Ted Lasso Finale Recap: Where Do We Leave The Greyhounds, And What Does It Mean For A Potential Season 5?

When "Ted Lasso" returned after a three-year hiatus, the Apple TV comedy faced the same question as its title character: Why come back?

For Ted, the answer came courtesy of his mother, who helped him see that being present for Henry wasn't enough; his son needed to see him doing something he loved. That brought the Lassos back to London, where Ted took charge of AFC Richmond's newly formed women's team. Along the way, he inspired a new generation of footballers, supported Alice through her struggles with anxiety, and course-corrected his young assistant when he recognized warning signs he'd once missed with Nate. He also learned that sometimes, believing can only get you so far — especially when his Lady Greyhounds face obstacles their male counterparts never had to overcome.

So, what did we know heading into the finale? Ted and the team were nearing the end of their inaugural season; Keeley was pregnant, expecting her first child with Roy; Beard was going through something of a midlife crisis, complete with a mushroom-parted hairpiece and piercing blue contacts; Rebecca was unaware that Zelda, not Rupert, was plotting to wrest control of Richmond away from her; Alice and Gemma had finally found common ground after a season of conflict; and the entire Richmond family was mourning Mae, who died shortly after watching the women pull off a remarkable comeback against Bristol City.

So, did "Ted Lasso" Season 4 ultimately justify its existence? Let's break down everything that happened in the finale and what it all means for a potential Season 5, then weigh in via the polls below.

We begin at the Crown & Anchor, which is closed for Mae's memorial. Baz, Paul, and Jeremy are there, as are Ted, Beard, Michelle, Henry, Rebecca, Higgins, and the Lady Greyhounds.

Beard has gotten rid of his tan because Mae thought it came off as anti-British, as well as the diamond stud she found pretentious. But he's kept the dangly earring that reminded Mae of her favorite sheep, Doug.

Keeley and Roy have already left — she's dealing with morning sickness. Mae's death has Keeley thinking about how quickly everything can change: Roy has changed, her body is changing, and she's excited... and a little freaked out.

Roy assures her that he's got her and that he's not changing a f—king—

His phone rings. Again. "F—king hell!"

This time, Roy answers. "Pr—k Agent Derrick" has big news: Roy has been offered the head coaching job at Chelsea.

And now Roy is the one who needs to throw up.

Back at the pub, Alice shows Gemma a framed photo of the Lady Greyhounds with Mae, hoping it can hang somewhere in the Crown & Anchor. Then Jane arrives, dressed head-to-toe in red. Her West End show opens tonight, so she can't stay long — but she does have enough time to manipulate Beard one last time and yank the remaining earring from his ear.

Niamh and Siobhan then lead the room in "The Parting Glass," a traditional farewell song, and Ted notices that Henry is struggling with Mae's death more than he's let on.

Upstairs, Henry admits he wishes Mae could help him with his homework again, then asks how Ted's father died. Nana told him his grandfather fell down some steps and hit his head. Is that really what happened?

"Yeah," Ted lies.

"And he was around your age?"

"Yes. But hey, don't worry. I'm good on stairs. You ain't gonna lose me any time soon, I promise."

A few days later, Ted confides in Beard that Henry wanted some straight talk and he went a little too "Serpentine." Beard tells him that as long as his reasons weren't tied to his own discomfort, he probably made the right call.

Higgins informs Rebecca that they're legally required to attend a shareholders' meeting. She remains convinced — or so it seems — that Rupert is behind the disappearing Richmond shares, and Zelda offers to accompany her for moral support.

Meanwhile, the Lady Greyhounds' final match has been moved to Nelson Road, but they're nowhere close to filling the stadium. Keeley takes care of that with a viral promo video featuring Drunk Rebecca asking everyone who isn't filling the stands where the f—k they are.

Among those watching the video? Nate, who is at home with Jade — seemingly now his wife, judging by the wedding ring — and their baby daughter, who we later learn is named Athena.

Come game day, Nate makes an even bigger cameo at Nelson Road. The Wonder Kid is now coaching the Polish national football team and has stopped by Richmond while visiting family.

Then Roy arrives with something on his mind.

"Diamond Dogs, mount up!"

Roy tells Ted, Beard, Higgins, Nate, and Alice that Keeley is pregnant — and that he's terrified he'll f—k up a perfect kid. He's been a good uncle to Phoebe, sure, but that's a part-time gig. How does he make sure he's a good dad?

Ted tells him that fatherhood is something you're never truly ready for; 12 years after "crapping his khakis" over Henry's arrival, he still worries about whether he's doing it right. Higgins passes along his own father's advice: If you drop your kids, pick them up as quickly as possible. Nate reminds Roy that love wins, while Beard tells him that the uncertainty he's feeling is something many people who aren't fortunate enough to have kids even though they want them would love to have.

And Alice? Don't lie to your kids about green beans being delicious. "And also, don't disappear when you feel inadequate." With that, the inaugural meeting of the Diamond Dogs and Cat People concludes.

Before the match, Matthijs calls Rebecca to apologize for not being able to get off work. Then Zelda arrives, just as Higgins delivers troubling news: The Milk Sisters have sold their shares.

"I can't believe this is happening," Rebecca says. Again, rather convincingly.

In the locker room, Ted admits that he was nervous to return to coaching after a couple years away, but the Lady Greyhounds have made the experience incredible. And assuming there's good Wi-Fi at the pubs in Heaven, he knows Mae is watching.

It's an especially big day for Shannon, who makes her first start for her childhood club. And Lizzie has her sons Archie and Sean by her side as the Lady Greyhounds walk out for their final match of the season.

Keeley's plan worked, too: Nelson Road is sold out. Michelle and Henry are there, as are Phoebe and her teammates, Baz, Paul, Jeremy, Elaine Pinter, and plenty of familiar AFC Richmond faces, including Isaac and Sam. Roy asks Sam if he ever second-guesses leaving Richmond for Manchester United.

"Yeah, sure," Sam says. "But as Dorothy said, sometimes you have to go away to know where home truly is."

No, he doesn't mean Dorothy from "The Wizard of Oz." He means his Aunt Dorothy, who briefly left his uncle for a dance instructor. "Big, big scandal in the Obisanya family."

Keeley texts Roy to assure him she isn't watching the match, only listening. Except she's secretly at Nelson Road, hiding in the locker room because she wanted to feel the stadium's energy. Roy takes her out to watch — until Keeley starts freaking out at the referee and he promptly escorts her back inside to keep her blood pressure at bay.

Then comes the shareholders' meeting, where Zelda reveals that she was behind the hostile takeover all along. Her accomplice, Hugo Riddles, had been quietly buying Richmond shares on her behalf, and the Milk Sisters' sale seemingly gave Zelda a controlling interest.

But Zelda doesn't want the Lady Greyhounds. She wants the men who control football to listen to her — and what better way to make that happen than to own a men's Premier League team?

Then comes the big twist: Higgins and Rebecca caught on to Zelda's scheme, and Hugo turned on her! He sold the Milk Sisters' shares back to Rebecca, leaving Rebecca and Zelda deadlocked with 49 percent apiece.

And the remaining 2 percent?

Elaine Pinter, of Pinter and Sons, appears on behalf of her former client Mae Green. Mae left the Crown & Anchor to Baz, Jeremy, and Paul, with one request: "Don't f—k it up." She also requested that her 2-percent stake in AFC Richmond be returned to Rebecca.

Rebecca now owns 51 percent. Richmond is still hers.

Zelda apologizes, and Rebecca forgives her. She offers an alternate version of Zelda's beloved scorpion-and-frog parable: A woman repeatedly tries to save a drowning scorpion despite getting stung because, just as it is in the scorpion's nature to sting, it is in hers to save. Why should she change her nature because of someone else's?

Rebecca extends her hand and tells Zelda she'll see her at the next shareholders' meeting.

Meanwhile, back at home, Ted apologizes to Henry for missing some of his football games and promises to shift his schedule around next year. But that isn't the only thing he needs to say. He finally tells Henry the truth about his grandfather's suicide. We don't hear the conversation, but this time, Ted doesn't go "Serpentine."

Later, Michelle texts Ted an old photo of Henry: "My iPhone decided to remind me of this today. Time sure does fly." Which is perhaps even worse product placement than Keeley asking Siri if she's going to be a good mother earlier this season, but I digress.

Ted looks over at his father's Salesman of the Year plaque, and something clicks. He's made a decision... but about what, exactly?

At Nelson Road, Roy tells Rebecca he's accepting Chelsea's offer. They wanted him immediately, but he's staying through the end of Richmond's season.

Roy knows it's a massive risk. "But we've got to take risks, haven't we, Rebecca? Or else, what's the f—king point?"

Rebecca agrees — but Roy reminds her that she's the one who taught him that. She once told him to get out of his own way and stop with the "woe-is-me" act.

"And you were right," he tells her. "I f—king love you for it."

Rebecca tells Roy that when he gets bored with Chelsea's unlimited budget and endless resources, he can come crawling back to Richmond. She offers a handshake. He pulls "Auntie Supreme" in for a hug instead.

As Roy exits, Ted arrives with biscuits for the boss. Rebecca reflects on Mae's death: Mae died doing what she loved, while the rest of them are still here to laugh, hurt, fall, get back up, and make a mess of things. Being messy means being alive.

"So what are you waiting for?" she asks herself. Then SHE remembers that Ted hasn't told her why he's there.

Funny enough, he was hoping they could have a chat about her newly opened manager position. Hmm....

Elsewhere, Beard reads a review of Jane's new West End show, which stars Emma Stone, with Richard Schiff playing a character based on Beard. Mady and Margy assure him that despite enjoying the show, they think Beard is great "just the way you are." Matthijs then arrives and points out that Beard has ditched the tan, the earrings, and those deep blue contact lenses. Only one mistake remains: the guinea pig on his head.

Matthijs makes a beeline for Rebecca's office and greets her with a bouquet of flowers. Her response? "F—k it, marry me!"

Rebecca is serious. She's done being a marriage hater. She loved being married; she was simply married to the wrong person. She wants to stop worrying about what could go wrong and start living her life with Matthijs. Her pencil skirt makes getting down on one knee difficult, so Matthijs does it for her and finishes the proposal. Of course he'll marry her.

From there, Mae's voice recites Mary Oliver's "When Death Comes," a poem about confronting mortality with curiosity and making sure you've truly lived, as the finale takes us through one last montage.

Baz, Jeremy, and Paul are now running the Crown & Anchor, where Alice's framed photo with Mae hangs on the wall.

Isaac shaves Beard's head, with an assist from kit man Will.

Roy packs his office for Chelsea and finds a final gift from Ted: a note telling him he'll be a great dad, along with one of Ted's little green Army men. Roy pockets the soldier, leaves his Richmond office for the last time, and walks out with Keeley.

And Ted finally gives Alice the going-away gift he rescinded in Episode 2. Rebecca and Higgins arrive to congratulate her, followed by a fully shaven Beard.

"Change is good," he says... and there's plenty of change to go around.

Alice Chilton is now manager of the AFC Richmond women's team. Willis Beard and Ted Lasso are now her assistant managers.

And as for how the Lady Greyhounds' final match turned out? Curiously, we never find out. All we know is that there are 112 days until the start of their next season.

And that's the end of Season 4.