Reviewed by Colin Jacobson (September 9, 2024)
2020’s Apple+ series Ted Lasso debuted to immediate success. It continued that trend with 2021’s Season Two.
After a delay, Ted Lasso wrapped with Season Three in 2023. A package called Ted Lasso: The Richmond Way presents all three years of the series in one set.
Though not available individually, I figured it would work best to examine each season on its own, so this review will look at Season Three’s 12 episodes.
Smells Like Mean Spirit: “The newly promoted AFC Richmond faces mockery as pundits predict the club will finish dead last this season.”
While I thought Season One worked swimmingly, S2 fared much less well. I got the feeling the Lasso crew came up with enough content for a single year and then ran out of steam.
Not that I actively disliked S2. However, I got the impression those behind the series came up with enough content for one season and struggled after that.
I don’t know where S3 will go, but “Spirit” manages to get things off to a fairly positive start. Too much of S2 avoided the sporting content and leaned toward melodrama, a choice that lost the series’ charm.
At least based on “Spirit”, S3 seems like it might get back on track. Ted feels more genuine than the S2 dude who just spouted pop culture references, and the push toward the team’s endeavors feels more organic.
After the mediocrity of S2, I feel reluctant to say S3 will bounce back fully, and I dislike the contrived choice to make Nate (Nick Mohammed) a jerk. Still, at least “Spirit” feels closer to S1 than S2 and it leaves me curious to see where matters go from here.
(I Don’t Want to Go to) Chelsea: “News of a top player looking to move to London (Maximilian Osinski) sends the English clubs into a frenzy. Richmond plays its first game back in the Premier League.”
Though that synopsis implies a strong focus on the football side of matters, interpersonal elements become more important. This occurs mainly due to the relationship troubles between Roy Kent (Brett Goldstein) and Keeley Jones (Juno Temple).
As such, we get more of a melodramatic lean than I’d like. Still, the episode feels looser than what we got in S2, so I feel as though it continues S3’s moderate rebound.
4-5-1: “Richmond adjusts to an exciting change, but Jamie (Phil Dunster) has reservations. Ted learns there's something new going on back in Kansas as well.”
At the episode’s start, we get a revelation about the personal life of Colin Hughes (Billy Harris), one of the series’ tertiary characters. This all feels like an excuse to explore homosexuality in the sporting world.
Important topic? Sure. Does it feel artificial here? Definitely.
Other aspects of “4-5-1” lean toward contrivances. The introduction of Zava just exists as a plot device, and we get a twist that involves team owner Rebecca Welton (Hannah Waddingham).
All this overwhelms the episode. While it musters some amusement, the narrative choices make this a disappointing episode.
Big Week: “Everyone's feeling the pressure as Richmond gears up to play West Ham. Ted is reunited with an old friend.”
After the iffy “4-5-1”, “Week” manages to allow matters to bounce back somewhat. I like that it finally starts to rehumanize Nate and also that it presents what normally would become a season-capping athletic confrontation so early in the year.
That becomes especially true when the match follows an unexpected path. “Week” turns into a nice rebound episode.
Signs: “With their season in a tailspin, Richmond tries to right the ship against mighty Manchester City. Off the pitch, everyone faces their own setbacks.”
That last element makes “Signs” a bit spottier than the prior show, though not bad. “Signs” follows some fairly predictable trends but it avoids the drearier moments that mar the series at times, so it winds up as a decent show.
Sunflowers: “A friendly match takes the team to Amsterdam, where one night out unlocks truths for many.”
That synopsis implies a lot of those dreary melodramatic moments I alluded to in the last discussion. And you know what? “Sunflowers” goes down some of those paths.
Indeed, the entire episode feels more than a little contrived, especially since the visit to Amsterdam comes across as a clumsy stab to shake up matters, kind of like when The Brady Bunch went to Hawaii. “Sunflowers” doesn’t flop – and it accurately depicts how out of control Dutch bicyclists are – but it doesn’t really satisfy.
The Strings That Bind Us: “The Greyhounds try a new strategy that has everyone thinking outside the box and Sam (Toheeb Jimoh) prepares to host a VIP guest (Nonso Anozie) at Ola's.”
The aspects of “Strings” that stick with athletic domains work fairly well, though the scenes in which the players must cooperate due to strings tied to their dicks seems too cartoony. Unfortunately, the character beats off of the pitch come across as forced and less than convincing.
We’ll Always Have Paris: “While watching Henry, Ted fights the urge to spiral when Michelle (Andrea Anders) and Dr. Jacob (Mike O'Gorman) go on a romantic trip. An online leak has massive implications for Keeley.”
If not clear from that synopsis, personal matters dominate “Paris”. If not clear from prior discussions, I tend to find myself less than enchanted with episodes that focus on those areas.
Well, ever since Season One, at least, as that package of programs handled the off-the-pitch elements just fine. Lasso only really started to lean goopy once we hit S2, and S3 hasn’t course-corrected as much as I’d like.
This leaves “Paris” as a spotty show. It tries too hard to pull heartstrings and tends to drag.
La Locker Room Aux Folles: “Colin and Isaac's (Kola Bokinni) friendship is tested. Roy is asked to do a press conference.”
At least “Folles” manages to emphasize the team’s progress rather than the dull relationship domains. However, we reach the predictable outcome of Colin’s previously-discussed personal life, a facet that feels trite. While better than the flat “Paris”, “Folles” still keeps us from the series’ stronger side.
International Break: “While some of the Greyhounds head home to play for their countries in international matches, Edwin Akufo (Sam Richardson) brings a business proposal to Rebecca.”
With only three shows left in the season – and in the series - Lasso goes “super-size”. The episodes averaged a little more than 30 minutes back in S1, but all of the remaining programs shoot past the 60-minute mark.
At least in the case of “Break”, the series uses the time reasonably well. The return of the great Sam Richardson helps, especially because “Break” allows him to use his comedic chops better than during his prior appearance.
Some of the drearier melodrama emerges along the way. Nonetheless, “Break” becomes one of S3’s better shows and gives me optimism the series will end on a high note.
Mom City: “An unexpected guest (Becky Ann Baker) has Ted on edge. When Richmond travels to Manchester for a big match, Roy and Keeley become concerned about Jamie.”
That “unexpected guest” means Ted’s mom, and she adds an interesting dynamic to the episode. We also meet a depressed Jamie’s mother (Leanne Best), a less compelling arc.
Despite some questionable choices, the focus on mothers brings some good moments. The episode avoids too much dreary melodrama and shows decent heart.
So Long, Farewell: “AFC Richmond plays its final match of the season against West Ham.”
Season Three – and the series as a whole – finishes with the most super-sized of super-size episodes, as “Farewell” zooms a little past the 75-minute point. While I’ve not felt wild about the “running time creep” of Seasons Two and Three in general – since the tightness of S1 worked in its favor – I can’t fault the finale for its extended length.
Should one expect anything challenging from “Farewell”? No – it touches on all the anticipated pulls of heartstrings.
But I also don’t fault Lasso for this, as it’s not an edgy series and a gritty or dark finale would feel wrong. While S3 seemed spotty, “Farewell” ends matters on a largely satisfying note.
