"4-5-1" is the third episode of season 3 of the Apple TV+ series, Ted Lasso. It premiered on March 29, 2023.
Synopsis[]
Richmond adjust to an exciting change, but Jamie has reservations. Ted learns there's something new going on back in Kansas as well.
Plot[]
Colin is in bed and gets up to get dressed. He meets his partner, Michael, downstairs and he remembers his trip to Dubai coming up. They kiss, before Colin leaves for Nelson Road Stadium, hitting the bins on the way out. At the stadium, the Zava welcome event has begun, with crowds gathering. In the coaching room, Ted, Beard, and Roy discuss who they should drop in favour of Zava. Colin is suggested along with Jamie and Dani, though no firm decision is made. In the dressing room, players discuss Zava being part of the team and his influence on them when they were younger. Jamie enters the dressing room and is confused by what is happening.
Outside on the pitch, Rebecca is furious that Zava has not turned up and makes her look ridiculous. This is further complicated when Shandy arrives to offer services that Rebecca does not like, and Keeley is able to get Shandy away from Rebecca by telling her to sell merchandise. Higgins also confirms to Rebecca that Zava’s e-signature is legally binding, but he didn’t use a signature, instead signing the contract with “You’re welcome”. Rebecca decides they need to go and figure out the situation, given that Zava has not arrived. They enlist Higgins to keep the crowds entertained while they are away. They make their way into Rebecca’s office where they find Zava is sitting at Rebecca’s desk, where he comments on the biscuit crumbs there. He greets everyone there individually, saying Ted is his leader and he is there to be moulded for example. He then makes his way down to the Richmond dressing room where Ted follows to make sure he doesn’t get lost. Ted arrives at the dressing room first however and asks the players where Zava is. Zava arrives soon after and the players are all stunned to see him and are standing to meet him except Jamie. Zava stands at the front of the room to address the players and first wants to address the most important person in the room, the kitman - Will - after initially mistaking Jamie for the kit man. Zava asks the players to breathe with him and they all do, though they cannot take a deep breath as long as him. With this, he says he is now part of the team and exits into the coaching room where the coaches soon follow. There, Zava is unhappy with the current formation on the whiteboard, and puts himself up front with the other players scrambling behind him.
Rebecca meets Tish, the psychic her mother recommended seeing. The pair exchange awkward jokes, then Tish asks Rebecca to hold a bowl with her as she plans to read her. There she mentions a green matchbook and a “shite in nining armour”, which causes Rebecca to want to leave. As she does so, Tish says Rebecca will have a family and be a mother. Rebecca objects to this strongly, citing Tish is dangerous and cruel. At Nelson Road, Keeley tells some players about interviews coming up, saying to keep it light and positive. Shandy though says they could make it go viral and say something controversial, much to Keeley’s surprise. Roy enters and offers to help but is put off by Shandy’s attitude, who opens up immediately by saying why he dumped Keeley. He asks why Keeley works with Shandy and then remembers how Shandy used to eat her own hair. In the coaching room, Jamie walks in to talk to Ted, Beard, and Roy. He says he is worried Zava will be too self-absorbed for the team, much to the irony of the coaching staff which Beard points out. Jamie ends by saying he doesn’t think the team needs Zava and Ted thanks him to speaking his mind.
Zava’s first game for Richmond comes around and they play Wolves. Before the game, Roy goes through the game plan to feed Zava wherever possible. Colin is dropped from the team and Isaac asks if he is okay, to which, in response, Colin says he is still strong and capable. Zava meditates before the game then goes out with the players onto the pitch. Before Ted goes out, he wants to call Henry to wish him luck as his soccer team starts the play-offs. He realises he left his phone on the bathroom sink at home and tries to use the landline, but realises he has forgotten Michelle’s mobile phone number. He is able to remember the landline number and gets through to Jacob Bryansan, Michelle’s new partner who responds to Ted in a funny tone as he suspects it to be a prank caller. Jacob passes the phone to Michelle who apologises to Ted and gives the phone to Henry and Ted wishes him luck. Ted and Michelle agree to talk later on about her changing circumstances and she wishes him luck. At the start of the game, Ted begins to have a panic attack but is interrupted as Zava scores from the halfway line. Richmond go on to win the game.
As the season progresses, Richmond beat Burnley, Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace, Leeds, Manchester United, and Brentford and they are now third in the Premier League. During this win streak, Jamie contends with Zava’s unorthodox style, Ted deals with frustration at his wife partnering with their marriage counselor, and Nate sees Richmond get closer to West Ham in the table. To celebrate the win streak, Sam invites everyone to the restaurant and Colin introduces his boyfriend as his wing man. Sassy is at the restaurant and meets with Keeley and Rebecca. She calls Rebecca out on dumping Sam and then speaks with Ted about his family problems. Beard orders shots for Ted and Jane arrives and they kiss. Roy talks to Jamie after seeing him frowning, which doesn’t look good on a win streak. He says Jamie is not the best any more and it happens, though he could be the best again if he changed his mind set. He agrees to let Roy train him, starting at 4am the next day. Rebecca is jealous of Sam as he is speaking to another woman, and is made more uncomfortable as Sam presents her with a green matchbook to commemorate the restaurant experience - what the psychic foretold.
Trent Crimm leaves the meal and begins to walk home. He pauses as he sees Colin and Michael kissing in the street.
Cast and characters[]
Starring[]
- Jason Sudekis as Ted Lasso
- Hannah Waddingham as Rebecca Welton
- Jeremy Swift as Higgins
- Brett Goldstein as Roy Kent
- Brendan Hunt as Coach Beard
- Nick Mohammed as Nathan
- Sarah Niles as Sharon Fieldstone
- with
Co-starring[]
- Moe Jeudy-Lamour as Thierry Zoreaux
- Stephen Manas as Richard Montlaur
- Billy Harris as Colin Hughes
- Mohammed Hashim as Moe Bumbercatch
- David Elsendoorn as Jan Maas
- Charlie Hiscock as Will Kitman
- Gus Turner as Henry
- Arlo White as himself
- Chris Powell as himself
- Sam Liu as Michael
- Keeley Hazell as Bex
- Bill Fellows as George Cartrick
- Emma Davis as Tish
- Precious Mustapha as Simi
- Phoebe Walsh as Jane
- Jeff Stelling as himself
- Paul Merson as himself
- Marcus Onilude as Marcus
- Lloyd Griffith as Lloyd
- Guy Porritt as Gary
- Anna Martine Freeman as Sarah