The television series Ted Lasso returned for a fourth season, drawing widespread attention but receiving criticism for its tone and handling of subject matter. Multiple publications reviewed the season premiere, with responses ranging from skeptical to disappointed.
The show follows an American football coach who previously led a British soccer team to success in the Premier League before departing at the end of season three to return home to Kansas and focus on fatherhood. In the new season, he is drawn back to southwest London when the team's owner Rebecca, deputy Higgins, and marketing manager Keeley travel to Kansas to offer him a position managing the women's team, which currently plays in the second division.
Forbes questioned whether the show had found its footing, while The Free Press described the return as joyless. Time Magazine criticized the series for its portrayal of women's soccer. The show became a cultural phenomenon during its initial run, winning 11 Emmy Awards and becoming the most-watched streaming original in 2023.
In the new season, the coach's assistant is a taskmaster frustrated at being passed over for the top job in favor of a man. While the show attempts to address real challenges facing women's sport, including chronic underinvestment and obstacles related to pregnancy and motherhood, these tensions fail to develop significantly across the four episodes available to reviewers. The show often reverts to familiar dynamics between existing characters rather than fully establishing the new team as distinct individuals.
Critics pointed to specific issues with how the show approaches its subject matter. The series maintains its characteristic elements: signposted comic moments, predictable gestures toward kindness and reconciliation, and bright, clean aesthetics. One reviewer compared the show's appeal to a well-oiled machine delivering consistent entertainment, though noting its saccharine quality and lack of gritty realism.
The series has maintained its ability to draw fans to filming locations, with The New York Times reporting that the show continues to attract visitors to Richmond, a suburb of London where much of the action takes place. The Economist examined how the titular character evolved beyond his role as a television figure to become a broader cultural reference point.
The return comes at a time when streaming platforms are reviving previously concluded series. Ted Lasso originally aired on Apple TV Plus and became one of the platform's most recognized titles. The show previously won multiple awards and generated significant discussion about its optimistic approach to storytelling in an era of darker television dramas.
Reviews suggest the series faces challenges in recapturing the tone that made it popular while incorporating new subject matter. The shift in focus to women's football presents opportunities to explore different themes, though some reviewers predict the season may lose viewers who prefer the glamour of the men's game to a more socially conscious angle.