Summary
The heartwarming world ofTed Lassois returning for a fourth season. But not everyone has been jubilant in their response to the news, and one of the main cast isn’t exactly celebrating like it’s Richmond’s next big win.
Ted Lassohas beenApple TV+‘sleading show for feel-good content. This Emmy-winning sports comedy-drama series has risen to the top of Apple’s line-up since its release in 2020. The titular character, Ted Lasso, is an unwaveringly positive American football coach who is suddenly thrust into the position of manager forAFC Richmond,a fictional Premier League soccer team in England. Ted has little to no experience with the sport, and there a major culture clashes to overcome when he begins in his new role. But eventually, his empathy and boundless optimism gradually win over the team, the staff, and even his skeptics.
Brett Goldstein, who plays the hard-nosed but much-loved football player,Roy Kent, recently went on theWild Cardpodcastto share his thoughts on the series returning for a fourth outing. Kent is one of the beating hearts ofTed Lasso,as his journey throughout the show tackles major themes of leadership, mentorship, and opening oneself up to compassion. He ended up winningtwo Emmy Awardsfor Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 2021 and 2022.
Viewers will already be aware of how perfectly the third season ofTed Lassowrapped things up.The finale in 2023 was a heartfelt, emotional goodbye to many of its characters, succinctly tying up loose storylines, and bringing things to a natural conclusion. Ted even walked away from his managerial position at Richmond by the end. So, Kent’s thoughts on its return would seem to echo this strange feeling that’s left many fans asking: is this really necessary? Kent used a slightly macarbre metaphor to capture the odd emotions following news of a continuation:
“I have a friend that I went to university with, and I think about this a lot. He had a cat that died. He loved his cat, and the cat was run over… they buried the cat in the garden. And he lay in bed so sad, so upset and crying, and he prayed and he prayed and he wished, ‘I wish the cat would come back.’ And then the cat did come back… and it turned out the cat they buried wasn’t their cat.”
A slightly strange concept to bring up when discussing the return of the show, but in context it does make sense. In an industry obsessed with holding on to old IPs, rebooting, and then remaking the same stories and franchises over and over again, Kent’s Frankenstein-esque comparison holds up. The financial incentives are sometimes too great, and like many TV shows or films in years gone by, executives tend to push things too far and struggle to find a suitable end point, usually dragging a story way past its expiry date.Shows likeThe Office (US)spring to mind, which had a midlife crisis after Steve Carell’s exit as the lead of the show. ForTed Lassoto end in such a natural way, it seems like Hollywood just can’t let a good thing be. Goldstein expressed his feelings on the end of Season 3:
“We buried it. We all cried. We had a funeral. Are you saying we can bring anything back? It’s too much power.”
Season 4 is apparently “in the writer’s room at the moment”, so details about how the story will shape out or when it will be released are sparse, but fans do know that Ted will be coaching a women’s team. Viewers will have to keep their eyes peeled for more news, release dates, and upcoming trailers.
