NFL
By: Rick O’Donnell
Sorry, Ted Lasso fans, we’re officially 1/3rd of the way through season 4. Luckily for us, there’s still plenty to look forward to. Despite the darker corners of the internet saying the show has fallen off, plenty of people on social media (such as myself) are loving the new season. Nothing has changed with Ted Lasso. Want proof? Go to IMDb and check the ratings for the first 3 episodes of every season; this one is on par with the rest. Now, with that being said, a soft reset of the franchise does have some people worried, but after episode 3 in season 4, there’s so much of the show mirroring the seasons we’ve loved.
Take the obvious history between Alice and Gemma. There’s a bit of a rocky road between the two; a history between them, and whatever happened, it did not end well. If I remember correctly, we see a photo of Alice with someone on her phone. I’m sure someone will correct me in the comment sections on socials, but I believe that person looked very similar to Gemma. This wouldn’t be the first time Ted Lasso tackled rocky relationships. Going all the way back to the first two seasons with Jamie and his dad, and it coming to a head in season 2, episode 8, Man City.
There’s a good chance we get that same emotionally charged scene between these two. Were they friends, a couple, or simply just a mentor/mentee, with either of them not living up to their end of the bargain? This will be one of the bigger stories in season 4 that will likely reach its boiling point, pushing Gemma to reach her full potential once the two either reconcile or cut ties, to be revisited in future seasons.
Of course, we have to talk about leadership. In season 1, Roy had his leadership unwillingly thrust upon him by Ted. The captain of the team was asked to reel the boys in and get everyone on the same page. In season 4, there might be someone a little more willing: newcomer Lizzie. Yes, you do recognize her from Game of Thrones, actress Faye Marsay. It looks like she won’t just be a mom off the field; there’s a good chance she’ll end up being the adult in the room on the field as well. Her ability to separate and set the twins straight is clearly foreshadowing the future.
Then let’s not forget the story with everyone’s favorite bartender, Mae. Clearly there’s more to her story than just her passion for football. Her relentless support for Ted in early seasons, her siding with Beard when Ted wasn’t putting the team first, and her emotions showing with the debut of the women’s team. There’s a backstory that’s coming that has the opportunity to hit us right in the feels.
My best guess is, this goes beyond just her. Her relationship with the team has to stem from a personal relationship that is no longer there, say, a loved one she lost. Ted Lasso has been a show built on relationships with each character’s parents, so why not the same for Mae. I hope we get the backstory where she reveals the reason she loved the team is that someone like her dad loved Richmond so much. He took her to all the games, taught her to play, and was there for her when they said she couldn’t. Going back to the first episode, Higgins reveals that women weren’t allowed to play until 1971. Is she old enough to have missed that cutoff, and does that reveal where her love comes from?
If so, such an admission needs to play out, and the person who needs to be on the receiving end of that story should be Higgins. As down-to-earth as he is, his “Higgins Report” is telling him, and ultimately Rebecca, why the team will fail. Mae’s story of unwavering love and never giving up hope should be what sets him straight. Going back to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in the first episode, that wake-up call on what it means to not give up would not only be a great callback for a season, but would be the exact emotional scene that has been a staple of this show from the beginning.
Yes, Ted Lasso is starting over with the women’s team, but nothing has changed. With three episodes down in a 10-episode season, we’re just getting out of act one. The real bulk of the season should pick up in the next 3-4 episodes, steering this ship back on course for the usual Ted Lasso standards. The story is different, but the elements you loved are still there if you’re patient.
