The fourth season of Ted Lasso premiered on Apple TV+ this week, marking the return of the titular character, played by Jason Sudeikis, after a three-year hiatus. The new season follows Ted as he transitions from managing AFC Richmond’s men’s team to leading its newly formed women’s team, a storyline introduced in the third-season finale. The premiere event in New York featured cast reunions, including Sudeikis and co-star Hannah Waddingham, who attended in a floral minidress and black stiletto heels alongside Juno Temple, who wore a teal dress and recently announced her secret marriage to Michal Szymanski.
Four of the 10 planned episodes were made available for early review, offering critics their first look at the revived series. Early reactions have been mixed. Writing in Metro, Rebecca Cook awarded the season four stars, noting that while some episodes retain the show’s signature blend of sentimentality and humor, the writing remains inconsistent. Cook stated: “The last two seasons were plagued with patronising monologues. Be warned, there is still some of that. But it's usually lightened with a joke at the end.”
In contrast, The Telegraph’s Benji Wilson gave the season three stars, describing it as “a surprisingly delicate balance between the sickly-sweet and the smutty that leaves you marvelling at how they keep getting away with it.” Wilson’s review suggests the show’s tone has not significantly evolved since its earlier seasons.
The premiere event also highlighted the show’s continuity with its past, as Waddingham and Temple posed together, reflecting the series’ emphasis on character relationships. However, the new season introduces notable shifts in the AFC Richmond narrative. Star player Jamie Tartt has left the team to join Barcelona, while former kit man Nate Shelley, who became a coach and later a rival to Ted, is absent. The men’s team, once central to the story, is no longer the focus, with Roy Kent (Brett Goldstein) having taken over as manager in Ted’s absence.
Critics have also noted that the first episode of the new season includes contrivances to reintroduce Ted to Richmond, including his part-time role as an assistant manager at a supermarket. The Los Angeles Times questioned whether this setup aligns with Ted’s character, writing: “The question is whether Ted, working part time as the assistant manager of a supermarket, is living the best version of himself. The answer, as everyone but Ted recognizes, is no.”
The season’s return follows a three-year gap during which the show’s absence was not widely lamented by critics, though its revival has generated renewed interest. The new episodes explore themes of growth and adaptation, both for the characters and the fictional soccer club, while maintaining the show’s signature blend of optimism and humor.