Ted Lasso season 4 is back with another new episode, and that means plenty of laughs and emotional sequences.
In Ted Lasso season 4 episode 5, “Riches of Embarrassment,” is nearly all about the interpersonal drama. Some of it has to do with the team, but much of it has to do with the personal lives of those connected to Richmond. All of it is delightful. Let’s dive in.
Battling Chelsea
For the team-centric portion of the episode, we get a focus on the Lady Greyhounds and their battle with Chelsea. It’s a big game, the biggest yet for the team. And Keeley (Juno Temple) is determined to draw a crowd. She has a great new ad, and she wants a packed house for what figures to be the game of the year, but that turns out to be a tall order.
Meanwhile, Ted (Jason Sudeikis) is focused on trying to get the best out of the team. But his assistant coach Alice Chilton (Tanya Reynolds) has a very different approach. Some of it seems to stem from jealousy over how the team sees her. But it comes out as a very in-your-face version of rage.
She gets set off when the team takes an interest in Ted and his life. It comes out during practice when she confronts the players, leading to the team running laps. Ted tries to intervene in the way he knows how by giving her an analogy. His hope is that Alice will take it to heart and change her approach. But it’s not an easy lesson for her to learn.
During the game with Chelsea, which isn’t as full as Keeley would have hoped, the ladies come out with a flat first half. Trailing 2-0, Alice lights into them as they head to the locker room. Ted doesn’t appreciate the approach and asks to talk with Alice after the game.
In the locker room, Ted trots out a different approach. He connects with the ladies personally, sharing his story and letting them ask him some questions. He wants to know them and wants them to know him, creating a family atmosphere. It’s something Alice still can’t grasp.
But Ted’s plan works. The ladies post two goals to tie things up with Chelsea. Though the team ultimately falls short at the end, losing 3-2, it’s a big showing. The team is pumped, as is Ted and the rest of the crowd. But Alice can’t fully appreciate it. Ted, agreeing with Beard (Brendan Hunt) that they have a coach problem, ends by showing Alice some tough love. She’s suspended. He’s hoping that will get her to change tactics.
Relationship drama
The other big theme for the week is relationship drama. It comes for Beard, Keeley, and Rebecca (Hannah Waddingham). First, for Beard, it’s needing to confront Jane (Phoebe Walsh). He and Ted attend her play, which is wild and somewhat meta. Beard confronts her after the show, and she agrees to stop performing it herself. But the show has been purchased and will soon make a West End debut. Beard ends up drawn back to Jane, but it’s clear things aren’t healthy.
Meanwhile, Keeley is still interested in rekindling things with Roy (Brett Goldstein). But it’s complicated after he met a doctor in episode 4. She inquires about how his 10-date experiment is going and discovers he’s completed it. She meant it to be a flirty way for them to get back to each other. But Roy found someone.
When he admits his last five dates were with the same woman, Keeley realizes her plan has backfired. By the end of the episode, she’s crying in Rebecca’s arms as she realizes she may have actually lost Roy in this process.
Rebecca has her own problems, too. Matthjis (Matteo van der Grijn) is back in town with his daughter, Jelka (Susanna Redhead). They are here for a visit, which seems good at first, but when Matthjis shares he has a new job that will bring him to London, Rebecca gets nervous. She is worried that it could be too much of a good thing. While Ted tries to encourage her to get past her issues, when Jelka says something about the possible motivation, it brings up Rebecca’s old fears.
Rebecca ends up confronting Matthjis the next day. He is disappointed and frustrated, sensing she is trying to pull away. He suggests they take some time apart, which isn’t what Rebecca wanted. Now, she’s stuck trying to figure out how to win him back.
I love when this show has a blend of on-the-field action and personal storylines. I really enjoyed the way this all played out.
Ted has been able to settle into a fun role supporting all his friends and molding a new team. This is starting to feel like the series did a few years ago, and I think that’s a promising sign moving forward.
Ted Lasso streams Wednesdays on Apple TV. Check back next week as we recap all the action of season 4.
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