THE STORY – Ted returns to Richmond, taking on his biggest challenge yet: coaching a second-division women’s football team.
THE CAST – Jason Sudeikis, Hannah Waddingham, Brett Goldstein, Juno Temple, Brendan Hunt, Jeremy Swift & Tanya Reynolds
THE TEAM – Jason Sudeikis, Brendan Hunt & Joe Kelly (Co-Creators)
I love “Ted Lasso.” I loved it when it was everyone’s favorite comfort show after its heartwarming first season. I loved it when a few people became fatigued by its relentless optimism and signature corniness in its mature second season. Hell, I loved it despite all of its flaws — its poor tackling of sexism, its terrible execution of a fan favorite-turned-villain storyline, its overlong pacing — in its divisive but still fundamentally likable third season. This show is near and dear to my heart, and when a fourth season was announced, I did not raise my pitchfork in protest that the once-Emmy juggernaut was once again disgracing my television screen. I was curious, not judgmental, because I was so hoping that this new season would be a return to form for a television series I have grown to adore over the years.
It brings me no pleasure to say that “Ted Lasso” season 4 is disappointing.Â
The fundamental problem with “Ted Lasso” season 4 is that it has no reason to exist. In its very first episode, it does a poor job of showing why Ted Lasso (Jason Sudeikis) had to come back. Now, I understand that a season of “Ted Lasso” without its titular character is a difficult sell. But in the first five episodes of this new season, there is none of the introspection that made this character so beloved in the first place. I would go as far as to say Ted has been Flanderized, as it does not feel like the character exists beyond hokey Midwestern stereotypes, shoehorned pop culture references, and dialogue that could be lifted right out of an inspirational cat poster. The tension about whether he is showing up for his actual family the same way he shows up for his Richmond family is completely removed this season, as his ex-wife and son bafflingly make the decision to just move to England with him. In the first five episodes of the show, there is very little conflict in Ted’s life, and it makes him a completely uninteresting character.
The larger conflict that most of our main characters are wrapped up in is that starting a women’s soccer team is difficult, since women’s sports are given far less attention and funding than men’s sports. I do think this is a brilliant basis for a season of the show, especially when coupled with the idea that Rebecca (Hannah Waddingham) is inadvertently perpetuating the patriarchy by favoring a likable man over the less charming but arguably more qualified woman for the position of coach. Unfortunately, the show’s writers are as out of their depth tackling sexism as the show’s titular protagonist was on the soccer field in season 1. The attempts at humor just do not work, and can even feel shockingly mean-spirited at times.Â
Rebecca is perhaps the biggest example of how surface-level the show’s “girl power“ can be. Two of her major plotlines in the first four episodes include wanting to have sex with her Dutch boyfriend and worrying that she is secretly a misogynist. The latter could actually be compelling, but the show seems bafflingly uninterested in reevaluating her male-centered actions in previous seasons.
Thankfully, Keeley (Juno Temple) is given far better material than she was in season 3 and has by far the best storyline of the cast. Any screen time she shares with Rebecca or Roy (Brett Goldstein) is delightful and reinforces how kinetic this character truly is. She feels like the natural successor to Ted: she is not naïve about how much the odds are stacked against the women’s team succeeding, but she chooses to believe in her Richmond family anyway. Perhaps the biggest issue with Ted returning is that it means Keeley is not allowed to be the rightful protagonist of the show.
As backward as this might sound, I do think “Ted Lasso“ is a much better show when it’s not trying so hard to send a message about misogyny. The show’s best asset has always been its characters, so when it focuses on the bonds between them to send a message about solidarity, that is when the themes finally approach poignancy. The female AFC Richmond teammates are currently thinly written, but I am nonetheless intrigued by them and would love to see them receive the development of the male team. The new coach, Alice Chilton (Tanya Reynolds), is a great addition who balances out the cast well with her social awkwardness and fading tolerance for Ted’s shenanigans. When the show homes in on the women impacted by sexism rather than just the concept of sexism, it shines so much brighter.
“Ted Lasso“ season 4 has its charms. The cast remains fantastic, and it’s difficult not to smile upon seeing your favorite characters interact with each other again after the years of hiatus. And by focusing on creating a women’s team at AFC Richmond, the season has a lot of interesting elements at play that allow it to recapture the charm from “Ted Lasso“ by starting from scratch. Forcing Ted back into the show does not give this season the breathing room to go in the divergent direction it clearly wants to. I want to believe that the “Ted Lasso“ I fell in love with will come back, but despite hints of that show still appearing in this season, season 4 unfortunately doubles down on everything that made season 3 so divisive.
THE GOOD – The cast is phenomenal as always, with Juno Temple being the clear star of the show. The season is still as feel-good as ever, and it’s difficult not to be somewhat charmed by the antics these characters get into.
THE BAD – The season does a weak job of justifying its existence, and a downright shoddy one of justifying Ted Lasso’s return. The writing is on-the-nose and can sometimes feel like a parody of itself.
THE EMMY PROSPECTSÂ – Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series & Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
THE FINAL SCORE – 6/10
