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 29, 2023, Ted Lasso Season 3 Episode 3, titled ‘4-5-1’ opens the third instalment and has a runtime of 47 minutes with a synopsis that reads, “Richmond adjust to an exciting change, but Jamie has reservations. Ted learns there’s something new going on back in Kansas as well.”
-Ted Lasso Season 3 Episode 3 Recap Contains Spoilers-
The new episode opens with Colin’s story, further digging into why he needs to keep chanting, “I am a strong and capable man”. He’s not outed his sexuality to anyone yet, and not that it’s anyone’s business, but the thought of doing so probably weighs him down. This is hinted at during the last few moments of the episode when his partner walks in to meet the rest of his team at Sam’s restaurant, and he addresses himself as Colin’s wingman, who helps him get with the ladies. Hopefully, this will shape into a happy storyline as we get more into it.
In another big news, Zava has signed up with Richmond already, but he goes missing on the day he’s supposed to join. With all the press and Richmond staff awaiting his arrival for hours, Rebecca can’t help but feel anxious about the future. However, an absurd turn reveals him to be waiting it out alone in her office. His first meeting with each crew member is nothing short of peculiarly eccentric, and that’s the best way to describe his characters well.
The coaches try their best to devise a strategy to fit Zava into the team, which ends up with the team adjusting as per his norms instead. This also means that some more players will have to be benched during the starting run of the matches, and unfortunately, Colin suffers that fate.
While the rest of the team is busy proclaiming Zava to be an angel or a God, Jamie already feels uneasy about the parade going around the illustrious player’s day of welcome. His larger-than-life aura pushes the coaches and the rest of the team players to take the back seat while he runs the show entirely. The endless streak of Richmond’s wins commences, and it’s all thanks to Zava, with barely any other footballer earning a goal. It still needs some time for ‘The Lasso Way’ to hit the Zava wave.
Speaking of Ted, during all this chase, he discovers that Doctor Jacob, who had been holding sessions and aiding Michelle and him to get back together, is his ex-wife’s new boyfriend. It obviously brings down Ted’s spirits, and his jittery nerves act up again during the first match with Zava, and he nearly breaks down again.
Conversely, Rebecca takes her mother’s word and meets with the psychic, Trish. She ends up walking away after the latter hits her with loads of riddles and a heartbreaking message which assures her that she’ll have a family again and will lead up o her becoming a mother eventually. However, after hearing of the “Shite in Knining Armour”, who just might be the one for her, Rebecca can’t take any more of her gibberish talks and heads out barely after sitting down with her for a few minutes.
Angsty tensions between Roy and Keeley are more than evident, and Shandy, Keeley’s friend and new colleague, even has the guts to ask Roy why he dumped her friend out of the blue.
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Ted continues his therapy sessions with Dr Sharon over video calls and shares how heartbroken and cheated he feels upon the revelation of his ex-wife dating their old couple’s therapist. In the meantime, the winning streak continues for Richmond, and they start charting high on the table among the rest of the teams, but it’s clear that the Zava effect is currently working its magic for them. Ted’s coaching is yet to begin, so while all the necessary wins make one feel happy about the team doing well on the charts, much like Jamie, we’re also pulled down to feeling that the other players are barely doing anything of their own accord in these games.
Roy considers Jamie’s disgruntled and defeated expressions and readily presents him with the idea of training him. The latter wants to take control of the game and do better instead of relying on Zava. This interaction occurs at Sam’s restaurant, where he holds a celebratory party for the team before the official opening.
Sassy also visits the team, with most of her attention drawn towards Ted again. On the other hand, Rebecca finally catches on to the words of her psychic despite her initial scepticism (much like her mother earlier). Sam hands out his restaurant’s new trademark green match cards to each guest, pointing to Trish’s words. And if Rebecca wasn’t feeling out of place already seeing Sam connect with his restaurant’s chef, this development leaves her all the more conflicted, nervous, happy and all of those things that can’t be contained in words. Yet, the big question stands – Is Sam really Rebecca’s “Shite in Knining Armour”, or is it someone else?
Ted Lasso Season 3 Episode 3: Final Thoughts
Like most fans, I, too, am counting on the Rebecca-Sam twist to be a misdirection. Keeping up with the same tactic as last season when the viewers were made to believe that Rebecca was texting Ted on Bantr, when she was actually interacting with Sam all that time. Again, this could be playing us off because if anyone has earned the title of “Shite in Knining Armour, ” it’s Ted.
The Julie Andrews discussion was one of the best comic bits that unfolded in today’s episode, again peeling down a layer of Roy’s character that we never knew we needed to witness. Colin’s arc is already a winner (making him the first LGBTQIA+ character in the show). Still, hopefully, after all this time, Trent Crimm (who saw him making out with his partner in the deserted alley after the party) won’t turn his back on us and turn out to be homophobic.
And the more you say about Michelle-Doctor Jacob’s news, the less it is. While their relationship may have started a year after Ted-Michelle’s sessions with him, it still feels like a stab in the back. It circles back to what Ted said last season about feeling like he’s being set up during their couple’s therapy sessions as if all the blame for their failing marriage fell back on his back. This entire dynamic flips our whole understanding and even Ted’s perception of what went wrong where.
Ted Lasso Season 3 Episode 3 is now streaming on Apple TV+.