What is the meaning of the dart scene in Ted Lasso? The significance revealed

"Be curious, not judgemental"

This iconic line was written by one of the greatest American poets Walt Whitman, but any Ted Lasso fan will automatically be reminded of one of the most loved scenes from the show - the dart scene. The dart scene from Season 1, Episode 8 of Ted Lasso is why Walt Whitman's quote is now heavily associated with the show. According to many fans, this scene from the show is a perfect encapsulation of the show as a whole. A classic underdog who embodies kindness as his greatest strength.

Ted Lasso as a show has always been one that is more focused on developing its characters and their stories instead of driving forward a show through its plot. Perhaps, it is this exact quality of the show represented in what is now known as the dart scene that makes the fans love it so much- even now. This scene is not just significant because the good guys end up winning in the end, but more so about the way they go about it.

Here's the significance behind the fan-adored darts scene from Season 1.

The Darts Scene in Ted Lasso: Significance Explored

In this scene, Rebecca and Ted are meeting up at the local pub for a business meeting with the Milk sisters, who they thought were two minority owners of the Richmond club. However, they reach the pub only to find Rupert Mannion, Rebecca's ex-husband, instead of the Milk sisters.

Rupert reveals that he purposefully bought the Milk sisters' shares as well as shares of other club owners in his new wife Bex's name so that he could be sitting at every Richmond match in the owner's box. To Rupert, this was another way for him to torture Rebecca, his ex-wife. So, Ted Lasso, the ever-positive soccer coach of the team that Rebecca owns, steps in to 'save' his boss and prevent her from getting hurt more than she already has been because of Rupert. Ted's action in this situation is one of the biggest hints in the show that Ted would always be there for his boss and try to give her whatever she needed or wanted.

Ted wagers a bet with Rupert in a game of darts. He announces that Rupert won't sit in the box with the coach and his boss during the games if Ted wins, and Rupert will set the line-up of the team for the next two matches if he wins. The game begins, and Rupert is entirely confident that he can beat Ted. However, as the game progresses, Rupert has to face the shocking truth that Ted is actually quite good at darts. As he plays the game, Ted tells a story about how he has been underestimated by everyone around him all his life. He explains that even though he should feel anger towards those who bullied him, instead, he had the realization that these people just weren't curious about him. They never questioned Ted Lasso about himself, so they never found out what he could become. In doing so, they underestimated him.

"Guys underestimated me my entire life. And for years, I never understood why. It used to really bother me. But then one day I was driving my little boy to school and I saw this quote by Walt Whitman and it was painted on the wall there. It said: ‘Be curious, not judgmental.’ And I liked that. So I get back in my car and I’m driving to work, and all of a sudden it hits me. All them fellas that used to be belittle me; not a single one of them were curious. They thought they had everything all figured out. So they judged everything, and everyone."

Ted, in this episode of Ted Lasso, explained the simple yet poignant reality that the people who were underestimating him or considering him less, Ted had no contribution to their idea of him. He goes on to say that instead of making judgments about him, they could've asked him questions. He gives an example to Rupert that if Rupert had been curious instead of judgemental and asked Ted if he played a lot of darts, Rupert would've known that Ted was actually a great darts player.

"And I realized that their underestimating me…who I was had nothing to do with it. Cause if they were curious, they could’ve asked questions. You know? Questions like: ‘Have you played a lot of darts, Ted’ To which I would’ve answered: ‘Yes, sir. Every Sunday afternoon at a sports bar with my father, from age ten til I was 16 when he passed away.’ Barbecue sauce."

Ted's monologue and quoting a famous author in this scene does not sound inorganic or forced because the entire scene is essentially structured around the quote, making it the most natural part of the monologue.

This scene from Ted Lasso has great significance because it teaches its viewers a simple yet extremely important tool that can help them a lot in life. Asking somebody questions about themselves and being curious about them is a very easy way to never make the mistake of underestimating. Curiosity helps us be prepared for whatever the future might hold for us.

Additionally, the way Ted Lasso goes about his monologue also has an equally important significance. Ted Lasso, having played darts all his childhood, is an expert at it, but even when he's explaining it, there's no sense of pride or ego in him. When he's telling his story, there's no gloating in him. He speaks with a calm acceptance that people in life have always underestimated him, giving him an edge over them.

This scene also adds another dimension to Ted Lasso's character as he is portrayed as a character with more than an always positive attitude. He is painted as an optimistic individual who is firmly rooted in his reality and works every day to make sure that it is a good one.

The dart scene carries a lot of emotions for the fans of Ted Lasso, and rightfully so, as the show somehow manages to encapsulate the titular coach's character in a single scene. The show's belief in kindness and empathy shines through the darts scene.

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