‘Ted Lasso’ Season 4 Episode 9 Faces Backlash Over Surprise Character Death and ‘Emotionally Manipulative’ Storyline

The penultimate episode of “Ted Lasso” Season 4 has caused quite a stir among fans and critics alike, with some reviewers claiming that the Apple TV+ comedy series hit a “new low” after a shocking character death and a highly emotional storyline.

“Ted Lasso” Season 4, Episode 9, “Mae Rides the Bus,” has drawn fire from television critics for the abrupt, strongly implied death of the much-loved pub owner, Mae Green. The episode drew criticism from some, including Mashable, for manipulating emotions, especially as an in memoriam tribute to the late actor Anthony Head followed the character’s death.

Mae Green, owner of the Crown & Anchor pub and a fixture of the AFC Richmond community, is the focus of the ninth episode of the fourth season. The episode follows Mae as she enjoys a day out supporting the newly formed Lady Greyhounds women’s team. However, the episode takes a dark turn, ending with a sequence that strongly implies Mae has died.

While some argue the show “doesn’t explicitly confirm Mae is dead,” the way the event is framed in the narrative, combined with an interview by actress Annette Badland about her “farewell” to the character, has been enough for audiences and critics to accept it as a definitive character death.

Mae Green’s untimely death was divisive. For many viewers, the emotional anchor of the series was the Crown & Anchor pub and Mae a maternal figure to the players and the fans. Killing off a legacy character in the penultimate episode of the season is a massive structural shift for a show that built its brand on optimism and feel-good television.

Decider, TV Insider, and other entertainment outlets have posted lengthy breakdowns of the episode. TV Insider has an interview with Badland breaking down the emotional impact of Mae’s final scenes.

The episode’s emotional heft was amplified by a tribute to the late Anthony Head, who played the show’s main villain, Rupert Mannion. Head died in June 2026 at the age of 72.

Reviews said the episode included an in-memoriam tribute card to the actor. Yet some critics found the juxtaposition of this real-world tribute with Mae Green’s fictional death jarring. Some viewers felt emotionally drained rather than inspired by the contrast between a surprise fictional death and a real-world tribute, Mashable said.

“Mae Rides the Bus” has prompted some critical comment, and the feeling is growing that as the show winds up, it may be leaning on tragic tropes.

Mashable’s Belen Edwards wrote a scathing review titled “ ’Ted Lasso’ just sank to a new low.” Edwards said the episode was “Ted Lasso at its most emotionally manipulative,” adding that the surprise of the character’s death was a cheap ploy to get an emotional response from the audience, rather than a natural development of the story.

Others agree that although the acting and production values are still strong, the story choices in Season 4 have moved away from what made the original series popular. The main complaint is that the show manufactures stakes by exploiting grief and tragedy, a departure from the earnest, conflict-resolution storytelling that won it several Emmy Awards.

“Ted Lasso” became a cultural phenomenon, arriving as counterprogramming to the era of “prestige TV” antiheroes and grimdark storytelling. The series was praised for its radical kindness, mental health advocacy, and feel-good resolutions.

A shocking, tragic character death in the penultimate episode of a show known for its never-ending optimism signals a major tonal shift. The backlash highlights the tightrope showrunners walk when they take a beloved comedy and steer it into a more dramatic space. When audiences can feel emotional beats being forced or manipulated, it risks alienating the core fanbase that tuned in for comfort and joy.

One episode remains in Season 4, and the series finale will need to address the fallout from Mae’s implied death and how the AFC Richmond community deals with the loss. The finale is scheduled to stream on Apple TV+ next week. Showrunner Jason Sudeikis and the writing team will need to balance the season’s overarching storylines with a satisfying conclusion to Mae’s arc.