Ted Lasso is an original Apple TV+ series developed by Jason Sudeikis, Bill Lawrence, Brendan Hunt and Joe Kelly. The series stars Sudeikis as Lasso, Hunt as Coach Beard, Hannah Waddhingham as Rebecca Welton, Jeremy Swift as Leslie Higgins, Phil Dunster as Jamie Tartt, Brett Goldstein as Roy Kent, Nick Mohammed as Nathan Shelley, Juno Temple as Keeley Jones, and Anthony Head as Rupert Mannion alongside others.
Premiering on March 22, 2023, Ted Lasso Season 3 Episode 2, titled ‘(I Don’t Want to Go to) Chelsea’ opens the third instalment and has a runtime of 47 minutes with a synopsis that reads, “News of a top player looking to move to London sends the English clubs into a frenzy. Richmond play their first game back in the Premier League.”
-Ted Lasso Season 3 Episode 2 Recap Contains Spoilers-
So who are these new and old players I was talking about earlier? The top player Zava is moving to England after his wife caught on with The Office (the English original, called the “premake” by Ted), and our very own friendly neighbourhood journalist Trent Crimm, not from The Independent anymore, but very much independent on his own. As the news of the former switching teams spreads, every football club is about to snag a deal with him. Rebecca and her squad may not have initially been on the lookout for him, but as soon as the boss hears about Rupert wanting him to join West Ham, she can’t help but go after the rather “mercurial” player herself.
Meanwhile, Trent Crimm joins Richmond to write about the team’s journey but faces an obvious clash with the team players once Roy tells them to refrain from saying anything in front of him. It may not have been a warm welcome from Crimm, but Roy has no choice but to share his office with him. The news about his breakup with Keeley spreads like fire and engulfs the entire team of footballers, who can’t help but make the ‘Aww’ face at him while extending their empathy, as Jamie calls it.
Keeley reunites with one of her old model friends, Shandy, who feels so proud that she has broken out of the chain and is now running her own gig. Shandy has nifty tricks, too and hopes to follow in Keeley’s footsteps. And as she wishes for it, Keeley has her join her firm but is instantly reproved for her choice by Barbara. Despite being a boss, Keeley has been trying her all to not just fit in with the rather solemn crowd in her office, but she’s also been wanting to open up with them without receiving any form of reciprocation.
Nevertheless, this time around, she finds the one quirky and eccentric trait about Barbara – collecting snow globes. As they somewhat bond over it, Shandy gets her official title as the Clients reactions coordinator.
In the meantime, Richmond prepares for the upcoming match against Chelsea, which also points at Roy returning to his old team stands. He keeps mum about how he truly feels, but it all leads to the show’s final moments when we’re treated with a delightful breakthrough with him that will leave one feeling warm and fuzzy inside.
During the match, Rebecca has conflicting thoughts troubling her more than anything as she fears Rupert swooping in to win over Zava, who’s also come to watch the match. At this time, she also opens up about how Rupert made her feel in the early days of their relationship, and it opens our eyes to see the kind of man he is. Yes, he is the charmer everyone believes him to be, but he is also an opportunist that only Rebecca has come to acknowledge personally after having to take the bull by the horns.
Where the new West Ham United owner wins Zava by sweet-talking him, Rebecca deals with the situation by “sour-yelling” at him in the bathroom while he pees. And it works. Once he heads up to the mantle to sign up his new contract with Chelsea during the press release, he changes his mind. While Rupert grins at his victory, Rebecca averts hearing the bad news but is pulled back in as soon as the player declares his decision to join Richmond instead.
In the end, Lasso advises Roy to bury the hatchet with Crimm, and he divulges the reason for his beastly behaviour with him. A seventeen-year-old Roy Kent was publicly criticised for his poor debut by the not-so-friendly neighbour journalist then. Yet, the episode and its writing are so brilliant that it ensures we don’t end up vilifying Crimm for his old words. He was also trying to make it big by being edgy, much like Roy himself.
Ted Lasso Season 3 Episode 2: Final Thoughts
The new episode ends with a monologue delivery by Roy, and it lets us a tad bit into his heart and thoughts, and it feels good to hear him out. Apart from the comical stock grunts from his character, for the first time, we hear him openly talk about his feelings about being back at Chelsea’s home ground. Having to let go of something is never easy, and it’s especially even more tedious to deal with when it has to do with one’s innate insecurities. And while Roy may feel that he’s not the type to go out and enjoy an experience freely, we believe in Ted. He’s just not there YET.
This series has always extended sport as the metaphor it is to talk about life. And, the last few moments of the second episode become sweeter as soon as you realise that the way Roy feels about himself, being a veteran of the sport who’s still holding on to regrets of the past, is pretty much reflective of how he’s been dealing with his relationships (Yes, we’re still lightheaded about his break-up with Keeley, just like Ted).
Ted Lasso Season 3 Episode 2 is now streaming on Apple TV+.
Also read: All of our Ted Lasso Season 3 review.