You know the guy. The one with the gravity-defying hair and the glasses that scream "I read more than you." When we first met Trent Crimm Ted Lasso fans mostly saw him as a roadblock. He was the skeptical journalist from The Independent, lurking in the back of press rooms like a vulture waiting for a crash. He was the guy who asked the "is this a f***ing joke?" question that we all kind of wanted to ask in the pilot.
But things changed. Fast.
Honestly, the transformation of Trent Crimm is arguably the most satisfying arc in the whole series. It isn't just about a guy finding a new job. It’s about a man who was hiding behind a notebook and a sharp tongue finally deciding to actually live. By the time the credits rolled on season 3, he wasn't just some reporter. He was a Diamond Dog. He was a mentor. He was, fundamentally, one of the few people who truly "got" what Ted was trying to do.
From The Independent to independent
In the beginning, Trent’s identity was literally his employer. He introduced himself as "Trent Crimm, The Independent." It was a shield. James Lance, the actor who plays him, has talked about how he viewed Trent as someone who grew up with a tough, oppressive father. That’s why he was so prickly. He used his intellect as a weapon because that's how he survived.
Then came the dinner.
Remember the spicy Indian food? Ted takes Trent to a local spot, and despite the fact that the food is practically melting Ted’s insides, he stays polite. He’s genuine. Trent expects a scam or a hack, but he finds a man who actually cares about people more than wins. That's the moment the armor cracked. Trent wrote that profile—the one where he admitted he was rooting for the "Lasso Way"—and the seed was planted.
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Then season 2 happened.
The betrayal by Nate was the catalyst. When Nate leaked Ted’s panic attack to the press, Trent had a choice. He could have just run the story and kept his source anonymous. That’s the journalist’s code. But Trent couldn't do it. He told Ted the truth. He sacrificed his career at a major newspaper because his integrity as a human being finally outweighed his professional ambition.
"Trent Crimm, independent."
The change in his introduction wasn't just a clever bit of writing. It was a declaration of freedom. He wasn't a cog in the media machine anymore. He was just a guy with a pen and a lot of observations.
The Book: The Richmond Way
Season 3 gave us the Trent Crimm we didn't know we needed. He’s embedded with the team. He’s wearing those incredible patterned shirts (seriously, the wardrobe department deserves an award). He’s writing a book.
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At first, the team hates it. Roy Kent, specifically, wants to murder him. We find out why: Trent wrote a scathing review of Roy when he was just a seventeen-year-old kid. It was a mean-spirited piece of writing designed to make Trent look "edgy."
Watching Trent apologize to Roy in the locker room was huge. No excuses. No "I was just doing my job." Just a sincere admission that he was a jerk and he was sorry. That’s the Lasso effect in a nutshell. It’s not about being perfect; it’s about owning your mess.
Trent and Colin: The Soul of Season 3
If you want to talk about the real impact of Trent Crimm Ted Lasso writers knew exactly what they were doing with the Colin Hughes storyline. When Trent follows Colin and realizes he’s gay, the audience (and Colin) panics. Is he going to out him? Is this the old Trent coming back for a scoop?
Nope.
Trent finds Colin in Amsterdam and just... talks to him. He reveals he’s gay too. He talks about "coming out twice"—once to his family and once to his daughter. It’s a quiet, beautiful scene that provides the support Colin needs to eventually be his authentic self on the pitch. Trent didn't need a headline. He needed to help a kid who was carrying a burden he understood all too well.
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Why the "Lasso Way" needed Trent
Ted is the heart, but Trent is the historian. Without Trent’s book, Ted’s impact might have just been a feeling that faded over time. Trent turned it into a philosophy.
When he finally shows the draft to Ted and Beard, the title is The Lasso Way. Ted’s only note? "Change the title. It’s not about me. It never was."
So it becomes The Richmond Way.
That simple change validates everything. It shows that Trent finally understood the core of Ted’s message: the collective is more important than the individual. Trent’s journey from a "lone wolf" journalist to a member of a community is the show's thesis in human form.
Common Misconceptions About Trent Crimm
- Is he a real journalist? No, he's a fictional character, though many real UK sports journalists say his portrayal of the "press room vibe" is surprisingly accurate.
- Is the book real? Sadly, The Richmond Way isn't a book you can buy at Barnes & Noble. Fans have been begging for a real-life release, but so far, it only exists in the Lasso-verse.
- What's with the hair? It's all James Lance. No wig. Just legendary genetics and probably some very expensive product.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you’re looking to channel your inner Trent Crimm, here’s how to do it without getting punched by a Roy Kent type:
- Practice Intellectual Honesty: Be willing to change your mind when presented with new evidence. Trent thought Ted was a joke. He was wrong. He admitted it. That's growth.
- Listen More, Speak Less: In season 3, Trent spends a lot of time just sitting in the corner of the locker room. He observes. You learn more by watching the "imperceptible moments" than by demanding answers.
- Own Your Past: If you’ve been "edgy" or mean for the sake of your own ego, apologize. Directly. No fluff.
- Support the Colins in your life: If you see someone struggling with their identity or a secret, don't exploit it. Be a safe harbor.
Trent Crimm started as a guy looking for a story and ended as a man who helped write a better one for everyone around him. He's the proof that it’s never too late to quit the job that's making you cynical and start the project that makes you whole.
Go watch the "Sunsets" episode in Amsterdam again. Pay attention to the way Trent looks at the world now compared to the pilot. The "Independent" became part of something bigger, and honestly, we're all better for it.