Ted Lasso, the beloved Apple TV+ series, has reached its conclusion. Premiering in August 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the show quickly captured the hearts of viewers. Following the journey of Ted Lasso (Jason Sudeikis), an American college football coach brought to England to coach a football team, the series garnered praise for its exceptional cast and its uplifting, positive tone in a landscape dominated by anti-hero characters. It received consecutive Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Comedy Series.
Unlike many shows, Ted Lasso fans had been aware of the planned three-season story arc since the beginning of Season 2. This narrative arc reached its conclusion on May 31, 2023, nearly three years after the show's initial premiere. It coincided with the final episodes of other popular series like The Flash, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Succession, and Barry.
Given Ted Lasso's immense popularity, the anticipation for the finale was palpable. Saying goodbye is never easy, and the series beautifully addresses this sentiment. Here's a breakdown of Ted Lasso's final episode and its significance for the overall series.
Farewell to AFC Richmond
The final episode, building upon the cliffhanger from the previous episode, made it clear to audiences that Ted would be leaving AFC Richmond to return to his home in Kansas and be with his son. Many characters, especially Rebecca (Hannah Waddingham), struggle to accept Ted's departure. This serves as a meta-reference to the audience's emotional attachment to Ted Lasso as a character and the show itself.
Ted's unorthodox coaching methods have not only won over the players but also the fans of AFC Richmond. The team stands on the verge of winning the championship title, with their ultimate showdown against Manchester City, owned by Rebecca's ex-husband Rupert and the series' central antagonist. Through Ted's guidance, both on and off the field, AFC Richmond manages to defeat Manchester City, achieving a symbolic victory over their longstanding adversary.
Though they don't win the Premier Title Cup, AFC Richmond has come a long way from their struggles in Season 1 before Ted's arrival. The team has become highly profitable, leading Rebecca to sell a 49% share to the fans. Initially fueled by her animosity towards the team due to her ex-husband, Rebecca's perspective changes with Ted's influence, and she wants the fans to have a stake in the club.
Ted and Coach Beard (Brendan Hunt) board the plane, but Beard decides to stay behind, preferring to be with his on-again/off-again girlfriend, Jane (Phoebe Walsh). As established in the previous episode, Beard feels a deep sense of loyalty towards Ted, who stood by him during his struggle with drug addiction. Ted reassures Beard that he is not abandoning him and encourages him to stay, bidding farewell and revealing Beard's first name as Willis. Ted flies back to Kansas alone, saying goodbye to all the people he has met. Goodbyes may be difficult, but the memories and the impact of individuals endure.
Flash Forward
As Ted departs, a montage unfolds, updating viewers on the lives of various characters. Rebecca, after purchasing a ticket to bid farewell to Ted, encounters the man she met in Amsterdam and his young daughter. Subsequent flash-forwards reveal them as a couple, resolving the subplot of Rebecca finding a family. While viewers may have hoped for Rebecca to be with Ted or Sam, the series playfully explores different possibilities. The Ted/Rebecca dynamic is teased earlier in the episode, but it becomes evident that Ted, Coach Beard, and Jane spent the night elsewhere due
to a gas leak in their neighborhood. Meanwhile, Sam fulfills his dreams by opening a successful restaurant and representing the Nigerian football team.
The central love triangle involving Roy Kent (Brett Goldstein), Keeley Jones (Juno Temple), and Jamie Tart (Phil Dunster) finds resolution early in the episode. Keeley decides not to choose either man, recognizing their need for personal growth. In the flash-forward, Keeley manages her thriving company, KBPR, and proposes the creation of a women's football team in Richmond. Jamie reconciles with his father, who seeks help for his drinking problem while in rehab.
Finally, Roy Kent assumes the role of AFC Richmond's manager. He has also become more open and has fully embraced his membership in the Diamond Dogs club. Additionally, Roy starts attending therapy sessions with Dr. Sharon (Sarah Niles), who now serves as the Head of Mental Health for AFC Richmond. While fans may have desired a romantic conclusion for one of the couples, the series emphasizes the significance of their friendships in fostering personal growth.
Nate (Nick Mohammad) reconciles with his family and regains his previous position alongside Roy and Coach Beard. Trent Crimm (James Lance) publishes his book, accepting Ted's suggestions to change the title from "The Lasso Way" to "The Richmond Way." As Ted mentions, the show was never solely about him but encompassed so much more.
Higgins (Jeremy Swift) hosts a grand cookout, attended by many AFC Richmond players and their loved ones. Coach Beard and Jane finally tie the knot at Stonehenge, surrounded by various members of the team. The episode then transitions to Ted waking up on the plane. He returns to Kansas and begins coaching his son's soccer team.
Interpreting the Ending
Ted waking up after the montage might lead some viewers to question if everything they witnessed was a dream. While this interpretation could provide closure and happy endings for everyone, revealing it all as a dream would be a divisive narrative device. Moreover, Ted Lasso doesn't necessitate such a twist. The series has always maintained an uplifting and positive tone, which resonated with audiences from the start. It can afford to grant its characters a happy ending since that was the ultimate destination it had been building towards.
One might argue that the scene with Coach Beard is the most far-fetched, especially considering Ted's absence from Beard's wedding. However, the finale's open-ended nature allows for individual interpretation. This approach leaves room for potential spin-off series focused on specific characters, following the flash-forwards, or even suggesting it was all within Ted's imagination. Alternatively, if no spin-offs materialize, viewers were at least given a glimpse into the contented lives of the characters they grew to love over 34 episodes.
The choice of Cat Stevens' "Father and Son" as the final song is fitting. Ted's relationship with his son Henry has been a defining element throughout the series. The lyrics hold multiple meanings, with Ted embodying both the son and the father in the song. He acknowledges the necessity of departing, but he has also played the role of a father figure, guiding his team towards personal growth. The song's bittersweet nature mirrors the viewers' sentiments as they bid farewell to Ted Lasso.
The Essence of Ted Lasso
A remarkable series finale reinforces the overarching theme and message of the show. It encapsulates what the story has been building towards and the fundamental ideas conveyed throughout. From the beginning, Ted Lasso's objective has been to help his players become the best versions of themselves on and off the field. Season 3 exemplifies this, showcasing the team's profound growth and the personal development of characters like Trent Crimm, Rebecca, Nate, Keeley, and Roy, thanks to Ted's presence in their lives.
Ted Lasso's mission is accomplished, similar to Mary Poppins, and it is time for him to move on. However, Ted himself has not remained unaffected by the people he encountered at AFC Richmond. He has become more emotionally open, comfortable expressing his feelings, and returning to Kansas marks his transformation, akin to Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. Ted, too, has changed as a person. The pivotal question of whether people can change for the better lies at the heart of the series. Higgins provides the answer that resonates as the overall mission statement: "Human beings are never going to be perfect...The best we can do is keep asking for help and accepting it when you can. If you keep doing that, you will always be moving towards better."
Ted Lasso is a testament to the power of community or a team to effect change in individuals. No one is alone in this journey. All it takes is the willingness to seek help and to spread kindness, which will eventually be reciprocated as long as one believes in it.
