The Roy Kent Effect, If People Can Change, and Whether or Not You Should Say Something

On this episode of the Torg Stories Podcast, Anne and I discuss The Roy Kent Effect and a team’s confidence, whether or not we think people can change, and if you should say something to your friend about their relationship.

Season 2, Episode 5 Summary and Discussion Questions:

• Richmond add Roy Kent as an assistant coach and the team starts to believe.
• Cut to Rebecca sleeping with some guy from dating apps while also texting with someone on Keeley’s BANTR app. Do you believe in guardian angels? Naked guy in kitchen. That okay? Rebecca’s mom shows up and says she’s leaving her husband.
• Coach Lasso arrives to work. He knows everyone by name and stuff about their lives. Call back to laughing Liam. We’ve heard about him. Mantra for Collin: “I am a strong and capable man.” Doctor Sharon pushes Ted to do an appointment with her.
• Who is Mr. Pufnstuf? It is a 1970 American comedy fantasy musical film produced by Sid and Marty Krofft Enterprises and released by Universal Pictures. It is based on the children’s television series H.R. Pufnstuf, a show that features a cast of puppets on a “living island.”
• Into the coaches office. FA Cup. March Madness Tournament. NBA Cup. Pearl Jam vs. Ticketmaster. Higgins pokes his head in the office. Beard is exhausted. He and Jane got back together. Higgins is against this. None of the other guys will say anything. Higgins feels like they should. None of the guys jump in to defend Higgins saying something.
• We learn Nate the Great’s dad told his HS girlfriend that she could do better. “Stupid barking means the meeting is over, right?” asks Roy. Now Jane is moving in.
• The practice field: Jamie positive. The team believes in the Roy Kent Effect. Roy won’t catch Jamie. Roy says they can take 4% of his check. Roy and Beard play secret sandwich switch every other Friday. Ted goes to lunch with Rebecca and her mom. She lists her sort of bio… Let’s come up with three adjectives to describe ourselves and each other.
  • Ted has something with his son at school. Henry forgot his lunch. Freaks out for a second. His ex wife shows up and it’s okay. Jamie comes in and says someone needs to tell Roy to coach him. Keeley gives advice: she agrees with everything he says. Try that Jamie. I like this…let whatever they say sit. Jamie had called the coaches Philistines. Beard tells him he’s going to want to look up Philistines. Ted Lasso is a show that has a lot you could look up.
  • What do you think of Rebecca’s mom? They are in Mae’s bar. Ted gives the advice, “to leave people well.” The boys are yelling at a baking show like it’s a football game.
  • Ted says, “People can change.” Can they? “Poor little cake” chant.
  • We see Jane on a face time call. She’s going to Cafe Solo to meet Finn for a coffee. He’s an underwear model. How is this relationship looking? Higgins overhears the conversation.
  • Jamie tries out the agreeing with everything Roy says advice. Roy makes him say a bunch of things such as, “I am an ugly, ugly boy.” Roy takes Jamie’s side. Roy says Ted messed him up by making him a team player. The team needs Jamie to get into people’s heads. He has to go back to being that way sometimes. Roy says they will give him a signal.
  • Rebecca texting with the guy she was sleeping with and still getting texts on the BANTR app. Mom skipping game and going to a reading. Mom will make Rebecca’s favorite. Any memories of mom making stuff for you?
  • Back to football. Trying to win match to go to Wembley to play in final. Shot of the pub watching the game. Funny bar joke, “If we win I will channel my enthusiasm in ways to help my community.” The coaching staff gives him the signal which is everyone flipping him off. “We apologize for the fruity sign language.” Jamie calls his shot which seems like Larry Bird and Jason Sudeikis certainly has the basketball background to know about that. In our book, it says that Jamie hits this shot on the first try. Real celebration that followed.
  • Jealously among coaching staffs…among work teams / staffs.
  • Higgins has a gagging noise he makes when he’s stressed. Jane lurks around the car park. Tipsy Reese Witherspoon. One of the big questions of the episode, do you say anything? Lots of stories of how it doesn’t work out. Higgins says, “You have to keep trying.” Dad and my first marriage.
  • Ted has a panic attack. What factors would you say are contributing to this? He hustles off. Love the third fan, “Be kind, he looks poorly.” The team is mostly sympathetic.
  • Nate takes over. Spits. “Park the bus.” Nate is assertive. Obisanya to Tart and he scores and they win and they are going to Wembley. Emotional moment for Rebecca about Ted in the locker room and the team comes celebrating in. Roy passes along the credit to Nate. He’s a team player. Nate is all dressed up. Nate messes up the saying and says he’s not some kind of Wonder Kid. It catches on.
  • Higgins. You’re a great man. Does Jane make you greater? Beard seems to appreciate it.
  • The flip off signal. Hand signals are difficult as a coach, just to get enough, especially that can be signaled with one hand.
  • Nate scrolls social media. Roy, “Great fucking work today.” Do we understand how this can happen to Nate?
  • The team asks Dr. Sharon to go out with them. It’s a team!
  • Rebecca calls Ted on the way home. Offers help. Ted is laying in Dr. Sharon’s office.
  • Rebecca was right about her mom. Her dad bought her mom a Tesla. She sees if the guy on BANTR has left a message. He hasn’t and so she calls Hunky Luka. It’s revealed that it’s Sam who has been texting her. Like the Ginobili reference in that Drake song. “I wanna make an appointment,” says Ted to end the episode.
  • What happened? Where are we going?

Hope you had a great holiday and we wish you a happy New Year! Thanks for listening to the Torg Stories Podcast!

Author: Torg

Writing Teacher at App State, Head Women's Basketball Coach at Watauga HS in Boone NC and podcaster at Torg Stories View all posts by Torg