The three are in town to check out Kansas City’s women’s soccer team, because — season premise alert! — Richmond is starting a women’s team and they would like Ted to come back to London to coach it. “Last time I hired you for all the wrong reasons,” Rebecca tells Ted over barbecue at a local eatery. “This time I absolutely want to hire you for all the right ones.”
Given that the mystery of whether Ted will ultimately take the job is not very mysterious — there are nine more episodes after this one, and I don’t think they’re set at Fowch’s Fine Foods — I found myself focusing instead on the enigma of the barbecue place itself. Contrary to expectation, it is not Arthur Bryant’s, the K.C. joint that has been cited so frequently on “Ted Lasso” that it seemed almost a mascot.
No, this is Gates, a competing K.C. barbecue chain. Later in the episode, we’ll see Ted wearing a T-shirt advertising both Arthur’s and Gates along with two other barbecue joints in town. I know investigative reporters have plenty on their hands these days. But boy, I’d love to read a deeply reported expose on the cutthroat tactics and backroom deals required to get your barbecue featured as tops on ‘Ted Lasso.’
Those who were on this recap ride for Seasons 2 and 3 will probably recall my deep and manifestly unhealthy investment in the romantic story lines of Keeley and Roy (Brett Goldstein) and of Rebecca and Matthijs (Matteo van der Grijn). We will, I’m certain, have an abundance of time to discuss both moving forward.
For now, the episode merely gives us two starting points. Yes, Rebecca and Matthijs are still blissed out, as they demonstrate on a video call. (Note she is wearing green, her new favorite color.) And no — angry Roy Kent growl — Keeley and Roy are not together, just great friends, as she explains to Ted. Keeley is apparently OK with this situation; Roy is clearly not. Count me, as ever, on team Roy.
But back to Ted. He is initially reluctant to take Rebecca up on her offer, for all the obvious reasons. But Michelle says he should take it. And his mom, Dottie (Becky Ann Baker), goes further, telling Ted that Henry won’t admire him if he remains in a job he doesn’t care about. Ted is at a loss: “You tell me that my son needs me so I’ve got to come home. Now you’re telling me I should go back? What am I supposed to do, split myself in half?”
