So, you're looking for the magic number. Honestly, it’s one of those things that sounds simple until you actually sit down to watch the whole thing. If you’re just here for the quick answer: there are exactly 12 episodes in Season 3 of Ted Lasso. But here is the thing. These aren't the breezy, 30-minute sitcom chunks we got back in the first season. Not even close. By the time the credits roll on the finale, you’ve basically sat through a trilogy of feature-length films.
The Episode Count and Why It Felt Longer
When Apple TV+ dropped the third season back in March 2023, people expected the same rhythm. Season 1 had 10 episodes. Season 2 bumped it up to 12. Season 3 stayed at 12, but the "size" of the show grew massively.
Basically, the writers decided to ignore the traditional comedy clock.
You’ve probably noticed that some of these chapters feel huge. Episode 12, "So Long, Farewell," clocks in at a whopping 75 minutes. That’s basically a movie. Even the mid-season episodes like "Sunflowers" (the Amsterdam one) ran for over an hour.
Season 3 Episode List:
- Episode 1: Smells Like Mean Spirit (43 min)
- Episode 2: (I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea (48 min)
- Episode 3: 4-5-1 (47 min)
- Episode 4: Big Week (47 min)
- Episode 5: Signs (49 min)
- Episode 6: Sunflowers (63 min)
- Episode 7: The Strings That Bind Us (59 min)
- Episode 8: We'll Never Have Paris (53 min)
- Episode 9: La Locker Room Aux Folles (47 min)
- Episode 10: International Break (63 min)
- Episode 11: Mom City (69 min)
- Episode 12: So Long, Farewell (75 min)
That's a lot of AFC Richmond. If you do the math, the total runtime for the season is nearly 11 hours. Compare that to Season 1, which you could finish in a lazy afternoon. This shift caused some friction with fans. Some loved the extra time with the Diamond Dogs, while others felt the pacing got a bit… bloated.
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How many episodes in season 3 Ted Lasso are actually essential?
If you ask the die-hards, all of them. But let's be real—Season 3 took some big swings.
The story had to wrap up a dozen different threads. We had Nate’s "villain" arc at West Ham, Keeley’s PR firm drama, Rebecca’s search for happiness, and of course, Ted’s mounting homesickness.
"Sunflowers" (Episode 6) is widely considered the peak of the season. It’s a "bottle episode" of sorts where the team is in Amsterdam. No game. No high stakes. Just character growth. It’s 63 minutes of people talking, yet it’s arguably the most "Lasso" the show has ever been. On the flip side, some viewers felt the Keeley/Jack storyline in the middle episodes took up too much oxygen.
Regardless of where you stand on the pacing, the 12-episode structure was designed to be a definitive conclusion. Jason Sudeikis has mentioned in various interviews that this was the end of the story they wanted to tell.
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The Big Finale Controversy
The 12th episode wasn't just the end of the season; it was the end of an era.
When "So Long, Farewell" aired on May 31, 2023, the internet was a mess. Did Ted really leave? (Yes). Is Roy Kent the new manager? (You bet).
There was a lot of talk about whether 12 episodes were enough to redeem Nate. Some fans felt his return to Richmond was too easy. He goes from being the "Wonder Kid" traitor to cleaning boots again in what felt like a blink. But that’s the show's DNA—forgiveness is usually served fast and warm.
Wait, is there a Season 4 coming?
This is where things get interesting for us here in 2026. For years, we thought 12 episodes was the absolute limit.
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But as it turns out, the "Believe" sign wasn't just for the players. After a massive amount of speculation, it was confirmed that Ted Lasso Season 4 is officially happening. Production kicked off in mid-2025, and word from Warner Bros. TV execs like Channing Dungey suggests we’re looking at a release window starting around Q2 2026.
Reports indicate that most of the heavy hitters are back—Hannah Waddingham, Brett Goldstein, and even Sudeikis himself. The focus seems to be shifting toward the Richmond Women’s team that was teased in the Season 3 finale.
So, while there are currently 12 episodes in Season 3, the "final" count for the entire series is about to change.
What you should do next:
If you’re planning a rewatch before the new season hits, don't try to power through Season 3 in one night. It’s too dense. Treat those 12 episodes like mini-movies.
- Watch Episode 6 (Sunflowers) on its own. It stands as a perfect short film.
- Pay attention to the background. The "The Lasso Way" book notes in the finale actually explain a lot of the tactical shifts the team made.
- Keep an eye on the 2026 summer schedule. With the World Cup happening in the US this year, the timing for a Season 4 drop is almost too perfect for Apple to pass up.
Clear your calendar, grab some shortbread, and maybe keep a tissue box nearby. Those 12 episodes are a rollercoaster.