Episode 7 of Ted Lasso's third season kicks off with a vibrant montage, showcasing the bustling shops of Richmond awakening to the new day's promise. Amidst this liveliness, Jamie sprints through the streets, towing a bicycle with Roy perched atop it, tethered securely to his waist. Nathan, meanwhile, strolls into A Taste of Athens, waving cheerfully to Jade from the threshold. Inside, over a steaming cup of coffee, Jack presents Keeley with a rare first edition of Sense and Sensibility, signed gracefully by the author herself.
Sam gracefully enters his restaurant, having a table reserved for a special occasion on the approaching Friday. But as he enters, a curse lingers on his lips, leading him straight to the kitchen where Simi is in a fit of rage over the Home Secretary Brinda Barot's insensitive remarks about refugees. Simi's ire continues to simmer over mismatched cutlery, eventually spilling over into a revelation that his father will be visiting this weekend, and he desires nothing but perfection.
Ted gathers the team, announcing a novel strategy they'll employ. Coach Beard steps in, introducing them to the intricate world of Total Football. Despite a detailed history and numerous successes recounted, the team remains skeptical, yet Ted remains steadfast in his belief that it could be the key to triumph over Arsenal in their impending match.
At Keeley's office, Barbara spots the treasured book from Jack and places Keeley in an awkward position, torn between revealing their relationship or maintaining the secrecy. Nathan receives a text from his mother, reminding him of his sister's birthday. He proposes a celebration at A Taste of Athens, but his mother insists on cooking at home.
Back at the pub, Beard whispers to Ted about Jane's subtle hints of discontentment. Mae, her voice filled with dismay, confesses that the recent Richmond losses have left her pub deserted. The three ardent Richmond fans confront Ted, voicing their grievances over the team's performance. However, Ted deftly turns the tables, inviting them to witness the team's practice, instantly dispelling their anger and replacing it with anticipation.
Nathan returns to A Taste of Athens, peering through the window yet failing to catch a glimpse of Jade. Upon encountering Derek, he hesitates between inquiring and refraining from asking him to relay his visit to Jade.
At practice, Ted emphasizes that the team must focus on four key areas: conditioning, versatility, awareness, and a fourth element he has yet to pinpoint. Roy leads the team in a rigorous field run, shouting "whistle" instead of using an actual whistle due to his metal allergy.
Jack visits Keeleya at her workplace, and she becomes flustered about the prospect of people witnessing their affection. However, Jack couldn't care less about the world knowing about their relationship. To demonstrate this, she boldly strides into the office and announces their dating status to all.
From the stands, the three Richmond fans watch with dismay as the players struggle with exhaustion, vomiting on the field after excessive running.
Over drinks, Rebecca and Keeley discuss Rebecca's adventures in Amsterdam. Rebecca then astutely observes that Jack seems to be showering Keeley with excessive affection, reminiscent of Rupert's tactics. She warns Keeley against being overwhelmed by the shiny facade, and her words are aptly punctuated by the waitress informing the women that Jack has paid their bill.
At Nathan's sister's birthday party, he assists his niece in crafting a handmade gift box for her mother. In a private moment with his sister and mother, Nathan opens up about his feelings for Jade. They advise him that there's no definitive way to know Jade's sentiments unless he confronts her directly. His mother then presents him with a map that his father had given her as an invitation to their first date, symbolizing the distances they traversed and the question that bridged them.
Upon arriving at his restaurant, Sam was startled to find the staff gathered around a laptop, witnessing the home secretary Brinda Barot refusing entry to refugees once again. Moved by the injustice, he composed a polite tweet, urging Brinda to do more for the country.
Nathan, despite his courage, approached Jade at the restaurant but was soon overwhelmed and retreated to the bathroom. He exited shortly after, claiming he had to attend to something urgent.
As the training field swelled with fans, Ted emphasized the significance of versatility among the team members. The squad then swapped positions, even Will and Coach Beard participated, but Ted insisted that Jamie should stick to what he does best. However, the experiment didn't quite pan out as planned. When Isaac took a corner kick, the ball soared outside, smashing into a window and startling Leslie, who spilled tea all over himself.
Later, Sam noticed a harsh tweet from Brinda Barot in response to his earlier message.
Trent questioned Ted's decision to change strategies so late in the game, but Ted, in his circuitous manner, assured him it was the right move.
At A Taste of Athens, Jade appeared to be keeping an eye out for Nathan. Meanwhile, Keeley arrived at work to find her office transformed into a floral paradise, filled with daisies — her favorite flowers, which she had mentioned once in passing.
The coaches then embarked on training the players in awareness, teaching them to keep track of their teammates' positions. Their unique method involved tying a single red string around each player's waist, an idea credited to Roy. The players stumbled and fell during practice until the string was yanked off Jamie, fortunately leaving him unscathed.
Sam's patience with Brinda's rudeness on Twitter snapped, and he lashed out, labeling her a staunch bigot. Meanwhile, Nathan was busy crafting a project similar to his niece's, intent on using it as a clever invitation for Jade to join him for dinner. Keeley encountered Jack at a cozy café and sternly requested him to refrain from showering her with gifts. Jack complied gracefully. However, when Keeley bit into the croissant Jack had purchased for her, she stumbled upon a ring concealed within its layers.
Nathan, poised to present Jade with his homemade box, stumbled, allowing a passing car to crush it beneath its wheels. Despite the mishap, he summoned the courage to ask her out for a date, and Jade graciously accepted. Sam arrived at his restaurant, only to find it in shambles, with the taunting phrase "Shut up and dribble" painted on the wall.
Trent diligently noted Ted's points of emphasis, but when he inquired about "Number Four," both Ted and the other coaches were at a loss. Sam stormed into the locker room, enraged by the stark contrast in people's attitudes towards him when he scores and when he falters. He lamented the obligation to play football while the world faced pressing crises. His angry outburst was abruptly silenced by the appearance of his father, who had overheard every word. Just as Sam needed it, he was enveloped in a heartfelt hug.
The two later spoke at length, with Mr. Obisanya urging Sam to reopen his restaurant and forgive those who had caused the damage. Ted stepped in, offering Sam the option to skip practice, but his father firmly encouraged him to attend.
The fateful day of the match against Arsenal dawned, bringing Keeley and Rebecca into the orbit of Leslie and Sam's father, Mr. Obisanya. The air was charged with a slight undercurrent of tension between the esteemed gentleman and Rebecca. As halftime approached, Arsenal had established a commanding three-goal lead, and Richmond's performance left much to be desired. Ted stepped up to deliver an impassioned speech, spinning a tale about facial hair that ultimately morphed into a profound lesson about the right idea often hidden behind the wrong approach.
In a moment of clarity, Jamie stepped forward and suggested a tactical shift. Instead of merely passing the ball to him, he advocated for the team to play through him, effectively utilizing his position as a midfielder to funnel the ball to strikers such as Dani and Colin. The idea resonated with the players, and they embraced the new strategy with remarkable success. On the field, they executed brilliantly, earning the praise of even the commentators as they managed to score a goal. Although the match ultimately ended in defeat, the spirit and resilience displayed by Richmond left a sense of renewed hope.
A jubilant Trent approached Ted, exclaiming that the transformation wasn't just the result of a week's worth of training but rather the culmination of three years of coaching the Lasso Way. Meanwhile, Nathan sat anxiously in a restaurant, texting his mother in hopes of reassuring himself that his date wouldn't leave him standing. Jade arrived nonetheless, and the two embarked on a promising evening. Similarly, Keeley took Jack out for a romantic dinner, securing a coveted window table at A Taste of Athens.
Sam's father expressed his pride in his son and the team's performance. Sam brought him to the restaurant, where he was pleasantly surprised to find the entire team busy fixing up the venue. Touched by the gesture, Sam introduced his father to Simi, who reciprocated with warmth. One of the players then repaired the neon sign that spelled out the restaurant's name, Ola's. Sam's father offered to cook dinner for everyone, and the team enjoyed a hearty meal as Sam and his father collaborated in the kitchen, grooving along to the music.
