NFL
By: Rick
Now that there are whispers of season 4 coming, fans couldn’t be more excited about the news of Ted Lasso potentially coming back. While there’s no concrete evidence that there will be a season 4 or it’ll be a spinoff in the works, fans who love the show will take what they can get. Since everyone involved said they don’t want to bring it back just to bring it back and it would need to be the right story, there’s no better time than the present to dive into some unfinished business starting with Ted himself.
When Ted Lasso wrapped in season 3, our favorite mustache-wearing title character found his way back home and on the sidelines for his son Henry’s soccer team. The only problem is that nothing about his face in that final scene seems happy. That has to beg the question, is he back where he started when he left for AFC Richmond in the first place?
Towards the end of season 3, we saw Ted at a different kind of low than the one he started off with, although it isn’t really a “low”. He missed his son, his home, and his family. While he left the States to escape the pressures of those things, he finally realized it was where he wanted to be. The problem is, he changed but back home had not. Sure he had Henry and he struggled with being the father Henry needed but if he ran back home to chase his wife, that’s where things are hazy.
The biggest letdown of a new season would be Ted returning back home to Michelle. She didn’t try to end things with Ted because of some fights they had or because they wanted different things in life. When we get the reason why she was unsure of a future with Ted it was because of his “constant optimism” that supposed drove her away. That’s not going to change. The whole character of Ted Lasso’s backstory surrounded his father’s death. Once we knew why his dad died, Ted became that becon of hope for anyone who was going through the same thing and didn’t see their worth. He became the person who relentlessly told people their worth with encouragement. It doesn’t make sense for him to return home and things would be totally fine again.
Season 4 should approach things a different way:
Despite carrying the namesake as the title character, the show goes on without him for close to a full season. When Roy, Nate, and Beard-led team is struggling and on the verge of relegation again, we see Rebecca upset in Ted’s old office not knowing what to do next. A knock on the door, and in the same “big reveal” moment that Rebecca often gave to Ted, we hear a knock and Ted’s familiar voice: “Rebecca? I’m here about the job offer, if it still stands.” Cut out.
Fastfoward to the season finale and we get the backstory. Back home, Henry reveals to Ted that he doesn’t seem like hisself since he’s been back home. He doesn’t seem as happy as when we was with AFC Richmond. Ted tells him that he came back for him(Henry) and the story comes full circle back to Ted’s dad. When Ted reveals to Dr. Sharron his father never knew how great he was, and Ted wishes he would have told him, Henry can do the same. He can tell Ted how great he is and how proud of him he is and how he belongs at Richmond. Whether Henry goes with him is up to the true writers but either way works.
But there’s one catch. Ted isn’t going back to take back his old job, he’s been offered a new one. At the end of season 3, we see Rebecca flipping through a binder with the title page AFC Richmond Women’s Team. You can look to the WNBA to see that women’s sports are on the rise. Ted Lasso becoming a spinoff of it’s own show with a League of Their Own approach has far too much potential. Ted Lasso could essentially become a spinoff of itself. The main story could continue in a spinoff in name only AFC Richmond and Ted Lasso would begin anew with our beloved title character in a whole new role.
If all Ted Lasso needs is a few good stories to run with in season 4 than look no further. There’s more unfinished business with these characters. Coming up next: everyone’s favorite grandad Roy Kent.
