Season one of Ted Lasso introduces the titular character as an American football coach who goes
viral on social media due to his enthusiastic victory dances. This catches the eye of AFC
Richmond owner, Rebecca Welton, who hires Ted to come coach her European football team. And so,
Ted and his assistant coach, Coach Beard, move to London with little knowledge of soccer rules,
but a whole lot of enthusiasm and heart. What Ted doesn’t know is that Rebecca received ownership
of AFC Richmond following a very public and humiliating divorce, and she thinks
that hiring Ted will lead to disaster, ruining the team her ex-husband Rupert loves so much.
But what Rebecca doesn’t know is that Ted Lasso is the greatest human being to ever
walk the earth who is literally impossible not to love. Throughout the season, Ted manages to
charm everyone and turn them to his side. Ted immediately wins over Rebecca’s loyal Director of
Operations, Higgins, who feels guilty for keeping his boss’ schemes a secret from the lovable Coach
Lasso. He gives much deserved respect to the team’s underappreciated kitman Nate,
and even promotes him to assistant coach. He converts the scathing and skeptical reporter
Trent Crimm to his cause. He motivates the gruff and aging team leader Roy Kent to actually lead
the team on AND off the field. He starts making breakthroughs on turning superstar Jamie Tartt
from a selfish and egotistical ball hog to a slightly more respectful team player who
can maybe pass the ball every once in a while. He even befriends Jamie’s girlfriend Keeley and even
inspires her to use her intelligence to work for AFC Richmond instead of just being a model. And
most importantly, over the course of season 1, Ted Lasso manages to tear down Rebecca’s walls
and earn her support and friendship. Rebecca confesses to Ted her original motivations
in hiring him to sabotage the team, but Ted brushes it off and forgives her. In the end,
the two become genuine friends and unite in their efforts to see AFC Richmond achieve greatness.
Elsewhere in the season, Jamie and Keeley breakup, and Keeley strikes up a much
healthier relationship with Jamie’s rival Roy Kent. While working for AFC Richmond,
Keeley also forms a strong friendship with Rebecca. Speaking of Rebecca’s friends,
her old pal Sassy takes a liking to Ted. As for Rebecca herself, after holding onto her bitterness
toward punching bag Director of Operations, Leslie Higgins for his complicit behavior in
her ex-husband Rupert’s extramarital affairs, Rebecca eventually forgives Higgins for his
past misdeeds. And as for Rupert, Rebecca’s sleazy ex-husband finds a much younger girlfriend that he
likes to flaunt in his ex-wife’s face, and that new girlfriend ALSO happens to be named Rebecca.
While adapting to his new life in London and motivating his new team to believe in themselves,
Ted Lasso’s endless optimism is put to the test. Ted’s wife comes to the conclusion that they’ve
grown too far apart and asks for a divorce. And despite Ted’s excellent skills as a leader and
coach, his lack of knowledge on the actual sport and the initial divisiveness amongst the team puts
them on a nasty early losing streak. To make matters worse, Jamie Tartt is sent to play for
opposing team Manchester City, a team AFC Richmond would need to beat in their final game of the
season to avoid relegation. Despite an incredibly valiant effort, Manchester City wins that final
game, thanks to Jamie Tartt using the lessons imparted onto him by Ted Lasso and making a pass.
Jamie’s angry father scolds him for passing the ball instead of going for the game winning goal
himself, but Ted gives his former player a letter congratulating him and even includes an army man
toy that was originally a gift to Ted from his son. Obviously, AFC Richmond is devastated by
the loss and their relegation, but a newly united Ted and Rebecca have hope that next
season they can earn a promotion, and from there, they’d set their sights on Premier League glory.
Season 2 of Ted Lasso finds AFC Richmond in the middle of their football season, having drawn
their last seven games. When star player Dani Rojas accidentally kills the team’s greyhound
mascot, he falls into a depression that seriously affects his play skills. And so, Richmond hires
sports psychologist Sharon Fieldstone to help out. Sharon helps revitalize Dani’s love of football
and creates a huge burst of morale for the rest of the team. But Sharon’s most complicated
patient turns out to be Ted Lasso himself. Ted is suffering from severe panic attacks, but his
past experiences in couple’s counseling before his divorce lead Ted to resist any help from Sharon.
Rebecca begins a new relationship through a dating app with a mystery suitor who
she eventually discovers to be AFC Richmond player Sam Obisanya. Rebecca is hesitant to
continue the relationship after discovering this revelation, due to being Sam’s boss and the large
age difference. But the two end up forming a genuine bond and continue to date in secret,
until Rebecca decides to end things, fearing she’ll get her heart broken.
Meanwhile, Jamie Tartt decides to quit playing for Manchester City in an effort
to anger his overbearing father. After a brief stint on a reality dating show,
Jamie asks Ted if he can return to AFC Richmond. Ted reluctantly relents,
and the entire team is skeptical of having Jamie back. But Jamie proves himself to
be a changed man, and serves as a valuable team player and ally on and off the field.
Meanwhile, Roy Kent, though still going strong with Keeley, is struggling with
life after retiring from football. First he tries his hand at coaching his niece Phoebe’s
football team, then takes a job working as a sports commentator, where his blunt
and vulgar opinions lead him to becoming an audience favorite. But despite this success,
Roy misses being out on the field, and eventually takes a job working as a coach for AFC Richmond
alongside Ted, Beard, and Nate. With Roy and Jamie now back as part of the team,
AFC Richmond break their draw streak and finally start winning matches.
The new addition and success of assistant coach Roy Kent begins to spur jealousy in Nate. When
Ted suffers a panic attack during a crucial moment in the team’s quarter final match,
Nate steps up to lead the team to victory. The social media praise for Nate’s play calling
all go to the assistant coach’s head, and he begins feeling spiteful that he
isn’t getting the credit he deserves from Ted and the team. This leads to Nate taking out
all his past frustrations and insecurities on the players and the team’s new kit man, Will.
When AFC Richmond suffers a terrible loss against Manchester City, Jamie’s father lashes out and
publicly humiliates him. Jamie finally fights back against his father and then breaks down
into the arms of his comforting former rival, Roy Kent. Seeing the two rivals embrace inspires Ted
to finally seek help from Sharon for his own emotions. As Sharon’s time with the team comes
to a close, Ted wishes his new friend well and thanks her for everything she has done.
Ted is visited by reporter Trent Crimm, who warns him that an article detailing Ted’s panic attack
at Richmond’s previous match is about to be published. Trent reveals that his source for
the article is Nate, which costs him his job. Ted keeps this revelation to himself and continues
working alongside Nate to focus on Richmond’s final match of the season, which will determine
if the team is promoted to the Premier League. Everyone rallies around Ted for support from
the article, and AFC Richmond comes out of the match victorious. As the season comes to a close,
Keeley gets funding to start her own PR firm and encourages Roy to take time away from her,
which greatly concerns him. Rebecca’s ex-husband Rupert gives her full ownership of AFC Richmond,
which leaves Rebecca shocked at his generosity. But, it turns out,
Rupert has something more shady in mind, as he buys rival football team West Ham
United and hires the spiteful Nate as the team’s head coach.