Ted Lasso Season 3 is Even Less About Football, Here's Why That's a Good Thing

The forthcoming finale seems poised to alleviate, at least in part, some of the shortcomings of Season 3. As Ted Lasso continues to enjoy popular acclaim, a growing faction of fans have raised concerns regarding the course of the ongoing season. They argue that the overwrought narratives introduced in this season are doing a disservice to the characters we've come to adore in the initial two seasons.

Unfathomably, the showrunners decided to make episodes longer in Season 3, causing a noticeable thinning of content as the focus shifted from football to the individual story arcs of some characters. Yet, this shift isn't inherently bad.

Ted Lasso, a show centred around England's Premier League, has noticeably decreased its football content in Season 3. Instead, the narrative spends more time exploring Keeley's PR firm and Rebecca's quest for happiness. While these characters are fan favourites, audiences have begun expressing fatigue over their underdeveloped narratives, asserting that the show was more engaging when it was primarily about football.

Still, it's hard to dispute that Ted Lasso's appeal would not have reached such heights if it were merely about players kicking a ball around, devoid of characters that grow and evolve as people from episode to episode.

This is precisely what the writers of Ted Lasso are endeavouring to achieve this season - offering depth to supporting characters like Keeley, Rebecca, Nate, and Trent. They're depicted as authentic individuals whose lives extend beyond their interactions with Ted. Occasionally, characters need to exist independently of the protagonist, as it infuses the show with a more realistic and genuine feel.

Nevertheless, the writers fell short in their attempts to make these standalone narratives compelling for the audience. Watching Keeley try desperately to save her PR firm can quickly become a chore when it lacks any relevance whatsoever to the main storyline.

Hopefully, the writers heed audience feedback if(when) they work on Season 4, as viewers didn't much enjoy being taken on endless supporting character exploration side quests in a show that's supposed to be about football.

Ted Lasso Season 3 Episode 12 will arrive on Apple TV + on 31 May 2023.