‘Ted Lasso’ Recap: ‘4-5-1’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 303 of ‘Ted Lasso’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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As we gently sneak through the third season of the wondrous and uplifting Apple TV+ series, Ted Lasso, it is quickly becoming apparent that one of the central themes of this season… is what life looks like when we finally reach the top. Specifically, how achieving our goals and obtaining our dreams… doesn’t fix all of our problems and how new challenges await us when we do indeed become one with everything we’ve sought after in life. A feat that this season of storytelling has accomplished in part, by leaning into the pressures of AFC Richmond being in the Premier League and through the other troubles Keeley and Rebecca have faced in their respective positions.
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But what series hasn’t dug into just yet… is how Ted is handling all of this and his team as well. Because it is a big deal for a coach that no one had faith in to suddenly find himself coaching a Premier League team and of course… we don’t know what kind of impact sustained success would have upon the psyche of this team, when they’ve been the underdog for so long and well, it turns out that the next episode was the right time to dig into all that. For ‘4-5-1’ is the episode that brought Zava to Richmond at last under the most auspicious circumstances possible… since he skipped out on his own press conference to make his own appearance on his own time, and of course… he quickly made an impact on the team and its play design… all before taking Ted and the team into an undiscovered country that allowed for those explorations to take place.

Because just like that… AFC Richmond was the toast of the Premier League. For Zava was indeed as good as advertised and led the charge on every single play and that brought grand success to the club, something that everyone had sought for ages and for the majority of the team… that gave them peace and joy and all the wonder they’ve been waiting for. For this was something they’ve all wanted for ages on end now, and of course, Ted and the coaching staff were on cloud nine. For they too, were successful coaches at last. But once the sheen of dominant wins and constant wonder began to fade, this story began to explore those central themes and for Ted Lasso and Jamie Tartt, life at the top wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. 

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For Jamie was basically… eclipsed by Zava and that was hard for him. For he was the best player on the team but a short time ago, and now… he was nothing more than an afterthought, one that constantly had to cede the spotlight to Zava and well, that put Jamie in a unique place. Thankfully he didn’t go backwards since he has grown greatly over the course of this series, but he wasn’t sure how to handle being the second fiddle nor did he know what his role was now on the squad, and thankfully Roy reached out regarding that. Because he recognized that shift, from his own career no doubt and promised to take Jamie under his wing and teach him what comes next and how to handle the change in front of him. All of which made for a fascinating exploration on how success in what we do doesn’t always bring joy for all, especially when one is hoping to lead the charge in that success and that we need to be prepared to adapt and embrace change if we ever want to find peace at being at the top.
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As for Ted’s journey in this tale, well… it informed him… that life doesn’t end with success, and that its complexities and troubles will find us even during the highs. Because in between enjoying wins on the field and accolades untold for Zava’s work… there was something deeper gnawing at the back of his brain. For he came to learn in this tale, that his ex-wife… was moving on. Something that Ted had not done yet from an emotional standpoint, and that really did put him at a crossroads. For we’ve come to learn that Ted values the concept of family and has always dreamed of having a complete one and being a great dad and the thought… of another man playing dad back home and of not having that unit, put his nerves on edge here and oft distracted him. But that is… how life goes, and it doesn’t matter if you’re winning an Academy Award or a lifetime achievement for your work in a field… it keeps chugging along and it is up to us what gravity and attention we give that. 

All of which made this… a keystone episode. One that set the stage for how Jamie and Ted are going to handle their respective challenges. Which means we will once again be treated to a powerful journey… one that will explore in great detail how these men handle these challenges and how the team handles other challenges ahead. For while Zava is indeed winning them games, he is oddly detached from what Ted has built and of course, Trent Crimm might have a hot story to tell, one that he doesn’t need to because someone’s sex life and sexuality is their business. But he knows the power of the hot take and the power of the news and hopefully he chooses to take the high road here. But while we wait to see what comes next, we can celebrate another intimate tale. One that really did inject reality into our dreams and our goals, and it will be fascinating to see what comes next now that new challenges and success have found this storied club and its fascinating heroes. Until next time.

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