Ted Lasso Season 4, Episode 3, “Richmond’s Got Talent,” sees the Lady Greyhounds play the first game in a resounding win against their naysayers. This episode, written by Sasha Garron and directed by MJ Delaney, scores where it matters – with the team building. The new characters are dynamic. They walk onto the pitch with layers for the show to explore.
Alternatively, Ted Lasso’s romances, which also matter, remain nebulous three episodes into the season – and not in a way that works most of the time. On the one hand, “Richmond’s Got Talent” tries too hard to make Rebecca and Matthijs’s relationship happen while it does the most to delay Keeley and Roy’s relationship. Even with those questionable choices after three years away from these characters, Ted Lasso still does what it does best – hope.
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Rebecca’s Stronger Relationship with Football
By trying so hard to prove why Rebecca and Matthijs work, Ted Lasso exemplifies the opposite. Not only does Rebecca actively forget their dates, but there’s no lightning between her and Matthijs. On the other hand, it is refreshing that Ted Lasso never entertains that there’s a question that Rebecca can have a personal life or a professional one. It’s more about Rebecca trying to be there for everyone in her life. That’s a compelling place to find her after the previous three-season arc about, in part, accountability.
So, “Richmond’s Got Talent” seems interested in Rebecca learning how to prioritize herself and, therefore, her relationship. That lens would fit on Ted Lasso better if it hadn’t lost three years of definition for Matthijs and this relationship. Since it has, there’s no real reason to be invested in any strain between them, let alone how Matthijs may feel because of it. That dynamic’s shortcomings are all the more obvious put opposite Rebecca and Keeley’s friendship. Ted Lasso is smart to not drag out the tension between them. It serves its purpose and then pivots both women into a new, necessary direction.
It’s great to see Rebecca support the women’s team to Elaine. Her speech about taking chances so “little girls…see amazing athletic women doing incredible things on the pitch, but equally important, so that little boys…can grow up in a world where they don’t know any different” is seemingly obvious but important to vocalize nonetheless. Not to mention, it parallels Rebecca’s pivotal speech about football’s resonance in Season 3. All of which proves that Ted Lasso earns Rebecca’s emotional investment in the sport of football more than it does her romance, which the episode’s heart-shaped end suggests is love.
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Keeley’s Belief in the Team — and Herself
From being the Chief Marketing Officer to June’s mentor, Keeley shoulders a lot in “Richmond’s Got Talent.” Even when she’s met with wolf whistles, she doesn’t fold. It’s a sad truth that sexist commentary like that is familiar to her: “I’m a woman perpetually online, so a bunch of men saying mean things to me is nothing new.” Still, the pressure builds, and Juno Temple’s performance navigates that gradual escalation well. In that, Roy’s “jokes” don’t land.
He comes from a genuine place of care and not wanting to say the wrong thing, but he does. It’s not intentional, but that doesn’t make it hurt less. For example, any mentions of “Keeley Jones, Woman on Top” are a reminder to Keeley of what she’s not living up to in her mind. Then, Roy tries to relieve the pressure around the game, but the stakes are unavoidable. As Keeley says, “Just a friendly? Women don’t get friendlies, Roy. We either succeed, or we fail. That is it.” Anything but perfection confirms the report about women’s teams’ failures. It’s constantly at the forefront of Keeley’s mind, and that’s not true for Roy.
In all of this, Roy starts to recognize his implicit biases more. That’s on display in his scene with Phoebe — the true MVP. She’s the inciting incident of Roy realizing he needs to unlearn thinking of the men’s team first. Therefore, it’s satisfying for “Richmond’s Got Talent” to resolve Keeley and Roy’s storylines together with Phoebe — and her football team. Then, Roy and Keeley’s final scene proves why they should be together. Their accountability and communication is leaps and bounds above where it once was. The kindness and romance of Roy putting the Jones Report together is everything. Does that mean that Ted Lasso will keep unraveling their strengths to keep them apart?
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Finding More Team Players at Open Tryouts
The search for a striker leads to open tryouts that play with expectations. One of the best instances of such is Maria Rojas, Dani’s sister, played by Cristo Fernández’s real-life sister, Paloma Cinco. With her, there’s an awareness that the audience, like the characters, will try to make a 1-1 comparison between the men’s side and the women’s team. However, unlike her brother, Maria is decidedly not a striker. She even says, “Life is so much more than football” instead of “Football is life.” There’s so much to read into with that alone!
These women are individuals unique to themselves and aren’t here to be replicants of the male characters from the last three seasons. Faye Marsay’s Lizzie, who brings her son with her to tryouts (and he has an adorable interaction with Ted), is a standout. Through Lizzie, Ted Lasso casually addresses the issue of childcare for female athletes (and working women in general). As expected and appreciated, the show doesn’t approach it through judgement but connection, with Beard remembering his mother taking him to work.
It’s also rewarding for Ted Lasso to build on the long-standing theory that Shannon would be a part of a women’s team. It’s as exciting to see her again as she is to see Ted, who, of course, believes in her even when she doesn’t really rise to the bar they’ve set. The second the camera doesn’t follow Ted to Shannon, it’s obvious that he’s not cutting her but betting on her. There’s an arc in Shannon’s development for Ted Lasso Season 4 to follow.
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Gemma Is the Striker the Team Needs
From the jump, there’s so much to Abbie Hern’s Gemma. After meeting Alice, it’s exciting to meet a character who knows her and pushes back against her. Their first scene has zero dialogue but reveals plenty. Their complicated history is a storytelling goldmine for Ted Lasso. Gemma says she quit because of Alice and the way she treated Gemma, but Alice, who didn’t have the choice to leave professional football, seems upset that Gemma would choose that.
Even so, Alice values Gemma’s skills and love for the game. That means something to Gemma, which is why Ted saying, “You were her whole list,” has an impact. “Richmond’s Got Talent” earns Gemma’s choice to play — just in that scene where she watches Chloe Kelly score the winning goal against Germany in the UEFA Women’s Euro Final in 2022. Gemma delivers as a difference maker, scoring the winning goal that changes the momentum for the Lady Greyhounds.
Keeley said that this game can be “the beginning of an amazing legacy,” and that’s palpable in this game — commentated by Rebecca Lowe and Jill Scott. There’s all this noise about distraction and a waste of money, but then “Richmond’s Got Talent” shows what it means. From the rally towels to Boots appreciating Phoebe’s creative work, there’s an undeniable energy. It’s clever to make Mae a throughline in that. She’s at the share holders’ meeting, she buys a season ticket, and she’s in tears when Gemma scores that goal. The Lady Greyhounds are here, and they’re already leaving a lasting impression.
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Other Winning Moments:
- The photos of Brandi Chastain and Megan Rapinoe in Ted’s office
- Susan Boyle being the new Robbie Williams
- Beard reading Female Soccer Player 101 by HowExpert with Adriana Rodrigues
- Ted running into Rebecca’s door and Rebecca tripping Ted
- The Marty McFly look alike in the press after Paddington Bear
- Every Jamie Tartt mention ever
- Roy and Phoebe’s Sir Elton John conversation has the same energy as Pre-Madonna/prima donna
- The commentary about women’s football on streaming
- Ted tying Henry’s tie taking me back to Season 2
- Keeley’s KC hat and her new office
- Roy at Old Trafford
- Beard reading Brené Brown’s Daring Greatly
- Barbara is back!
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