Chad Powers Season 1 Episode 4 Review: 4th Quarter
Sports fans take a seat, because this episode is for the Broadway nerds. Okay, there’s still plenty of sports talk to be had on Chad Powers Season 1 Episode 4, “4th Quarter,” but music from Phantom of the Opera is a great hook.
It’s not a coincidence it’s from a musical about a man hidden behind a mask, since the episode focuses more on Russ than Chad. Though not before Chad explains to Coach Hudson that he and Danny aren’t rooming together for the away game because they’re dating, they’re just related because their families “Blind-sided” each other like the movie.
Yeah, if I was Coach Hudson I’d give up trying to understand Chad too.
The main plot of the episode is Danny and Chad going on a wild goose chase to find some glue after their tube accidentally dried out. Thank goodness for capitalism and Spirit Halloween being open early!
Their odyssey to find glue turns out to be about more than just glue though, it’s a test of how Russ has grown if any. At first, it’s not looking great for the reformed “d-bag.”
He scoffs at the Halloween costume they find for “A-Hole Quarterback” that has an Oregon colored jersey and big fake diamond stud like Russ. Then he belittles Danny for caring about his missing airpods when their stolen car is broken into and Russ cuts his hand.
Chad may be a lovable oaf, but it appears Russ still only cares about himself. It’s not until Danny finally snaps and tells Russ that he’s a joke and abandons him at the emergency room that Russ sobers up to the situation.
It’s nice to see Danny have a backbone, but the character could still use some more development beyond “wants to help Chad,” and then “is mad at Chad.” His interactions with the cheerleaders don’t reveal much either, so he is a lone catfish!
Russ goes to call his dad and then realizes he really has no one he can turn to at that moment. It’s cliche, but sometimes it takes rock-bottom for a character to change and that’s what we see on this episode.
It’s been too easy hiding behind Chad’s mask, now Russ has to own up at least part of the way to his life off the field. It starts with Russ running into Ricky in the elevator and telling her she should make up with her dad.
Of course the two weirdly have chemistry which is probably confusing to Ricky since she doesn’t know he’s also Chad! She’s still a lot kinder to Russ than most people who know who he is, which I think goes a long way in melting his icy heart.
Although he doesn’t actually apologize, he does offer to stay up with Danny and fix the prosthetics which reads like an olive branch. Maybe the man behind the mask is learning to care about others through his exposure therapy as Chad.
Additional Thoughts:
- Meme costumes are trendy, but would Russ Holliday really still be a costume 8 years later? I’m skeptical.
- Do you know where your AirPods are? Check right now!
- Poor Gerry is about to have a mental breakdown.
- Family facts: Powell’s mom credited as Cynthia Powell guest stars as the “moaning woman,” though I’m sure the hardest part was having to wear a Tennessee jersey.
- Danny mentions Chekhov’s gun and the episode ends with Ricky searching Russ Holliday online… I’m sure that won’t ever come back up!
What did you think of this episode of Chad Powers? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and don’t forget to leave your own rating!
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Chad Powers airs Tuesdays on Hulu.
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Breeze Riley
Breeze Riley is a pop culture enthusiast who decided to turn her love of watching too much TV into a hobby writing about it. Although she's a convention-going sci-fi and fantasy nerd, she's just as likely to be watching an off-beat comedy or period drama. She is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic.