A finale full of shakeups
The 56-minute Season 4 finale of Apple TV's Ted Lasso, titled Being Alive, included a memorial for Mae, a song performed by Niamh and Siobhan, and two changes at the top of AFC Richmond. Roy Kent quit the men's team to manage his former club Chelsea, while Alice Chilton was promoted to head coach of the women's team on Ted's recommendation, with Ted and Coach Beard serving as her assistants. The shareholder showdown also turned when Zelda's henchman Hugo switched sides and secured the Milk sisters' shares for Rebecca, which, together with the 2% Mae left her in her will, gave Rebecca a 51% majority. Ted also told his son Henry about his father's suicide, and Rebecca proposed to her long-term boyfriend Matthijs in her office.[S1][S2]
Brendan Hunt, a co-creator of the show who also wrote the finale alongside Jason Sudeikis, gave Deadline his take on the episode's surprises and what they could mean for a fifth season. He weighed in on talk that a renewal might be close, clarified whether Brett Goldstein has finished his run as a series regular, and considered what it means for Juno Temple now that Roy and Keeley have rekindled their relationship. Hunt further noted that the original Richmond men's squad members who cameoed may have made their final on-screen appearance, part of an intended handoff to the women's side, and he detailed why Phil Dunster's Jamie Tartt was absent from that moment.[S1][S2]
What the changes mean for Season 5
On the possibility of a fifth season, Hunt said he had not heard anything official and that no writers room is currently active. He noted that a room can be greenlit before a season is greenlit, as happened for Season 2, but that neither step has occurred. Regarding Roy Kent's departure, Hunt said it does not necessarily mean Goldstein is leaving as a series regular, describing the move as acknowledging that Goldstein is busy and giving the show wiggle room. He added that there is no expectation of losing Roy and Keeley, though both actors are very busy, and that the writers do not know what will be happening in their lives if the show returns.[S1]
Hunt also clarified the sequence that led to Alice Chilton's promotion. He said Ted's line to Rebecca about the newly open manager position did not refer to the men's manager job; instead, Ted was coming in to let Rebecca know he was no longer the manager of the women's team. Hunt said it remains to be seen how Ted adjusts to a backseat role and whether it will be as easy as he thinks. He explained that Ted is not spending enough time with his son and told Henry he would make changes to avoid missing as many of his games. Hunt also addressed the divisive character Zelda and whether Tracey Ullman would return next season, and he shared the inspiration for Beard's new look in Season 4.[S1]
