‘Ted Lasso’: 13 Ships & Couples, Ranked
When it comes to Ted Lasso, it’s easy to see how the characters behind Apple TV‘s hit series have captured the hearts of fans across the globe. And although the comedy may be set in the competitive world of football, it’s the ships and romances that really stir up a debate among viewers.
Whether you’re all-in on the canon pairings or yearning after matches you’d like to see happen onscreen, the romances bring up some seriously strong emotions. And as we gear up for Season 4’s return, it feels like no better time than to take stock of the ships that have taken center stage over the years.
Below, we’re ranking some of the show’s primary ships based on how much we love them. Of course, rankings are subjective, so let us know your favorites in the comments section below, and see how they stack up.
Ted Lasso, Season 4 Premiere, Wednesday, August 5, Apple TV
13. Ted and Michelle
Ted (Jason Sudeikis) and his wife Michelle (Andrea Anders) certainly moved us in the first season as they navigated coparenting amid a separation, but it’s been clear for some time that the pair are better off as just coparents. Even though Ted returned to his family in Kansas during Season 3’s finale, new Season 4 imagery reveals that he and Michelle aren’t wearing wedding rings, indicating there wasn’t the reconciliation that was a potential upon his return stateside.
12. Keeley and Jack
Keeley’s (Juno Temple) relationship with Jack (Jodi Balfour) began amid her shift to expanding her PR business. While it was nice to see Keeley explore her romantic options and provide visibility to a queer romance that hadn’t previously been highlighted on the show, her connection to Jack felt somewhat forced and an ultimate waste of narrative time when it amounted to nothing and didn’t really move her story forward. Plus, Jack didn’t treat Keeley the way she deserved, which made their relationship a lower-ranked pairing in this list.
11. Jamie and Keeley
Jamie (Phil Dunster) and Keeley kicked off the series as a couple when he was in his worst boyfriend phase, but despite cleaning up his act we still can’t imagine this pair as more than just really good friends. Sure, there was a moment when Jamie had considered trying to win Keeley back after their breakup and during her relationship with Roy, but it never felt like they’d rekindle whatever spark existed that brought them together before the series started.
10. Nathan and Jade
Nate’s (Nick Mohammed) downward spiral, which led to his brief villain arc, was counterbalanced with his budding romance with restaurant hostess Jade (Edyta Budnik), who managed to help him through a dark time. Jade’s support for him helped us see Nate in a whole new light after he betrayed A.F.C. Richmond initially to work under Rebecca’s ex, Rupert.
9. Colin and Michael
In Season 3, fans were introduced to the fact that Colin (Billy Harris) was gay and had been living this secret double life outside of his role as a member of the A.F.C. Richmond team. While the revelation came as a bit of a shock with little build-up to the reveal, seeing Colin with his boyfriend Michael (Sam Liu) quickly won us over.
8. Rebecca and Matthijs
Rebecca’s (Hannah Waddingham) romance with airline pilot Matthijs (Matteo van der Grijn) is proof that love can be found in the unlikeliest of places after she stumbled into an Amsterdam canal and was saved by the man living on a houseboat. Amid Rebecca’s search for romance, Matthijs began his role as a mysterious stranger who quickly won over her heart. Their first date still makes us swoon. And it appears they’re still hanging on in Season 4’s latest teases.
7. Beard and Jane
It’s hard to say anything other than Coach Beard (Brendan Hunt) and his lady Jane (Phoebe Walsh) are odd ducks crafted to swim in the same peculiar pool. While we may not fully understand them as characters, their mutual affection for one another is palpable enough to keep us rooting for them. And after a wedding tease in Season 3’s finale, we’re hoping they’ll continue to carry on, business as usual.
6. Ted and Sassy
While Ted coped with his crumbling marriage in Season 1, his surprise hook-up with Rebecca’s best friend Sassy (Ellie Taylor) led to more than one overnight together during the course of the series’ run. Sassy’s outgoing nature is a nice counterbalance to Ted’s internalized thoughts, and we wouldn’t have minded seeing more of them together. Will old habits rekindle in Season 4? We wouldn’t hate it!
5. Ted and Rebecca
Yes, this is a controversial placement for one of the show’s most popular ships, but when it comes to Ted and Rebecca, their compatibility as friends is so strong, we’d hate to see it tarnished by a potentially lackluster romance. Can’t men and women with clear chemistry still maintain a platonic relationship? It’s the question we ask when looking at Ted and Rebecca, who we’d hate to see ruin the friendship just to satisfy a ship.
4. Rebecca and Sam
Remember when Richmond’s Greyhounds were endorsed by the dating app Bantr? Well, it’s difficult to forget the ear-to-ear smile Rebecca wore when communicating with a mystery man on the platform, and despite fans being led to believe it might be Ted, the surprise of her meeting said mystery man at a bar to learn it was player, Sam (Toheeb Jimoh), still floors us… in the best way possible. And when Sam shows up at Rebecca’s door after texting her his address, announcing it’s for “next time,” we’d be lying if we didn’t turn into a pile of swoony, fuzzy feelings.
3. Higgins and Julie
While Higgins may not get all of the credit he deserves, he’s proven he’s one of the richest characters in love with his relationship with his wife, Julie, who is played by Jeremy Swift‘s real-life spouse, Mary Roscoe. As specifically highlighted in Season 2’s episode, “Rainbow,” which included various rom-com references, Higgins’ words of wisdom surrounding relationships were more than enough proof that he and Julie are worth rooting for.
2. Jamie and Roy
Sure, this isn’t necessarily a canon-compliant ship, but the enemies-to-friends pipeline for punky player Jamie and his former idol Roy (Brett Goldstein) is enough to make any imagination run wild. When the duo began cultivating a deeper friendship in Season 3, even going out on a late-night bike ride in Amsterdam, we were able to see the vision some fans have been running with for a while. Although it may never come true, Roy and Jamie are a pair we certainly ship.
1. Roy and Keeley
The ultimate ship of the series is undoubtedly Roy and Keeley, who saw each other best when no one else could as their romantic bond began to spark in Season 1. While they’ve been on again and off again throughout the show’s run, we hold onto hope that the now-coach and PR whiz can pull it together and make their destined romance work once and for all.
