Season 4,
Air Date: Wednesday, Aug 5th on Apple TV
Rating: [rating=4]
“Oy, Welcome Back.” – Roy Kent
Despite enjoying his job and things going well with his family, Ted Lasso (Jason Sudeikis) finds himself stuck in a rut in the years following his return to Kansas. That changes when three familiar faces unexpectedly arrive at his home with a proposal that could change everything.
Did anyone really believe Ted Lasso was over after Season 3? I certainly didn’t. I always assumed the creative team would take a couple of years off, then find some way to bring Ted back to Richmond, most likely to coach the AFC Richmond women’s team teased during the Season 3 finale.
It’s no secret that Ted Lasso is back, and anyone who has seen the trailers or advertisements knows Ted has returned to Richmond to coach women’s soccer—okay, fine, football. After watching the first several episodes of the season, I’m glad to say Ted and company are back, bringing much of the heart, humor, and optimism that made the series special.
Although it’s no surprise Ted returns to Richmond, I appreciated that the decision wasn’t easy for him. While his past mental health isn’t addressed, many weigh in, and you sense the weight of his decision. My favorite moment as Ted contemplates his future comes in a beautiful scene between Ted and his mom, Dottie (Becky Ann Baker), as she talks with her son about where he is in life. Their conversation made me think about my own life, and I imagine it will connect with many viewers too. Ted’s return makes sense and feels earned because the series lets a genuine emotional debate play out before he decides.
The season’s first episode is basically a love letter to Kansas City. That’s no surprise, since the city holds a special place in Jason Sudeikis’ heart. Sudeikis grew up nearby, began his comedy career there, and even made Ted a proud Kansan, regularly sporting shirts from local barbecue restaurants throughout the series. The city becomes more than a passing reference, as the episode was filmed at locations throughout Kansas City. At times it nearly feels like a tourism campaign, and I wouldn’t be surprised if some featured businesses and landmarks notice more visitors once the season airs.
The idea of Ted Lasso returning with Ted coaching the AFC Richmond women’s team will likely frustrate some, with critics and perhaps viewers inevitably claiming the show has “gone woke.” I suppose someone could make that argument by looking only at the surface-level premise, but the series goes much deeper than that. This is a brand-new team playing in a newly formed league, and the show isn’t afraid to raise difficult questions. Is creating a women’s team the right decision? Is it financially sustainable? How do you fairly divide resources when the men’s team has generated revenue for years?
Instead of making it a simple battle between men and women, the writers offer legitimate arguments from several perspectives. There are no easy answers, and the series admits that only time will tell. It would have been easy to make everything work perfectly from day one. Instead, the writers open a thoughtful conversation about the very real challenges facing women’s sports.
One person with absolutely no doubts about the future of Richmond’s women’s team is Keeley Jones (Juno Temple). After initially pitching the idea to Rebecca Welton (Hannah Waddingham) at the end of Season 3, Keeley has become the team’s biggest champion, continually encouraging Rebecca to believe in the project and keep investing in its future. It’s enjoyable to see Keeley take on a larger role this season, both through more screen time and greater responsibilities behind the scenes. Her enthusiasm is infectious, and seeing her passion for the team makes anything seem possible.
Even with the men’s team absent, fans who love Roy Kent (Brett Goldstein) needn’t worry because Roy is back and every bit as grouchy as ever. I’m reminded that in Season 1, Ted said winning Roy over was one of the first steps toward building a successful team. That theme returns here since Roy’s old-school way of thinking doesn’t always line up with Keeley’s aspirations.
In several ways, Roy reflects some of the concerns that certain viewers may have about this new direction. If Ted and Keeley manage to win Roy over, maybe they can win others over as well. Roy is always at his best when he’s learning, growing, and attempting to do the right thing, even when he doesn’t quite get it right. There are some great Roy stepping-up moments that I can’t wait for fans to see.
Tanya Reynolds joins the cast this season as the women’s assistant coach Alice Chilton. Reynolds’ character, particularly in the first few episodes, reminds me of Roy’s introduction in Season 1. Just as Roy initially challenged Ted, Alice doesn’t immediately accept or understand Ted’s approach.
I genuinely love the interactions between Ted and Alice. Reynolds does a fantastic job of showing emotion without saying a word; her expressions alone in a few scenes nearly brought me to tears. Seeing her reactions as Ted tries to connect with her is one of the season’s most satisfying character arcs.
My favorite new character this season might be Lizzie Davies (Faye Marsay). Without revealing anything, Lizzie quickly becomes the emotional heart of the women’s team, acting as a mother figure to the younger players. I loved how the writers introduce her, and I can’t wait to find out where her journey takes her through the rest of the season.
The season introduces several other memorable new characters too, including Jude Mack as Richmond’s immensely talented, if somewhat unpredictable, goalkeeper, as well as “The Twins,” played by Rex Hayes and Aisling Sharkey. Each brings new energy and personality to Richmond’s latest chapter. In addition to new characters, we have a new actor playing Ted’s son. Grant Feely takes over the role originally played by Gus Turner. Given the time jump and how fast these kids grow up, the change is almost unnoticeable.
My one small complaint about the season’s first half involves a returning character. It’s wonderful to see a fan-favorite character again, but the writers make a confusing creative choice that remains unexplained throughout the first four episodes. It’s the same person playing a character with the same name, yet they come across as a completely different person. I’m hoping the season’s back half offers some explanation because longtime fans could find the change bothersome.
One of the things I’ve always loved about Ted Lasso is the life lessons Ted leaves behind. Whether it’s “Be curious, not judgmental” during the unforgettable dart scene or one of his many thoughts about kindness, empathy, and believing in others, those moments have always stayed with me.
With the show off the air for a few years, I worried the writers would try too hard to recreate those iconic speeches and manufacture another batch of memorable quotes. Thankfully, they avoid that temptation. The lessons remain, but they come across as earned and natural instead of manufactured. If anything, a couple of moments left me thinking the writers held back a little too much. They had chances to deliver an even stronger emotional punch but chose a more restrained approach instead.
Overall, the first four episodes mark a wonderful return for Ted Lasso. While the show seems a little more restrained than it did in previous seasons, the series’ heart and its important life lessons remain firmly intact.
For those arguing that the show has “gone woke” or saying they can’t relate to the women’s team and its struggles, I’d note that many viewers couldn’t personally relate to Sam Obisanya’s (Toheeb Jimoh) experiences as an immigrant or Colin Hughes’ (Billy Harris) journey of coming out. Yet those storylines still connected because they were grounded in universal themes of empathy, acceptance, perseverance, and understanding.
That’s always been the true strength of Ted Lasso. It isn’t about having lived through the same experiences as these characters; it’s about the humanity and the messages they ultimately leave with us.
Ted Lasso returns for Season 4 on August 5, 2026, on Apple TV+.
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