Here’s a quick (non-pub) quiz for you: Are cliques considered inherently negative because pop culture tends to portray them as such? I’m talking the Plastics, the Heathers, the Chanels, you name it (as this Ted Lasso episode does, too, by name-dropping Mean Girls, Heathers, and even The Lost Boys). These tight-knit crews are usually framed as women who tend to act superior to people not in their crew, and pick on or shut down outsiders who don’t conform to their made-up rules. These specific examples are from young adult stories, but if Ted Lasso‘s latest episode wants to say anything, it’s that teen girls and professional athletes are somehow similar (because they’re driven by ego and how other perceive them), at least according to AFC Richmond’s former psychologist, who helpfully states that cliques can be a way for people to build a community in a stressful environment.
After establishing that the Lady Greyhounds have formed three distinct cliques—the logical midfielders, the protective but anxious defenders, the exciting but selfish attackers—the show approaches this in, what else, the Lasso Way. That is, it’s all handled in an appropriately “aw shucks!” manner within a still-too-long 45-minute episode. We’re introduced to these cabals just as swiftly as they’re broken up by Ted, Beard, Alice, and a stint behind bars. The whole thing feels sweet, sure, but rushed, because Ted Lasso still hasn’t gone deep with any of its new players—at least not like they did with Jamie Tartt or Roy Kent in season one. We don’t exactly know why these mini teams were formed in the first place, how they managed to function well on the field despite it, and what their beef truly was (except for some lame jabs exchanged during Ted’s speech).
If we haven’t seen these women play or fight properly—barring one dust-up that Ted and Beard barge in to interrupt after covering their eyes—how are we to care about the method in which their differences are resolved? Luckily, Ted Lasso can apply one of its greatest strengths here: performers whose charm can overcome any hamfisted script. Jason Sudeikis and Tanya Reynolds sell the hell out of Ted and Alice’s budding banter, and even Brendan Hunt has mercifully toned down Beard’s weirdness a little bit. Meanwhile, the Lady Greyhounds are making the most of their weirdly limited screentime. So when the episode ends with all of them chanting together as they walk out of jail, it is effective—and for now, I’ll take that as a win.
“Greyhounds’ Day Off” treads familiar ground with the whole clique thing and the back-and-forth between Roy and Keeley. Look, Juno Temple and Brett Goldstein ooze chemistry, it’s undeniable, but I’m over the show finding ridiculous ways to keep them apart. Roy going on multiple dates in one night is a step back for his character (is he really that stupid to schedule them all in the same place?) and doesn’t make broader sense because this isn’t Roy and Keeley from season one anymore. They’ve figured out how to best communicate and deal with their insecurities. Enough time has passed in their world (and definitely in ours) since their breakup. They don’t need to be kept apart just for the sake of dragging their love story out. I feel like poor Higgins: trapped between the pair, unable to escape their loop even if he so badly wants to!
At least this episode brings back Dr. Sharon Fieldstone (Sarah Niles) and journalist Trent Crimm (James Lance). Their conversation is our entrypoint into “Greyhounds’ Day Off”s big themes of unity and sportsmanship. She talks on his podcast about her new book, in which she writes that true locker room culture is when coaches can foster trust off the field as well. Ted and Beard currently face this problem because they rightfully can’t just stroll into the Lady Greyhounds’ spacious new locker rooms, lest theyinvade the privacy of any player strolling around naked. Alice, the wise buffer, helps as best she can, but there’s no other way for Ted and Beard to remain privy to their players’ needs, moods, and relationships.
There’s no technical solution to this problem, of course. It’s why Ted and Beard aren’t aware that their players aren’t getting along until Alice points it out. They’ve split themselves up based on their skillsets, but it hasn’t gotten bad in a “One of them is turning out to be Regina George” way. At least not yet. And before this spirals out of anyone’s control, Ted decides to give the female athletes a common goal and enemy so they can direct their energy toward it instead of going at each other. He hopes they learn to mingle, so Ted skips training and forces all of them to compete at The Crown And The Anchor’s recently revived pub trivia night. It’s a trick that works well in his favor, even if it gets them locked up for a little while. But it’s a small price for Ted to pay.
As expected, the women—even if they’re not paired up with their friends at first—eventually put their differences aside at trivia not only to help each other, but to help take down a team of four dudes who verbally harass Gemma. They get along so well, in fact, that when one of the guys pours a drink over Gemma’s head, the whole team physically attacks him and his mates. No one is more badass than Boots, who cracks open a bottle on his head. They’re all thrown in jail for a few hours, but the close proximity somehow brings the women closer, too. If there was ever a sitcom-y ending to a Ted Lasso episode, it’s this one.
I’m glad the show puts a spotlight on another female friendship, too. Keeley, finally, in her own attempt at the Lasso Way, confronts Rebecca about her recent behavior. She doesn’t argue with Rebecca, but plans a platonic and entirely endearing dinner date in the bleachers—it’s where she admits that Rebecca got her to love the sport, and she prods her friend about why she doesn’t want to team up with a trailblazer like Zelda Southport (Tracey Ullman), who has a record of championing women’s teams across various sports. Keeley immediately took a liking to Zelda’s defiance, and I’m surprised Rebecca did not.
On the contrary, Rebecca’s highly trepidatious about Zelda for reasons Ted Lasso doesn’t clarify well at all. Is Rebecca nervous around and intimidated by Zelda’s success, or does she know other details about Zelda that nobody else does? This is a bit of a rough predicament, but it’s in line with the arc that episode two set up, in which Rebecca was forced to confront her own internalized misogyny. Who better than Keeley to help open Rebecca’s eyes? But even from what we know of the headstrong team owner, it’s weird for her to avoid Zelda—just as weird as it is for Zelda to be the one who secretly bailed out Ted, Alice, Beard, and the team. Perhaps Ullman’s character will play a larger role in taking this team ahead.
“Greyhounds’ Day Off” is, ultimately, what we would back in the day call a filler episode. I don’t mean this as a complaint, or in a bad way at all. TV shows need such outings to fill in the blanks and patiently help us understand characters better, regardless of the plot’s momentum. The episode doesn’t exactly ace this, but it’s comforting to know that Ted Lasso still has the ability to make an overlong but fun and somewhat compelling episode—even if it comes at the cost of Beard losing his mind over Jane once again.
Stray observations
- This is the second mention of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in just four episodes. What gives?
- Perhaps season four is designed to make me slowly lose my mind, because that’s what happened when Roy asked Keeley, “Has it been long enough yet? Am I allowed to ask?”
- On that note, Keeley saying “I never cared about football until I met Roy” is hilarious considering she was already dating Jamie when she met his teammate.
- Ted, Beard, and Alice figuring out the cliques by using Harry Potter and Ferris Bueller references was a lovely scene that emphasized how well this trio is working together. Alice actually watching Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is the cherry on top.
Saloni Gajjar is The A.V. Club‘s TV critic.
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