Jamie Tartt turns up in Ted Lasso Season 4, episode 6 — but the striker’s cameo and a comic apple vodka launch are doing little to quiet critics who say the show is unsure what it wants to be after its supposed ending.
"Did you miss me?"
The line, reported by Mashable, ushers in a brief return for Phil Dunster’s Jamie Tartt, now a Barcelona-based star who has launched an Adam-and-Eve–themed apple vodka brand. The sequence is part of a New Year’s special-style episode that Mashable says exemplifies a broader problem: instead of moving confidently into new territory — particularly the promising storyline around women’s football — the series repeatedly revisits past characters and plotlines.
Where the season is getting flak
Mashable’s review highlights several strands that have frustrated critics. The fourth season began amid questions about whether another instalment was necessary after the series appeared to have wrapped in Season 3. One early justification observers suggested was that the writers could explore the rapid rise of women’s sport globally — a subject that the show seemed poised to examine.
However, according to the Mashable piece, much of Season 4 treats that women’s-sport angle as backdrop rather than focus. Instead, the show spends time on familiar arcs: the awkward and, at times, uncomfortable relationship between Coach Beard (Brendan Hunt) and Jane (Phoebe Walsh); rom‑com style loops for Roy (Brett Goldstein) and Keeley (Juno Temple); and cameos such as Jamie’s that read as nostalgic fan service rather than narrative necessity.
- Jamie Tartt’s cameo — a high-profile, likely one-episode return now framed around a commercial product launch.
- Women’s football — promising initial focus that Mashable says remains underused.
- Recurring character loops — established plotlines taking up screen time instead of new developments.
Mashable does concede that Season 4 can still deliver emotionally resonant moments: the review singles out a conversation between Ted (Jason Sudeikis) and Michelle (Andrea Anders) in episode 6 as an instance of the show’s quieter strengths. Likewise, the addition of Tanya Reynolds as Coach Alice is praised — Mashable says Reynolds offers a "dynamite deadpan performance" that serves as an effective foil for the series’ trademark optimism.
What critics say should be prioritised
Both reviewers and viewers eager for fresh storytelling have suggested the show’s clearest, most fruitful path lies with the Richmond Lady Greyhounds. The team, and the world around them, could allow Ted Lasso to interrogate the present realities of women’s sport and cultural shifts that have emerged since the series began.
Instead, Mashable argues, the writers are revisiting familiar emotional beats and characters, which risks diluting the show’s initial charm and purpose. That strategy may satisfy audiences who want to see beloved characters again, but it leaves unanswered whether Season 4 was commissioned to extend the story or to find a new mission.
| Episode | Notable element |
|---|---|
| Episode 6 | Jamie Tartt returns; apple vodka brand launch; Ted and Michelle conversation highlighted |
The debate around Season 4’s direction matters beyond fandom. Ted Lasso helped normalise empathetic leadership and uplifted narratives about community — a tone that resonated internationally, including in South Africa. How the series evolves now will shape its cultural legacy and influence how other shows approach endings, revivals and the integration of topical themes such as women’s sport.
For viewers who tuned in expecting a bold shift, the current season may feel like an extended nostalgia trip. For others, catching up with familiar faces and witnessing strong performances — notably from Reynolds — will remain the chief attraction.
Either way, Mashable suggests the series still has a clear opportunity: centre the Lady Greyhounds and let the show’s energy drive into the future, rather than circle the past.
