Ted Lasso Season 3 Premiere Review: ‘It’s Just Poopy, Let It Flow’
*SPOILERS AHEAD* The first episode of Ted Lasso‘s season three dropped delightfully earlier than expected Tuesday night (March 14). Picking up where we left off, things seem to be falling apart on and off the pitch for the Greyhounds. But that doesn’t stop any of our favorite characters from trying.
Ted (Jason Sudeikis) spent time with his son Henry (Gus Turner) for six weeks, as promised. It’s apparent that Ted is still in love with his ex-wife, Michelle (Andrea Anders). Happily, Ted has a support system, including Dr. Fieldstone (Sarah Niles).
Ted wonders why he’s still coaching AFC Richmond and feels guilty about being so far away from his son. This is a constant cycle that the coach is stuck in. But, we are all rooting for Ted to pull through. Not only for himself but for everyone that leans on him, too. After all, Ted Lasso doesn’t quit things, and “Doubt can only be removed by action.”
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While Ted juggles his personal issues, the team is getting pummeled left and right. From articles judging where they stand, to the opinions of pundits, everyone is feeling the ridicule and stress. Rebecca (Hannah Waddingham) is especially feeling the pressure. She’s obsessed with her ex-husband Rupert (Anthony Head). As of last season, he is her main competition since he bought West Ham United. Consumed by understandably wanting to win against her repulsive ex, Rebecca wants nothing more than to feel Ted Lasso fighting in her corner.
You can’t talk about West Ham without mentioning their new coach, Nate Shelley (Nick Mohammed). Coach Shelley is as resentful as ever and consumed by what others think of him online — especially being called “Wonder Kid.” With Nate’s “tactical super-brain” leading Rupert’s team, we can’t tell just yet if his insecurity will make him a serious threat to Richmond. Rupert, a master manipulator, is encouraging Nate’s worst impulses. Nate is coming in hot this season, belittling his players at practice and throwing public insults at his old boss, Ted.
Keeley’s (Juno Temple) PR firm seems to have consumed her now that it’s taken off. So much so, that her relationship with Roy (Brett Goldstein) was on the back burner. The couple, who have dated for a year, are both going through major career changes, but they’ve always made time for each other. There was never a lack of love between Keeley and Roy, although Jamie (Phil Dunster) did profess his love for her at the end of the second season, which may pose a problem moving forward.
As we all know Ted loves his metaphors, so what better way to show his team to ignore all the s—, than to literally put them in the middle of it? Or rather, It? Refrencing the Stephen King classic, he takes the team down to the sewers for a pungent pep talk. He reminds the team that they will be just fine as long as they stay connected and lean on each other’s strengths and wisdom. As Jamie delightfully puts it in his distinctive accent, “It’s just poopy. Let it flow.” And just like that, Team Lasso is all on board.
As the coaches of Richmond and West Ham hold press conferences at their respective club offices, reporters instigate the tension between the two. A new reporter for the Independent, Marcus Adebayo (Marcus Onilude), has replaced Trent Crimm (James Lance) after he was fired. Asking the hard-hitting questions as reporters from the Independent do, Marcus asks Ted to give his opinion on “Nate the Great.” Sticking true to his character, even in these moments, Ted uses his great sense of humor to lighten up the mood and keep it classy. He even addresses his panic attacks, which he hilariously compares to having “more psychotic episodes than Twin Peaks.”
The season opener left us feeling inspired to never give up, no matter how hard life gets. Even if your former assistant coach works for another team, is there really any reason why they can’t be friends? Or if life gets so busy, can you make the time for the ones you love? For every character’s struggles, where there is a will, there is a way.
The first episode of Ted Lasso‘s season three is now streaming on AppleTV+, with new episodes dropping weekly.
'Ted Lasso' Season 3 Character Guide
