Suddenly, the Ted Lasso theme song is downright prophetic. In it, Marcus Mumford and Tom Howe croon: “Yeah, it might be all that you get/Yeah, I guess this might well be it.” While there’s no “official” word that season three of Apple TV+’s award-winning hit is its last, creator/star Jason Sudeikis has noted to Entertainment Tonight that “the idea was to do three years” with the show and the creative team, have told the story they needed to tell. Even Brett Goldstein, who plays the crusty Roy Kent, noted that season three would be the series' final bow, telling the Sunday Times last June that, "We are writing it like that. It was planned as three [seasons].”
Updated June 12, 2023: With the conclusion of Ted Lasso season three, this review has been updated by Noah Martin to reflect the entire season.
The final episode of Ted Lasso season three aired on May 31st through AppleTV+. The ending of the season feels more like a series finale rather than a season finale, offering a satisfying conclusion and leaving many characters' storylines in a place of limbo where it could be the end of their story but also leaves room to grow. Any way you kick it, season three finds Ted and the gang waxing a bit more existential as a variety of characters seem to be either in a major transition or quickly heading toward one. Ah, but there is hope. It’s hard not to walk away from this round of Ted Lasso without feeling the creators are setting up a spin-off.
Where Do We Go From Here?
Overall, the main thrust of the 12-episode third season finds most of the main characters facing a major transition and where they will go with their lives. Change is in the air, as many of the characters realize they cannot keep doing the same things forever. While audiences have enjoyed the comforts of the previous two seasons, these characters need to move forward from the status quo.
The new season, overall, scores all the necessary goals. Even if those goals feel familiar emotionally. Optimism, underdog determination, defusing people’s frenzy—and hate—with genuine kindness all factor into Ted’s journey and, well, that of most characters, in fact. Seems Ted has made an impact even though he waxes existential about it more than ever before. Ted's ability to inspire others around him to think more positively directly impacts many of the characters who begin to strive for better in their lives and the betterment of those around them.
The season begins with Ted sending his son back to the States as the season begins. The extended visit to London gave the father and son a great time to bond, but all too often, Ted wonders why he’s in London and if it’s really making a difference. His panic attacks, previously tempered in therapy sessions with Sharon—Sarah Niles in fine form—have re-emerged, posing a significant threat. They become harder and harder to cope with over the rest of the season and directly impact Ted's ultimate decision.
Meanwhile, Nathan Shelley (Nick Mohammed), who jumped the AFC Richmond ship last season to coach West Ham United, the opposing team led by Rebecca’s ex, Rupert (Anthony Head), rages on in a battle for his soul. It gives Ted and Team Richmond something to combat. Again. And Head knows how to deliver the best eerie vibes. He’s often seen mysteriously appearing, like Darth Vader, attempting to train a new evil recruit. Yet the season begins to shift away from the focus of Nathan and his iron thumb over his team, instead electing to show the direct positive impact Ted has had on Nathan.
At the end of the season, Ted says, " I hope that all of us, or none of us, are judged by the actions of our weakest moments but rather by the strength we show when or if we are given a second chance." It is here where it is clear the writers have put the audience in the position to hate Nathan, only for the viewer to have to see if they would actually listen to Ted's advice. Can Ted have an impact on the viewer the same way he did the characters in the series?
Bigger Team, More Players
The cast remains a highlight, as always. Sudeikis has already picked up a handful of Emmys for playing the optimistic American football coach hired to manage a British soccer team—with no soccer coaching experience to boot. The robust cast includes Hannah Waddingham (Sex Education), Brett Goldstein (Thor: Love and Thunder), Juno Temple (The Offer), Brendan Hunt (Bless This Mess), Nick Mohammed (Intelligence), Jeremy Swift (Doctors), Phil Dunster (The Devil’s Hour), Toheeb Jimoh (The Feed), and a robust posse of other standouts. There is also a larger role for James Lances' character Trent Crimm.
Ted Lasso's supposedly final season also introduced a whole new host of characters for its final round. From one-episode guest appearances for Becky Ann Baker as Ted's mom to longer-running story arcs for Jodi Balfour (For All Mankind) as Jack, a not-so-average venture capitalist who develops a relationship with Keeley. There were a lot of characters, yet each new character introduced was meant to help enhance and move forward one of the stories for one of the main cast members.
Not to be left out is a powerful new teammate for AFC Richmond. Best to be surprised by that, but it’s thoroughly fun to see how the ripple effects play out in the locker room and with hunky Jaimie Tartt (Phil Dunster sporting a new ‘do), who must come to terms with his own legacy. His friendship with former rival Roy Kent is certainly one of the highlights of the season, and Jaimie might have the best overarching storyline of the whole series. When audiences remember how he started the series to how he ended it, he might be the best example of Ted's impact on his teammates.
Nate's story arc might be the most frustrating for viewers. Much of his storyline is resolved off-screen between episodes, and how his storyline unfolds will likely depend on the viewer. While some may have wanted to see him redeem himself on screen with a big speech or a moment of defiance, the series does do so with more subtle scenes and leaving the audience to understand Nate's transition is not in big gestures but in small little moments. Meanwhile, Rebecca, played by the always wonderful Hannah Waddingham, finally achieves the emotional freedom she's been striving for since season one.
The Richmond Way
Season three has received mixed reviews from fans and critics, with some people not enjoying the first half as much as previous seasons. However, the second half was received positively. It's almost as if they lost their stride for a few episodes and then quickly found their pace again. Season three ends with a satisfying conclusion to each character's arc, with Rebecca selling a large portion of the club to the fans of Richmond, Roy, and Jamie becoming friends, and Lasso returning home to his family - leaving behind his new family.
Beard has an amazing moment with Nathan where the audience finally learns why Beard and Ted are best friends, and this moment makes the last episode that much more tearful when Beard makes the decision to leave Ted on the airplane. Trent shares a manuscript of his book with Beard and Ted. They read through it, and Ted leaves a comment for Trent, which perfectly sums up Ted Lasso. Despite the series being named after him, it was never really about him. Sure, he was the motivating factor for a lot of character growth, but season three shows Beard, Roy, Jamie, Keeley, Rebecca, and many other characters taking the reins from Ted and influencing other characters (like Barbara) to become who they're meant to be without Ted ever having met them. Ted Lasso perfectly encapsulates how one act of kindness can send waves through people.
Best of all, the writing in season three is in fine form throughout the episodes offered to the press. True, some of those episodes feel a little bloated, and some even feel like nonsequiturs at times. But with every passing scene, it’s undeniable that Sudeikis and all involved have created a rare television series that manages to evoke authentic emotions, deliver stellar comedy, and capture the human condition. Does it always kick the ball into the net? No. But when we all look back at Ted Lasso, surely, we’ll realize that this has been one of the best series to illuminate our screens in a 21st century going through its own identity crisis. "Yeah, it might be all that you get," but Ted Lasso season three is a near-perfect conclusion to the Emmy award-winning series.
Ted Lasso is now streaming in its entirety on Apple TV+.