'Ted Lasso' Season 4's Missing Character Return Fully Commits to the Show's New Formula

Warning! Spoilers ahead for Ted Lasso Season 4, Episode 6, “Don’t Jump Around Much Anymore.”Ted Lasso Season 4’s hybrid approach of being both a revival and a pretty standard continuation continues to be a topic of much debate. It’s not that the current run of episodes is bad; it just feels like it’s caught between two worlds. While key members of the cast have returned three years after the show aired what was quite clearly intended to be an emotional farewell to Coach Lasso (Jason Sudeikis) and company, the huge influx of new characters has overhauled the show’s identity.

Primarily, the formation of AFC Richmond’s women’s team has shifted focus away from the original men’s squad we saw Sudeikis’ character imbue with his signature brand of respect and teamwork. It’s been an equally brilliant blend of comedy and drama so far, but the absence of certain characters we spent three seasons growing increasingly attached to has been tricky to ignore. Thankfully, Episode 6, “Don’t Jump Around Much Anymore,” brings back a familiar face and eases the emotional burden that Ted Lasso has been trying to shoulder lately. Their inevitable comeback isn’t what I expected it would be, though.

Jamie Tartt’s ‘Ted Lasso’ Comeback Confirms the Show Has Fully Moved on From the Men’s Team

Phil Dunster’s Ted Lasso character began as an intentionally insufferable man-child with an enormous ego, and even though his redemption arc didn’t rid him of those traits, the show did give him several humanizing moments that made him a joy to tolerate. He quickly became a fan favorite, making his absence from the Season 4 cast something of a mini controversy. The show has explained his lack of presence so far by having him out of the country and playing for Barcelona. However, it makes perfect sense that he’d be back in the UK for the holidays in Episode 6. The fact that he has a new vodka brand to launch also helps.

All that being said, Jamie actually gets given very little to do in his recent Ted Lasso guest spot. After a hilarious entrance and chaotically wholesome dance scene with Roy (Brett Goldstein), Jamie just sort of starts to fade from the episode. Much of his role consists of simply sitting in the hospital waiting room after carrying Roy there. In fact, there were huge portions of the installment when I forgot Jamie was around at all. Considering how beloved the character is, I was surprised he was swept aside so quickly. On the other hand, it makes perfect sense.

New Year’s Eve is a great setting for Episode 6, as it organically brings up the topic of new beginnings. Ted allows himself to consider moving on from his ex-wife; Keeley (Juno Temple) is forced to accept – or at least assume – that she needs to move on from Roy, etc. The fact that Jamie is around at all is little more than a byproduct of the episode unfolding on such an emotionally charged evening. As I mentioned earlier, it’s logical for him to be back from Barcelona while the Spanish league is taking a break for Christmas. That doesn’t give him the right to step on the toes of all the ongoing Season 4 storylines, though.

His return comes across as the writers trying to strike a delicate balance between acknowledging the reality of Jamie being around at Christmas, the logic of his interactions with old friends, and not allowing him to overshadow the characters who have replaced him and his teammates. If anything, his Episode 6 role amounts to little more than authentic worldbuilding. Meanwhile, the discord between Alice (Tanya Reynolds) and the Women’s team, Rebecca’s (Hannah Waddingham) romantic struggles, and other more relevant subplots can remain firmly in the crosshairs. It was fun to see Jamie again, but I wouldn’t get used to him being around for the rest of Ted Lasso Season 4.