John Miller
In season 3, episode 6 of Ted Lasso, the titular character, an American football coach, travels to Amsterdam and takes magic mushrooms. This is a notable episode as it is the first time Ted's character takes drugs, and it has been suggested that the writers included this plot point as a way to explore self-improvement. Interestingly, Jason Sudeikis, the co-creator and star of Ted Lasso, has stated that the character was partially inspired by his own experiences of taking mushrooms in Amsterdam.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the episode | Sunflowers |
| Season | 3 |
| Episode | 6 |
| Name of the drug | Mushrooms/Shrooms |
| Drug format | Tea |
| Drug provider | Coach Beard |
| Drug source | Kenneth the bus driver |
| Drug intake location | Amsterdam |
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What You'll Learn
Ted Lasso's shrooms trip in Amsterdam
In season 3, episode 6 of Ted Lasso, Ted finds himself in Amsterdam for a friendly football match. After a string of losses and personal issues, Ted is in need of a change. His assistant coach, Beard, offers him a "special herbal tea" to help him find inspiration. Although the drug is not specified in the episode, it is heavily implied that it is magic mushrooms. Ted eventually drinks the tea and embarks on a trippy, dream-like sequence.
At first, Ted is dazed as he wanders around the Van Gogh Museum. He then finds himself in an American-themed diner, struggling to put barbecue sauce on his fries. As the trip intensifies, Ted falls out of reality and enters a dark world of neon shapes and deep-voiced narration. The shapes and voices lead Ted to a breakthrough about a winning football formation, which he believes will turn his team's fortunes around.
However, in a twist, Beard reveals that the batch of drugs he put in the tea was ineffective and had no psychedelic effects. This surprise ending adds a layer of humour and unpredictability to the episode.
The episode, titled "Sunflowers," received mixed reactions from viewers. Some praised its bold approach to incorporating psychedelics, while others found the drug storyline out of place within the show's typically grounded narrative.
Interestingly, the show's co-creator and star, Jason Sudeikis, revealed that his time in Amsterdam, which included taking mushrooms legally, inspired aspects of Ted's character. Sudeikis described the ego-less existence and soul-level perspective that mushrooms provided, influencing the show's exploration of self-improvement and Ted's journey of personal growth.
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The tea Ted drank was likely mushroom-infused
In season 3, episode 6 of Ted Lasso, Ted and Coach Beard take a trip to Amsterdam. Ted, who is struggling with poor coaching and a losing streak, asks Beard for guidance. In response, Beard offers Ted a substance that will create "literal new pathways in your brain." They toast mugs of tea, with Beard adding, "This is how you change your mind."
The tea is implied to be mushroom-infused, with Beard mentioning he got the 'shrooms from "Kenneth the bus driver," referencing '60s psychonaut Ken Kesey and his bus full of "Merry Pranksters." However, at the end of the episode, Beard reveals that the batch of drugs in the tea was a dud and had no psychedelic effects.
Despite this revelation, the tea still appears to have a profound impact on Ted, leading him to a triangle-centric breakthrough about a winning strategy for his team. This sequence is a memorable and unexpected turn of events, with Ted venturing to an American-themed restaurant and experiencing a dark world of neon shapes and deep-voiced narration.
The episode's writers likely intended the tea as a vehicle for Ted's self-improvement journey, a central theme of the show. While the mushrooms themselves may not have been real, the experience prompts Ted to embrace his American roots and find inspiration in familiar settings.
In conclusion, while the tea's effects were initially attributed to mushrooms, the narrative twist reveals that Ted's epiphany resulted from a combination of factors, including his surroundings and personal reflections.
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Ted Lasso's shrooms trip was inspired by Jason Sudeikis' real-life experience
In season 3 episode 6 of Ted Lasso, the eponymous character, played by Jason Sudeikis, takes a mysterious substance given to him by his assistant coach, Beard (Brendan Hunt). Although the drug is not specified in the episode, it is likely that Ted imbibes magic mushrooms, as Beard expects him to hallucinate, and the drug is served in tea form.
In the episode, Ted is feeling homesick, betrayed by his ex-wife, and struggling to coach his team to victory. After drinking the tea, he visits the Van Gogh Museum, where he stares at the painter's "Sunflowers," before finding himself in a surreal, dark world of neon shapes and deep-voiced narration. This trippy sequence leads Ted to a breakthrough about a winning football formation, which he believes will help his team break out of their rut.
However, in a twist, it is revealed that the batch of drugs was a dud, and Ted did not actually experience any psychedelic effects. This unexpected turn of events adds a layer of silliness and delight to the episode.
Interestingly, Jason Sudeikis, who co-created and stars in Ted Lasso, has revealed that the character was partially inspired by his own experiences with psychedelic mushrooms in Amsterdam. In an interview with Indie Wire, Sudeikis shared that the character of Ted Lasso is a combination of his real-life experiences and the person he hopes to become.
Sudeikis described his time in Amsterdam, where he lived and worked at a theater called Boom Chicago, as an "egoless existence," where he could "see things from a soul level." This sense of letting go of the ego and embracing a broader perspective seems to align with Ted's journey in the episode, where he gains new insights and a refreshed outlook on his coaching strategy.
By drawing from his personal experiences, Sudeikis has created a character and a show that resonate with audiences worldwide, offering a blend of humor, heart, and unique perspectives on self-improvement and human connection.
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Ted Lasso's shrooms trip was a dream sequence
In season 3 episode 6 of Ted Lasso, Ted, the coach of a British football team, craves inspiration. His second-in-command, Coach Beard, offers him a substance that will form "literal new pathways in your brain". They toast mugs of tea, and Ted eventually drinks his after some hesitation. He first wanders around the Van Gogh Museum in a daze and then finds himself at an American diner, where he has an epiphany about the perfect football formation. However, at the end of the episode, it is revealed that the batch of drugs in the tea was ineffective, and Ted's trip was merely a dream sequence.
This plot twist is consistent with the show's focus on self-improvement rather than a "magic pill" solution. It also aligns with the light-hearted and unexpected nature of the series, as well as its exploration of the main character's human flaws and vulnerabilities.
The dream sequence is a memorable and abstract scene, with Ted seated in the "'Windy City' section, watching an old Bulls game on TV. This sparks his subconscious investigation into the triangle offence strategy, which becomes his winning formula. The production design and visual effects teams are commended for creating an impressive visual of the world around Ted fading into black nothingness.
While the drug is not specified in the episode, it is likely meant to be magic mushrooms, as Beard expects Ted to hallucinate, and the tea is a common method of consumption. However, the show's co-creator, Jason Sudeikis, has revealed that the character of Ted Lasso and his experiences in Amsterdam, including taking mushrooms, were inspired by his own life.
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Ted Lasso's shrooms trip helped him devise a winning strategy
In a recent episode of Ted Lasso, the beloved football coach, played by Jason Sudeikis, embarks on a trip to Amsterdam, where he partakes in a psychedelic journey with his trusted assistant coach, Beard. Amidst the vibrant backdrop of the city, Ted finds himself seeking inspiration to lift his struggling team's spirits and turn their fortunes around. With a history of separation issues and challenges in his coaching role, Ted yearns for a breakthrough.
Beard, ever the adventurous sidekick, offers Ted a mysterious substance, promising the formation of "literal new pathways" in his brain. They toast with mugs of tea, setting the stage for Ted's unconventional path to self-improvement and strategic insight. The tea, later revealed to be a dud batch, serves as a catalyst for Ted's transformative experience, marking a pivotal moment in the show's narrative arc.
As the effects take hold, Ted finds himself in a daze, wandering through the Van Gogh Museum and eventually stumbling upon an American diner adorned with icons of Chicago. Here, in a surreal twist, Ted's reality bends, and he enters a world of neon shapes and deep-toned narration. This abstract sequence, a testament to the show's production design, pulls Ted into a void, where he uncovers the key to coaching success.
The drug-induced dream sequence becomes a vehicle for Ted's strategic epiphany. Amidst the neon shapes and narration, Ted's subconscious is sparked by a glimpse of a vintage Bulls game, illuminating the triangle offense strategy that Michael Jordan and the Bulls famously employed for their championship wins. This winning formula, long-forgotten, now holds the promise of breaking Richmond out of their losing streak and propelling them towards victory.
While the show's portrayal of Ted's shroom trip has sparked debates about its realism and placement within the narrative, it serves as a pivotal turning point for Ted's character development and the team's trajectory. Through this unconventional journey, Ted not only gains a winning strategy but also embarks on a path of self-discovery, embracing his American roots and finding solace in familiar comforts amidst his homesickness. Thus, Ted Lasso's shroom trip, whether a true hallucinogenic experience or a symbolic journey, becomes a catalyst for transformation, strategy formulation, and a renewed sense of purpose for the beloved coach and his team.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, in season 3 episode 6, Ted Lasso takes mushrooms in Amsterdam.
Ted Lasso goes on a trip, wandering around the Van Gogh Museum and visiting an American diner. He also comes up with a winning football formation for his team.
Ted Lasso's character was inspired by Jason Sudeikis' real-life experiences with mushrooms in Amsterdam. Sudeikis said that taking mushrooms helped him live an egoless existence and see things from a "soul level".
At the end of the episode, it is revealed that the mushrooms were a dud batch and had no psychedelic effects. However, Ted still gained insight and was able to devise a winning strategy for his football team.
