

No one views Nate as a desirable person who can date / has his own desires. They keep calling his suit the suit Ted bought him. Give the guy a break ! Keeley has to go with him as he goes suit shopping too. I definitely dressed super awkwardly my first few years in America.

And that feeling that you’re contributing but no one is noticing is something many of my peers have felt. It’s like you’re invisible. I once had a summer internship where folks kept piling on more tasks for me but never once asked me to coffee, while they asked the other intern

The sad part is the end result isn’t that we then scream and lash out. The end result is we usually leave these jobs (which Nate does). The way Nate tells Trent about Ted’s panic attack — I would never think to do that. We just suffer silently and move on

The fact that none of the folks who are analyzing Nate’s storyline are even thinking about how race or immigrant status plays into his storyline astounds me.

I do hope we can have more honest convos about this and am excited for an even more nuanced season 3 with @nickmohammed

And maybe none is an exaggeration, but many :)