Thread by @harhar3r76

Ted Lasso is a modern Wizard of Oz story. 🧵
#TedLasso #WizardofOz

The Wizard of Oz classic, released in 1939, is comprised of three distinct parts: Dorothy’s life in Kansas, her dreamlike Oz experience (which debuted the cutting-edge technology of Technicolor at the time), and her return home. 2/

In part 1, we meet Dorothy and her Kansas family, Aunt Em and Uncle Henry, as well as her three uncles.

In the Apple TV+ show, Ted Lasso, TheoDORE is DORothy. His Kansas family is Michelle (Aunt “M”) and son, Henry. 3/

In the classic movie, Dorothy argues with her family, runs away but returns when her home is threatened by a tornado. 🌪

Ted Lasso also experiences familial strife (an emotional tornado, perhaps) and travels to a far-off land— London. ✈️ 4/

Like Dorothy, Ted does not travel alone. He has his trusted companion, the taciturn and empathic @TheCoachBeard. He is the man’s best friend. (As an aside, I’m guessing that Beard’s first name is either Ernesto or Antonio, aka #Toto for short.) 5/
@brendanhunting

Ted and Beard on the ✈️:

“Is this crazy?” Ted asks.
“Yeah, this is nuts,” Beard responds.
…
“Oh, hey, hey… if we see each other in our dreams let’s mess around and pretend we don’t know each other.”
“You got it, coach,” Beard responds.
6/

Interestingly, in the classic movie The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Dorothy sees her uncles both before and after her journey to Oz, but when she meets them in Oz as the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion, she does not recognize them.
7/

In Oz, Dorothy meets Glinda. The good witch asks her, “Are you a good witch, or a bad witch?” 8/

Newly arrived at AFC Richmond, Ted and Beard meet impeccably dressed and flaxen-haired Rebecca. She is a granter of wishes who can make large restaurant bills and bad news disappear with a wave of her manicured hand. But is she a good witch, or a bad witch? 9/
@hanwaddingham

Speaking of bad witches… uh oh! In pops the Wicked Witch of the West. She and Glinda fight over magic shoes. 👠👠 /10

@AFCRichmond, a similar battle over ownership of the premier club has already ensued between Rebecca and her wicked ex, Rupert. (Coincidentally, Rupert later becomes the owner of Westham United.) /11
@rupert_mannion

The soccer cleats (boots) represent a tangible part of the coveted football club, just as film’s ruby slippers are. (As an aside, the slippers in the original Wizard of Oz story were silver, but movie producers changed the color for better visibility.) /12

Speaking of the importance of shoes, check out @TedLasso’s low-key Nike game, as well as @hanwaddingham’s scarlet-soled Louboutin heels. /13

Okay, back to Dorothy. After meeting Glinda and donning the magic slippers, she is advised to journey to the Wizard of Oz, who can be found by following the Yellow Brick Road. /14

Ted Lasso is on a similar journey. In the Pilot episode he is seen reading Jack Kerouac’s Dharma Bums, a story about a couple of homeless men on a search for truth by way of Zen Bhuddism. This metaphysical search for truth in Zen Bhuddism is also known as “the Golden Path.”
/15

In Oz, Dorothy and Toto first meet the Scarecrow, played by Ray Bolger, and become fast friends.

At AFC Richmond, Ted and Beard first meet Nate, played by @nickmohammed closely followed by Higgins, played by @jezpswift.

Just like the scarecrow in Oz, both Nate and Higgins appear brainless. They are surprised when Ted and Beard befriend them and even do a silly dance in celebration of this new found friendship. Both of Ted Lasso’s scarecrows are much brighter than they think themselves to be.

Ted and Beard soon meet @TheRealRoyKent, whose tough angry guy exterior protects a tender soft hearted interior. He is reminiscent of the tin woodsman, who believes himself incapable of love because he doesn’t have a heart. ❤️ /18

… but, we all know that Roy Kent has the biggest heart, as proven by his relationship with Phoebe AND Keeley. His journey, like the others in Ted Lasso and the Wizard of Oz, is to understand that true change comes from within, and to #believe in himself. /19

Keeley, of course, is a Cowardly Lion character in Ted Lasso. Her challenges have her overcoming both her fear of Rebecca and of becoming a boss ass bitch herself.
/20 #LionOrPanda @JunoTemple

Jamie Tartt is also a big cat. He hops like he’s just seen a cucumber, has stripes shaved into his eyebrows, and is surprisingly furry. Just like the Cowardly Lion in the Wizard of Oz, he starts out picking fights with almost everyone.
@phildunster

In the Pilot episode:

Ted Lasso: “I do love a locker room. It smells like potential...and am I getting notes of Axe Body Spray?"

Beard: "Spot on Coach. But I think they call it something else here."

Lasso: *spots Lynx Body spray* "Oh?"
*smells Lynx Body spray*
"Ding ding ding."
Beard: "Ahh!"
Lasso: "Lynx: my favorite of the jungle cats.”

This excerpt is a possible allusion to the Wizard of Oz because of its inclusion of both the Woodsman’s Axe the lionlike Lynx. It also sets Kent and Tartt up as foils: showing us that they are different sides of the same coin. /24

Fast forward a few episodes and bad witch Rebecca is held beautifully accountable for her wickedness. True to form she expresses remorse for her mistakes, and she is unconditionally forgiven by Ted, Keeley and Higgins. A transformation is sparked ✨/25

Rebecca quickly begins to resemble Glinda the Good Witch. She swoops in with guardian angel-like abilities to save Ted from emotional destitution. The first time is when he experiences a panic attack in “Make Rebecca Great Again.” /26

One minute she’s singing the magical Frozen song, “Let it go,” and the next she’s right in front of Ted, consoling him while the neon green and red lights glare in the background. As if by magic, she appeared just when Ted needed her, just as Glinda does for Dorothy. /25

It happens again during the Christmas episode. With impeccable timing aligned to the pivotal scene from “It’s a Wonderful Life,” Rebecca swoops in to save Ted from wallowing in despair. Curiously, she uses holiday garlands of red and green to spell out, “Hi Ted” on the sidewalk.

Could the use of garlands to spell out “Hi Ted” be a subtle nod to Judy Garland, the famous Wizard of Oz actress?
/29

In S2 We meet Dr. Sharon Fieldstone, a brilliant psychologist who has a penchant for wearing green AND RIDES A BICYCLE--just like Margaret Hamilton did in the Wizard of Oz. Ted sees her as a threat at first, but eventually opens up to her.
@SarahNilestar

A true wizard, Dr. Sharon helps the members of AFC Richmond see that they have everything they need, right inside of themselves. Dr. Sharon is also the top scorer on the “Wizard of Oz” Pinball Machine.
/31

Ted Lasso is a story about healing, of coming to terms with one’s past in order to become the best version of themselves. The storytelling is a masterful illustration of the work it takes for one to be “at home” in one’s own skin. /32

We another Wizard in S2. Edwin Akufu flies in out of nowhere and seeks to woo Sam Obisanya away with fake scenes and grandiose promises. His nefarious character is seen when Sam turns him down. He flies away in his helicopter, much like the charlatan wizard in a hot air balloon.

A couple other coincidental notes:

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, written by L. Frank Baum, was published on May 17, 1900, when the author was 44 years old. 120 years later, D. Jason Sudeikis debuted Ted Lasso on Aug. 14, 2020. He, too, was 44 years old.

Interestingly, Warner Brothers owns the rights to the Hollywood classic movie, the use of iconic characters and any future remakes (Hollywood Reporter 7/6/11). As Ted Lasso is produced by Warner Brothers, I hope it’s safe to say that I #believe #TedLassoisamoderndayWizardofOz

@threadreaderapp unroll

In the S1 final episode, “It’s the Hope that Kills You,” AFC Richmond is facing relegation. Ted wants a win, but at the last minute the Greyhounds learn they only need to score one point to make it a tie game—which they immediately score.

Frantic celebration commences, and during the festivities opposing team member Jamie Tartt slips through and scores—effectively stopping AFC Richmond’s forward momentum and pushing the team into relegation. 🥳🧑‍🦯

This scene is interesting for a couple of reasons. First, the weather. Most of the game it’s sunny, then it’s raining, then it’s clear and then (I believe) pouring again. Now, if we know one thing, it’s that NOTHING in Ted Lasso is accidental. So, what gives? 🌞🌧🌞🌧

In The Wizard of Oz Dorothy et al become very excited when they see the Emerald City for the first time.

In the Ted Lasso universe, this “first glimpse” is when they discover that Crystal Palace won 6-0, and all they need in their game against Man City is a tie.

The team announces the “Lasso Special,” and score to make it a tie.
The celebration is deafening, ecstatic even. In their joy, the Greyhounds forget that the game isn’t over.

In some esoteric circles, this lack of paying attention is likened to the act of “falling asleep.”😴💤

…This scenario is a lot like when Dorothy et al, ecstatic to see the Emerald City, ran into a field of poisonous poppies. Dorothy, Toto and the Lion quickly succumbed to the opiate-induced sleep, whereas the Tin Man and the Scarecrow were able to call for help.

Help for Dorothy and friends came from Glinda in the form of rain (snow in the classic movie) which washed the toxic fumes away and revived the drugged sleepers…

… Just like the now-you-see-it-now-you-don’t 🌧 RAIN 🌧 in the S1 final episode of Ted Lasso.