By this point, “Ted Lasso” has entered the formula stage and is beginning its third and likely final season with a well-known strategy. That’s not so much a criticism of the Emmy-winning comedy as it is a quiet acceptance of the conclusion, with the program and its signature kindness having served its purpose and provided the ideal remedy for these Covid-19 times.
The new season begins with Nate (Nick Mohammed) leaving for West Ham United, a rival team, drawn by the seductive voice of Rupert (Anthony Head), the snarky former owner of AFC Richmond Rebecca (Hannah Waddingham).
Jokes about Richmond finishing 21st out of the 20 contenders in the league arise from Rupert’s inability to resist poking the knife in at the possibility of the team suffering. Even while Nate wants to win over the new manager, it’s obvious that his heart isn’t in it, which raises the possibility that more of his former coach’s upbeat attitude may have rubbed off than he would like to admit.
While Ted (Jason Sudeikis) aspires to follow the moral high ground, in contrast to his helpers, he is once again beset (quite tediously) by home problems with his distant family, which is the one blemish on his otherwise optimistic view.
The other main narrative point of the season is on a highly sought-after soccer player who possesses the kind of brilliant potential that can swiftly turn around a team’s fortunes. But there are risks associated with even that.
“Ted Lasso” is already a success story thanks to its unexpected journey from NBC commercials to a fish out of water TV program to a two-time Emmy winner. Perhaps more importantly, though, is that it has played a crucial role in establishing Apple TV+ as a competitive streaming option. Simple joys in the program can be found in many places, such as simply listening to Brett Goldstein’s Roy’s inventive use of profanity.
Nevertheless, the service has debuted a number of noteworthy films in its wake, such as “Severance” and, more recently, “Shrinking,” another comedy from the “Ted” creative team.
Thus, the dependence on “Ted Lasso” appears to be less obvious. While streaming and premium TV producers are lobbying for more limited runs, television tradition has shown that hits like “Succession,” “Barry,” and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” should be kept on the air for as long as feasible. (Although Sudeikis has said that this season will wrap up the plot, he has also alluded to potential spinoffs, which is undoubtedly welcome news for Apple.)
Apart than maybe proving that it can end as well as it began, “Ted Lasso” has nothing else to prove. Whatever the show’s methodology, one thing seems certain: its namesake will be grinning and spitting out strange comparisons till the very end.
The third season of “Ted Lasso” debuts on Apple TV+ on March 15. (Disclosure: Lowry’s spouse is employed by an Apple subsidiary.)
