REVIEW: ‘Ted Lasso’ Season 3, Episode 6 — “Sunflowers”

“Sunflowers” is a return to form. Ted Lasso Season 3 Episode 6 is a reminder of the sheer joy the series is capable of delivering. Leaning on offbeat or fan-favorite pairings, writers Joe Kelly, Jason Sudeikis, and Brendan Hunt ignite a spark of ingenuity with its narrative structure. The team has a night to spend in Amsterdam following a loss that’s left them increasingly defeated, and Ted decides they need to blow off some steam. Utilizing a Love Actually, approach to the story where everyone divides only to come back together by the end looser and more in tune with their teammates and themselves, it offers a chance for certain cast members in particular to explore playfulness they’re not often asked to wield. 

The stakes are low and set early, as the characters split to forge their own paths throughout the night they’ve been given free rein. Keeley (Juno Temple) can’t stick around, which means Rebecca (Hannah Waddingham) is off to her own devices. Yet again, drawing the short straw, Waddingham soldiers through her condensed meet cute as she strikes up a conversation with a houseboat owner after falling into the canal in one of the more broad slapstick moments of the series. 

If it felt organic, Rebecca’s storylines would work better, but instead, they’re all rendered contrived and manipulative of the plot. Despite Waddingham’s endless charisma and profound screen presence, it’s just hard to care about a romance that seems to be a one-night dalliance only. It’s similar when Ted is on his own as a character. It’s been a long time since they’ve been the heart of the series and since the writers are dead set on separating the two in spite of their tremendous chemistry, their appeal has lessened. 

As luck would have it though, those story beats are just charming enough or fleeting enough that Ted Lasso Season 3 Episode 6 manages not to suffer from it. The rest of the episode is so superb that it casts a rosy tint on any of the less interesting moments. “Sunflowers” is what fans have been wanting, and even the hour-length runtime can’t diminish that. 

From Colin (Billy Harris) and Trent (James Lance) sharing a heart-to-heart that sells the series thesis better than any other storyline to Higgens (Jeremy Swift) introducing Will (Charlie Hiscock) to the wonders of Chet Baker and the joys of the jazz scene, the pairings allow greater enlightenment. The former manages to make Trent even more human while offering greater depth to Colin. While less thematically substantial, the latter allows Swift and Hiscock to play comic foil to the other. Meanwhile, the majority of the team, under Isacc’s (Kola Bokinni) increasing frustration, try to decide what to spend their night with no curfew. The ideas range from seeking out a singular tulip, driving two hours away for an all-night dance party, to a simple team movie. 

The greatest highlight of the episode however is the continued development of Jamie’s (Phil Dunster) and Roy’s (Brett Goldstein) relationship. Roy, in a fit of temper that’s misdirected at Jamie, determines their training can’t afford a night off. Rather than be deterred, Jamie takes it as an opportunity to play tour guide around the city, showing off his knowledge of the area. 

Both actors are phenomenal and possess strong comedic chemistry both in their physicality and verbal sparring. Goldstein plays the super serious straight man so often on the show and “Sunflowers” gives him the chance to play it a bit sillier. Meanwhile, there’s palpable glee radiating off of Dunster, as he’s given the biggest opportunity in the series so far to show how far the pendulum of his range swings. There’s a scene between the two in the middle of the episode that radiates such charm and positivity it should be bottled and sold for serotonin boosts. The only fear is that it’s a one-off moment when their dynamic could be further explored for the remainder of the season and become one of the sure highlights. 

The show is at its best in this episode because it dedicates time to characters with shared histories or to expanding those who’ve yet to have as much of the spotlight. Ted Lasso thrives on an ensemble of actors who have managed to make meals out of lesser screen time. Jamie and Roy could become the heart of the series because their relationship has been so carefully built since the start of the series. The team dynamics sing because we’re so accustomed to their banter as well as the singular personality traits that give the back-and-forth so colorful. 

The series hasn’t lost its spark, and Ted Lasso Season 3 Episode 6 manages to stoke the fire to greater heights. The best episode of the season so far and a series highlight, it’s a promising course correction from last week’s stumble. The episode is a reminder of the escapism Ted Lasso can provide and is an optimistic redirect for the rest of the season. 

Ted Lasso Season 3 is out now on Apple TV+.