The AFC Richmond Team Huddles Excitedly
By
Casey Duby
Published 4 minutes ago
Casey Duby is an avid TV writer, watcher, and reviewer. She graduated from Emerson College in 2021 with a focus in Writing for Film and Television, where she wrote several pilots and watched countless more. She's been working in television ever since.
Casey loves thoughtful content that makes her ponder our world and the people in it, and she's learned that any genre can surprise her. With favorites in every genre from horror to politics, family to action, nothing is off limits.
Casey has experience working in TV development, as well as writing both narrative and host-driven shows. Currently working as a Writer in Los Angeles, with an AMC A-List membership to boot, she is always hunting for the next good story and great theme song.
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Ted Lasso has largely become synonymous with a heaping dose of positivity thanks in no small part to Ted himself — but he's not the only reason the show is such a ray of sunshine. From gruff softie Roy to hardworking Keeley, the entire Ted Lasso cast gets their chance to showcase the heart they bring to the table. As they do, one shines a little more brightly than the rest.
The announcement that Ted Lasso would be receiving a fourth season — and a major story shift — turned the season 3 finale into a bookend rather than a final conclusion. Despite its upcoming changes, Ted's next chapter would be remiss not to include one footballer in particular: Sam Obisanya.
Sam Obisanya Is The Most Wholesome Ted Lasso Character
Sam and Edwin Akufo in a museum in Ted Lasso
Sam doesn't have a mean or negative bone in his body. Not only that, but his values have a unique depth, pushing him to take impactful action beyond that of any other Ted Lasso character. He prioritizes family, culture, and kindness, and demonstrates it not only in the way he interacts with the other characters, but in the way he interacts with the world.
While Roy, Jamie, and Nate make heartwarming strides in tempering their ego and acting out of love, Sam enters the show as an already socially evolved man. His character arcs instead show him experiencing important, challenging milestones of personal growth, like opening a Nigerian restaurant and taking a political stand, dealing with racism all the while.
Of course, Sam is a delight on a personal level as well. One of his most wholesome storylines is his romance with Rebecca. With their age gap and power dynamic, it makes sense that the situation gave Rebecca some pause and ultimately led her to end it. But there were a lot of reasons Sam and Rebecca were perfect together — for one, Sam could not have been sweeter.
It's abundantly clear that Sam had genuine feelings for Rebecca and would never have hurt her. Be it this breakup or the vandalism of Ola's, Sam experiences some serious emotional challenges and faces them head-on. He feels his feelings, but ultimately processes them in a healthy way and isn't afraid to be vulnerable with his teammates or family when he needs support.
This is especially something that sets him apart, even from kindness guru Ted. While Ted takes care to meet the world with love, it's clear that this takes a toll on him internally. He struggles with panic attacks and alcohol, isolating himself when he feels that darkness creeping up inside him. Even the show's ultimate wholesomeness mentor could still learn a thing or two from Sam.
Will Sam & Other AFC Richmond Players Appear In Ted Lasso Season 4?
The football players sitting together in Ted Lasso
Season 4 is pivoting its focus to a new AFC women's team, meaning that the upcoming Ted Lasso season will primarily focus on new characters. However, some familiar Ted Lasso faces have confirmed their return, including (former) AFC Richmond player Roy Kent.
Roy will be joined by Ted, Coach Beard, Keeley, and Rebecca, suggesting that the characters returning in Ted Lasso season 4 will be more on the team management side than the player side. No other players from past seasons have been confirmed to reappear, and conversations about the upcoming season are preparing viewers for a change.
Nonetheless, it's not out of the question that some AFC Richmond players will make an appearance in some capacity. Coach Beard and Roy will continue having an association with the men's team, which, even if off-screen, is certainly nearby.
Why Ted Lasso Season 4 Still Needs Sam (Despite The Story Change)
AFC Richmond putting their hands together in the locker room in Ted Lasso
In many ways, Ted Lasso has always felt like a display of healthy masculinity. This took many forms, and the show was that much stronger for its depiction of a diverse array of positive male influences. The show may be risking this thematic throughline in its shift to a more female-heavy cast.
The rarity of examples of this type of male community was likely a factor in the show's huge success; the same may not be able to be said for this new storyline. Yet that doesn't mean Ted Lasso no longer needs the perspectives that rocketed it to fame.
Many of these themes were explored through the players' love lives; male love interests are likely on the horizon for some of these new female players. This could create a goldmine of opportunity to explore these same themes from new angles. Hearing from past players in this regard, or seeing them in a new light, would add welcome richness to the characters and the story as a whole.
Additionally, Ted himself still needs the influence of Sam and other personalities from past seasons. Ted's story seemed to wrap up nicely in the Ted Lasso season 3 finale, with him appearing to be at peace with his decision to return to America. Of course, this will no longer be the case as he embarks on coaching the AFC women's team, and this will likely pose some challenges for him.
Ted's mental health and familial struggles are still largely unresolved, especially with the upcoming story unspooling his newfound clarity in season 3's decision to return to his son. Ted Lasso season 4 would do well to go into more detail exploring the murkier depths beneath Ted's surface, and there's no one better to support him than the well-adjusted Sam.
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Ted Lasso
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