TL;DR – A beautiful penultimate episode, full of touching moments and set up towards the end.

Disclosure – I paid for the Apple TV+ service that viewed this episode.

Ted Lasso Review –

If there has been one show that has constantly broken my heart while being ultimately uplifting, it has been Ted Lasso. After a triumphant First and Second season, the Third and probably/possibly/maybe final season has still been hitting it out of the park. But as we draw to the penultimate episode, there is a fear not of what has come but of whether it could stick the landing after everything that has happened so far.   

So to set the scene, Ted (Jason Sudeikis) and the team are on a 15-match winning streak, so his morning walk through the neighbourhood had a certain bounce in his step. That is until he comes to a bus stop and suddenly discovers his mum (Becky Ann Baker) sitting there. She comes with her stories which is a blast to everyone else, but also memories of the past for Ted. While the team gets ready for their big match against Manchester United, there is a feeling of excitement, but for Jamie Tartt (Phil Dunster), there is a collapse of confidence on the eve of his most significant match. Now from here, we will be looking at the episode as a whole, so there will be some [SPOILERS] ahead.         

This week is a crossroads for many of the characters. For Jamie, there is the separation he feels from parts of his family that comes rushing back when he comes home to Manchester. He hurts in his soul, but he can’t articulate why because of the damage his father did. For someone confident to a fault to hit rock bottom is hard to see. It was interesting to see the juxtaposition between his mother (Leanne Best) and father (Kieran O’Brien). But also how Roy Kent (Brett Goldstein) and Keeley Jones (Juno Temple) stepped up to help a friend even with all their history. Going home is never easy, even when you didn’t punch your father out the last time you saw him [he deserved it, by the way].

Much like other characters of past seasons, we have seen Nate’s (Nick Mohammed) redemption arc in the back half of the season. First, finding confidence in himself and then surrounding himself with a proper support mechanism that he unfortunately never got with Ted. He also finds the push he needs from the people who love him, even if it is his girlfriend Jade (Edyta Budnik) getting fired because he needs it. At its heart, this is a show about people finding the best version of themselves, and Nate needed to move away from Richmond to find himself. Interestingly, Coach (Brendan Hunt) must learn this lesson when he is usually the focal point of chaotic positivity.  

The strength of this episode is how quietly it moves most of the characters towards where they will end up next week. After starting this season far apart, Roy, Keeley, and Jamie reconcile to a place of support. The team have come together after a profoundly disruptive season, and they have come together for the chance to take it all in the final episode. This may be the least surprising point of the whole season because it was always where they would end up. Finally, in the end, just when I thought I would get through an episode without crying, we get an honest discussion between Ted and his mother. While there is clearly love between the two, there is also a deep frustration that they are forced to confront head-on. More than that, I think there is an answer to a question you know has been there all season, can Ted spend this time away from his son? I think we found out what that answer was today.

In the end, do we recommend Mom City? Yes, yes, we do. It was a delightful episode about support. A warm hug that you didn’t know you needed. Also, the perfect way to take us to the end of something truly special.    

By Brian MacNamara: You can follow Brian on Twitter Here, when he’s not chatting about Movies and TV, he’ll be talking about International Relations, or the Solar System.

Have you seen Ted Lasso yet ?, let us know what you thought in the comments below, feel free to share this review on any of the social medias and you can follow us Here. Check out all our past reviews and articles Here, and have a happy day.    

Credits – All images were created by the cast, crew, and production companies of Ted Lasso
Directed by – Declan Lowney
Written by – Joe Kelly, Brendan Hunt & Jason Sudeikis
Developed by – Jason Sudeikis, Bill Lawrence, Brendan Hunt & Joe Kelly
Based On – Format and characters from NBC Sports
Production/Distribution Companies – Ruby’s Tuna Inc., Doozer, Universal Television, Warner Bros. Television Studios & Apple TV+
Starring – Jason Sudeikis, Hannah Waddingham, Jeremy Swift, Phil Dunster, Brett Goldstein, Brendan Hunt, Nick Mohammed, Anthony Head, Toheeb Jimoh, Cristo Fernández, Kola Bokinni, Billy Harris, James Lance & Juno Temple with Annette Badland, Adam Colborne, Bronson Webb, Kevin “KG” Garry, Katy Wix, Edyta Budnik, Kieran O’Brien, Leanne Best & Becky Ann Baker and Moe Jeudy-Lamour, Stephen Manas, Moe Hashim, David Elsendoorn, Charlie Hiscock, Mark Kempher, Spencer Jones, Tom Cotcher, Pamela Jikiemi, Susan Tracy, Keeley Hazell, Rosie Lou, Adam Shaw, Trevor Laird, Dorian Simpson, Francesca Gilbert, Steve Edge, John McGrellis, Teddy Wallwork, Oscar Wallwork, Bertie Wallwork, Marcus Onilude, Lloyd Grififth, Guy Porritt & Anna Marine Freeman Also as themselves Pep Guardiola, Arlo White & Chris Powell