Ted Lasso’s second season turned the feel-good Apple TV hit into a minor lightning rod, garnering a fair share of backlash as it deployed a darker tone than its first year. Now we finally have a look at the highly-anticipated third season, which by all accounts seems to strike a balance between homespun charm and dramatic heft.
Scored by the Rolling Stones’ “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” (a tried and true bittersweet TV needle drop used in everything from House to Californication), the trailer offers minimal dialogue, but still manages to make the stakes clear. Back from a season in relegation, the plucky AFC Richmond is being coached by Lasso, Coach Beard, and Roy Kent. The team’s key players remain, including emerging star Sam Obisanya and the gifted but polarizing Jamie Tartt. (One of the few bits of dialogue comes when Sam, smiling infectiously as ever, tells the team in a pre-match huddle, “I love you guys so very much,” which Tartt then turns into a chant.)
The clip positions Nate Shelley, who began the series as the lovable equipment manager but is now coach for a rival Premier League team, as the season’s main antagonist. His team West Ham United is owned by Rupert Mannion, former AFC Richmond owner and loathsome ex-husband of fan-favorite Rebecca Welton. (It’s worth noting that Nate’s hair is now fully gray, a character transition that was the subject of much debate.) The second season finale feinted towards the departures of stuffy journalist Trent Crimm and Richmond team psychologist Sharon Fieldstone, but both are confirmed to return.
The trailer also gives us glimpses of Keely’s career running her own PR firm, and hints at potential prolonged romantic tension between her, Roy, and her ex, Jamie.
The third season of Ted Lasso—which has earned Jason Sudeikis two Golden Globes and won the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series twice in a row—begins airing March 15. There has been much speculation and conflicting reporting as to whether this will be the hit show’s final season, so fans had better savor every down-home aphorism from Ted, cheeky quip from Keely and deadpan one-liner from Roy.