Ted Lasso season 4 review: a match-winning display from the popular Apple TV show that proves an enforced break can be a good thing, even if it ships the odd own goal

Light spoilers follow for Ted Lasso season 4 episodes 1 to 4.

<![CDATA[ <article> <p><strong>Light spoilers follow for </strong><em><strong>Ted Lasso</strong></em><strong> season 4 episodes 1 to 4.</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.techradar.com/tag/ted-lasso">Ted Lasso</a> is back — and so, too, is <a href="https://www.techradar.com/streaming/apple-tv-plus">Apple TV</a>’s hugely popular sports comedy-drama. Three years after the final whistle was seemingly blown on the hit show, it returns not just as a continuation of where its third season left off, but also as a narrative and character-based evolution by way of a squad rebuild.</p><p>Even with its new line-up and the multi-year gap between seasons, though, <a href="https://techradar.com/tag/ted-lasso-season-4"><em>Ted Lasso</em> season 4</a> is a triumphant return to winning ways for the fan-favorite series — and I say that as someone who didn't dislike its divisive third season as many others did.</p><div style="min-height: 250px;"> <div class="kwizly-quiz kwizly-Oaj6pX"></div> </div> <script src="https://kwizly.com/embed/Oaj6pX.js" async></script><h2 id="home-is-where-the-heart-is">Home is where the heart is</h2><figure class="van-image-figure inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1920px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="hULH6uc69JBEfxCvY9bYrF" name="ted-lasso-season-4-ted-michelle" alt="Ted and Michelle sitting on bleacher seating at Henry's soccer game in Ted Lasso season 4" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hULH6uc69JBEfxCvY9bYrF.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="1920" height="1080" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">Season 4 opens with Ted having to make a big life choice </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Apple TV)</span></figcaption></figure><p>Three years have passed since Ted (Jason Sudeikis) ended his AFC Richmond journey with the men's team and returned to Kansas to spend more time with his son Henry (Grant Feely). When season 4 reunites us with the eponymous soccer coach, we learn he's given up on the game entirely and now works as the assistant manager of a local grocery store.</p><p>A surprise visit from old friends — Richmond owner Rebecca Welton (Hannah Waddingham), Director of Football Operations Leslie Higgins (Jeremy Swift), and Keeley Jones (Juno Temple), now serving as chief marketing officer for the club's new women's division — soon has Ted questioning his current lot in life, though.</p><div><blockquote><p>Ted Lasso season 4 is a triumphant return to winning ways</p></blockquote></div><p>The reason? They want him to manage Richmond's newly founded women's team, work the same magic that he did with their male counterparts, and establish a similar culture of excellence that'll last well past his tenure in the dugout.</p><figure class="van-image-figure inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1920px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="SaqJrTrLHcFBSyCzKHMaDb" name="ted-lasso-season-4" alt="Hannah Waddingham (Rebecca Welton), Juno Temple (Keeley Jones) and Jeremy Swift (Leslie Higgins) looking at Jason Sudeikis (Ted Lasso) around a diner table" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SaqJrTrLHcFBSyCzKHMaDb.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="1920" height="1080" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">Higgins, Rebecca, and Keeley didn't just travel all that way for Kansas City's famous barbeque... </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Apple TV+)</span></figcaption></figure><p>Of course, this being the latest chapter of the beloved Apple TV show, it's not a spoiler to reveal that an at-first reluctant Ted eventually accepts their offer. After all, it would be an incredibly short season if he didn't.</p><div><blockquote><p>This season's premiere feels like a largely superfluous prologue to the main event</p></blockquote></div><p>Nevertheless, although this is a significant, life-changing choice for Ted, episode 1 spends far too much time grappling with the proposal laid at his feet — so much so, in fact, that I worried it would derail the series' return before it had really begun.</p><p>Indeed, with the bulk of episode 1's runtime spent on exploring Ted's inner struggle before its inevitable resolution, this season's premiere feels like a largely superfluous prologue to the main event of Ted actually becoming a Richmond native once more.</p><figure class="van-image-figure inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1920px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="bT8bNK9LBjEbcgvdJ3TwvF" name="ted-lasso-season-4-higgins-rebeeca-keeley-ted" alt="Higgins, Rebecca, Keely, and Ted celebrating a goal at a US women's soccer match in Ted Lasso season 4" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bT8bNK9LBjEbcgvdJ3TwvF.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="1920" height="1080" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">Higgins, Rebecca, Keeley, and Ted take in a US women's soccer match </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Apple TV)</span></figcaption></figure><p>That's not to say this narrative set-up isn't necessary, because it's the biggest decision Ted has faced since he left Richmond in the first place. Showing him wrestle with himself over whether he should take charge of Richmond's women's team, and deal with his loved ones' not-so-subtle nudges to do so, then, is a worthy storytelling exercise.</p><p>Nonetheless, an insightful subplot where Higgins learns about the Negro Baseball Leagues and Ted's inner conflict notwithstanding, I couldn't help but feel that season 4 episode 1's story could've been condensed and avoided the extraneous plot filler that drags out his prospective homecoming.</p><h2 id="we-re-not-in-kansas-anymore">We're not in Kansas anymore</h2><figure class="van-image-figure inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1584px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="fzWuVkH57UXBPeK9v7pHKU" name="ted-lasso-season-4" alt="Ted Lasso standing in the AFC Richmond's men's locker room in Ted Lasso season 4" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fzWuVkH57UXBPeK9v7pHKU.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="1584" height="891" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">Welcome back, coach </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Apple TV)</span></figcaption></figure><p>Once season 4 properly gets underway in its second episode, though, it's like the show has never been away, nor missed a beat. Indeed, it effortlessly slips back into the purposeful stride that underpinned its first two electrifying seasons and parts of its third — again, a season I still largely enjoyed.</p><div><blockquote><p>Once season 4 properly gets underway... it effortlessly slips back into the purposeful stride that underpinned its first two electrifying seasons</p></blockquote></div><p>There's a satisfying air of familiarity as Ted — and, by proxy, the audience — reunites with the pillars of the AFC Richmond community, too. Rebecca, Keeley, and Higgins aside, other well-known faces like Roy Kent (Brett Goldstein) and Coach Beard (Brendan Hunt) welcome us and Ted back in typically eccentric fashion, and further emphasize the continuity between the show's past and its latest chapter.</p><figure class="van-image-figure inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1533px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.23%;"><img id="YLqsJSF46BXYcjqQPok9gW" name="ted-lasso-season-4-roy" alt="Brett Goldstein's Roy Kent sitting at a desk with hands clasped in Ted Lasso season 4" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YLqsJSF46BXYcjqQPok9gW.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="1533" height="862" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">Roy Kent is one of the series' many fixtures who returns for its fourth season </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Apple TV)</span></figcaption></figure><p>By virtue of Ted managing Richmond Women, season 4 also represents a new era for the acclaimed series. With that comes a whole line-up of fresh faces — the first of which we're introduced to is diligent but emotionally cold soccer coach Alice Chilton (Tanya Reynolds).</p><div><blockquote><p>It soon becomes clear that Alice is... a fascinatingly complex and likeable individual in her own right</p></blockquote></div><p>Initially resentful of Ted for pipping her to the top job and Rebecca for not even considering a woman for said position, Alice starts out as a — and this'll sound harsher than intended — dollar store Roy Kent. Or, rather, the season 1 version of Kent, who was an antagonistic figure whose sole purpose was to rail against Ted's cheery demeanor.</p><figure class="van-image-figure inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1600px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="zBciAhgbgVhkotj8iqRopa" name="ted-lasso-season-4-coach-beard-alice" alt="Alice Chilton giving Coach Beard some side-eye in Ted Lasso season 4" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zBciAhgbgVhkotj8iqRopa.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="1600" height="900" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">Coach Beard (left) and Ted are joined on the staff roster by player-turned-coach Alice (right) </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Apple TV)</span></figcaption></figure><p>Thankfully, it soon becomes clear that Alice isn't a Kent knock-off, but a fascinatingly complex and likeable individual in her own right. She also not only comes around to respecting Ted, but also quickly embeds herself as an integral cog in a new-look, eccentric triumvirate alongside Ted and Coach Beard, as well as a fully-formed foil to this established intrepid duo.</p><p>Clearly, Ted's capacity to thaw even the iciest of exteriors has no limits, and I'm eager to see how Richmond Women's primary coaching team collectively evolves throughout season 4 amid myriad issues that'll come their way.</p><h2 id="new-team-new-problems">New team, new problems</h2><figure class="van-image-figure inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1920px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="E2HYYB6xcjyKZyi8TGYvcW" name="ted-lasso-season-4-boots" alt="Jude Mack's Boots with her arms crossed in Ted Lasso season 4" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/E2HYYB6xcjyKZyi8TGYvcW.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="1920" height="1080" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">Katy 'Boots' Quinn will become many viewers' favorite character </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Apple TV)</span></figcaption></figure><p>And fall their way, those problems most certainly do.</p><div><blockquote><p>Jude Mack's Katy 'Boots' Quinn is easily the highlight of this season's new additions</p></blockquote></div><p>Indeed, season 4 metes out its share of obstacles, starting with a goal-scoring crisis after Richmond Women's main strikers are ruled out for the season. Meanwhile, in a far cry from their time in charge of the men's team, Ted and Beard no longer have free rein to walk into the locker room whenever they please — an obvious boundary that becomes a recurring, comedic point of contention for all concerned. Ted also finds himself in plenty of awkward one-on-one chats with his new squad, most notably with zany, slightly unhinged goalkeeper Katy 'Boots' Quinn (Jude Mack), who's easily the highlight of this season's new additions.</p><figure class="van-image-figure inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1920px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="YmThcBPwS2NMeb8CFX84kW" name="ted-lasso-season-4-gemma" alt="Abbie Hern's Gemma wearing a soccer outfit and jacket, and carrying a sports bag, in Ted Lasso season 4" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YmThcBPwS2NMeb8CFX84kW.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="1920" height="1080" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">Gemma, seen here after a local five-a-side game, is tapped to become Richmond Women's new striker </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Apple TV)</span></figcaption></figure><p>'Boots' is far from the only unique personality in the Richmond Women squad. </p><p>We don't get to meet the vast majority of this rambunctious rabble until episode 3 but, in its follow-up, they manage to do the impossible: make Ted lose his cool and lay down the law amid dressing room splits. Ultimately, though, they're an instantly lovable collection of characters with distinct quirks and personal problems that'll inform their individual character journeys, and I get the impression that viewers will be just as captivated by this group — and their various trials and tribulations — as they were by the men’s team.</p><div><blockquote><p>Ted Lasso tackles its heavy real-world issues head-on</p></blockquote></div><p>Off-the-field challenges also permeate many of season 4's early subplots, many of which give major supporting characters in Waddingham's Rebecca and Temple's Keeley a stage on which to shine.</p><p>From gender inequality and pregnancy and motherhood to systemic underfunding and the media coverage gap, <em>Ted Lasso</em> tackles these heavy real-world issues head-on. That's to be expected, but it's nevertheless pleasing to see the show do so with warmth, empathy, and the occasional slice of its trademark irreverent humor. </p><figure class="van-image-figure inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1920px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="L3ct6YYcwMfAbhMe8YLkYW" name="ted-lasso-season-4-lizzie" alt="Faye Marsay's Lizzie smiling and holding a sports bag in Ted Lasso season 4" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/L3ct6YYcwMfAbhMe8YLkYW.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="1920" height="1080" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">Lizzie will have to navigate playing for Richmond and being a mom in season 4 </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Apple TV)</span></figcaption></figure><p>On the whole, <em>Ted Lasso</em> season 4’s opening four episodes handle their secondary storylines reasonably well. However, a few subplots lean into comedy at the expense of substance and subsequently feel a little shallow due to their flippant execution.</p><p>Take episode 2, where Rebecca grapples with perceptions that she isn't much of a feminist. It's a subplot that highlights Waddingham's comedic timing and dramatic range, but falters somewhat by prioritizing quick laughs over meaningful narrative resolution, thereby coming across as unbalanced.</p><p>The other major misfire in episodes 1 to 4 is Goldstein's Kent.</p><p>His presence remains vital to the series, but he feels oddly overused in a season that has moved away from Richmond's men's team. Of more concern is how the show worryingly appears to be turning his character into a caricature of his signature gruffness. Pair that with his recycled 'will they, won't they' subplot with Keeley — an eye-rolling dance that's run its course — and Roy's evolution feels increasingly sidelined in favor of easy gags. Hopefully, a finer balance will be struck between the Kent of old and his new persona in chapters to come.</p><h2 id="my-verdict">My verdict</h2><div class="youtube-video" data-nosnippet ><div class="video-aspect-box"><iframe data-lazy-priority="low" data-lazy-src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/GACU1N9hg5o" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div><p>Noteworthy flaws in <em>Ted Lasso</em> season 4's early episodes aside, it's great to see this wonderfully silly, optimistic, cosy comfort show back on the air. </p><p>There was understandable scepticism when <a href="https://www.techradar.com/streaming/apple-tv-plus/believe-it-baby-ted-lasso-season-4-is-officially-in-development-for-apple-tv-and-jason-sudeikis-will-reprise-his-role-as-the-titular-soccer-coach"><em>Ted Lasso</em> season 4 was officially announced</a>, with plenty of 'cash-grab' and 'who asked for this?' murmurings in the wake of what felt like a definitive finale.</p><p>As heart-soaring returns go, though, <em>Ted Lasso</em>'s comeback delivers a match-winning performance in its first half, rich in both laugh-out-loud moments and striking emotional notes. Keep up this kind of form, and few will argue against another trophy-laden season of television.</p><p><a href="https://www.techradar.com/streaming/apple-tv-plus/what-is-the-release-date-for-ted-lasso-season-4-episode-1-on-apple-tv"><em>Ted Lasso season 4 episode 1 is out now on Apple TV</em></a><em>. New chapters air weekly.</em></p> </article> ]]>