Welcome to Wrexham 3×05, “Temporary,” amplifies a one-of-a-kind voice — 99-year-old Wrexham fan Arthur Massey, who celebrated his 100th birthday — to deliver one of the best episodes yet. So, once again, Welcome to Wrexham proves itself as one of the best sports documentaries; it expertly weaves the delicacy of the human condition with the ever-evolving world of football. The episode’s true feat of emotional depth matches the new heights the club makes with a temporary Kop football stand.
“Temporary” even squeezes in a bit of promotion for Marvel Studios’ upcoming Deadpool and Wolverine. This episode has something for everyone! That all-encompassing lens could mean that some aspects fall short, but “Temporary” confidently manages them all.
The episode finds a powerful lead-in with Arthur Massey’s memories of his life and his love for Wrexham. He’s a generous storyteller (His recollection of his first game at seven years old in 1931!) and has an irreplaceable knowledge of Wrexham Football Club. Of course, that makes Massey an invaluable resource to Welcome to Wrexham, but “Temporary” personally respects him, too. Therefore, “Everything is temporary — No joy lasts forever; no pain lasts forever either” is a strong quote from which to kick off.
Everything comes through that frame that embraces fragility and lingers from goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo’s injury at the end of Welcome to Wrexham 3×04, “Risky Business.” From there, “Temporary” aptly approaches the temporary Kop, too — and with a healthy dose of cynical humor. Editing Simon & Garfunkel’s “The Sound of Silence” over co-chairmen Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds zoning out while executive director Humphrey Ker explains the red tape keeping them from building the stand shouldn’t be as funny as it is.
It’s a testament to Welcome to Wrexham’s excellence that it balances its hilarious approach to understanding the financial and legal stakes of the temporary Kop with the seriousness of Wrexham’s midfielder James Jones‘ story. Hearing Jones recount the unimaginably difficult time he, his wife Chloe, and their son Jude experienced requires a level of gravity and sensitivity. Welcome to Wrexham’s production makes that shift gracefully. The editing elevates the tension and keeps you on your toes and your stomach in knots until “Temporary,” thankfully, reveals that Chloe and Jude are doing well.
Even better, the latter is celebrating his first birthday, which makes Chloe’s introduction of Jude to Arthur Massey all the more impactful by the episode’s end. It’s a moving portrait of humanity — specifically, the humans connected through Wrexham AFC.
It’s also no coincidence that Jones says, “When you take a step back and look at the big picture, you realize nothing lasts forever and everything can change,” which parallels Massey’s words from the episode’s teaser. Welcome to Wrexham crafts these special throughlines — some more obvious than others, but all emotionally effective in the end.
The doc pulls that off by pivoting to football from the people. The temporary Kop is an excellent example! Peter Wynne, Head of Ticketing, puts the humanity of the fixture into focus through his profession. Wynne knows how important it is for fans to experience the games. “So that’s where the stress comes from for me — that responsibility of you’re looking after people’s memories or whatever it might be,” Wynne shared. The temporary Kop, though pricey, makes those memories accessible to even more people.
Kerry Evans, the Disability Liaison Officer at Wrexham AFC, even emphasizes as much when she says, “It’s absolutely brilliant facilities. And just from a nostalgic point of view, to be back on the Kop is just incredible.” The first bit of her sentiment should not be understated because accessibility is essential. Meanwhile, the latter further underscores how this episode prioritizes memories. Football matches are at the heart of those moments for many people in Wrexham, Arthur Massey included.
So, it’s extraordinary to witness the club’s surprise for him – a 100-second ovation on the pitch where he is gifted a special jersey. The slideshow of photos pulls back to Jacqui Valentine’s comment: “Dad’s seen lots of changes. I think what those eyes have seen over a hundred years.” Those glimpses into his past are another tactic to honor Arthur Massey’s incredible life that continues to leave an indelible mark on many people (His conversation with McElhenney is heartwarming, to say the very least!) and Wrexham AFC.
It’s a sentimental tribute that embraces life’s beauty, part of which is its impermanence.
It’s refreshing that Welcome to Wrexham also examines that through the eyes of Notts County players. “Temporary” illuminates the team’s experiences in League Two after their manager, Luke Williams, left the club to go to Swansea City. It would be easier for Welcome to Wrexham to feature the club as one of Wrexham’s biggest competitors but not let them get a word in edge-wise. Instead, the docuseries, like in seasons past, gives Williams and players (midfielder John Bostock, forward Macaulay Langstaff, and forward Cedwyn Scott) the platform to discuss the context of changes at Notts County.
Consequently, Ker can use the temporary nature of football to explain why Stockport County is Wrexham’s new goliath. As for Wrexham AFC on “Temporary,” football’s ephemeral nature manifests in the team’s whirlwind time with goalkeepers (Rob Lainton, Christian Dibble, Ben Foster, Mark Howard, and Arthur Okonkwo) — at least since Welcome to Wrexham began in 2022 with the team’s 2021/2022 season.
Okonkwo’s commendable vulnerability about the tolls of his recovery upholds the documentary’s efforts to openly discuss mental health, which is at the heart of 3×03, “Notts Again.” Likewise, it’s fantastic that Okonkwo marks his return with two and a half thousand Wrexham fans cheering behind him on the temporary Kop. Likewise, it’s picture-perfect that Jones scores the first goal to full stands (12,095 people!) in 18 years.
Ultimately, “football is temporary,” but Welcome to Wrexham proves it’s also a constant. How do I know? Like Ryan Reynolds said in response to “Why Wrexham?” in his and Rob McElhenney’s birthday video for the club’s beloved fan, “Well, the answer could very well be Arthur Massey.” Happy belated birthday, Arthur!
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What did you think of Welcome to Wrexham 3×05, “Temporary?” Let us know in the comments below!
Welcome to Wrexham airs on Thursdays at 10/9c on FX and streams on Hulu the next day.
