August 29-September 4 “Headspace” | Ted Lasso Sarah Niles
The stars of Ted Lasso continue to be the best performers on our screens right now and while it’s unsurprising given the series’ range, it’s still a delightful thrill week after week to see the opportunities they’re each given to shine. There is imaginably a lot more in store for Sarah Niles’ Dr. Fieldstone, but the subtle work that was brought to the surface in “Headspace” deserves commending.
Niles had the difficult job of keeping it together while expressing everything needed that was brewing within through utmost subtlety. And at any moment, when you see visible pain in someone’s expression without them vocalizing it, the actress has done an exemplary job of delivering what was necessary. Sure, we could imagine that Ted’s statement would hurt her (it’d hurt anyone with a heart), but Niles held her own so brilliantly alongside Sudeikis by revealing to the audience just how much it’s actually getting to her.
But what I’m most in awe of, is the innate warmth Sarah Niles is able to bring to the surface even while she’s quietly keeping it together as a therapist probably should. But there’s a relationship that needs to be established here and Ted Lasso has always done a great job of allowing characters opportunities to grow by being called out.