The second-to-last installment of Ted Lasso has made its debut, ushering us toward the almost melancholic conclusion of our adventure alongside AFC Richmond.
Donned in his attire and equipped for the day, Ted exits his apartment with a backpack draped across his shoulders, only to discover his mother seated on a bench, suitcase by her side. They retreat indoors, and amidst the unexpected arrival of his mother in London, Ted experiences a peculiar mixture of nervousness and energy. It becomes apparent our cherished coach acquired some of his endearing and idiosyncratic behaviors from his mom. Learning that his mother has been staying at a charming hostel on an impromptu Mother's Day trip, Ted insists on she stay with him for the remainder of her stay.
Inviting her to accompany him to work, Ted is already somewhat exasperated as his mom cheerfully hums a tune while leaving the premises—a somewhat ironic situation. Initially introducing herself to Rebecca as Ted's bodyguard, Dottie's familiar expressions immediately reveal her identity to the club owner. Rebecca gives her a tour of the facility, and the team gathers around Dottie in the locker room, reveling in laughter as she shares anecdotes from Ted's childhood. Later, Dottie proves equally popular at The Crown & Anchor, where Mae imparts a moment of clarity to Ted by reciting Philip Larkin's poem "This Be The Verse," which explores the emotional burden parents place on their children.
In the evening, Ted's mother hands him a small bag containing newspaper clippings about him from his hometown. Just before he retreats to his room for bed, she inquires about his recent panic attacks, and he fibs, claiming that he hasn't experienced any lately. We also learn that despite Ted's efforts to prioritize his mental well-being through therapy, his mother holds a different perspective and isn't inclined towards therapy herself.
After concluding his tenure at West Ham, Nate has chosen to pursue alternative career paths by joining his girlfriend at his beloved restaurant. While he and Jade prepare to open for the day, a few stray Greyhounds unexpectedly enter through the door. Isaac, Colin, and Will quickly get to the point when Nate approaches them, broom in hand: they urge him to return to Richmond. The entire team has discussed it, and they are all fully supportive. Nate's excitement about the possibility of going back is palpable, but his hesitation emerges when they reveal that they haven't approached Ted about it yet—they wanted to gauge Nate's interest first. Somewhat deflated, Nate declines their offer, although he generously sends them off with 75 kebabs to take away.
Higgins informs Ted and Beard about Nate's new job, dropping hints that the coach would likely be willing to come back to Richmond if given the chance. While both Roy and Higgins express immediate openness to the idea, Nate the Great remains a traitor in Beard's eyes. He simply won't tolerate it.
It's common knowledge that Richmond player number 9 has undergone a remarkable transformation in terms of character development since the show's first episode. However, every positive journey comes with a cost, and now Jamie Tartt's newfound calm disposition has taken a sharp nosedive into something entirely different... and it's worrisome. During a press conference alongside Roy and Sam, Jamie does something unimaginable when asked about being named the Premier League Player of the Month—he not only displays humility, but also indulges in self-deprecation.
Roy's initial concern during the press conference intensifies as Jamie fails to join the team in light-hearted banter about Van Damme's mask. Instead, Jamie shrugs and earnestly emphasizes that safety is more important than looking cool. This becomes the breaking point for the grumpiest person in the room, prompting Roy to growl at Jamie, summoning him to meet in the boot room. Roy launches into a tirade, insisting that Jamie abandon his humble act and embrace being the "most arrogant prick" for their upcoming game against Man City. To Roy's complete and utter shock, which he can't conceal as he witnesses the unfolding events in real-time, Jamie bursts into tears. With a wavering voice and trembling hands, Jamie confesses that he doesn't understand what's wrong with him, struggling to sleep and eat. In a poorly timed manner, Will walks in just as Jamie embraces Roy and sobs on his shoulder.
There's no doubt that Roy has developed genuine concern for Jamie and his well-being, as their initial animosity has transformed into a friendship (even best friends) over the past two seasons. However, given Roy's struggles with expressing his feelings, as evident in his relationship with Keeley, he seeks support from the woman in question, knowing that she also cares deeply for Jamie.
Upon witnessing Jamie Tartt's deflated demeanor, a stark contrast to his typically explosive persona, Keeley pays him a visit in his hotel room upon their arrival in Manchester. As she brings to his attention that he will be stepping into a stadium filled with fans who despise him and his father, Jamie's nerves escalate even further. Following a team movie night, during which Roy Kent sheds a solitary tear while watching "You've Got Mail," Jamie discreetly sneaks out. Roy and Keeley, sensing his distress, trail behind him across the town to his mother's house. In stark contrast to his tumultuous relationship with his father, Jamie's mother exudes warmth and positivity, causing a wide smile to grace the footballer's face as she embraces him.
While Jamie engages in a much-needed heart-to-heart conversation with his mom, expressing his deep-seated resentment towards his father as the driving force behind his pursuit of greatness, he ponders what motivates him now. His mom reassures him that he is not lost; he simply hasn't yet determined the path he wishes to follow. Meanwhile, as Roy and Keeley sit on Jamie Tartt's childhood bed, gazing at posters of themselves adorning the walls, Roy confides in Keeley about his desire to rekindle their relationship beyond mere friendship.
The long-awaited day arrives as Jamie Tartt takes to Man City's pitch donning Richmond's orange jersey—a pivotal and wonderful climax to his character development. As Jamie steps onto the field, the fans make no effort to conceal their disdain for the return of Manchester's prodigal son. The relentless booing from the crowd and the Man City players incessantly targeting him puts Jamie at a disadvantage whenever he attempts to maneuver across the field.
Though facing stiff competition, the Greyhounds shine brightly when Colin scores a goal after Jamie's quick thinking, while Van Damme proves impenetrable as the last line of defense. Man City comes close to scoring at one point, but Jamie intervenes at the eleventh hour, making a crucial save and injuring his ankle in the process. The crowd jeers as he struggles to rise again. With Jamie receiving medical attention, Richmond temporarily plays with ten players against Man City's eleven. Ted kneels down beside Jamie, offering a brief pep talk, emphasizing the power of forgiveness over hatred. Fueled by adrenaline and painkillers, Richmond's star player returns to the field, leaving behind echoes of his playful and cocky persona. Jamie becomes unstoppable, blazing across the pitch to score the winning goal, securing victory. He is substituted immediately afterward to protect his ankle, and his face is filled with emotion as even Man City's fans applaud him.
Following the triumphant win, most of the team changes into their club outfits and heads out to celebrate. Before Beard departs, Ted shows him the remaining security footage from the night Nate tore the Believe sign in half—revealing that Nate spent the entire night trapped beneath the desk. Jamie excuses himself from the festivities to stay behind and ice his ankle, taking the opportunity to finally text his father. Keeley and Roy bring the party to him instead.
Recognizing Nate's deep love for football and his exceptional coaching abilities, Jade urges him to leave the restaurant job and return to Richmond. However, Nate firmly plants his feet and refuses to budge. Being a resourceful girlfriend, Jade orchestrates a situation that compels their boss to fire Nate, understanding that he needs a decisive push. Surprisingly, Nate doesn't harbor resentment towards Jade for pulling the strings behind his back. Instead, he confides in her, expressing his desire to return to Richmond and make amends, even if it means having only one game left.
Ironically, as they discuss this, Beard unexpectedly appears, shedding light on his own questionable past. Beard reveals that after his release from prison, Ted took him in, only to have Beard take advantage of his kindness by stealing his car. Yet, Ted forgave him for everything. Drawing inspiration from that act of forgiveness, Beard extends the same forgiveness to Nate, extending an invitation for him to rejoin the Greyhounds.
Despite his recent victory, Ted Lasso's face fails to reflect any hint of happiness as he enters his apartment and finds a home-cooked meal prepared by his mother, Dottie. After years of suppressing his emotions, Ted reaches a breaking point and candidly expresses his feelings to Dottie regarding her decision not to seek help after his father's death. As an adult, he now recognizes that his tendency to ignore the problems in his life and put on a façade of okayness is a trait he unfortunately inherited from her. The conversation carries a profound impact, leading Dottie to reveal that Henry, Ted's son, misses him. Ted's expression crumples as he confesses his fear of getting close to his son, knowing that he will eventually leave.
In another intriguing turn of events, both Bex and Rupert's ex-assistant appear on Rebecca's doorstep seeking advice. Just as the episode nears its conclusion, it appears that it's Rebecca's turn to visit Ted's office and deliver her annual truth bomb. However, this time, she remains silent. Surprisingly, it is Ted who has something to say. The exact nature of his revelation will remain unknown until the finale.
