The Apple TV series Ted Lasso has always been one of those shows that truly connects with people. Many people praise the storyline and acting, but the one characteristic everyone talks about is how much viewers can relate to the characters. At least one character is going through a struggle that someone watching can understand and connect with.
For me, that’s always been the case. There are some great Apple TV shows, but Ted Lasso has stayed in the number one spot because I connect so much with the characters. And recently, in season 4, episode 3, there was one small moment that made me cry like a baby.
I’ve been loving Ted Lasso season 4
This isn’t just me saying I’ve been loving season 4 of Ted Lasso to promote it or get people to watch it. I’ve genuinely loved watching every episode. The first episode was sort of a nostalgia fest that left me with more questions than answers, but once the series started to get going, I was locked in.
Sure, there was plenty to remember beforehand. But going back to Richmond was like seeing an old friend after years of being apart. It was a blessing, and I couldn’t stop myself from smiling the whole way through. But one moment in season 4, episode 3 got to me, and it involves Mae (Annette Badland).
Mae’s face when Richmond scored was devastatingly beautiful
If you don’t know that name, Mae is actually the bartender at the pub that Ted (Jason Sudeikis) frequents, the one that is right under his apartment right now. She was a pretty big recurring character in the first three seasons, as she was an avid supporter of the Richmond football team and always tried to calm down the patrons when they got a little too rowdy in her own Mae-fashion.
She’s quite honestly the kind of older woman you want on your side because she is passionate, strong, and knows how to pick a fight. Some of the funniest moments have taken place in her pub. But this episode, titled “Richmond’s Got Talent,” showed Mae in a different light.
It’s the first time we really see Richmond react to the women’s team, and as expected, most of the men are being jerks about it and don’t really care. But Mae tells Ted instantly that she’d be at the match, even if it were just a friendly and didn’t really mean anything in the grand scheme of things. She wanted to support the women.
That already shows she’s a great sport and a true ride-or-die Richmond player, regardless of the teams. She already earned my respect the moment she walked through the gates of the match. But it’s the very end that got me. After neither team scores, Gemma (Abbie Hern) is finally called into the match and scores a goal, and the crowd goes wild.
Mae shows her enthusiasm at first, cheering. And then her face morphs into one that’s emotional, as if she’s holding back tears, staring at the women with pride before the camera flicks to the rest of the crowd.
That moment was so well done, and I’m getting teary-eyed just thinking about it.
Because in Mae’s mind, this is what she’s been waiting for her entire life. Obviously, this isn’t canon, but I picture Mae flashing back to when she was a little girl, and she probably loved football but knew she’d never be able to make it in the big leagues like the other boys because it was a “men’s sport.” So she just became an avid fan. And now, here she is in her old age, watching women succeed in a way she never could have dreamed of, and she’s so proud.
That, right there, is the entire point of this fourth season. It’s that moment that shows how important equality in sports is. And honestly, that moment can translate to any occupation that has typically been male-led. Whether it’s sports, STEM, or something else, the women in those fields now represent the women who wished to do so in the past but were unable to. And now Mae is witnessing that firsthand and is so proud.
If the season keeps creating moments like that, I fear I’m going to be an absolutely sobbing mess by the end of it. All I know is that Ted Lasso is not pulling any punches, and I can’t wait to see how this all unfolds. And if Mae is involved a little more, well, that’s just a plus.
Stream Ted Lasso on Apple TV.
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