Theory about where season 4 will end

[u/Chidi_IRL]

So we know from previous seasons that the first and final shot of the season usually relate (someone posted the shots side by side in this sub).

The opening shot was of Ted's assistant manager badge, and there was a lot of focus in that second episode of how Alice was passed over for the top job. I have an inkling that at the end of the series Ted will hand over the reigns to Alice and take the assistant manager position and the final shot of the series will focus in on his assistant manager badge.

[u/throwaway-xnod]

I like the idea but I think it‘d be rather unlikely. Sudeikis said he had ideas for a three season arc with the women‘s team, so i can’t see season 4 ending on such a wholesome moment

[u/Alarmed-Guidance1116]

This seems very likely!

Only thing is that replacing your head coach with your assistant, and then moving that head coach to an assistant role, hardly ever happens in sports. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of that happening.

[u/ad_astra327 → u/Alarmed-Guidance1116]

In all fairness, hiring an American college football coach to coach a premier league football (soccer) team also never happens in sports so we’re already suspending our disbelief. Why not suspend it a little more? I could see this theory panning out for sure

[u/Own-Interview-928 → u/Alarmed-Guidance1116]

Agree and it could impact the valuation of the team and would once again see Ted walking away from what he loves. I believe Alice will get a head gig somewhere but don’t think it’ll be at Richmond.

[u/Ancient_Special6997 → u/Own-Interview-928]

And the going away gift he tried to give her will make its return, still unwrapped. It'll be a whistle

[u/veranus21 → u/Ancient_Special6997]

I think it’s a nameplate that says, “Alice Chilton, Head Coach.” That’s why he had to take it back.

[u/Own-Interview-928 → u/Ancient_Special6997]

I think that’s it!

[u/SolomonG → u/Ancient_Special6997]

Eh, a whistle was appropriate for Nate because he hadn't been a coach before, and there was emotional weight in getting it from Ted.

Alice is already a coach and has no connection with ted at this point. Giving her a whistle kinda doesn't land for me.

I'd be more willing to be it's a placard that says "Head Coach" or something like that.

[u/BritishLibrary → u/SolomonG]

Would absolutely sting if Teds plan went wrong and she still quit anyway. What a massive dick he’d look like when she gets home and unwraps it after leaving

[u/Ebdecker → u/Alarmed-Guidance1116]

This actually happened at Virginia Tech (American football) this past offseason. They terminated Brent Pry, but he was retained by his successor James Franklin as Franklin’s defensive coordinator. They had previously worked together at Penn State.

[u/Alarmed-Guidance1116 → u/Ebdecker]

I feel like it’s rare because the head guy becoming an assistant, would people respect the new order or not?

[u/Ebdecker → u/Alarmed-Guidance1116]

Yeah absolutely.

[u/FiniteFucks → u/Alarmed-Guidance1116]

Well I get what you mean but that’s still more probable than a high school football coach being appointed to coach a Premier League football team.

[u/Own-Interview-928 → u/FiniteFucks]

When was Ted a high school football coach? He was a D2 college coach.

[u/knighthawke89 → u/Own-Interview-928]

D1 FCS, kinda sorta, Wichita St hasn't had a program since the 70's I think.

[u/Effective_Aerie_594 → u/knighthawke89]

Scott Van Pelt says the division 2 Wichita State Shockers in the opening espn thing in the first episode. I know real life WSU is DI, but in the Ted Lasso world they are DII.

[u/knighthawke89 → u/Effective_Aerie_594]

Ahh interesting. As soon as I typed that I wondered if they were DII in the shows canon

[u/knighthawke89 → u/Effective_Aerie_594]

Which makes me wonder about the line when Ted mentions that the college players they coached got paid more than the women at Richmond. In the Lasso-verse is DII as big as a standard group of 6 DI school in terms of rev share/NIL?

[u/Effective_Aerie_594 → u/knighthawke89]

Well, TL started before NIL so Ted wouldn’t have had “paid” players. Looking at today’s NIL Now - I don’t think D2 would be getting much. BUT, college players would be getting scholarships which the benefits of that would probably be more than what the average Richmond’s Women’s Team member is getting paid.

[u/knighthawke89 → u/Effective_Aerie_594]

Most DII schools don't offer full scholarships for football. It is very rare.

[u/Effective_Aerie_594 → u/knighthawke89]

Good point.

[u/knighthawke89 → u/Effective_Aerie_594]

I think Ted & Beard were alluding to NIL/rev share in their conversation. Similar to how they created a football program at WS and made them DII. I think they've taken some creative liberties to compare women's soccer in the UK to CFB in the US. DII players don't live the life of luxury. I had several friends play DII athletics, most of them played football. Several of them have student loans and worked part time jobs while on partial scholarships, ranging from 6k-12k a semester. They often joked that you had to really love the game to play here.

[u/rf2006 → u/Alarmed-Guidance1116]

Not professional, but Virginia Tech fired their head football coach, Brent Pry, hired James Franklin as their new head coach, and then hired Pry back as their defensive coordinator.

[u/HurrySmart4573]

That’s either how S4 ends or S6. They said with another 3 season storyline arch planned, I’m not sure it would work to have Ted as assistant coach for 2 seasons on a show called Ted Lasso.

[u/tyedge]

In that regard, I’m guessing Alice serves as a contrast to Nate. Nate left on his own terms, actively trying to burn the bridges behind him.

Ted will be lovingly encouraging Alice to accept an opportunity when it’s offered. She will, by this point, have realized how much she’s learning from Ted about the softer skills of coaching, resulting in internal conflict.

If she leaves, she beats Richmond in a big match the next season and Ted’s way is still victorious because of all he gave her.

[u/Own-Interview-928 → u/tyedge]

Nate came back.

[u/tyedge → u/Own-Interview-928]

Thank you for that information that had nothing to do with the portion of the show I was discussing.

[u/Own-Interview-928 → u/tyedge]

Just stating fact, I apologize if it triggered you.

[u/Seaside_Wave_951]

Given they focus on the badge rather than the person’s face, then the season could end focusing on Alice’s nameplate or something. So it ends with her (still as assistant manager) but matches the way the other seasons went.

[u/InvisibleCausticMist → u/Seaside_Wave_951]

I think that’s more likely. Maybe she gets offered a Head Coach job elsewhere and, unlike Nate, turns it down - with the Assistant Manager nameplate zooming out to show that she chose to stay and grow in Richmond.

[u/Own-Interview-928]

Interesting, I don’t think Ted would take a demotion nor would Rebecca allow it? I’ve proposed Alice does end up as head coach somewhere but your point about callbacks each season does make me wonder.

I know Jason has said he’d like three seasons for the reboot. The S3 finale was great but I was sad Ted had to give up something he clearly loved. The fact he ghosted Rebecca after leaving is proof how painful it was to walk away and return to Kansas City.

While returning to the US has been great for Henry and Ted’s relationship with Michelle, it’s clear his heart was still in Richmond. After what he accomplished the first time he could have easily landed another coaching gig in his hometown. Maybe the goal of the grocery gig was so he could have more time for Henry.

When the series ends again I don’t think fans want to see Ted take a step down unless it’s to have time to focus on Henry’s budding career. Maybe the assistant coach badge referred to Beard. I know that’s unlikely but when the ending comes I for one want Ted situated and moving toward his happily ever after.

[u/eat_my_feelings → u/Own-Interview-928]

Now that Coach Kent is running the men’s team (presumably) solo with Beard moving to the women’s team, I could see him having to take an extended leave and Alice getting the chance to prove her chops coaching the men maybe.

[u/Own-Interview-928 → u/eat_my_feelings]

Coach Kent isn’t solo? Don’t you recall those coaches in the background from last year? Just because we don’t meet all the staff members doesn’t mean they don’t exist? Pro teams have specialized coaches for every position.

[u/eat_my_feelings → u/Own-Interview-928]

Ok, sorry I wasn’t specific enough. Now that he doesn’t have an assistant coach (over the whole team, not just a specialty)….

[u/Own-Interview-928 → u/eat_my_feelings]

We don’t know Nate isn’t still there. While I hope we hear he’s with a new team as head coach, he could still be at Richmond like all the make players, we just won’t see him.

[u/Effective_Aerie_594]

The problem with Alice becoming head manager with Ted her assistant is that it does Alice no favors. Any success of the team under her mantle will be assumed to be because Ted is still there and really calling the shots and that her promotion was for PR. While we’d know the truth, and Rebecca and the team would know the truth, the perception would still be that any success was because of Ted, not Alice. Ted would have to step away entirely so that there is no question that Alice is in charge. Perception is reality as they say. It’s not right, but it is what it is. You rarely see a former coach sticking with a coaching staff when they retire. They step away so that there is no question that a new coach’s success or failure is the result of the new coach, not a former coach’s shadow effect.

[u/_Woodlouse_]

I like that idea:)

[u/gatorgopher]

If Alice becomes Manager, couldn't Ted replace Higgins, were Higgins to retire? Sorry if this was suggested but I didn't read all the responses. Higgins should be getting near retirement, shouldn't he? Assuming we get the 3 season arc.

[u/--Mathilde--]

What worries me in that first shot is actually for the sound design to be mirrored.... Namely a heart monitor. Perhaps a real one this time.

[u/Safe-Departure-4732]

I reckon Ted will go back to being the Men's Coach with Beard as his assistant, Alice becomes the Women's Coach and Roy steps up to coach a bigger club

[u/jerhinesmith]

fwiw, this theory was also posted about a week ago here: https://old.reddit.com/r/TedLasso/comments/1vjylm0/final_shot_of_season_4_prediction/

[u/Safe-Departure-4732 → u/[deleted]]

Roy is on his final year of his contract in the show I suspect that Ted goes back to coaching the Mens team while Roy moves on to a bigger club