Ted Lasso Season 3 Episode 11 Recap: Mom City
The penultimate episode of Ted Lasso’s third season takes a somewhat bumpy road, but it all comes together for an emotional ending that sets up next week’s finale. Here’s a recap of what happened in “Mom City”:
The Arrival of Ted’s Mother
The episode begins with Ted leaving his apartment and greeting everyone he comes across until he sees a familiar face — his mother. Nathan is working alongside Jade at the restaurant when Isaac, Will, and Colin turn up. The boys say the whole team wants Nate to come back, but they wanted to check with him before approaching Ted about it. Nate considers but then tells them he can’t return.
Dottie and Rebecca Bond
Ted introduces his mother, Dottie, to Rebecca, and the two women immediately hit it off. Dottie even regales the team with stories about Ted, but he doesn’t seem too happy to have her here. He confesses to Rebecca that if he leaves his mother with one happy memory from her trip here, then it’s fine.
Jamie’s Struggles
Jamie surprises Roy by bursting into tears, crying about how he hasn’t been eating or sleeping and feels like his wings have been cut off. At the pub, Dottie asks Beard how Ted is doing, and Mae muses about how parents pass on their faults to their children, even though they don’t mean to.
Keeley’s Intervention
At a hotel, Keeley tells Roy she’ll talk to Jamie. She ultimately finds him and asks if he’s okay, but he says he is but begins to get anxious again. Keeley explains that he’s back playing at home in Manchester after a long time and the crowd would be against him this time, most of all his dad. She tells him to imagine how he’ll have achieved his dream if they win the next day, but that only seems to make things worse.
Jamie’s Childhood Home
Roy and Keeley follow Jamie outside the hotel. He ultimately finds out they’re following him and they insist they just want to know if he’s okay. He tells them to come with him. On the way, they’re approached by three young boys playing football who recognise Jamie and throw insults at him. They ultimately reach a house where they’re invited in by a man and a woman who is none other than Jamie’s mother.
Emotional Reunion at Jamie’s Home
Inside the house, Jamie’s mother coaxes the truth out of him. He says everything he used to do was to go against his father, but now that he doesn’t care about him, he feels lost. Roy and Keeley go to Jamie’s old room and see an old poster of Roy. When Jamie’s stepfather leaves the room, they also see a poster of Keeley behind the door. Jamie’s mother tells him how she wept when he played for England. She puts her arms around him, and he starts to cry.
Ted’s Breakthrough
Back at his apartment, Dottie gives Ted a collection of newspaper clippings about him from back home. He asks if she’s coming to the game, and she says she’d rather be home. She asks him if he’s still having the panic attack, and Ted admits he’s been talking to a therapist. He asks her if she’s thought about talking to someone and she dismisses it.
Ted’s Powerful Speech
After the big game, Ted lets Dottie have it with a speech alternating thanks and obscenities as he recalls all the ways Dottie helped him after his father’s death and all the ways Dottie forced him to repress his feelings as she was doing instead of properly mourning the loss. Then Dottie gets to the heart of the matter: Ted’s son misses and needs him. Ted knows, but hearing it said out loud makes him break down.
The Final Score
Jamie has a phenomenal game, even after sustaining an injury that at first makes his return to the match questionable. The crowd even shows respect to their hometown hero, even though he’s now playing for the opposing team. Meanwhile, Richmond is still four points off from beating Manchester City and leading the league.
The Decision to Return
The episode ends with Ted saying, “I got one.” We won’t find out what those words mean until next week’s episode, but we know, don’t we? Ted is finally ready to return to the States and to Henry, the son who clearly misses him.
Conclusion
While “Mom City” is not the strongest episode of Ted Lasso’s third season, it sets up what should be a powerful season finale. The emotional moments between Ted and his mother, and Jamie and his family, help propel the story forward and provide a greater understanding of these characters. We’re excited to see what Ted’s decision will mean for the future of the show.
FAQs
1. When is the season finale of Ted Lasso season 3?
The season finale of Ted Lasso season 3 will air on Apple TV+ on October 29th, 2022.
2. Will there be a season 4 of Ted Lasso?
Yes, Apple TV+ has already announced that Ted Lasso will return for a fourth season.
3. Who plays Jamie’s mother in Ted Lasso?
Leanne Best plays Georgie, Jamie’s mother in Ted Lasso.
4. What did Jamie’s father do to him at Wembley?
Jamie’s father drunkenly heckled him at Wembley, causing a scene and attracting negative attention.
5. Who won the game between Richmond and Manchester City in season 3 episode 11 of Ted Lasso?
The outcome of the game between Richmond and Manchester City was not revealed in season 3 episode 11 of Ted Lasso. The score remained the same, with Richmond still four points off from leading the league.
