Overrated or Overhyped? 5 Reasons Why Ted Lasso Season 3 Didn't Stick the Landing

Arriving at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ted Lasso was a real balm for the souls of viewers, thanks to its unusual concept, inspiring stories, and optimistic characters.

But now, just one episode away from the Season 3 finale, many fans find themselves disappointed about how the show has progressed through the third season.

Here are five reasons why Ted Lasso Season 3 feels so overrated.

5. Weak antagonists

One of Ted Lasso's main messages is that there are no evil people and that a person's bad actions are caused by their trauma and complexes, which is why every character has room to grow and become a better version of themselves. While this message is obviously sweet and therapeutic, it also undermines the source of conflict within the story and makes the antagonists appear weak and lacking motivation.

In Season 3, we see Nate and even Rupert come close to almost complete redemption, which neutralizes the story's conflict and makes the finale somewhat unsatisfying.

4. Problematic sources of drama

In the third season, we learn that Ted's ex-wife Michelle is dating their former marriage counselor. This storyline is already problematic, as it normalizes unethical relationships between professionals and their clients, and some fans argue that the drama within it is sort of cheap, as Ted could've been given a different, more compelling scenario to overcome his relationship breakdown.

3. Unnecessary and unrelated subplots

Because the episodes in Season 3 are much longer than Seasons 1 and 2, there are too many unnecessary subplots following a huge number of characters, and the story doesn't pay enough attention to Ted Lasso and his team. These storylines are unconnected, making the whole narrative feel incohesive. What's more, the writers are now rushing to complete each of these separate stories in the little time that is left, and the result will probably be disappointing.

2. Too much drama, too little soccer

Soccer and AFC Richmond (the club itself, rather than individual troubles of its members) are no longer the focus of the show. Fair enough, the first two seasons also explored the characters' emotional lives, but their professional struggles were foregrounded and used as the narrative's driving force.

Season 3 puts much emphasis on drama, and the writers seem to have forgotten that Ted Lasso once used to be a sports comedy-drama.

1. Ted Lasso just ran out of steam?

Whether it has to do with creator Bill Lawrence stepping aside to focus on his other project, Shrinking, or the whole creative team simply running out of ideas, it looks like Ted Lasso is going nowhere in its third season. The beloved series lost some of its strongest points in its last chapter, and fans are fearful that the finale will leave them with a bitter aftertaste.

The last episode of Ted Lasso Season 3 will air on May 31, 2023.