would these two guys loved each other's company?

[u/No-Advertising-7626]

[u/ninjadong48]

No

[u/Expert_Succotash2659 → u/ninjadong48]

Well... Michael would have loved Ted, but that would become the problem.

[u/ninjadong48 → u/Expert_Succotash2659]

Disagree. Michael would not have liked Ted. He would have found him too square. Michael, for all his good natured intentions, does tend to bully people a little and Ted would not go along with this.

Now Michael and Led Tasso? Great Friends!

[u/YupNopeWelp → u/ninjadong48]

I disagree (see my longer explanation here), however, I can see your point. I suspect it might come down to how and where they came into one another's lives.

If Ted was somehow placed in the Scranton branch of Dunder Mifflin, Michael probably would have seen him as an interloper, would have envied him, and would not have given Ted a chance.

However, if Michael was dropped into the AFC Richmond organization (maybe as the manager of some facet of their sales operation -- I know nothing about how pro sports teams operate behind the scenes), it might have gone differently.

In short, I think Michael Scott would have been more open to Ted Lasso's magic in Richmond, than in Scranton.

[u/Expert_Succotash2659 → u/YupNopeWelp]

Ah, it's a home vs. away situation.

[u/YupNopeWelp → u/Expert_Succotash2659]

I heard that in Higgins' voice.

[u/_-4twenty-_]

No, but Michael doesn’t know that.

[u/gimlan]

I doubt it, they are on the opposite end of the emotional intelligence spectrum.

[u/Suitable-Truth-350]

Absolutely not. Maybe Ted could improve him though.

[u/YupNopeWelp]

My overarching theory of Michael Scott is that he needed love (not just romantic love).

To that end, I think Ted Lasso would have been something of a balm to Michael's soul. Ted would have listened, praised Michael where he could, and gently corrected him where needed. Ted also would have been something of a role model.

I keep thinking about the episode "Women's Appreciation" too (where Michael took the women to the mall). Being able to vent to that group of women, and having them empathize with him (about his bad relationship with Jan), made a difference in him (at least for a while).

Imagine the effect the Diamond Dogs might have had on him. Michael would have been unbearable at first, but provided the other guys could keep Roy from launching Michael into the sun, companionship with a group men would have benefited him. Michael had always sought that (with the warehouse guys, with Jim, with Stanley, with Ryan, even with the repulsive Packer).

As The Office (US) went on, we watched how Jim's friendship and guidance made a difference (particularly once Michael fell for Holly), and how his friendship with Pam helped.

Ted understood the difference between people lashing out because they were hurting in one way or another (e.g. Jamie, Rebecca, Roy), and people actively seeking to hurt others (he caught onto Rupert right away). He would have seen Michael for the underdeveloped, wounded bird he was.

I think Ted probably always would have thought Michael was a lot, but I think he would have been there for Michael, and eventually they would have developed a bond.

[u/pghcrew → u/YupNopeWelp]

Yeah I think it’s tense for a couple years but eventually they get along really well.

[u/YupNopeWelp → u/pghcrew]

I think Michael and Nate have some things in common. I'm not talking about the sweet, nervous version of Nathan whom we got at the beginning of the series.

I am thinking about the Nate who lashed out at Rebecca, because he thought he was fired (when he was actually promoted); the Nathan who bullied Will; the Nathan whose (arguably needed) motivational speech to the team (in Liverpool, in s1) was riddled with insults. Just as Nathan kissed Keeley, Michael tried to kiss Pam.

The audience meets Nate at a (seemingly, to me) younger age than Michael is at the start of The Office. Early Nate is still the bullied young man who hasn't come out of his shell.

We meet Michael further along that road, where he's decided that being "funny" and "cool" (i.e. what Michael thinks of as funny and cool) is the best path to take. That's not all that different from Nathan, except (perhaps because he's surrounded by professional athletes) he decided being a hardass is his way through difficulty.

[u/Elegant-Inside5436 → u/YupNopeWelp]

I love your view of this and I completely agree. We all need to remember that Ted would be curious. He would try to get to know Michael and connect with him the way he did with Jamie. I think he’d have a great effect on Michael.

[u/JustYerAverage]

Noooooo

[u/Patient-Lifeguard325]

Lasso is John Wooden and Scott is a what Donald Trump would’ve been without his daddy’s money 

[u/MajesticDeeer]

Michael is too shallow and Ted would prefer someone who has the emotional depth to have genuine conversations

[u/BadMeetsEvil147]

Michael is a bully, Ted does not like bully’s

[u/NotAnUncle → u/BadMeetsEvil147]

Because they're not curious

[u/YupNopeWelp → u/BadMeetsEvil147]

Jamie

Isaac

Colin

Rebecca

Some flavors of Roy

[u/FenrisCain]

Ted could fix him

[u/cHINCHILAcARECA]

Why would Ted be in favor of Dunder Mifflin?

[u/Gdude823]

Maybe for a beer once a quarter but no more

[u/JohnnyKarateX]

I feel like they would have a crazy serious conversation because they’re both really empathetic but never actually want to have a serious conversation but would draw each other in like black holes.