Warning: the following article contains spoilers for Ted Lasso season 3, episode 10, “International Break.”
As powerful and imposing a presence that AFC Richmond’s club president Rebecca Welton (Hannah Waddingham) is – as fans of Ted Lasso are all too aware – for the past three and a half seasons, she has been haunted by the specter of her failed marriage and the persistent presence of her ex-husband, Rupert. However, by the time the credits roll in this week’s episode, Rebecca seemingly emerges as a woman unburdened.
To recap, a hesitant Rebecca attends a summit to discuss the possibility of establishing the Akufo League, and finds herself the lone woman in a room with nothing but old and ludicrously wealthy white men, all of whom own some of the most prestigious football clubs around Europe. Edwin delivers his obnoxious one-percenter pitch. In response, heeding words of wisdom from Keeley that arrived in the nick of time via text message, Rebecca pictures the room for what it is – a room of men who were all at one point or another, little boys – who are in dire need of a privilege check.
She also finds herself appealing to Rupert’s childhood love of football, which he responds well to. Edwin, however, shrugs her off almost immediately, but Rebecca is seemingly met with agreement from all of her fellow club owners, prompting the eccentric billionaire to storm out of the room in a huff, but not before throwing a tantrum and covering his guests with food.
Rupert, who seems to believe that Rebecca’s impassioned speech somehow reignited the spark between the pair (never mind your own current wife and kid, you scumbag), makes a move on his ex-wife. Then, the moment we’d all been waiting for – Rebecca shuts him right down, and leaves him hanging. What an absolute queen!
In the closing moments of the episode, we see Ted and Rebecca catching up – and in the wake of her monumental breakthrough, she tells Ted she no longer cares for beating Rupert, she cares about winning for the sake of the club, finally free of the tunnel vision that has plagued her for so long. Then, in a brilliant callback to early days of season 1, she spits her tea all over him.
Needless to say, we’re so thrilled by this full circle moment for Rebecca, having been rooting for her to find her inner peace for so long now. It would seem that her character arc is just about ready to have a neat bow tied on it, if it hasn’t already. With other loose ends also beginning to be tidied up, we’re starkly reminded that Ted Lasso season 3, or maybe even the entire series, is about to reach its conclusion.
Ted Lasso season 3 has just two more episodes to go – arriving on Apple TV Plus over the next two Wednesdays.