Welcome to Wrexham Season 4, Episode 1, “All In?” takes the momentum of Wrexham AFC’s back-to-back promotions to re-evaluate commitment. As always, one of the docuseries’ greatest strengths remains the breadth and depth of its approach to storytelling. Prior seasons prove relevance to starting with the preseason check-in across the club and the community.
With that choice, Welcome to Wrexham creates perfect chances to introduce new characters, establish obstacles, and renew stakes. “All In?” proves that even knowing how it ends doesn’t detract from this story. In reality, it makes every step toward that final whistle more compelling.
MORE: Welcome to Wrexham Season 3, Episode 7 Review: “Proper Trouble”
Pre-Season Reflection
As past Welcome to Wrexham seasons prove, that story usually continues with some pre-season reflection. On the men’s side, the biggest headlines are that goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo signed a new contract with the club, and star striker Paul Mullin is out for the foreseeable future after surgery to address a chronic back injury. While that’s important exposition for the show to get out ahead of the club’s entrance to League One, it also highlights Welcome to Wrexham’s intentions – the people. By hearing from Okonkwo and Mullin, “All In?” gets to know the people beyond the headline. Therefore, those pros and cons heading into such a consequential season land with a bigger impact.
The same is true for the women’s side and their games in the United States; those losses find greater context in Welcome to Wrexham’s commentary. “All In?” gives Wrexham AFC Women’s midfielder Lili Jones and defender Phoebe Davies the space to unpack those losses as players and as women in football. Their discussion about the women’s side gaining visibility is important tenfold.
Executive director Humphrey Ker says the U.S. tour highlights “the stark difference both developmentally and economically in Welsh women’s football versus a lot of women’s football worldwide. We’ve got some catching up to do.” While those comments refer to a disparity in women’s football that must change as the game continues to grow, it can also circle back to the docuseries itself.
Welcome to Wrexham Season 3 features more of the women’s team, but arguably, still, not enough. This season’s theme is commitment, as reflected in forward Rosie Hughes’ intentions to do better after making problematic comments about Wrexham. Hopefully, “All In?” is the beginning of more consistent representation of the women’s side in the docuseries.
MORE: Watch the Full ‘ReUnited — A Homecoming Story’ Featured in FX’s Welcome to Wrexham
New Goals Across Club and Community
The season premiere instills hope that Welcome to Wrexham has plans for just that. The club has big plans for the men’s and women’s sides as it builds a more expansive and solid infrastructure, like training facilities for both. A lot of that optimism comes alongside the addition of Michael Williamson as Wrexham AFC’s Chief Executive Officer. “All In?” does a great job introducing the new CEO and his goals. Because of Welcome to Wrexham’s personable storytelling, Williamson’s CV is as impressive as making a decision that’s best for his family.
Therefore, once again, the evergreen question (“Why Wrexham?”) finds its answer in the intersection of football club and community
That sentiment translates beautifully to Rebecca McHugh’s journey with her small business, Meet Me in the Morning. Her risks to bet on herself, her business, and Wrexham come back around through investment by the club, inviting her to the Racecourse on game day. McHugh’s story is a moving reflection of the supportive relationship between Wrexham AFC and the community. More broadly, it’s always great to see Welcome to Wrexham spotlight people in Wrexham and their businesses, and “All In?” doesn’t disappoint.
MORE: Welcome to Wrexham Season 3, Episode 6 Review: “Far Away, So Close”
The Marathon and Sprint Ahead
On a lesser docuseries, the business side of Wrexham AFC could become uninteresting given that two celebrities co-own the club. Welcome to Wrexham examines the impacts of (in part) the club on small businesses and defines the risks before engaging in a more direct conversation about finances. Structurally, it also works to edit the pros and cons of sprinting to a back-to-back-to-back promotion against Wrexham AFC’s first game in League One. “All In?” finds natural energy and tension there that pair nicely with Ker’s marathon prep.
The seriousness of finances finds balance in the levity (Ryan Reynolds’s promise if Ker finishes the marathon in under 4 hours!) in Ker’s training. Then again, that’s all down to the edit because training for a marathon is no joke. Still, there’s incredible sincerity in Ker running the marathon for the Wrexham Miners Project, for which Ker is a patron. Once again, Welcome to Wrexham organically ties the club and community together through personal intentions, however big or small. Those steps may not result in instant wins on or off the pitch. Regardless, they ask a good question: How can you not bet on Wrexham?
MORE: Fansportish in May: Beckham & Friends, F1: The Academy, & More
—
What did you think of Welcome to Wrexham Season 4, Episode 1, “All In?” Let us know in the comments below!
New episodes of Welcome to Wrexham Season 4 air on Thursdays at 9/8c on FX and stream the next day on Hulu.
