Coach Beard’s Book Club - A Ted Lasso Podcast · coachbeardsbookclub

17. The Wizard of Oz

·1 hr 20 min·5 clips

Bex challenges the popular view, claiming Ted Lasso is actually the Wizard, not Dorothy, in the Oz parallels.

The hosts of Coach Beard's Book Club—Michaela, Andrea, Bex, and Marita—analyze the connections between *The Wizard of Oz* and the series *Ted Lasso*. Andrea begins by outlining the overarching theme of both stories: characters believe they need external validation while overlooking their inherent strengths. She notes Ted Lasso's arrival in Richmond parallels Dorothy landing in Oz, both following personal struggles at home. Andrea identifies specific character parallels, suggesting Roy Kent embodies both the Cowardly Lion and the Tin Man, while Jamie Tartt shares traits with the Tin Man and Scarecrow. She proposes the "Believe" sign functions like the Wizard, offering limited help before characters must find self-belief. Bex presents her own character mappings, arguing Coach Beard is the Scarecrow, Roy Kent is the Tin Man, and Nate is the Cowardly Lion. She offers a more controversial take, positioning Rebecca as Dorothy and Ted Lasso as the Wizard behind the curtain. Bex cites Ted's Kansas origin and his role in recognizing the coaches' strengths as evidence for her interpretation. A surprising insight is that the hosts see the *Ted Lasso* characters not as one-to-one equivalents but as blends of all three Oz companions. Andrea observes that Colin, for instance, displays brains, heart, and courage at different times. Bex highlights how Roy Kent's emotional armor mirrors the Tin Man's fear of vulnerability, noting his singular "man tear" as a breakthrough. The hosts find a poignant parallel in the "Believe" sign being torn apart and later reassembled by the team, mirroring the Wizard's gifts that symbolize traits the characters always possessed. They discuss how the show's ending, where Richmond doesn't win the Premier League but still achieves personal victory, reflects the Oz lesson that the sought-after prize was inside them all along. The tone is conversational and analytical, with hosts building upon each other's ideas and referencing specific scenes from both the film and the series. This episode will delight *Ted Lasso* fans eager for deep narrative analysis and those interested in literary and film connections. Listeners seeking a simple recap or those unfamiliar with either story might find the detailed comparisons less engaging.

As heard by us

A warm Oz-to-Ted Lasso read that makes Nate's fear feel newly legible.

The episode uses The Wizard of Oz as a clean way into Ted Lasso character work, starting with the four travelers and then broadening into wider parallels across the show.

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Why you'd press play

When you want Wizard of Oz metaphors to sharpen your read on Nate.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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