Since the end of season two, the matchup all Ted Lasso fans have been waiting for is between AFC Richmond and West Ham United. In this week’s episode, the two clubs meet for the first time since Rupert Mannion, Rebecca’s ex-husband, purchased the team and hired Nate as his manager. Both sides are putting in extra preparation for such a high-profile clash.
One aspect that “Big Week” does well is subtly continuing the storylines of the season. It’s all in the details with a smart comment here or a puzzled look there. The episode efficiently addresses many of the threads unwinding. Whether it’s Rebecca learning that Sam isn’t one of the team’s bachelors taking part in the Bantr promotion or Trent Crimm, formerly of The Independent, raising an eyebrow over Colin’s reliance on gay jokes in the locker room, it’s enough to remind the viewer that these narratives are there and how they are slowly simmering for later. All these little cues add up and contribute to the big picture but it doesn’t take away from the main event of the showdown.
Nick Mohammed is brilliant because it’s a tough task to balance the different responsibilities pertaining to his character Nate. Being on opposite sides to Ted Lasso is weighing on him and you feel an earnestness in wanting to clear things over his unceremonious exit. It’s definitely a tough conversation to have and you can sympathize with his hesitance and wasting perfect opportunities.
However, he’s also an antagonist since he’s partnered up with Rupert. Nate is becoming more arrogant and beginning to drink his own Kool-Aid. He can be a sore winner, and let’s not forget his sabotage of the beloved “BELIEVE” sign (How did he get into his old locker room?). Nate is purposefully frustrating because you can see the good inside him despite being a jerk and Mohammed does a good job maintaining that balance. For how long, we don’t know because Rupert’s dark influence is starting to tip the manager to the wrong side.
For the actual match itself between the two teams, this is an area where Ted Lasso actually disappointed. It’s okay for AFC Richmond to lose since they are playing away, still a newly promoted team even with Zava’s heroics, and it would build the tension and drama for their next head-to-head. Instead, it turns into a farcical and completely unbelievable meltdown for our group. Rather than rallying the troops, the video of Nate ripping apart the “BELIEVE” sign causes everyone to lose their composure.
No one looks good with the childish antics on the pitch. Furthermore, the coaching staff look incompetent for being unable to reel their players back in. Ted Lasso’s inaction is more to prove a point but everyone laid an egg on the field this week. The show isn’t afraid to show its silly side, but here is too much. They better address all the red cards and suspensions on the next episode and what that means for the team rather than hand-wave it away. The taste of defeat would be more bitter as well as inspiring for AFC Richmond during the two clubs’ next meeting if it was a hard fought loss, but this is more of a cop out.
What saves Ted Lasso in the end is its titular characters journey. He is still troubled over his ex-wife’s new boyfriend so he tries to make it more official with Flow, aka Sassy. Though she mentions how much of a mess he is. All his self-reflecting, plus a calling of the remaining Diamond Dogs, leads him to talk with Michelle. The conversation is honest, vulnerable, and heartbreaking all at the same time. Yet you sense the relief after Ted gets it all off his chest. Jason Sudeikis is so endearing in those closing moments that you feel the character is healing and on the road to progress. What a nice, but bittersweet note to go out on.
Regardless of the narrative problems on the pitch, “Big Week” benefits from carefully planned out details, fine character work with its dueling managers, and a moving closing scene.
New episodes of Ted Lasso are released Wednesdays on Apple TV+.
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