Wife said season 2 is only 6 episodes. So i'm binging Slow Horses at the moment. Will get to it after that.
We'll see, season 3 was good but kinda lost the string a bit. I'm hoping a season 4 is a return to form and not a continuance of the trend.
Not hyped about this premise at all. The whole deal was Jason wasn’t going to continue being away from his family in real life and after all the story getting him finally back to the US, now he just goes back not to the men’s team, but the women’s team? A women's team not being coached by a woman aside, which is something the show actually has done well as far as presenting powerful women as well as Ted would want a female coach, there was so much potential to go in a fresh direction with the female Richmond team story line in England and Ted’s in the USA. They could easily involve him by having the Diamond Dogs asking for his advice virtually - picture an ipad / macbook on the desk where he used to sit with his name tag still there and they all listen intently with their elbows on their knees / the desk and hands on their chins. Then a few visits physically could also have been possible for which Jason would’ve only needed to be in London once or twice for some shoots. Then picture season 5 where the World Cup is actually in the USA and the men come over, representing their national teams leading to culture shock. Ted could also be asked specifically to mentor the girl who played him in the park and she ends up with Richmond, that’s his arc. Helping out the team and an individual who is somehow struggling - in life, in school, focusing on her football. The team doctor is still there helping the guys and gals out. Finally, what this would also do is allow for a new female actress to come in - a new “lead” who immediately would share the spotlight with Ted Lasso and if it gets past season 6 would become the face of the show or spin-off. By that time Ted has helped out the team and the girl, the latter by doing video calls and showing up physically for a few episodes in a row, reconciled with Michelle - which is obviously in the cards given how her relationship with the therapist was rocky and he was far from right for her and she has actually realized already - and focusing on his life with his son fully. He could also not even have the mentor role and wants to get back into coaching professional football in the USA and or after his success in England is asked to, something he then (finally) accepts he still loves. They could then make him the team USA coach by season 5 while still being part of the Diamond Dogs through the digital world and obviously their paths would cross. Beard would come back to the States with his wife for example, we get more backstory on him and their time before the first season. Their life could be explored through flashbacks for example. Then for the World Cup obviously he would not just by the coach who watches games or someone they visit, but he would be there as a coach. There could be a storyline where he struggles between winning, focusing on team USA and being there for gis guys. The World Cup would then force him to make a choice, his past team (players) or his current one. He chooses the latter, staying in the USA, or chooses ther former in which case he might move to England again (temporarily) while taking an assistant coach gig and be the lead one, back physically with the diamond dogs and his storyline there would revolve around mentoring and helping his guys as well as potentially the new female coach. Even without all of this, what if he just comes to England to support this female coach and make here become the best version of herself and thrive in her role. So much potential, but instead they went the easiest route it seems with Ted just coaching the female team and that’s that. I don’t see how that is going to really make it feel the same and have all the elements of culture shock, crossover comedy feel fresh etc. Beard has not even signed on yet, Jamie won’t be there, so in the case of just the focus on the female team and not the men’s team, then might as well call this a spin-off from the get go. Season 3’s quality already felt like it was going down, even with the ending being very satisfactory in my opinion. I am trying not to be judgmental and curious but it’s hard to picture it with what’s known right now, how Bill Lawrence is unlikely to be involved as much as season 1 and 2 and more like season 3, some actors not returning and what not.
