5 Reasons Ted Lasso Season 3 Isn't Living Up to the Hype
It feels like the writers themselves don't know where the season finale is going.
Let's clarify, Ted Lasso remains an engaging show, and many of its characters are still a joy to watch. The series consistently strikes a balance between humour and drama.
However, this doesn't negate the existing issues. With season 3 being the final one, these problems have become significant hurdles, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the series. Here are some of them:
5. Rebecca has been demoted from being a main character
Remember Rebecca in the first season? A woman scarred by an abusive marriage and motivated by revenge. Recall her evolution in season 2? She began to support AFC Richmond and confront past traumas.
Season 3 initially paid a lot of attention to Rebecca: her resentment toward Rupert got a second wind, she began contemplating having a child, and went on a trip to Amsterdam, signalling a need to move forward. Yet, as the season nears its end, she seems to be running in place with little, if any, character development.
4. Ted is no longer a good coach
The title character's role seems to have been relegated to dealing with personal issues. While it's true that Ted's influence transformed AFC Richmond into a tight-knit team, it's odd to see the club progress with minimal intervention from the head coach.
3. Emphasis on many unrelated stories
While each arc is intriguing in its own right, they don't contribute to the main narrative. Season 3 seems to comprise mostly disjointed storylines.
Keeley's role within AFC Richmond is diminished, making her storyline feel out of place. Nate's weak connection to his former club renders his arc uninteresting to many. These are just two examples among many.
2. New characters hindering the development of the old ones
Compounding the previous issue is the fact that the show has added a host of new characters whose story arcs are now sidelining those of the established ones. For instance, why introduce Jack as a new antagonist when we already have Rupert as a complex and affluent adversary?
1. Football is no longer the main setting
Association football once served as an essential backdrop that drove character development. Football was life. It used to be a thrill to support AFC Richmond as it broke into the Premier League, but now the matches seem to take a backseat.
Here's hoping that the remaining three episodes manage to successfully juggle all these diverging arcs and deliver a satisfying finale.
The next episode is to be released on 17 May.