Ted Lasso Season 4, Episode 9 killed Mae Green, and the episode did not waste a minute making you feel it.
The AFC Women’s Team played a big match against Bristol City, Keeley shared some exciting news with her loved ones, and Mae took a two-and-a-half-hour bus trip to live out the football dreams she never got to chase when she was younger. The team was thriving, the crowd was jumping to House of Pain’s “Jump Around,” and the game was smooth sailing. Then the camera panned to Mae’s seat in the supporters section, and she was gone.
She had collapsed on the ground. A steward raced to her side. A man approached Rebecca and said, “Excuse me? I’m sorry to interrupt, but there’s been an incident. It’s Ms. Green.”
“When we found out that happened, I thought it was a joke.”
That is how Tanya Reynolds put it to DECIDER, speaking with Annette Badland and Abbie Hern ahead of Episode 409’s premiere. The trio confirmed that Mae’s fate was not a joke — and that the incident was serious enough to drop Rebecca’s face.
The Speech Mae Gave
Before the game, Mae gave an inspiring locker room pep talk. She spoke about growing up wanting to be a footballer, about women not being allowed to play officially, about her right foot like a rosebush and her left being even worse. She looked at the young players and said:
“You’re different. You’re talented. You belong on that pitch. And I love to see it. So go out there and make an old lady happy. And beat the fucking shit out of them!”
The team included her in a photo. They grilled her about everything she had seen, heard, lost, and learned in life. She hugged fellow supporters whenever the girls got ahead.
What Rebecca Saw
After the Lady Greyhounds won, Rebecca walked into the locker room. She locked eyes with Ted from across the room and summoned him outside with a nod. Their conversation was muted while the emotional “Oh Love” by Kingfishr played out, but the look on Ted’s face said it all — he dropped his head in defeat as he processed Rebecca’s words.
The episode did not confirm Mae’s death outright. It left the incident open to interpretation. But the context was dire, and Rebecca’s face dropped at the news. The implication was heavy, and the cast confirmed it.
Badland’s Reason for Leaving
Mae’s time on Ted Lasso has come to an end. After appearing in 29 episodes across all four seasons, sharing her contagious personality, humor, penchant for swearing, and love of the game, Annette Badland is departing from the show.
DECIDER had a lovely chat with Badland ahead of Episode 409’s premiere, which will be published in full later on Wednesday. For now, Badland confirmed that she was not itching to leave the series. Jason Sudeikis presented the storyline to her and explained how it fit into Mae’s Season 4 arc.
What the Cast Said About Mae
Reynolds described the moment as devastating. But she also pointed to some beautiful scenes in Episode 10 that honor Mae.
“I’m so glad that they were able to honor her in Episode 9, giving her that moment to give the pregame speech to the team that she lives for. That being one of the final things that she does is really beautiful,” Hern added.
The episode’s tribute to the late, great Anthony Head was touching, but it was not the main blow. Mae’s death was the real gut-punch.
The Finale Will Answer It
The episode ended with the incident unresolved. Did Mae really die? Was it a medical event? The episode did not say. But the cast confirmed it.
“Excuse me? I’m sorry to interrupt, but there’s been an incident. It’s Ms. Green.”
Until Wednesday, October 7, when the Season 4 finale premieres on Apple TV, the question remains unanswered.
Why Mae’s Death Matters
Mae was the women’s team’s number-one fan. She cheered from the supporters section, hugged other fans, and lived for those moments with the team. Her death landed because the episode built her up first — the game, the speech, the joy.
The episode was a celebration until the last few minutes. Then it became a tragedy.
The Questions That Remain
The episode left several threads open:
- Did Mae really die?
- What caused the incident?
- Will the finale reveal the truth?
- How will the team move forward?
The grief is real, and the questions are real.
What We Know So Far
The episode confirmed that Mae’s time on the show is over. The cast confirmed it. The storyline fits into Mae’s Season 4 arc. The tribute to Anthony Head was moving, but Mae’s death was the real gut-punch.
The finale will answer the questions the episode raised. Until then, the tears are real, and the sadness is real.
Source material: “‘Ted Lasso’ Season 4, Episode 9 Kills [SPOILER] In Heartbreaking Twist,” Decider.
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