Episode 6 of Ted Lasso's third season commences with a devastating defeat for Richmond, this time in a friendly fixture in the charming city of Amsterdam. Rebecca, Keeley, and Leslie sit dejectedly in the stands, watching Ted's frustration mount to new heights. As Bob Marley's upbeat "Three Little Birds" plays faintly in the background, Rebecca declares her disdain for the tune.
Post-match interviews reveal Jan Maas's assertion that Richmond's spirit had been decimated long ago, while Roy dismisses the result, claiming that friendly matches are mere "pretend battles." As he strides away, he casually knocks down a poster of Zava from the wall.
Rebecca inquisitively turns to Leslie and Keeley, inquiring about their evening plans in Amsterdam. Leslie boasts of lavish adventures in the red light district, while Keeley reveals she's off to meet Jack, who intends to whisk her away to Norway for the spectacular aurora borealis. After graciously thanking Roy for the interview, Keeley bids farewell, leaving Roy puzzled about her destination. Rebecca chimes in, stating that Keeley is headed somewhere that "truly appreciates her worth."
Back on the bus, Ted realizes the dire need to lift the team's spirits. With a triumphant declaration, he announces, "No curfew tonight!" The announcement is greeted with rapturous cheers, and Beard quips that Ted himself is the one who needs to unwind the most. Plans are hastily made, but unfortunately for Jamie, Roy drags him out for additional training. Leslie invites Will to join him on his night of revelry.
Meanwhile, Roy and Jamie embark on a jog through the city, with Jamie eagerly sharing facts about Amsterdam's various attractions. Sassy calls Rebecca, sensing something amiss, but Rebecca is enjoying exploring the city on her own. Standing on a bridge, she narrowly avoids the speeding cyclists. A man calls out to her, but before she can comprehend his words, a cyclist knocks her over the bridge, sending her tumbling into the canal. Amidst her concern for her phone, the stranger throws his own device into the water in a show of solidarity. When Rebecca inquiries about his initial intention, he reveals that she had been walking on the bike lane.
Ted texts Rebecca, inquiring about her evening plans, while Beard prompts him to scout for restaurants. Ted discovers a Yankee Doodle Burger Barn that reminds him of home's comforts, but Beard swiftly dismisses it. Ted confesses his feeling of being stuck in a rut, yearning for inspiration from something novel. Beard promptly offers just the thing to ignite Ted's spark.
The Richmond squad gathered in the lobby, minds whirling with ideas for their evening's adventures. However, their suggestions clashed like waves against a rocky shore, ranging from a serene boat tour to a trip to the halls of the International Court of Justice, admiring the vibrant tulips, a lurid live sex show, or even exploring the museums. Jan Maas then proposed a wild card: an all-night bash hosted by his cousin, Martin Garrix, but it lay a distant two hours away.
As the team pondered the idea of splitting up, Isaac's voice rang out firmly, insisting they should embark on their adventure as a unified team. Unfortunately, Colin, citing a queasy stomach, excused himself from the evening's festivities.
Meanwhile, at the Dutchman's boat house, Rebecca emerged from the shower to a quiet solitude. On a nearby table, a steaming cup of tea awaited her, accompanied by a note indicating its intended recipient.
In the red light district, Leslie led Will to Chet Baker's memorial, weaving tales of the musician's illustrious life, his soulful singing, and tragic heroin addiction. Will's passionate condemnation of drugs segued gracefully into the hotel room where Beard concocted a drug-laced tea for Ted, a sinister gift from the mysterious Kenneth, the bus driver. Ted hesitated, uncertain, but Beard gulped down his brew in a single swig.
Back in the lobby, the team remained divided between Jan Maas's cousin's raucous bash and the seductive sex show. However, two hotel staff members intervened, informing them that the participants in the sex show would be weary and drained. Thus, the team reluctantly settled on the party. But first, they had to find a place to dine, igniting another round of heated debate. Meanwhile, Colin slipped out of the hotel's confines, a stealthy shadow trailing him—Trent.
Returning to his abode, the man allowed Rebecca some privacy. He tended to a small cut on her foot and offered to prepare dinner while her clothes dried. Additionally, he presented her with a flask of brandy and a box of attire from his former partner, allowing her to shed her bathrobe and change into something more comfortable.
Jamie's relentless narratives about Amsterdam finally drew to a close as Roy, panting heavily, compelled him to halt his sprint. While Jamie relished being back in the city, Roy, a first-time visitor, likened it to a "Disneyfied rendition of an ancient town," even doubting the authenticity of its windmills. However, Jamie had a scheme to dispel such skepticism.
As Coach Beard's impatience grew with each passing moment, Ted offered to depart, and Beard eagerly accepted. Yet, despite his offer, Ted still struggled to sip his tea.
Meanwhile, Colin ventured into a gay bar named Prik, eager to embrace the night's festivities. But upon Trent's unexpected appearance, he hastily pivoted, pretending to have entered the wrong place and fleeing. Trent, however, caught him outside and revealed that he was already onto Colin's ruse.
Ted sent a message to Rebecca, but his efforts were met with silence. Eventually, he mustered the courage to finish his tea and retreated from the room, leaving the conversation unfinished.
Rebecca gracefully emerges into the living room, adorned in a stunning orange dress that complements her beauty. The man's voice fills the air with tales of how his ex betrayed his trust and shattered his heart, yet he managed to find a path to healing. Suddenly, Andre Hazes' rendition of "She Believes in Me" by Kenny Rogers echoes through the radio, igniting a debate between Rebecca and the man about the merits of the English and Dutch versions. But their argument soon transforms into a duet, their voices harmonizing beautifully.
Jamie persists relentlessly, until Roy's frustration boils over and he confesses that he's never learned to ride a bike. His grandfather had intended to teach him, but fate intervened, leaving him with a void. Nonetheless, Jamie hands him a bike, urging him to learn in honor of his grandfather's wishes. The subsequent scenes of Jamie patiently teaching Roy to ride a bike are both heartwarming and comical, capturing the essence of the show's charm.
Elsewhere, Leslie and Will are immersed in the melodies of the band playing at the jazz club, their senses captivated by the music. Will's gaze briefly wanders to a couple embracing in a secluded corner, their affection a silent testament to the power of love.
At the Van Gogh Museum, Ted stands transfixed before the sunflower painting, lost in admiration. A museum guide shares insights into Van Gogh's quest to capture beauty on canvas, emphasizing the value of perseverance. Ted adds a personal touch, noting that the sunflower is the official flower of Kansas, a fact that adds a touch of familiarity to the masterpiece.
As the Richmond players remained entrenched in their argument over a dining destination, Isaac's patience finally snapped, lashing out at their inability to reach a consensus. Out of the clutter of tissues with various suggestions scribbled upon them, Sam plucked one randomly and passed it to Isaac. He unfolded it, nodded, and the debate was settled.
As they pedaled towards the windmills, Jamie offered Roy a heartfelt apology for his earlier outburst. He recounted the memory of his father bringing him to Amsterdam, introducing him to the red light district in a bid to shed his innocence. Roy offered empathy, but Jamie confessed he held little recollection of that night. He further revealed that though he returned to the city with his mother, he still felt his father's presence lingering in the air. Roy, too, apologized for unleashing his own grievances on Jamie. He then shared the news of Keeley's relationship with a woman.
Ted found solace in the familiar American ambiance of the Yankee Doodle restaurant. The staff's colloquial language and the surroundings filled him with a sense of nostalgia and joy.
Rebecca's dinner companion amused her with his wit, yet she couldn't help but notice the frequency of the word 'gezellig' escaping her lips. She finally inquired about its meaning, and he described it as a feeling of cozy comfort, mirroring the exact atmosphere they were enjoying. The dryer's ping interrupted their conversation, signaling the completion of Rebecca's laundry. She tossed a splash of water on her clothes, followed by her companion, and they resumed their meal.
Ted watched an old basketball game he had watched with his father. His mind briefly wandered when he mistook a waiter for Nathan Shelley, but he quickly snapped back to the screen. The drugs seemed to take hold, plunging him into a dark void where only a spotlight illuminated him. A disembodied voice spoke to him, drawing inspiration from the triangle onion rings he had ordered, and ultimately leading to a discussion on Tex Winter's triangle offense in basketball. The strategy emphasized that each player should have at least two teammates to pass to at any given moment. As the hallucinations dissipated, Ted began jotting down his thoughts and ideas.
Inside the vibrant jazz club, Will's gaze repeatedly drifts towards the young couple, lost in their embrace in the shadowy corner. Amidst the melodies, Leslie's fervent air-cello playing captures the lead singer's attention, prompting her to inquire if he indeed wields the strings of the cello. As Leslie gracefully ascends the stage to join the band, their rendition of Chet Baker's "Let's Get Lost" fills the air.
The scene shifts to a montage of snapshots: the Richmond players engage in a playful pillow fight within the hotel's confines, Colin and Trent lose themselves in the all-night dance and drinks at a club, Rebecca dances gracefully with her mystery man in his boat house, Roy and Jamie finally behold the windmill in awe, Rebecca enjoys a relaxing foot massage that leads her to a dreamy slumber, and Ted strategizes brilliantly with ketchup bottles as his tools in the restaurant.
On their return journey, Roy's bike veers off the road, sending him tumbling to the ground. Rebecca awakens in the morning, her mind fuzzy, and asks the man beside her if they shared any intimate moments. He assures her they remained chaste, but she declines his breakfast offer, determined to leave. However, a fleeting kiss seals their encounter, and they realize they're still strangers, unaware of each other's names. Rebecca promises to remember him and steps out of his house, leaving behind a trail of unanswered questions.
At the bus stop, Will is engrossed in a phone conversation with his mother. Suddenly, a van arrives, and Coach emerges in a striking David Bowie attire, complete with a skin-tight suit, wig, and a whimsical pig's nose. He boards the bus as Colin excitedly recounts his threesome adventure with the couple from the previous night. Beard discovers Ted still engrossed in his scribblings at the back of the bus. Ted is startled when Beard reveals the drugs they procured were ineffective, mere placebos. Enthused, Ted then demonstrates his new game plan, involving the players' fluid movement from one position to another, embracing a more liberated style on the field. Beard is impressed and informs him that this approach is known as Total Football, a tactic pioneered in the 1970s in Holland.
Rebecca joins them on the bus, her encounter still fresh in her mind, leaving her in a state of awe. Jamie arrives, pedaling his bike with Roy perched on the backseat, his growling a warning to avoid inquiring about the incident. As the bus rolls onward, Rebecca lifts her feet and begins to sing Bob Marley's "Three Little Birds," a song that soon resonates with the rest of the crew. After all, they believe, every little thing is indeed going to be alright.
