Something I realised from the last episode.
So, just before his altercation with Rupert, George refuses to send a player to injure Jamie Tartt. At the time, I thought this was just a nice character detail- the man might be egotistical, sexist and reactionary, but he cares about football and has lines he won’t cross.
But something I didn’t notice- after Rupert knocks him down in front of his team, he stands up, shouts encouragement to his team, talking about them showing “hearts of lions.” Even Ted gives him a nod of respect at his refusal to let this shit get to him. He knows he’s getting fired after this match, he’s got no reason to be loyal to Rupert, but dammit, he’s got a responsibility to his boys and he’s going to encourage them the best he can.
And you know what? It works. Whereas previously in the game Jamie was able to run tingsround West Ham, in the final plays the commentators say he is “completely boxed in.” Sure, Richmonds teamwork and tactics ultimately prevail, but not because Jamie was able to run riot. And if it weren’t for their goal being ruled offside, they’d have won or at least drawn. George was right. Rupert was wrong. The West Ham team didn’t need to break Jamies legs to win. They just needed to show…well, hearts of Lions.
I know it’s a small detail to write an essay about, but I just really liked how it undermined the theme of the series.
A bit of symmetry I noticed as well. The series starts with Rebecca seeing George’s balls and him telling her to fuck off, and ends with Rupert seeing George’s balls and him telling him to fuck off.
Yes, that was a lovely little pair of “Easter eggs”, so to speak.
You’re right-- except I think the word you’re looking for is “underlined,” not “undermined.” It has the opposite meaning, in that it would completely unravel everything that the show was about.
I think you mean that it underlined the theme of the series. Undermine means something else :-)
in fact, it may have overmined the theme
I will admit that it took me an embarrassing long time to realize that it was the same character that Rebecca fires, who then becomes a pundit with Roy and then goes to West Ham
I only realised this when I see him in his shorts when he’s managing West Ham at the end…
That’s the gift of the series - a new gotcha on each viewing.
yeah, in season 2 i missed that at first as well
Even George had an arc of redemption. Love it.
Thankfully, Liam and Noel were never heard from again.
true. he was not a bad coach
Liam and Noel were happy to be out on the pitch again.
Together and quite an oasis.
put em awaY
Good eye, small fry!
But wasn’t the nature of the Richmond goal because they overcommitted to marking Tartt ? Hence the ‘acting Oscar’ so that Sam was open after everyone went with Tartt? So it worked too well…