I just watched @TedLasso straight through for the third time in as many weeks.

I think what stands out to me as extraordinary about this show – beyond its many other great qualities – is how the show treats apologies and saying sorry. Especially from and among men.

I really can’t think of another show, especially a half-hour comedy, that values apologies and owning up to your mistakes the way that @TedLasso does. And that’s significant.

So often in TV, especially when writers try to create conflict, we see characters react poorly, lash out, be vindictive or mean due to some reason unknown to others.

When those conflicts are “resolved,” it’s either as an unstated agreement to move on, or a huge emotional beat.

Especially in the past few years, I think we’ve all seen the importance of owning up – specifically, honestly – to our mistakes, whether it was done consciously or not.

We’ve seen so many men, especially, refuse to do so. Or, often as often, apologize as if doing so is checking a box. As if “sorry” fixes things.

I think TV often plays into this. Shows treat arguments and disagreements as something that stretch out, with people refusing for episodes at a time to acknowledge when they were wrong. And the apology is treated as this end-all, huge moment.

Ted Lasso doesn’t do that.

I think the character of Roy Kent is a true standout because of his willingness to apologize. He is grumpy and crass, but when he makes a false assumption about someone or acts out of turn, he owns up to it.

Roy admits what he did wrong, and shows how he’s trying to do better.

Ted Lasso is, in some ways, an enthusiastic Midwestern stereotype. But he also models for others the sort of accountability he wants to see from his team and coworkers. It rubs off – including, eventually, on Rebecca.

When Ted is struggling with the divorce and he snaps at Nate, first thing the next morning he takes Nate aside and apologizes directly to him. Privately, specifically, giving Nate the chance to not fully accept his sorry – which is just as important.

When the women on the show apologize, it’s taken just as seriously and respectfully – whether it’s Keeley owning up to using Jamie to get back at Roy, or Rebecca apologizing to Ted for deceiving him.

Importantly, I think, these apologies – even the one around which the entire show is based! – are not treated as the climax of the episode. They’re just a necessary step, another communication – people still need to prove they’re living up to their values.

There’s a really critical moment in one of the last episodes where Keeley is pushing Rebecca to own up to Ted. Rebecca argues that it wouldn’t change anything, and Keeley responds: “It would change how I feel about you."

I think that’s as much of a core value of @TedLasso as the “curiosity not judgment” scene. The purpose of an apology is not to be cleared of wrongdoing – it’s to strive to be a better person, and live up to what you owe other people.

When you’ve made a mistake, intentional or not, the onus is on you to recognize what you’ve done wrong and own up to it, and be accountable to the people you’ve hurt. But that’s just the first step.

Seeing those values in @TedLasso was wonderful to witness.