The third season of the Emmy-winning Apple TV+ series Ted Lasso has started on a sour note as pundits expect the American coach’s AFC Richmond team to finish last in the English Premier League and be relegated.
Even with this wind, Lasso, the ever-cheerful coach played by Jason Sudeikis, gives his team some familial love to get them through the tough times in the season, which premieres Wednesday.
“At the start of the season, they come into the Premier League and a lot of people don’t expect them to do well,” said Tohib Jimoh, the actor who portrays player Sam Obisanya. “They deal with a lot of outside noise.”
Despite the doubts, Ted’s team this season is following what Jimoch calls the “Lasso Way,” which includes compassion for one another and never losing faith.
Sudeikis, who co-created the series with Coach Beard actor Brendan Hunt and TV producers Bill Lawrence and Joe Kelly, continues to show Ted’s vulnerability as he navigates the anxiety and grief of being away from his son.
“Every time the world tries to tell us that we are different, men, women, left, right, black, white, etc. face and feeling,” Sudeikis said.
This upsets assistant coach-turned-captain Roy Kent, portrayed by Brett Goldstein, who calls AFC Richmond a family and explains that each teammate has a role in their family.
“He loves these people,” Goldstein said, referring to Roy.
AFC Richmond owner Rebecca Welton, played by Hannah Waddingham, also embraces the team’s warm, fuzzy feel.
“He wants his sons to win. He wants Ted to win. He wants Ted to be recognized for his extraordinary strength,” Waddingham said.
However, there is an antagonist. Equipment man assistant coach Nathan Shelley, played by Nick Muhammad, went to coach the opposing team and talked trash about Lasso.
Although Apple TV+ hasn’t announced anything official, there are speculations that the show might end after this season.
If this is the last season, Jimoh feels like the show’s goals have been accomplished.
“Ted came in with a mission, and despite the wins and losses (he) was to make these players the best versions of themselves on and off the field,” he said. “I think he’s gotten to the point where he’s going to do that.”
