The beloved Apple TV+ series "Ted Lasso" is set to return for a surprising fourth season, with Jason Sudeikis once again donning the optimistic persona of Ted Lasso. This new season will see Ted returning to Richmond, not to coach the men's team, but to lead a newly formed women's professional soccer team.
After departing AFC Richmond three years prior to focus on co-parenting his son Henry with his ex-wife Michelle in Kansas City, Ted has been living a more grounded life. The season premiere opens with Ted working as an assistant manager at a supermarket, where he continues to impart his unique brand of wisdom to his colleagues. A humorous moment arises when Ted stages a mock theft to teach a teenage coworker a lesson.
The narrative takes a turn when Ted and Michelle are called to Henry's school due to his interest in Public Enemy lyrics. Later, Ted receives an unexpected visit from Rebecca Welton, Keeley Jones, and Leslie Higgins, who have traveled from Richmond to Kansas City. Their purpose is to observe the local women's professional soccer team, the Kansas City Current.
During a visit to a local barbecue spot, Ted learns from Rebecca that Richmond is establishing its own women's team and wants him to be its coach. While Ted initially considers declining the offer to remain close to his son, he begins to feel a pull toward coaching again. The British contingent enjoys their time in Kansas City, with Keeley expressing her fondness for the friendly atmosphere and Higgins gaining knowledge about the Negro Leagues at a local museum.
Meanwhile, Ted's desire to return to the pitch becomes evident as he subtly engages with Henry's soccer coach. A conversation with his mother, Dottie, about his late father's passion for his job inspires Ted to devise a plan that would allow him to coach again while remaining an active presence in his family's life.
The new season aims to recapture the "found family" vibe and emotional resonance that characterized the show's earlier seasons. While the first episode serves as a tribute to Sudeikis's hometown and introduces the new premise with lighter plot developments, it sets the stage for Ted to apply his coaching philosophy to a new team. The series will likely explore the challenges and adjustments required when coaching a women's team, especially one starting in a lower league with potentially fewer financial resources.
Episodes are reportedly around 42 minutes long, a more manageable runtime compared to some of the longer installments in the previous season. The performances, particularly Hannah Waddingham's portrayal of Rebecca, are highlighted as a strong point. The season premiere also introduces Tanya Reynolds as Alice Chilton, an assistant coach for the women's team, suggesting new character dynamics to explore.
The episode concludes with Ted contemplating a move to London for the coaching opportunity. The prospect is met with surprising enthusiasm from Henry via text message, hinting at a potential family shift. Critics express cautious optimism that the fourth season will learn from the perceived missteps of the third season, leveraging its new story and characters to revitalize the series.