‘Ted Lasso’ Season 4 Finally Honors Its Missing Character With an Emotional Twist

Warning! Spoilers ahead for Ted Lasso Season 4, Episode 9, “Mae Rides the Bus.”Ted Lasso Season 4, Episode 9, “Mae Rides the Bus,” comes with an unexpected twist for a long-serving character, and in the process, the Apple TV series’ missing figure is acknowledged as respectfully as possible. While the connection between the two may seem tangential at first, the more it’s considered, the more obvious it becomes that both scenarios are creatively linked. Given the deeply unfortunate and emotional circumstances, “Mae Rides the Bus” is probably the best way Ted Lasso could have handled the situation.

Played by Annette Badland since Ted Lasso Season 1, Mae Green has been one of the show’s most consistent supporting characters throughout its run. Landlady of the Crown & Anchor, she has provided sage wisdom to her patrons – including Jason Sudeikis’ mustachioed coach – as well as artfully weaponizing her razor-sharp wit and penchant for keeping people in line when required. Sadly, the all-but-confirmed death of Badland’s character at the Bristol game means it would be very surprising if we ever saw her again. That being said, at least her exit made the real-life loss of one of the show’s stars especially poignant.

How Mae’s Death Acknowledges the Passing of Anthony Head

Anthony Head as Rupert Mannion standing on the sidelines of the pitch in Ted Lasso.

Perhaps best known for his role as Rupert Giles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Anthony Head shone in countless other projects, including Ted Lasso. As Rupert Mannion, Head was given the chance to serve as one of the catalyzing figures in the sporting dramedy’s core storyline. Probably the closest thing Ted Lasso had to a textbook villain, Rupert was a terrific recurring antagonist, capitalizing on his status as the former owner of AFC Richmond and ex-husband of Rebecca Welton (Hannah Waddingham). Unfortunately, for several reasons, it’s long been doubted that he would return for Season 4.

Ted Lasso‘s current season wrapped filming before Head passed, and as such, the possibility remained that he had already shot scenes for Season 4 and would appear posthumously when the episodes aired. That wasn’t enough to be all that convincing, though. After all, Rupert’s purpose in the story is all but gone. With Rebecca having moved on emotionally from the toxic rivalry with her former spouse by the end of Season 3, continuing to involve him in Season 4 would have negatively impacted the sense of closure that has already been established.

Anthony Head as Rupert leaning against a door frame in Ted Lasso.

That hasn’t been enough to completely dispel the ongoing desire for him to show up, though. Instead, Rupert’s role in Season 4 has been reduced to off-screen storylines, such as his suspected involvement in the scheme to get Richmond shareholders to sell their shares at an inflated price. With the Episode 9 reveal that it’s actually Zelda (Tracey Ullman) behind the plot to take control of the club, it seems less likely than ever that Rupert will rear his head in the Season 4 finale.

When it’s also considered that Mae dies in Episode 9, presumably while celebrating a Richmond victory in the stands at Bristol, then also bringing back Head’s character feels like it would send Ted Lasso Season 4 into emotional overdrive, almost beyond the point of tolerance. While Mae’s death does seem to have been locked in before Anthony Head passed away, the idea that a beloved figure can leave us without warning has accidentally straddled real life and the world of Ted Lasso. Combine all of this with the official dedication of “Mae Rides the Bus” to the memory of Anthony Head, and I think it’s safe to say we have our answer about whether Rupert will show up in the flesh one more time.