5 reasons why Roy Kent is a revelation on Ted Lasso

He’s here, he’s there, he’s every fookin’ where, Roy Kentttttt…. Roy Kennnnntttt! Roy is our boy! And not just because he’s a hottie and a legendary footballer on Ted Lasso. Nope, Roy is so much more than that.

When it comes to characters currently on TV that are full of surprising nuance, Roy tops the list. He rose to mega fame as a star athlete and then, in the twilight of his career, he ended up as the captain of AFC Richmond, a team improbably coached by Jason Sudekis’s Ted Lasso. And yet, even though Roy grumbled about the change, he was ultimately open to everything that the Lasso leadership had to offer.

Caution: Mild spoilers about Ted Lasso Season 1 follow. If you haven’t seen it yet, I believe in you. Go grab some tea and biscuits and cozy up to your closest TV screen for a true treat. 

Surly and foul-mouthed, Roy Kent’s ability to learn and grow based on changing circumstances makes him one of the most important characters on TV right now.

In an era in which people often approach differing viewpoints with reluctance or even outright hostility, Roy Kent is a breath of fresh air. As played by Brett Goldstein, who is also a writer on the series, Roy makes us believe that people are capable of listening and learning in all sorts of situations. And he (rightfully) nabbed an Emmy nomination for Season 1 for his pitch perfect portrayal. Truly there are a zillion reasons to fall in love with him, but let’s dive in to the top five, shall we?

Ted Lasso’s Roy Kent is one of the most important characters on TV

He curses incessantly

It’s well known that people who swear are more intelligent than those who don’t. Seriously. So Roy Kent is obviously a bonafide genius. Every other word out of that man’s mouth is a simple yet effective profanity.

By using the top shelf curse words that few others dare to let loose in public, Roy lets the world know how he’s feeling by using just a handful of syllables. He’s efficient and emotive all at the same time. Swearing is truly the best, and Roy shows us why in every single scene he’s in.

He adores his niece Phoebe

Of course Roy loves Keely (Juno Temple), and they have a swoon-worthy relationship. But Roy’s heart truly belongs to his tiny niece Phoebe. He’s caring and kind when he’s around her, but in a way that doesn’t compromise who he is. Instead of turning into “Uncle Roy”, he still curses around her, snaps at annoyances, and doesn’t tolerate any nonsense. Phoebe loves him dearly, flaws and all, and Roy loves her back. He would truly die for her if needed.

Also, just the way Roy looks at his little niece, like she’s a little walking, talking piece of his heart, is endearing as all get out.

He’s not afraid to be vulnerable

A. Wrinkle. In. Time. The moment we saw Roy reading the copy of Madeline L’Engle’s masterpiece that Ted gave him was the moment that he became an icon. This scene is just one of many examples of how Roy is willing to open his heart and mind to differing information and ideas, but this magical moment established that he was a genuinely lovely human being who was capable of growth.

Throughout Season 1, Roy grabbed the reins of change and began to soften to many concepts that he may have been closed off to prior to Ted Lasso’s arrival in Richmond. As the season progressed, Roy was able to deal with some life transitions in a graceful way all while leveling up as a person.

He’s incredibly insightful

Ted Lasso fans will want to keep an eye out for a scene in the Season 2 premiere in which Roy dispenses advice to Rebecca (Hannah Waddingham). No spoilers here, but it’s a moment that will surely be shared across the interwebs far and wide as Roy Kent fans express their love for this gruff gentle giant.

He has a season 2 arc that will knock your socks off

You’d be a dumb twat not to love where Roy is going in Season 2 of Ted Lasso. The trailers and previews for the season are, sadly, very low on Roy Kent content, but rest assured he’s still doing his thing and he’s still fookin’ awesome.

Without heading into spoiler territory, we can tell you that in Season 2, Roy’s relationship with Keely deepens and grows. He works on finding his way after the impactful events in the Season 1 finale. And, as mentioned above, he even gives Rebecca some startlingly good advice on several (!) occasions. Much like Shrek the ogre, he’s like an onion, a man with many layers… but he’s way way hotter than Shrek. And he’s got so much more story to tell.

Ted Lasso Season 1 is currently available for streaming on Apple TV Plus. Season 2 premieres on July 23, 2021. One episode will be released each week for twelve weeks.