The Ted Lasso Relationship Guide: Trent Crimm, Independent

Trent shows us that we can balance cynicism and hopefulness

One of the characters in Ted Lasso that I haven’t written about is Trent Crimm. While I’m not sure that he was used as effectively as he could have been in the final season or the finale (I was really wanting a voiceover of some text from Trent’s book in the final scene that showed where everyone was in the time after Ted left), he was a character who had a pretty profound impact on Ted’s time at AFC Richmond, and he needs to be discussed. Today I want to write about the first time that Ted and Trent spend time together in season 1, episode 3, “Trent Crimm: The Independent.”

Keeley alerts Rebecca that someone from The Sun has taken what looks like a compromising picture of her and Ted. In a rush to cover her tracks, Rebecca schedules an interview with Ted and Trent Crimm, knowing that he is both a football fan and a tough journalist. 

Trent comes to a practice and is immediately surprised to find out that Ted is using plays suggested by Nate, the team’s kit man. He maintains his skepticism of Ted when he discovers that Ted is scheduled to speak at a local school the same day as the interview, but when he joins Ted and Roy at the school, he finds someone who is ready to engage with the community in a more significant way. Ted isn’t there simply to score a few good points, but he actually cares about these kids as much as any of the fans. And when he realizes that Ted is trying to shape Roy through the book “A Wrinkle in Time” by Madeleine L’Engle, you can see his demeanor begin to soften.

When they go to the Indian restaurant, yet another indication of Ted’s commitment to the community, Ted reiterates that he doesn’t care about winning or losing, but rather about shaping the lives of the young men that he is working with on the team. Trent’s final commentary is honest and hopeful, saying that he believes that the team will face relegation, but that he is rooting for Ted to have a different outcome because he likes him.

Trent was one of my favorite characters in the show. He’s a writer, he has great hair, he’s a bit of a cynic. What isn’t to love?

What I appreciate the most about Trent is that while he feels the need to be honest about the likely outcome for the team, he allows himself a moment of hope. He allows himself to simply like Ted Lasso for who he is. I think that is a difficult and powerful position to take.

Trent’s first interaction with Ted is in a press conference where Ted clearly has no idea what he’s doing, and Trent treats him with what might seem like an excessive amount of disdain, though he is probably correct to ask if the whole situation is a joke. A professional team hiring a coach who knows nothing about the sport is definitely something that feels more like a prank than a serious decision.

So when he comes to do a full article on Ted, he is absolutely approaching it with cynicism. When Ted seems nice, he assumes it must be some kind of act or put on. He can’t believe that Ted is actually as kind as he seems.

I get that. I also approach kindness with a healthy (or unhealthy) dose of cynicism. My most generous assessment when someone looks for the good in people is that they are simply naive. The world is filled with people who are mean and selfish, so if you’re seeing good in them, you’re just not looking hard enough for what’s wrong.

And the truth is, there is plenty wrong with Ted, as we see unfold over the following seasons. But he is also a guy who loves coaching and loves working with people and truly does want to help people be the best versions of themselves. He is more than any unhealthy habits that he has or negative traits that he might possess.

I think it’s okay to approach people with a sense of skepticism, particularly if you have been hurt in the past by someone who might seem too good to be true. There are people who are emotionally manipulative and can use kindness as a cudgel later. When you have been used by a person or people, being wary of others’ motivations can be a way to protect yourself from further harm. 

But when I look at Trent, I am reminded to leave myself open to the possibility that someone is just as genuine as they seem. Approaching with a sense of caution may be appropriate, but we also need to allow someone the opportunity to prove that they are who they say they are.

 I have a not great track record with pastors, so I tend to approach almost every pastor with a sense of vigilance. So a few years ago when two pastors approached me and my husband about forming a Beer and Hymns chapter in our town, I was deeply skeptical. 

Beer and Hymns meant a very specific thing to me. It was about being together with people in a bar, singing old hymns, but as removed from the context of church or religion as possible. The shared experience of communal singing, but without the baggage that came with it inside of church walls.

But I had a lot of concerns about what these two pastors might want. Would they want to use it to grow their churches? Did they want to use it to proselytize to people in the community? Did they see this as a missionary outreach? I knew what I wanted for that kind of group and my assumption was that they would want something else. I was truly worried about our first meeting with them because I was pretty sure I didn’t want to partner with pastors in this endeavor.

My partner, who is a bit of a Ted Lasso himself, assured me that it was going to be okay, so I tried to allow myself the possibility that it would, in fact, be okay. Allowing that they could be coming to the project the same way we were has resulted in a relationship with two amazing individuals who have expanded how I think about a number of things.

Sometimes this will backfire. Trust given is sometimes broken and that hurts. But Trent reminds this cynical writer with great hair that it’s okay to hope for something positive.