Ted Lasso Season 4 Premiere Review

Ted Lasso Season 4 premiered on August 5, 2022, on Apple TV after a three-year hiatus. The return of the beloved sitcom was met with anticipation, as the previous season ended on a bittersweet note, making viewers question if it would return. Season 4 chose a unique approach by focusing on a semi-reboot, setting the stage entirely in Kansas City and featuring Rebecca (Hannah Waddingham), Leslie (Jeremy Swift), and Keeley (Juno Temple) as Ted (Jason Sudeikis) is approached to coach the women's division team.

Shot on location in Kansas City, the visuals offered a fresh perspective. The familiar cast effortlessly returned to their roles, with Waddingham and Temple's sisterly chemistry and Swift's Leslie adding an endearing charm. Ted Lasso's Jason Sudeikis continues to embody the endearing smile and mustache that has made the character iconic.

While the premiere hinted at Ted's restless life through his job at a supermarket, the plot was somewhat convenient in addressing his reluctance to leave his son Henry, played by Grant Feely, and his ex-wife, Michelle (Andrea Anders). The premiere, however, showcased how the show aimed to strike a balance between focusing on a few characters and interconnected situations, promising a more streamlined narrative than Season 3's excessive subplots.

Critics noted that the runtime and the decision to stay in Kansas City could pose challenges in fully embracing the change. Nonetheless, the premiere gave hope that Sudeikis and new co-showrunner Jack Burditt had learned to embrace the concept of less being more, ensuring a promising start to the new season.