Summary
The penultimate episode is all about compassion and kindness as Ted has a big decision to make.
The opening of Ted Lasso Season 1 Episode 9 Ted finds Roy in the medical room — he is hiding and embarrassed; an own goal by him lost them their latest game. He’s in an ice bath in a bin which adds to the comedy. Ted enters the room and tells him not to be hard on himself. The media isn’t being too kind to him either, stating he’s old and finished.
Roy is already insecure and the penultimate chapter toys with him even more.
Ted Lasso Season 1 Episode 9 Recap
You need to tell Ted
It seems Higgins has quit for real. Rebecca asks Ted how he feels about the final weekend and team morale. Keeley walks into the room and Rebecca looks nervous. Privately, Keeley tells Rebecca that she needs to tell Ted what she’s done as soon as possible. Keeley tells Rebecca that if she doesn’t tell him she will think lowly of her.
The series has put Rebecca in a position where she’s made true friends on this journey and it adds an emotional edge to the storyline; she needs to come clean in order to save friendships that she now values.
Bench Roy
Beard and Nate talk to Ted in private. They tell him that they need to take Roy out of the team because he hasn’t played great. Ted tells them they are not benching Roy because he’s the captain but he respects their opinion.
Rupert’s big news
Ted has a meeting with Rebecca. She is all over the place and acting super awkward. She backs out in telling him her secrets because she’s too nervous. Ted leaves and then Rupert walks in which catches her by surprise. He reveals that he and Bex are having a baby. Rebecca is shocked because Rupert never wanted kids with her. She’s absolutely fuming that he’s having a child at 70 years old. He tells Rebecca that it’s all about meeting the right person. As he leaves, Rebecca’s eyes fill with tears and she has a despondent look on her face.
I’ve been a f*cking b*tch
Rebecca enters the player’s changing room and approaches Ted in his office; she admits to being a f*cking b*tch and that she’s purposefully sabotaged the club and him all this time — she admits she wanted to cause pain and suffering for Rupert. As she confesses, she’s emotional about it and apologizes. Ted tells Rebecca that he forgives her because divorce is hard. Ted makes her laugh and he admits the job has changed his life. Rebecca hugs him tight.
This scene shows a level of compassion that we shouldn’t take for granted in real life — forgiveness is tough but Ted as a character shows how being empathetic and understanding of other people’s issues can make you into a kinder person. The message is clear — kindness is power, which is why it throws Rebecca off; she wasn’t expecting so much from Ted after her confession.
Silent treatment
At training, Beard and Nate are giving Ted the silent treatment over the Roy decision. During training, Roy is struggling to keep up. Ted talks to Roy privately after the training; Roy gets emotional as Ted suggests he will be benched and walks off.
I’m sorry
Rebecca meets Higgins in his home. He’s playing instruments and has strange facial hair. She tells him she’s come clean to Ted. Rebecca then apologizes to Higgins for treating him poorly.
It’s a good writing choice that Rebecca was an easily forgiven villain — it might have diluted the message if Ted and Higgins were furious with her.
You are not just a footballer
Keeley meets Roy — he talks about being on the bench; she sits him down so they can talk properly. He states he has been a star all his life and that’s all he’s ever known. Keeley asks Roy’s niece what she thinks of Roy — she describes him, leaving out that he’s a footballer and that she loves him. Keeley is proving a point — he’s not just a footballer.
Losing has repercussions
Ted has a beer with Coach Beard at the pub. He talks about Roy’s reaction and that he’s not benching him — Ted continues and says that their measure of success is not just about winning. Beard slams his fist on the table which silences the customers in the pub and says “Damm it, it is!”. Beard says winning matters to him — “Losing has repercussions. We lose, we get relegated”. Coach Beard calls Ted selfish and walks out.
Coach Beard has a point in this scene; while relegation may not have applied to Ted’s previous teams, it does here and his blase approach could impact many people.
Let me know how you want to play it
As Ted leaves the pub very drunk, Roy stops him from being nearly run over. Roy heads to Ted’s house and apologizes for shouting at him. Roy says his niece will still watch the match if he doesn’t play which annoys him. Ted offers to pretend that Roy is injured but it’s up to him how he plays it to the media or the game itself.
Ted Lasso Season 1 Episode 9 Ending Explained
During the pre-game talk, Roy walks in and puts on a substitute bib. He tells them that the second team is going to kick the first team’s arses.
The penultimate episode is all about compassion and kindness as Ted has a big decision to make.
Ted Lasso Season 1 Episode 10 Recap and Ending Explained
Ted Lasso Season 1 Episode 10 (Credit – Apple TV+)
We always knew Nate would start getting the credit he deserves…
Nate is introduced to the new clubhouse attendant and he thinks he has been fired. Rebecca then gives Nate a contract — he’s been promoted. The whole team comes in and celebrates with him. Ted gives him a whistle and announced him as Coach Nate.
Motivational video
And Nate is soon given his first task and it rallies the team. Of course, the series recognizes that Manchester City is a world-class team so the likelihood of beating them is slim.
Ted tells the team that they have Manchester City next and there’s a risk of relegation. Coach Nate shows them a video — it’s the ex-player Jamie criticizing his old club. One of the players smashes the TV. At the pub, the locals thank Ted and Coach Beard and assume they’ve already lost and got relegated. Ted asks where the hope is but the landlady says “it’s the hope that kills you”.
Chaos and confusion
It seems in the finale that Ted does not understand how much of a powerhouse City is.
Ted holds a meeting with Beard and Nate. Nate tells him there is no hope to beat Manchester City. Ted is annoyed at the pessimistic attitude. The next morning, Ted tells Rebecca that she’d have been better off getting a football manager and that she should fire him if it goes wrong. Rebecca tells Ted that he sees football differently to others and he should cause confusion and chaos.
Trick plays and mind games
So the narrative brings in the concept of a football coach trying to bring American football ideas to a different sport.
Ted brings his ideas to the team and talks about “Trick plays”. The team is on board and give different plays. Meanwhile, Jamie sees the coach Ted talking nicely about him in an interview. Jamie heads over to Keeley’s house and he sees Roy and he is surprised. He tells Keeley that Ted Lasso is playing mind games with him on the TV. Keeley tells him that Lasso does like him.
Miracles
There’s nothing like enthusiasm and Ted gives his most American-like speech to date.
The game has arrived and the town is ready. Roy hands Isaac the captain’s armband and tells him to never stop breaking TVs. In the team talk, Ted talks about the phrase he doesn’t like — “It’s the hope that kills you”. Ted disagrees and says he believes in hope and that it’s a “lack of it” that kills you. He asks the team “Do you believe in miracles?”.
Let the games begin
And then the final match makes up for most of the Ted Lasso season 1 finale as expected.
Before the game begins, Ted wishes Jamie good luck which bugs him. In a funny moment, Ted still doesn’t understand the offside rule. The trick plays seem to be working but it’s still 0-0 at half time. During half time, the players want to see the Crystal Palace result to see if they need to beat Manchester City.
Roy is subbed on in the second half. Manchester City takes the lead in the second half. Jamie is through on goal at one point but Roy tackles him heroically. However, Roy is injured and the crowd is chanting his name as he gets up. Roy is subbed off with plenty of respect from the crowd — it’s a farewell moment and it’s sad. Roy heads into the changing room and he’s upset. Keeley approaches him in the changing room and comforts him.
Well, it’s the hope that kills you
Suddenly, there’s a commotion in the stands as Crystal Palace have won 6-0 — they just need a tie. The team announces the “Lasso Special”. It’s like an American football strategy and it confuses the City players. Richmond score to make it a tie. With all the jubilation the crowd forgets the game isn’t over; City score immediately and they win the game. Richmond are relegated. “You’ll Never Walk Alone” plays. On the TV, Ted Lasso says it was a hard loss to take. For the first time, Ted understands the gravity of the situation in football and he’s upset.
Ted Lasso Season 1 Ending Explained
And as ever, Ted manages to bring the touching moments that brings a strong emotional angle to the story when you least expect it. The next few scenes confirm that Ted finally understands football.
As Ted walks past Jamie, he sees him get heckled by his father for not scoring. Ted gives a full-time speech to the team. He tells the team to be grateful that they are sharing this sad moment together because what is worse is being alone and sad — “Let’s be sad together”.
Coach Beard gives Jamie an envelope as he leaves. It’s a note from Ted complimenting him on the extra pass to win the game. Ted then goes to Rebecca’s office and she asks him to sit. Ted offers to quit and gives her a resignation letter. Rebecca tells Ted that they have work to do for next season. Ted says they need to get promoted and then “Win the whole f*cking thing”.
The finale of Ted Lasso Season 1 signs off the series in style and emotion as the football club learns their fate.
What did you think of Ted Lasso Season 1 Episodes 9 and 10? Comment below.
