Ted Lasso Season 4, Episode 6, “Don’t Jump Around Much Anymore” Spoilers Ahead
I feel like I need to preface this review by saying that New Year’s Eve is my least favorite holiday, and it’s made me anxious and sad for as long as I can remember. And there are parts of Ted Lasso‘s “Don’t Jump Around Much Anymore” that made me feel as anxious as the holiday, but also, like last week’s “Riches of Embarrassment,” I have a number of questions.
Still, for what it’s worth, there’s a lot to be excited about, like Phil Dunster’s glowing return as Jamie Tartt and the now-renewed hope I have in Roy and Keeley’s eventual reunion as a couple. Elsewhere, the team seems to be getting along better; we get more of Michelle, and Zelda’s stressing me out to the point where I have to keep reminding myself the show’s a comedy and not some sort of thriller.
Richmond Ring in the New Year
I’ve been uneasy about Zelda from the moment we met her in “Greyhounds’ Day Off,” and all the concerns I had are amplified in “Don’t Jump Around Much Anymore.” I don’t like being distrustful of characters so early on because I want to believe we can see some good in them, and this is specifically the case with Ted Lasso and what this show has consistently set up. Be curious. Be curious. Be curious. You have to repeat it like a mantra at this point.
But really, it doesn’t feel like we’re meant to trust Zelda. And while the show won’t let our favorites stay in harmful situations for too long, it’s jarring to spend a holiday surrounded by a character like her when we have such a gem of a Christmas episode in “Carol of the Bells.” But, hey, who knows, for all the angst lovers out there, maybe this can become your comfort watch. There are a few moving pieces here that made me uneasy and nervous for Keeley and Rebecca, even when they weren’t in the room.
What works, however, is that I’m glad we get to see Alice and her partner in the comfort of their homes, with Rebekah Murrell credited as Camille. When we first saw her photo on Alice’s desk in “Curiouser and Curiouser,” I wasn’t sure we’d actually see the character this season, so it’s a major plus that Ted Lasso Season 4, Episode 6, “Don’t Jump Around Much Anymore,” actually introduces her to us in a physical capacity.
At the same time, while it’s lovely that we got some movement in Alice’s dynamic with Gemma, it’s unfortunate that it ended so quickly, too. It feels like we’re missing a key piece of their history and reconciliation, so I wonder if this moment means the narrative will slow down more and allow us to see the build-up through more time spent getting to know the team and their individual dynamics. We get small moments in this episode, but I’d still love to see more.
Jamie Tartt Returns in Ted Lasso Season 4, Episode 6
Phil Dunster never misses as Jamie Tartt, and there’s no denying that his return is the best part of this episode. Between the newly dyed hair and the vodka brand, every word out of his mouth is glorious. 100/10, no notes. Dunster’s chemistry with the entire cast remains inimitable, and that dance number with Brett Goldstein will now live rent-free in my mind for the rest of time. (I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve replayed it at this point.)
The charm Dunster consistently brings to life as Jamie is bigger than icing on the cake. It feels like a legitimate source of magic that makes it so easy to laugh out loud, pause, then rewatch the scene all over again because he’s not only exceptional at physical comedy, but his line delivers are downright perfect.
This is especially the case in an episode like this, where Goldstein also gets moments to tap into a part of Roy that we don’t see often. Do I hate seeing characters I love injured? Absolutely. But is it comedic gold to get to watch them high on painkillers? Without a doubt. The two of them together are everything, and I’m still begging for a little spin-off of just their hijinks. Jamie might have a point with the ridiculous quip where he tells Roy, “I always knew I’d look after you one day.” (I need it!)
New Year’s Hugs and Kisses
Part of my dislike for New Year’s Eve probably also comes from how much the concept of a midnight kiss has been sensationalized. It’s a weird thing that can make a person feel more alone than they need to, and at low points, it can feel a lot worse than it actually is. So I weirdly love that Ted Lasso adds in this concept of a hug, and we not only see it with Ted and Michelle, but also Ted and Alice. Both moments result in some of the loveliest scenes in the episode, and it’s easy to feel that sense of hope that the next step from here will be one that can lead to good places.
Ted’s conversation with Michelle feels like a long time coming, and “Don’t Jump Around Much Anymore” feels like the right episode for them to have it in. It’s easy to appreciate the fact that it’s also a moment we got to see with our own eyes, as opposed to hearing about it, too. On the other hand, though, I would’ve liked to see more of a conversation with Rebecca and Matthijs, but I also recognize that this isn’t the time and place. Still, if the show wants us to believe that she’s having bigger regrets about losing him, the audience needs to see the conversations they have as their next step.
Are Roy and Keeley Back Together Yet?
I really hope that the next time I ask this question, the answer is a yes. Because finally we’re close to that reconciliation point, and a classic moment of rom-com miscommunication proves it. Roy might be interested in his super accomplished doctor, but she’s no Keeley Jones. She’s not the woman who knows everything about him and loves him through it all. She’s not the one who knows him better than he knows himself.
My heart was in my throat the entire time he was “confessing” his love to Erin because up until the moment he called her Keeley, I was legitimately terrified I’d have to accept the end of Roy and Keeley as we know it. But knowing how much both Brett Goldstein and Juno Temple love them, I also had a feeling they wouldn’t hurt us. Still, few things make me sadder than when Keeley Jones is sad, so I really hope this is the last episode our girl’s heartbroken in.
Ultimately, Ted Lasso Season 4, Episode 6, “Don’t Jump Around Much Anymore” delivers a whole lot of laughs and a wild gunshot that I feel like we should be more terrified of. It’s unclear what Zelda’s motives are, and with four more episodes left to go, I can’t wait to see what kind of a season finale we’ll reach.
Ted Talks and Further Thoughts
- A rag does look cool thrown over a shoulder. Just ask Steve Harrington.
- Henry and Mae at the Crown and Anchor is a dynamic I didn’t know I needed. A+.
- Guys, why does Zelda scare me so much?!
- I appreciate an ad for these motion sickness glasses. Poor Higgins.
- “Très bien. Merci.” Please never change, Jamie. Never.
- Jamie considering an emergency a “crucifixion or an earthquake,” but nothing in between is sending me.
- “You’re like the brother I never had.” HELP I LOVE THEM.
- “I always knew I’d look after you one day.” 🤣🤣🤣
- Keeley baby 😭 I’m in shambles.
- Not Jamie calling Roy his dad. COMEDIC GOLD, TRULY.
- “That’s Jamie Tartt,” and it’s a shot of him hugging Rebecca while she kisses Matthijs!??? Genuinely might just be the most ridiculously glorious thing the show’s ever done. Please, I need a Jamie Tartt spin-off with everything in me.
Now streaming on Apple TV: What are your thoughts on Ted Lasso Season 4, Episode 6, “Don’t Jump Around Much Anymore” Let us know in the comments below.
First Featured Image Credit: ©Apple TV