Welcome to Wrexham Season 4, Episode 5 Review: ‘Anything’s Possible’

Welcome to Wrexham Season 4, Episode 5, “Anything’s Possible,” thoughtfully dives into specific beginnings and endings in and around Wrexham AFC. With eyes set on the January 2025 transfer window, the docuseries gets closer to the club’s current, history-making moment. Still, “Anything’s Possible” raises the stakes and instills the investment through excellent storytelling. 

From interwoven anecdotes to immersive game footage, Welcome to Wrexham maintains engagement more than halfway through its fourth season. The docuseries continues to peel back the curtain on the business side while maintaining its people-first mentality. By always strengthening its focus on those affected by football, the docuseries creates another emotional episode that stands alongside the best of Welcome to Wrexham thus far.

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The Docuseries’ Solid Structure

Part of what makes the emotional beats hit in “Anything’s Possible” is the structure. The Deadpool and Wolverine-centric teaser immediately feels disjointed compared to everything else. Initially, it also feels a bit shoehorned in after the show’s more direct take on the whole Disney thing. However, as the episode progresses, it’s challenging to see how or if Welcome to Wrexham will pull it all together. By the tag, the teaser fits right into the themes of change. 

The glue that binds those bookends is a good narrator. Out of the two co-owners, Rob McElhenney wins in that role, but that may be down to the fact that Ryan Reynolds isn’t always as present in the same capacity. Last season’s finale confirms that executive director Humprey Ker is the docuseries’ strongest narrator, but “Anything’s Possible” sees McElhenney give Ker a run (Pun intended!) for his money. It’s rare for any delivery to feel all that stilted; the genuine sentimentality shines through in the end. That driving force carries evenly across every moving part of this episode, including match commentator Mark Griffiths’ story. It’s no wonder that this is an Emmy-winning series. 

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The Beauty of Hard Goodbyes

Griffith’s transitory period between retirement and what’s next with him at Wrexham AFC provides the chance to know someone who has been a part of Welcome to Wrexham from the beginning better. Nevertheless, the episode’s commentary on saying goodbye becomes the clearest when “Anything’s Possible” memorializes Wrexham fan, Arthur Massey, who passed away aged 100 years old in August 2024. It’s virtually impossible to do this portion of the episode justice; it’s also a challenge to watch it without crying. It is so well done, particularly how Welcome to Wrexham leads into paying its respects, with it clicking that Arthur’s daughters, Julie Birrell and Jacqui Valentine, reveal the episode’s title comes from Arthur’s hopes for the football club.

It’s a privilege that Welcome to Wrexham brings Wrexham AFC and, by extension, Arthur Massey into the lives of people around the world. The episode holding space for his legacy – his daughters, his grandson Lee, and his great-great-granddaughter Elsie – alongside that of the football club is masterful, moving storytelling. Hearing about the time and passion Arthur Massey gave to Wrexham AFC from being a fan since he was 9 years old makes it all the more impactful to see fans (Oliver Stephen!) line the street for his casket, with a Wrexham AFC scarf on top. Not to mention, McElhenney’s voiceover and his Emmy dedication put Arthur’s impact on the organization in beautiful words.

That concept of legacy also comes in saying goodbye to James Jones and Anthony Forde, who leave the club in that January window. In turn, Welcome to Wrexham takes a life-affirming approach to understanding that everyone’s timeline is different, but they all happen to converge at Wrexham AFC.

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The Striker Dilemma

As for the club, “Anything’s Possible” finds its focus on signing a new striker. While the proper introduction to midfielder Ollie Rathbone feels arguably late given his pivotal presence in earlier episodes, it works alongside forward Sam Smith’s here. Likewise, it would have been nice to hear from the other new signings – midfielder Ryan Longman and forward Jay Rodriguez. However, from the episode’s edit, those players aren’t heavily featured in that Northampton Town game. Also, considering “Anything’s Possible” circles around to Rathbone, there’s precedent this season that Welcome to Wrexham will come back. 

Interestingly, this episode takes even a few minutes to include CEO Michael Williamson and manager Phil Parkinson’s conversation about the Tetris-like thought process that goes into a new signing. Part of Welcome to Wrexham’s appeal lies in how it illuminates decisions like this for the record-breaking football club. One of the biggest drawbacks in this dominant storyline is that “Anything’s Possible” never hears from Wrexham AFC’s forwards Ollie Palmer and Paul Mullin, who aren’t scoring goals as often. Welcome to Wrexham is acutely aware of that critique and transforms it into an effective cliffhanger.

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What did you think of Welcome to Wrexham Season 4, Episode 5, “Anything’s Possible?” 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.