Ted Lasso is a series that explores ways to redeem masculinity through psilocybin-infused tea, offering one way of doing just that.

Beginning the episode, each character opens up to one another about some aspect of themselves (Higgins made mistakes with time zones during a transfer deadline; Roy doesn’t read scouting reports and Beard went to a game high on mushrooms), yet perhaps most tellingly when Ted hallucinates Nate and they both vanish into thin air!

Ingredients

Ted Lasso is a show about teamwork and heart, so its first episode features plenty of funny moments such as sexy pillow fights and gay pub visits – culminating with all members meeting back on the bus at 10:00 am as promised by Ted the day before.

Beard prepares mushroom tea, but Ted cannot stomach drinking it. This triggers an amazing sequence of neon shapes and deep voiced narration which ultimately lead to Ted realizing a perfect football formation that will allow Richmond to end their losing streak.

The rest of the night proves less lively but still entertaining; Colin confides in Trent about his sexuality while attending a party at a gay bar, then returns back to their hotel where they engage in a pillow fight and enjoy each other’s company – before concluding the episode by singing Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds”, thus closing its circle from last week’s game.

Taste

Apple TV+’s Ted Lasso’s third season finds the titular coach mired in turmoil: homesick for his son Henry and betrayed by his former flame, his football team has fallen into an apparent slump without an end in sight despite Zava’s arrival – though even this seemingly beneficial move wasn’t enough for an impactful return during competition.

This week’s episode “Sunflowers,” in which the team visits Amsterdam for their one night out, came as such a welcome surprise. While players struggle to decide where they will spend their evening, Beard prepares mushroom tea that Ted reluctantly drinks after some deliberation – an action which ultimately gives him some form of psychoactive mushrooms which subsequently leads to an insane hallucinogenic trip/dream sequence which ultimately provides him with a brilliant strategy on how to win his game!

It’s an extraordinary moment in a sitcom, showcasing the skills of its production design and visual effects teams. Though difficult to discern exactly what the show is doing here, it appears to be some sort of postmodern madness similar to 30 Rock and Community at their most absurd. Ted begins thinking out his strategy for winning his game as his surroundings dissolve into dark expanses filled with neon shapes and deep voiced narration; eventually his mind forms his new strategy a plan and success becomes inevitable.

The entire sequence is an absolute treat, from its charming string-based score to vintage instructional video-inspired visuals – making this an utter delight! Furthermore, its subtle yet intelligent fourth wall breaks are part of its charm; not simply being added for comic effect but integral to its story itself.

And while it doesn’t quite reach the heights of those two shows, its characters’ ability to switch seamlessly between traditional sports drama plotlines and more meta-comic antics is striking – an indication of its maturity as well as testament to writers who can keep audiences guessing with their inventiveness.

Side effects

Apple TV+’s Ted Lasso, now in its third season, has provided audiences with an engaging, hilarious, and heartwarming ride. Jason Sudeikis leads an ensemble cast that have come to life on screen; each episode provides this opportunity; but “Sunflowers” stands out as one of the highlight episodes from season 3 so far.

Ted finds himself in a state of depression after realizing he can’t repair his marriage, as well as being disgruntled over Richmond’s current win-loss record. Even so, he still wants his team to have fun so he lifts curfew and asks assistant coach Roy Kent (Brett Goldstein) to lead them around Amsterdam for an adventure-filled evening outing.

Ted takes around 30 minutes to try the tea he was given and, at first glance, it appears to be some form of marijuana-laced beverage. Soon enough though, Ted finds himself on an unexpected journey through football formation history, complete with triangular shapes and an intimate voice telling him everything from its history and formations through to a solution: an approach with triangle-based strategies can help his team win games.

Assuming the rest of their team isn’t on drugs, they all enjoy Amsterdam to the fullest extent possible. Watching Rebecca worry over Jack while Jamie and Roy connect over barbecue sauce makes for great entertainment; though the episode might not leave an upbeat message when the team boards their bus to go home, but still provides peace-of-mind when the bus pulls away for good.

Although it would have been nice if Keeley and Jack’s relationship was given more emphasis in this episode, its depiction of how their love story started and then fizzled out is both entertaining and relatable. Furthermore, this episode also underlines the show’s interest in redeeming masculinity–an approach to male identity that doesn’t involve aggressive behaviors and needless competition with others–that should resonate with viewers of all ages.

Overall

Ted Lasso is a show that often references itself, often leading to insightful commentary on character motivations and arcs while sometimes rendering the series feeling disorienting or out-of-place. While such self-referentiality can be enjoyable and refreshing – like when season two episode used rom-com pastiche to explore romantic comedy dynamics – at other times it can become distracting and confusing.

This season, the show has focused on exploring its own structure, and while this doesn’t always work perfectly well – some episodes work better than others. One such episode that stands out is Season 3 Episode 6 “Sunflowers”. It stands as one of the highlight episodes for me thus far!

Episode 13 finds Ted reeling after yet another crushing defeat, this time in Amsterdam. Even though this loss wasn’t even competitive, it left him and his team feeling downhearted and out-of-sorts. Rebecca refuses to fire Ted despite this losing streak, so instead arranges for them to take a trip together to Amsterdam as a means of lifting spirits and giving everyone something positive to focus on.

But the journey doesn’t play out like you might expect in a football-themed sitcom: after drinking several shots of tea, the players find themselves transported into a surreal dream state where neon shapes and deep voiced narration seem more appropriate for a children’s cartoon than for an fantasy soccer sequence.

Abstract, out-of-left-field visuals that showcase the production design and art departments’ efforts on this show. When combined with Tom Howe’s melodic string-based score, they make an unforgettable scene and feel earnest and relevant to its plot rather than simply adding flair for writers having fun.

Ted Lasso is an entertaining, heartwarming show that has delighted audiences over and over. Packed with lighthearted comedy and profound morals, Ted Lasso has quickly become a fan favorite and should not be missed by sports or comedy enthusiasts. Jason Sudeikis leads an intelligent cast that makes this series truly one-of-a-kind.