Ted Lasso S3 Finale: What Musical Is AFC Richmond Singing During Training?

It would be criminal to send off a coach as popular as Ted Lasso without some kind of elaborate fanfare. Nonetheless, that's exactly what the man himself tries to do in the Season 3 finale. At their last practice as AFC Richmond coaches, Ted (Jason Sudeikis) and Beard (Brendan Hunt) try to play it cool, insisting on a regular routine without any special acknowledgment. But of course, the players have something very different in mind.

At the end of practice, the whole team breaks into a choreographed song, leaving the field bit by bit as they bid adieu to their beloved American manager. And as is only appropriate for a self-professed musical lover like Ted, they choose an iconic piece from "The Sound of Music." The song, entitled "So Long, Farewell," also gives the episode its name. In both the 1959 Broadway musical and the more famous 1965 film adaptation, it's performed by the Von Trapp children, who recite their verses one by one before trotting off to bed.

Of course, "Ted Lasso" puts its own spin on the familiar number. Dani Rojas (Cristo Fernández) closes the song, adding an extra "adios" or two on top of all the other linguistic goodbyes in the original lyrics. And then there's the celebration after Ted gives his approval — a primal display of football fanaticism that should remind everyone what show they're actually watching.

AFC Richmond's heartfelt rendition of "So Long, Farewell" fits perfectly in a show that blends the thrill of sport with the emotion of classical storytelling. Rom-coms and Broadway shows have always been huge sources of inspiration for "Ted Lasso," to the point that the series itself can't help but draw attention to the fact again and again.

The "Sound of Music" homage is also a reference to "Ted Lasso" Season 2, when the team learned a choreographed routine set to NSYNC's "Bye Bye Bye." The two scenes mirror each other perfectly, right down to Will the kit man (Charlie Hiscock) holding a speaker over his head and swaying gently to the music. That speaker is much, much larger in the "Ted Lasso" Season 3 finale, representing just how much bigger and more successful the entire club has become. The players' excitement at nailing the dances, however, is equally explosive both times. At the end of the day, "Ted Lasso" is a show about how elements of traditional masculinity can and should coexist with emotional sensitivity, vulnerability, and openness. What better microcosm for that dichotomy than cheering for a Broadway dance number like it's a game-deciding penalty kick?

Since Beard winds up staying in England, the song is only really a goodbye to Ted. But hey, after all that he's done, he's well deserving of the honor all by himself.