‘Ted Lasso’ Season 4 Review – He Shoots, He Misses

It has been three years since Ted Lasso has been winning folks over with his comedic, nonsensical coaching of the game of football. The writing team led by Jason Sudeikis and Brett Goldstein put Ted into the biggest pickle of his life. Although the entire cast doesn’t return, Sudeikis is joined by Goldstein, Hannah Waddingham, and Juno Temple for the fourth season. The heart and soul we are used to seeing lost its muster in the latest season of Ted Lasso. 

What is Ted Lasso Season 4 about?

After some convincing from some old colleagues, Ted returns to Richmond. This time that challenge in front of him is his biggest yet, coaching a second division women’s football team. The team isn’t all put together, and Ted has to use his typical witty charm to build them into something special. As the season progresses, the team starts to take risks that they never saw coming, eventually paying off. 

‘Ted Lasso’ Season 4 Review

I wasn’t a massive fan of season 3, and heading into season 4, I was optimistic about what we would get. As we follow Ted Lasso back home and see this new life, here comes Rebecca Welton to plead with Ted to come coach the newly formed women’s AFC Richmond. It doesn’t take much for Ted to say yes and move across the country again, saddled next to his wife and son. However, the challenge for Ted will be getting these ladies to play as a cohesive unit. 

This is where the series falls short. I speak more about when talking about her character below, but Coach Chilton finds herself jealous of the bringing in of Ted to coach the team over here. Because of this, it sparks the butting of heads between the two. Although the arc works for Chilton, it could’ve better served the series had it been more in line with her as the head coach and Ted more of a mentor-type. There were too many loose ends that don’t add up here. 

I have many issues with Season 4 of Ted Lasso, but the shining star of the season is Tanya Reynolds as Coach Alice Chilton. It’s almost funny to watch Chilton struggle with watching Ted take the job she wanted, because as a viewer, you can’t help but wonder what a full season of Chilton in charge would look like. I get that was the point here, but man, this could’ve been fun with just Ted coming in and handing the keys over fast. 

We know that in the show’s history, it can pack an emotional wallop. For this season, it almost felt like it was lacking early on, but the development of Chilton’s character foresees this relatability that is unmatched. Reynold’s is incredible as Chilton. Every hard-hitting moment rests on her shoulders, and her ability to deliver was vital to make this season not a waste of our time. I would really love to see Reynolds in the awards conversation next Emmy cycle. 

It’s too bad the writers didn’t see the magic they had in the Chilton character. Because this season could’ve been on par with season 1. As things unfold, you start to realize this is more of another avenue to get Ted back on our screens than developing anything else. Between that and the Ted Lasso schtick almost feeling overdone, you are left wanting more. 

Is ‘Ted Lasso’ Season 4 Worth Watching?

If you are like me and have invested three seasons into Ted Lasso, you are going to watch this from start to finish. However, Ted Lasso Season 4 felt like a monumental step back from the series that once made us fall in love. I won’t say we didn’t “need” a new season, but I found myself not as invested in what Ted was bringing to the table. The uneven writing, story structure, and those first 4-5 episodes truly make you wonder if things at the writing table shifted. Ultimately, if this is the end, the ride ends on a miss. 

Ted Lasso Season 4 is streaming on Apple TV+.