On the previous Ted Lasso, the club received its first shot at Nathan and West Ham United. The results couldn’t have been any worse as AFC Richmond suffered a complete meltdown after watching their ex-assistant coach destroy their “BELIEVE” sign. Not even Zava’s individual brilliance is enough to save them from embarrassment.
Unfortunately, Ted Lasso and the club have been unable to turn around their misfortunes. They are on a winless streak with heavyweight Manchester City on the horizon. It doesn’t look too likely that they’ll be able to end their skid, and pundits are already raising questions about their future.
“Signs” sees the end of arcs featuring two of Ted Lasso’s characters, with character emphasized. The one we saw most is Zava, and his departure isn’t that big of a surprise. If you’ve been paying attention, the series has been doing a good job building to the moment.
First of all, the player is already a wild card who caters to very fleeting whims. However, since the match up with West Ham, his facial expressions during each loss convey frustration and a lack of passion for the squad. We’ve already stated how highly entertaining Maximilian Osinski has been in the role, and it seems like a nice time to head out before the larger-than-life character and his spiel becomes stale.
Someone who deserves to be fired Keeley’s old friend, Shandy. You can see the head of the PR firm helping prop up someone in a position she was once in, but through the weeks, it seems Shandy didn’t have the professionalism to hack it. Numerous questionable business decisions, particularly in front of the major investor, leads to her downfall. She didn’t have as big of an impact as Zava, but she does have some revenge with an amusing and adorable call back from when we first met her.
Though Ted Lasso does its best work developing the main cast. We have soap opera elements like in Keeley’s romantic life. It’s difficult to see her with someone other than Roy since they seemed so perfect together. Although there is the potential for things to become really messy under the power dynamics with the new live interest.
Speaking of romance, Nate is hitting it off with a new lady. It helps accentuate his sweeter and more humble side and reminds you he’s not always the cold-blooded jerk that Rupert wants him to be. This is an example of him rejecting the ways of his club’s owner, even though in this case, it technically is the other way around. There is still something to redeem within him. Also, even though it starts off as a kind gesture out of pity, it does say something that Nate can keep her engaged once his foot is in the door.
Elsewhere, what was once thought of as the blabbering of a charlatan has Rebecca becoming a believer. We’ve seen two of the psychic’s predictions, no matter how out there, come to fruition, and it gives the owner of AFC Richmond some hope that she can have a family one day. The results are still left ambiguous, but I’m sure we can all agree we want Rebecca to be happy. Especially after she stood up for Bex and scolded Rupert last episode. Good things should happen to good people.
Finally, we catch up with the star, Ted Lasso. It’s been a struggle and recently he has been making progress in managing his mental health. He was finally able to be open with his ex-wife about his feelings towards her new partner. Here, he understands he can’t always we there for his son and realizes to trust him to eventually do the right thing.
The character’s journey with regards to the family issues and co-parenting with an ex, might hit too close to home for Jason Sudeikis as you feel every once of emotion coming from the actor. Ted Lasso is coming out of his funk and finally back to his managing responsibilities. The speech he gives his players at the end is wholesome, heartfelt, and inspiring, and a main reason why they would follow him anywhere. Ted might need that loyalty because there is already whispers surrounding his job security.
“Signs” serves as a transitionary episode concluding some of the character arcs while also sending some main cast members on interesting and hopeful paths.
New episodes of Ted Lasso are released Wednesdays on Apple TV+.
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