Where to begin? I’ll start with the clear backsliding that so many of the characters displayed. Ted’s character, who had gone through so much growth in regards to his family situation, was back to being a mope who was jealous of his ex-wife’s love life. Doesn’t he deserve better than that simpleton of a woman he was with? Not exactly a lot of emotional depth in either his ex-wife or his own ability to get over her.

Keeley Jones, resident badass who channeled Rebecca Welton’s sense of independence and entrepreneurship, was reduced to an incapable boss who couldn’t say no to her friend. Nate Shelley, who finished Season 2 with epic though malicious flair, is all of the sudden an insecure and meek manager of a top soccer club? Rebecca Welton is back to obsessing over her ex-husband as well, stuck in the same backsliding as Ted. I could go on but it was just truly shocking and un-fun to watch.

And then there were the droll side characters… Why introduce characters like Zava and Shandy if you are just going to boot them from the show so quickly? The sadder part is that I was eager to see them go. They weren’t funny characters in the first place.

Ted Lasso S3 misunderstood the assignment. Episodes became bloated, the focus on character growth was lost. Even the political messaging, which had always been rather overt and forgivable in its “on-the-nose” nature, became so over-the-top moralizing as to be uncomfortable to watch even for someone like me who agrees with the message. Where was the nuance?

Fortunately, I am someone for whom the new doesn’t taint the old. I will always treasure Seasons 1 and 2. And I will always be baffled as to what happened in the writers room for Season 3.