There's a lot of heart in Ted Lasso, but one of the most warming aspects has to be the burgeoning relationship between Roy Kent and Keeley Jones. Played by Brett Goldstein (who also writes for the series) and Juno Temple, the pair buck the expectations of an over-the-hill Premier League superstar and WAG. Over season 1, Roy came to respect Coach Lasso and his fellow players, while Keeley moved out of then-boyfriend Jamie Tartt's shadow and gained a position at AFC Richmond.
Ted Lasso season 2 has a lot more in store for Roy and Keeley, and to get the lowdown Screen Rant connected with Goldstein and Temple to learn more about how the creative process works.
Ted Lasso season 2 is coming after the show has been a big hit, so there's more pressure but also so much more excitement. How has season 2 been different, both in of making of it and working together?
Brett Goldstein: We started writing it before season one came out, so [it's] this amazing thing that people have even watched it, and that people seem to like it. It is really, really unexpected and wonderful. But it didn't change how we wrote it, because we already had a plan and we've stuck to the plan that we had. I think we're all proud of that, because if you end up writing to what people want, then I think ultimately... The thing that was great about season 1 is it surprised everyone. So the aim for season 2 is to keep surprising people. You don't want to just give people more of the same, so that was good.
In of writing it, I love these characters and I love this world so much, so writing season 2 was even more fun. Because we now have this cast - this amazing cast - and they're like action figures now. You can go, "I can get Juno to say this, and I know she'll make that so funny." And you can get Jeremy to come in, and he'll smash that line. It's really fun to write once you know these people say well.
Juno Temple: I think all of us are just so excited to get to come back and step into the shoes of these characters again, because they became a huge part of our lives. And this family that we created in season 1; that really was a spectacular experience. In a time where life was so bleak, to come to a world that felt like a home away from home and a family that you welcomed into your life - it was also so unexpected, but really filled a huge part of your heart - was a complete joy. I think it's the first time for me that I've ever come back to playing a character for a second time. And without even thinking about the bigger picture, it was about also wanting to maintain the people that are creating the story - the writers and Jason and Brendan and Joe, and all the people that bring the Ted Lasso world to life. You want to keep making them proud, you want to nail the character again, and you want to also do that for yourself. Because I love Keeley so much.
The fact that it's been this beautiful success? I'm so proud of that. And I'm so grateful for the Ted Lasso fans that feel the way that we feel about making it. It feels like we're on the same page, and that's a real pleasure.
I want to jump off something that Brett said that applies to both of you, which is how you tailor the characters to the actors. How collaborative is the process between the writers and the actors in building not only the character directions, but these bigger stories that we have in season 2?
Brett Goldstein: I have to say, I don't think the stories have changed. As in, the plots that we have and the arcs for the characters, I'm pretty sure - other than a slight twist and turn here and there - they're going where we had set day one in the writer's room for season 1.
But in of how the characters are, Juno is the most extreme example. There's a thing - Bill Lawrence talks about it and Jason talks about it - that usually happens halfway through the season, where the actor now takes over the character. It's no longer the writers' characters; it's the actor's character. Juno always says she's not done comedy before, and she doesn't know how to do it. But she was so funny in that very first read-through that we started rewriting Keeley to Juno's voice, because we were like, "Juno's better than what we've written. She's funnier than the Keeley we wrote, so we should tailor it more towards her." There's an element of that with everyone. But I think Juno is the most extreme one, in of the difference between what we've written and what we changed it to.
Juno Temple: I definitely think you and me collaborate a lot about our relationship on camera, because we obsess about the details of making that relationship as relatable, as delicious, as human, and as all of the things [as we can]. We get this opportunity to create this love affair, and we want to make every second count. It's been such a joy in season two to really collaborate together with that stuff. I've loved that a lot.
Brett Goldstein: Yeah, that's been very special, actually.
Ted Lasso season 2 premieres July 23 on Apple TV+, with new episodes every Friday.