He’s back on the pitch, but is he wanted there? Exploring mixed reactions to Ted Lasso season 4
Since its initial release in August of 2020, the TV series Ted Lasso has become one of the most popular shows to emerge from Apple TV+. With countless nominations and numerous awards, it has certainly been a massive hit that has impacted (and will continue to impact) the television world forever. Now, in 2026, its fourth--and allegedly final--season is set to release from August 5 to October 7.
Ted Lasso’s first three seasons, which aired from 2020 to 2023, follow the story of an American football coach from Kansas named Ted Lasso. In an attempt to sabotage her ex-husband’s soccer team, football club owner Rebecca Welton hires Lasso, who relocates to London, to coach a British male soccer team named AFC Richmond. (Note: If you have not yet seen the series, spoilers ahead. If you have, you know that this show is so much more than that simple synopsis; however, that is the easiest way to summarize it for the purposes of this article. Be sure to watch it if you haven’t!) For the most part, Ted Lasso is a lighthearted comedy with hilariously dry humor that evokes smiles and laughter from its audience. On the other hand, it explores personal growth, optimism, empathy, and vulnerability--qualities that have deeply resonated with Ted Lasso’s millions of fans, contributing to the show’s success. This time around, to many viewers’ surprise, Ted Lasso’s fourth season comes with a twist: after a long hiatus, Ted returns to London to coach a women’s soccer team.
You might ask yourself, “Big deal, Lasso is coaching a women’s team. So what?” Though many share the same reasonable response, this plot shift has sparked major controversy among the series’ fandom for various reasons.
Subheading: New characters mean new relationships
Over the course of the first three seasons, audiences became deeply invested in the progression of the star players on AFC Richmond. After all, who didn’t adore the character developments of key team members such as Obisanya, Rojas, McAdoo, and Tartt? That being said, a minimal amount of roles from the previous three seasons were set to remain in the fourth. Major names such as Ted Lasso, Rebecca Welton, Keeley Jones, Leslie Higgins, Coach Beard, and Roy Kent were going to continue their presence. However, many were disappointed by the departure of the entirety of the men’s team.
Toni Fitzgerald summarizes it well in her recent Forbes’ article, stating, “The good thing: There will be new characters to enjoy. The bad thing: A lot of beloved Ted Lasso cast members are not featured in the new episodes--though a cameo or two may pop up.”
This major adjustment to a largely fresh cast--with no guarantee that previous actors might reappear--caused many fans on social media to be skeptical about season 4 as a whole. Under a TikTok video by creator “samepaige22,” which criticizes the direction and plot line of Ted Lasso’s new season, user “damnitcorn” writes, “With the male team, I felt like I knew them all intimately, and after last season's finale, I felt genuinely sad because I wouldn't see them anymore. The only things I know about the female team is one is a single mom, two are twins, one doesn't like to wear gloves for some reason, and one is the assistant coach's ex lol.” Many comments similar to this one followed; user “Just_Random” says, “I’m not trepidatious because the characters are women, I’m trepidatious because they’re new characters and I miss the old ones.”
So, although two TikTok comments do not speak for the entirety of Ted Lasso fans, it seems as if this recurring theme of nostalgia is very prevalent, forming ambivalent reactions to season 4.
Another issue with an entirely new cast is their lack of profundity, which has yet to be built with the new team. In her article from Mashable, Belen Edwards writes, “The lack of depth to the Lady Greyhounds is just one part of Ted Lasso Season 4's biggest problems. In an effort to tell a story about the future of women's sports and reunite fans with beloved characters from the first three seasons, Ted Lasso has spread itself far too thin. Now, it's in the middle of an identity crisis, caught between what the show once was and what it could be.”
Ultimately, through the introduction of a new team, audience members are forced to rebuild the emotional connections that took three seasons to establish. While it is hoped that the new team will eventually develop the same depth as the original Greyhounds on screen, the question still remains: can Ted Lasso’s fourth season create relationships with fans that are just as meaningful as those from the first three seasons?
Despite this, uncertainty surrounding the plot and its characters is one thing; the reaction to how the show approaches gender is an entirely different (and incredibly controversial) topic.
Subheading: Outright misogyny
While much of the criticism of season 4 centers on storytelling or “character + fan” relationships, other reactions have revealed hostility towards the very idea of a women’s team taking center stage. On social media, misogynistic reactions have been prevalent; users clearly misunderstood Ted’s messages of acceptance and unconditional positivity throughout the first three seasons. As shown below, a variety of disturbing TikTok comments demonstrate the strange opposition to AFC Richmond women’s team.
Not much can be said about these statements. Backlash against women’s sports has existed for as long as many of us can remember, and it’s saddening to see that the same backlash is present with a fictional team. Seriously--can’t critical viewers at least pick a sensible topic of the new season to question?
Still, no matter how understandable, uncomfortable, or outright malicious the responses are, reducing the reactions to backlash alone would overlook something very important: plenty of viewers are genuinely excited to see season 4 blossom and become its own story!
Subheading: Don’t fret--it’s not all bad
Many see the new changes not as a loss of what made Ted Lasso special, but as a way to create something new. The show has been lovable for a long time. Why stop loving it now? Sam Adams, from Slate, writes, “There’s always the chance, even the likelihood, that [Ted Lasso] falls back on its ways. But the new game plan is working well. Let’s hope they stick to it.” The changes made might be exactly what Ted Lasso needs to keep its story fresh and enticing for a new wave of viewers.
Overall, the divided responses to Ted Lasso’s season 4 beg the question: can a show continue to evolve despite losing the characters, relationships, and identity that made viewers fall in love with it in the first place? I think so.
Subheading: Remember what Ted said
Though it’s understandable to have doubts about something completely new, especially when you’ve already been so accustomed to the way it has been for a long time, don’t forget one of the most important quotes stated in the show: “Be curious, not judgemental.” So, try to take in the new season of Ted Lasso by using the show’s mentality of acceptance and wonder. You just might love it.
Subheading: Sources Cited
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