A little over three years ago, Ted Lasso ended its third season as a series finale. We all watched. Wept. And we wondered what we would do without seeing this television version of “Chicken Noddle Soup for the Soul” every week. Then we heard the news that a fourth season would be coming. Much like what happened with Shrinking. Even when the series ended, Jason Sudeikis claimed that there could be a continuation if the right idea came along. Apparently, it did. 

The season premiere of the fourth season dropped on Wednesday. I gotta admit, I rushed to watch these old friends. Before I get into the review, I have to say this: that is what separates people that “get” the show and those who complain about it. It isn’t about what they have going on. To some, the story is kind of irrelevant. It was seeing these amazing people get back together and make us feel that we are wrapped around that cozy little blanket. 

Yes, the story will be important, but it wasn’t at this moment.  

I know there are a lot of people that hate Michelle, but I think that’s more generational. As someone who has lived a lot of life, her thinking wasn’t completely out of line. People sometimes lose the love they have for their partner. They married right after college. From what I gather through the show, Ted is roughly around my age. That’s a long time.  

That is a whole other dynamic 

The way we’re re-introduced to Ted wasn’t the same as when we were introduced to him in season one. Like in season three, we were greeted with a Ted that was beginning to wonder where he was going. It felt almost like a continuation of that thread here. Last we saw him, he was coaching his kid’s soccer team with his ex-wife cheering from the sidelines. 

Yes, what their therapist did was unforgivable. He should be admonished as what he done was borderline unethical. I use ‘borderline’ as she wasn’t his patient at the time they started dating. At least, I hope. He obviously manipulated the situation. As of season four, we don’t know the nature of Ted and Michelle’s relationship. It is obvious that there is still something there. 

When we meet Ted, he is unhappy. He is doing the right thing but forsaking himself. Originally, moving to London was to give the marriage distance. But it hurt the relationship with his son, because “divorce is hard”.   However, everyone saw that he was unhappy. Michelle, Ted’s mother, and his son. The conversation at the garage sale really meant something. “If you don’t care about your job, why should I?” That is something I know everyone can identify with at some level. 

Seeing Higgins, Keely, and Rebecca standing on his lawn was the moment the biggest grin appeared on my face. This sudden euphoria of the greatest group of people reunited is similar to when the crew of TNG reunited on the bridge of the Enterprise – D in Picard season three.  

It did feel kind of like a prequel 

But I believe that was the point. Why? We didn’t hear the contagious theme song until the end of the episode. Ted was “home”, but he wasn’t truly home. While I have heard some idiotic comments that it didn’t have any stakes, these people are wrong. However, they are the same people that complained that there wasn’t enough soccer in any episode of the past three seasons. Those people are the ones that don’t “get” it. More hate watching for clicks. 

I said in a Threads post that even though there wasn’t a heavy emotional zing to the story, it didn’t need one. Fans would have their own when characters were doing what they did best. Higgins learning about the Negro Baseball League. Keely and Rebecca being the aspirational pals. Ted with his usual witticisms. It delivered on all fronts. 

The two main arcs were dealing with Rebecca’s fear of making this deal about a women’s club. It is obvious that she wants to do it, but there is a risk. Keely is the sunshine and rainbows, while Higgins is the reality guy. Rebecca is stuck between them and trying to find the middle. Rebuffing all the aspirations of Keely and doing the same to Higgins with his bullshit reality. However, that may be the main motivation for bringing Ted along. The other arc was Ted trying to do what he wanted versus what he believed was the right thing. 

Conclusion 

It was a great re-introduction to these friends we have missed over these last three years. The world has gotten crazier since they left. It is the calming influence we need to get through these dark days. Now, alongside Shrinking, we can have our weekly chicken soup again. Be our moment of Zen in this chaotic world. 

People tend to forget that this is a show. Too many times, people spend a lot of time digging too deep. Even then, they spend too much time digging in the wrong spot. I see it a lot on reaction channels. The show allows you to follow these people on their journey. People think wanting something deeper is an intellectual thing, when it isn’t. This is a classic story of stories and character arcs. If you don’t like that, then this is not the show for you.