Ted Lasso's Season 3 Finale Has A Few Sneaky Nods To The Office
This post contains spoilers for the "Ted Lasso" season 3 finale.
Seemingly knowing its place alongside some of the most popular comedy shows the zeitgeist has ever seen, the "Ted Lasso" season finale made sure to reference another one. If you're a fan of "The Office" — the original or the American remake — you probably spotted some of these connections.
Let's start with the final nod to both a classic rom-com trope and to another great sitcom finale: Ted and Rebecca's goodbye at the airport. It's similar to the one Jenna Fischer's Pam has with Steve Carrell's Michael Scott in the series finale of the U.S. version of "The Office." Rebecca surprises Ted there much like Pam does to Michael, but this time the audience is privy to their conversation in a way they were not with Pam and Michael. Just before seeing Pam, Michael took his microphone off for the last time. Cue the tears.
A couple of cameo roles also make a comeback in the finale. Remember Rebecca's short-lived boyfriend John Wingsnight? He's played by English actor Patrick Baladi, who is perhaps best known for playing Neil — the manager of the Swindon branch of Wernham Hogg Paper Merchants — in the original U.K. version of "The Office." Also, John's new girlfriend on "Ted Lasso" is played by Lucy Davis, who played Dawn Tinsley (Pam's counterpart) in the BBC edition of the workplace sitcom. The new couple are still together in the finale, attending the Richmond vs. West Ham match, which proves to be particularly memorable for them when John takes Isaac's super-powered ball to the face, and ends up with a broken nose to match Zorro's.
Nate Shelley's new job title
Finally, the most obvious "The Office" reference of the entire "Ted Lasso" season 3 finale — which fans of both versions of "The Office" should catch. Richmond's very own Nathan Shelley returns to the clubhouse in the finale episode, but in a move that may surprise some, he's taken his position back at the bottom of the totem pole. In fact, when beloved kit man Will reintroduces Nick Mohammed's Nate as the "assistant clubhouse attendant," the former West Ham United coach happily replies that he's actually "assistant to the clubhouse attendant."
The exchange is a nod to a running gag from the original U.K. version of "The Office," which made its way into the U.S. version as well. In the BBC series, branch manager David Brent (the counterpart to Michael Scott) has a loyal lieutenant in Gareth Keenan (upon whom the character of Dwight Schrute was based). Gareth insists on referring to himself as "assistant regional manager," which David always corrects to the more junior-sounding "assistant to the regional manager," and the dispute lived on through Michael and Dwight. That Nate is the one giving himself the lower-ranked title in "Ted Lasso" is an indication of the character's newfound humility.
The shared spirit of Ted Lasso and The Office
The choice to lean into the spirit of "The Office" through these sneaky references is totally in line with the core ethos of "Ted Lasso." Aside from the fact that both comedies straddle the Atlantic, they're both fun, free-wheeling shows that aren't afraid to be who and what they are at all costs. In fact, that's how each of them reached the heights they have reached throughout their respective runs. Neither series has ever been about making fun at anyone's expense, and goodness has always been at the heart of all of their jokes and ridiculous scenarios. After all, there's nothing better than a show where you can let all your baggage go, leave your problems at the door, and immerse yourself in the best of what life has to offer: fun, friends, and laughs. "The Office" and "Ted Lasso" have both brought that to audiences in their own ways—so it's a fitting homage to have the newer series tip its hat so many times to the one that came before.
"Ted Lasso" is available to stream now on Apple TV+.