Apple TV+’s failing soccer team, AFC Richmond. Ted meets a number of distinct characters in Richmond, but one of the absolute best is Roy Kent, the grumpy and aging star of the team.

What makes Roy so outstanding is the fact that he is such a unique person. Despite being a star soccer player, Roy is not cocky or charming like some of the other of AFC Richmond. In fact, he’s quite reserved and aggressive. Yet, through his gruff exterior, Roy is one of the kindest and most hilarious of the Ted Lasso cast. There are various moments throughout the show’s three seasons that stick out as some of Roy’s best.

10 Roy’s “Whistle”

Roy Has Quirks Like Anyone Else

A small yet incredible moment from Ted Lasso season 3 was when Roy yelled out “whistle,” rather than actually blowing a whistle. Despite the fact that this is a brief joke in the grand scheme of the show, it stands out because it is just so unexpected. According to Roy, his allergy to impure metals means he has to fiercely yell “whistle” throughout practice, which is far more distracting than a real whistle would be.

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In many ways, Roy’s “whistle” moment encapsulates how wonderfully strange Roy can be. Although he presents himself as a tough guy, Ted Lasso proves time and again that Roy is far from invincible, and something as small as a metal allergy can still affect him. Even better, he has no shame in yelling out at his team in a silly way. To Roy, it isn’t silly: it’s just efficient.

9 How Roy Deals With Paparazzi

Roy Loves To Swear

Another brief Roy moment that is fantastic to watch comes in Ted Lasso season 1, episode 14. Roy is attending an event and walks down a red carpet that is lined with eager paparazzi. Rather than stopping for a picture or even giving a smile, Roy tells the cameramen to “f**k off,” and gives them the middle finger. If any scene could showcase Roy Kent in a nutshell, this is absolutely it.

Throughout Ted Lasso, it is clear that Roy is not just a grump, but is actually quite an intimidating presence. With actor Brett Goldstein's dark features and constant scowl, Roy isn’t someone to mess around with. However, it is his language that truly cements Roy as a threatening figure. Through his use of F-bombs and creative swear combinations, Roy is formidable, but also genuinely hilarious from an audience standpoint. Roy’s swears prove that he will never be a people pleaser.

8 Phoebe’s Bad Breath

Roy Is A Great Role Model

Roy has countless Ted Lasso, but his scenes that mix comedy with drama are even better. A perfect example of this comes in Ted Lasso season 2 when Roy's niece, Phoebe, begins to suffer from bad breath. Although the situation is quite comical, Phoebe is clearly ashamed of the smell and needs cheering up after a bully teases her. In a perfect uncle moment, Roy comforts Phoebe then takes her door-to-door to find a dentist.

This scene, and most of the moments Roy shares with Phoebe, showcase how caring Roy is. Once again, his gruff exterior would make audiences assume he would be bad with kids, yet his relationship with Phoebe makes it clear that this isn't the case. Roy has a soft spot in his heart for certain people, and when he cares about someone, he will do anything for them - even deal with some awful breath. Roy's scenes with Phoebe are almost always heartwarming and show a lovely side to Roy.

7 When Roy Became A Pundit

Roy Tells It How It Is

Following Roy's retirement from AFC Richmond, the star soccer player struggled to find a new purpose. Without soccer, Roy couldn't figure out what he wanted to do, and worse, what he was best suited for. Before he ended up becoming a coach for AFC Richmond, he tried his hand at being a pundit, as many real-life athletes do. Yet, Roy's personality didn't quite fit with the other smarmy men on TV. Where they shared a similar style of discussion, Roy swore, argued, and said exactly what he was thinking.

Roy knew he didn't fit in with the others, yet he continued going for it, never forcing himself to be different for the sake of other people.

Although being a pundit definitely wasn't Roy's groove, it was awesome to watch as a viewer. Roy's bluntness, and the other pundits' horrified reactions, were hilarious to watch. Roy knew he didn't fit in with the others, yet he continued going for it, never forcing himself to be different for the sake of other people. This is one of Roy's very best traits. Though he always strives to be a good person, he will never change his personality to make others more comfortable.

6 Roy Crying On TV

Roy Is Emotional & Doesn't Try To Hide It

In a similar vein, another awesome Roy moment was when he cried on live television. Following the announcement of his retirement, Roy gave his final press conference on TV, and ended up shedding a few tears about leaving AFC Richmond. While this scene may elicit a chuckle or two, the real beauty of it is the fact that Roy cries without worrying about what others might think. He is completely secure in his masculinity, enough so that he can cry in front of millions but still be his usual brooding self later on.

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This scene is not just amazing for Roy, but for Ted Lasso as a whole. The series may center on sports, but it does not flinch away from serious emotions and problems. Ted Lasso debunks the myth that athletes are superhuman celebrities, and more importantly, shines a light on the real issues that these men may go through. In particular, this Roy moment normalizes the fact that a man can be emotional about leaving his team, and it is OK for him to show it.

5 “Roy Is Sorry For Not Understanding Keeley Playlist”

Roy Is A Great Boyfriend

One particularly lovable relationship that Roy has throughout Ted Lasso is his bond with Keeley. Though Roy and Keeley start out as mere acquaintances, they eventually form an attraction to each other, and begin dating. The best part of this storyline is that Ted Lasso digs into the issues they have trying to navigate their life together. An especially heartfelt example is when Roy and Keeley get into a fight, and rather than getting angry, Roy sets up a bubble bath for Keeley and makes her a "Roy is Sorry for Not Understanding Keeley" playlist.

Roy and Keeley are yet another dynamic duo in Ted Lasso who brings a lot of fun and sweet moments to the show.

Once again, Roy absolutely exceeds expectations in this scene. Although some might have expected Roy to be stubborn with Keeley, he proves that he can be a good listener and is willing to go the extra mile for Keeley. After seeing this moment, audiences are just as touched as Keeley is, and become even more invested in their relationship. Roy and Keeley are yet another dynamic duo in Ted Lasso who brings a lot of fun and sweet moments to the show.

4 Roy Reading A Wrinkle In Time

Roy Is Willing To Try New Things

Yet another surprising Roy moment is when he reads A Wrinkle in Time. In the episode, Ted gives each of the of AFC Richmond a book to read that he believes will inspire them. He gives Roy the children's fantasy novel, A Wrinkle in Time. At first, Roy doesn't appreciate the gesture and jokes that Ted wants him to be like a little girl. However, once Roy reads the book, his entire reaction changes. The book actually hits him exactly where Ted intended.

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Roy's A Wrinkle in Time moment is so impactful because, as per usual, it mixes comedy with drama to create a touching moment that anyone can relate to. Like Roy, viewers probably think it's silly for Roy to read a children's book for inspiration, but seeing the character become enlightened is incredibly satisfying. Of the many breakthroughs Roy makes throughout Ted Lasso, this is by far one of the best because audiences at home can do it too.

3 Roy Hugs Jamie

Roy Puts His Grudges Aside

One final Ted Lasso relationship that deserves some credit on this list is Roy and Jamie. Throughout the first half of the series, Roy and Jamie were essentially mortal enemies. Jamie was rude and didn't respect Roy, while Roy thought Jamie was overrated. However, over time, they begin to see commonalities between them, and one of the first moments of peace between them occurs when Jamie's dad shouts at him in the locker room and Roy gives Jamie a hug.

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Similar to when Roy cried on TV, this scene is wonderful because it normalizes men being emotional and comforting each other as friends should. In fact, it even goes beyond that by having Roy push aside his grudge against Jamie in order to make him feel better. More than anything, this scene proves how good a person Roy is, and also, encapsulates the main themes of Ted Lasso, which are community and forgiveness.

2 How To Deal With A Bully

Roy Is Unconsciously Hilarious

The last memorable funny moment on this list is Roy's "How to Deal with a Bully" speech. While talking to Ted and Beard about bullies in season 3, Roy says that the best thing to do to bullies is ignore them, then sneak into their house in the night and beat them with a rope covered in red paint. Not only is this monologue deeply funny, but the serious way Roy delivers it is even better. It isn't funny to Roy, but just an honest peek into who he is as a person.

This scene is a fan-favorite and for good reason. It is completely unexpected, detailed, and ridiculous. While it is awesome to see Roy act sweet and loving in other moments, it is just as gratifying to see him return to his aggressive nature. His bully speech definitely sees him acting the way audiences would expect from his appearance.

1 Roy & Jamie’s Bicycle Adventure

Roy Lets Himself Relax

Finally, the best Roy scene from Ted Lasso is when Jamie teaches him how to ride a bike in Amsterdam. In this episode, Roy and Jamie are finally able to put their differences aside and bond. Jamie teaches Roy how to ride a bike and the two discuss all sorts of topics, from Jamie's performance on the soccer field to the ways in which they grew up. It is a vulnerable moment, but one that is incredibly tender. As much as Roy's relationship with Keeley is adorable, his bond with Jamie might be even better.

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Roy is funny because of how stuck in his ways he is, yet seeing him break free of expectations might be the best part of his character. Despite aging out of soccer, Roy proves that it is possible to change whenever you want. It may not be easy, and it may not always look good at first, but trusting in others and yourself will allow you to open doors you always thought were closed. It is no surprise that Roy is one of the best characters in Ted Lasso because he exemplifies the most important themes of the show.

Your Rating

Ted Lasso
TV-MA
Comedy
Drama
Sport
Release Date
August 14, 2020
Showrunner
Bill Lawrence
Writers
Brendan Hunt, Joe Kelly, Bill Lawrence

WHERE TO WATCH

Streaming

Ted Lasso is an American football coach who moves to England, hired to manage a struggling soccer team, despite having no experience. With cynical players and a doubtful town, Ted will have to convince them that he's fit for the job.

Seasons
3
Streaming Service(s)
AppleTV+