The first four episodes of Ted Lasso season 4 mark a return to form, delivering the show's most engaging storytelling in years, yet a persistent drawback lingers: the saccharine monologues that have plagued recent seasons. The new season, streaming weekly on Apple TV from August 5, 2026, finds Ted Lasso (Jason Sudeikis) in Kansas City, working as a supermarket cashier after a three-year absence from coaching. The opening scenes depict Ted in a slow-motion breakdown, an unexpected direction that initially confuses but ultimately sets the stage for a compelling comeback.
A Fresh Start with the Lady Greyhounds
Rebecca (Hannah Waddingham), Keeley (Juno Temple), and Leslie (Jeremy Swift) arrive to recruit Ted back to Richmond, this time to coach the second-tier women's team, the Lady Greyhounds. Despite initial reluctance, Ted agrees, and the series returns to familiar territory: the biscuit box, hijinks in Rebecca's office, and the west London backdrop where the only media are This Morning and Trent Crimm's self-serving podcast. The new season introduces a host of new characters on the women's team, including warring sisters and a couple kissing during practice, a sight unseen in the men's game. Jude Mack's loose-cannon goalie stands out, though her pub-brawling antics raise questions about her future in football.
Actual Stakes and Character Dynamics
This season introduces genuine conflict, a welcome change from the low-stakes warmth of previous outings. Rebecca and Keeley, seemingly sharing a bottle of St Tropez, clash over spending on the Lady Greyhounds, while Rebecca also butts heads with the cheerless assistant coach Alice, played superbly by Tanya Reynolds, who is rightly irked at being passed over for the top job. These tensions provide the narrative drive that was missing in the latter seasons. However, the show's inherent predictability remains—viewers know Ted Lasso will ultimately succeed—but the journey is now more engaging.
Familiar Faces and Worn Schticks
Roy Kent (Brett Goldstein) returns, but his sweary routine grows tiresome, though the restraint in keeping him and Keeley as just friends is appreciated. Ted's gee-whiz optimism and Coach Beard's performed enigma (Brendan Hunt) are among the least interesting elements unless they're bouncing off Alice or Rebecca. The absence of Jamie Tartt, Nate, and Rupert is felt, especially after the loss of Anthony Head. The show's focus on women's football is a deliberate shift, but it sacrifices some of the antagonism that made earlier seasons compelling.
A Return to Form, With Caveats
Critics have wondered if the first season's outsized pandemic-era reception was warranted, but season four proves the show's unwavering niceness still lands, even when expected. The last two seasons were marred by patronising monologues that felt like an after-school special, and while some remain, they're now lightened with a joke at the end. Sudeikis and co-writers continue to write as they go, so the remaining six episodes could backslide, but so far, season four is decidedly less crap than the World Cup halftime show that advertised it.
Verdict
Despite the occasional girlboss speech, the first four episodes of season four have won back viewers. The new dynamics, actual stakes, and fresh characters invigorate the series. While the drawback of saccharine moments persists, the overall package is the best the show has been in ages. Ted Lasso season 4 is available to stream on Apple TV from August 5.
