It took over three years, but Ted Lasso finally did it! In Season 3, Episode 8, “We’ll Never Have Paris,” Colin Hughes (Billy Harris) finally came out to his teammates, and the reaction was great.
If this had happened five years ago on a show about football, it would have seemed like a fantasy.
More and more footballers have come out in the past couple of years, giving hope to a sport that had ingrained homophobia into its culture like a superpower.
Colin Hughes’ coming out was not easy because the biggest struggle is whether people who have known you your entire life will treat you differently after knowing something about you. That’s what scared him the most.
Isaac’s behavior in the days following the discovery didn’t improve the situation. It was almost confirming what Colin had been afraid of all along.
Isaac’s (Kola Bokinni) being in another headspace didn’t surprise me, as this particular reaction had happened in Skam France.
Isaac and Colin have been tight for a long time, and it made sense that Isaac felt some way about it.
The show could have explored Isaac’s feelings because it could have easily mistaken him for a jerk. Maybe he felt stupid having heteronormalized Colin all these years and pushed him towards things he had no interest in.
Coming out to his teammates made Colin a better player. It was not because it made him different but because it made him more confident in himself and his team.
He had been holding back for fear of standing out.
He had shrunken himself to the background where he didn’t quite stick out, and he wasn’t also forgotten. It must be hard living in such a place.
As he had said before, all he wanted was to kiss his fella after a good game, and with the support of his team and coach, he was halfway to achieving that dream.
Some nastiness is coming, but having those who matter most to him have his back will make it easier. He won’t have to incur fresh wounds whenever a homophobic fan throws the F-slur around, making him feel like he’s the target.
Coach Lasso (Jason Sudeikis) also offered his support if needed because, as much as his coming out doesn’t change much, assuming that everyone will react the same way would be stupid. It wasn’t a big deal unless someone made it one.
Ted Lasso has always been a show about hope and kindness, and Colin offered some hope to all closeted football players that they don’t have to dim their light to fit in. It is that light that makes them great and a beacon to others.
Every team member has been growing as a person and, as a result, has become a better player. This was Colin’s chance, and they couldn’t have done it better. Here’s to winning the season!
He won’t have to make jokes to divert attention from himself or call Michael his wingman anymore.
Leave it to Ted Lasso to make everything wholesome, even the very cringy conversation about tops and bottoms.