Rooster Recap: Brilliant People

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Seriously, why are we acting like Greg is actually leaving Ludlow? The show has been treating his departure like a huge loss for the past two episodes, but it’s obvious he’s staying. He still has his teaching seminar, he’s thriving as the hockey coach – it’s very Ted Lasso – and he’s become a father figure to Tommy. He’s not going anywhere anytime soon, so can we please stop pretending?

The second-to-last episode of the season, “Ludlow’s Fourth Hottest Professor,” really focuses on the love triangle between Katie, Archie, and Sunny. Honestly, I haven’t been a fan of this storyline, and this episode didn’t change my mind. Archie just doesn’t seem to have a genuine connection with either woman, and their chemistry feels forced. I was hoping both Katie and Sunny would move on, but it looks like they’re both still trying to make things work with him, which means this plot could continue into next season. Hopefully, that won’t happen.

Archie can be charming, and this episode gives Phil Dunster a chance to shine with his comedic timing, which is great to see. The story revolves around Archie desperately trying to finish his incredibly long book, leading him to cancel classes twice. When Dylan confronts him, she finds him in a wildly energetic state – practically vibrating and rambling incoherently. It turns out he’s fueled by an excessive amount of Celsius energy drinks to meet his deadline. Dunster delivers a hilarious performance, complete with a funny ‘shimmy shake,’ and immediately asks if anyone has tried the drink. He jokingly compares it to cocaine and then expresses concern that kids are allowed to drink it – a sentiment many viewers likely share!

Although Dunster manages to make Archie somewhat funny, the character still lacks any truly likable traits. In this episode, Archie neglects his students while rushing to finish his book, and when he finally holds class, it’s just to receive compliments. It’s unpleasant to watch. When students politely suggest his lengthy book could be edited down, he ridicules them and immediately dismisses the entire class. Dunster’s delivery of the line, “Go ahead, fuckity bye!” is almost amusing, but ultimately highlights how deeply insecure Archie is.

Okay, let’s talk about Greg. He’s really found his footing at Ludlow – genuinely thriving, actually. We see him immediately stepping up to help Tommy with his studies, with J.D. and Spooner pitching in, and he’s already planning for the hockey team’s future. Of course, he’s leaving soon – and we all know that’s coming – so he and Dylan have a serious talk with Coach Jake about a potential return. But Jake? He’s a mess. He’s managed to stay sober, which is good, but he’s fallen into online gambling. It’s a fascinating, and often overlooked, issue – this idea of switching one addiction for another. Greg instantly recognizes what’s happening and confronts Jake, but it falls flat. And that contrast – Greg, so deeply invested in everyone around him, versus Jake, who is hilariously self-absorbed – really highlights just how much purpose Greg has found. It’s a strong character moment, and it makes you root for him even more. Now, let’s just say Katie, thanks to years of Greg’s overprotectiveness, is… well, still a bit of a kid, and we’ll get to her in a moment.

Greg was busy getting the hockey team ready for their big game against Pruitt, while Walt was trying to impress the Head of Trustees. Despite enjoying the e-bike Walt gave him, the trustee suggested the hockey team was an unnecessary expense. Walt defended the team, arguing that not everything needs to be profitable, which apparently made the man laugh so hard he chipped a tooth. Greg raised an eyebrow at this, and Walt explained the man was eighty years old. Greg joked that didn’t mean his teeth should fall out when he laughed, a comment that I found hilarious – and I’m nowhere near eighty!

Okay, so this episode didn’t give us a ton of Walt, which is a bummer, but he did have a couple of important scenes. He was trying to get that elderly trustee on board with supporting the hockey team, but more importantly, he talked to Sunny about her future. Mo was there too, and she was not happy to hear Walt actually supported Sunny staying with Archie! Walt did add a condition, though – he wants to make sure Archie is just as committed to her as she is to him. Honestly, we all know how that’s going to go. Walt and Mo even fist-bumped and basically agreed they’d take care of Archie if he hurt her. One of the best things about Rooster is how hilarious all the actors are together, and I’m seriously begging the writers for more scenes with Walt and Mo – they’re comedy gold!

Most of the group eventually makes it to the hockey game. Before the game, there’s an awkward moment where Greg tries to give Jake a motivational speech, but it backfires. Jake ends up confessing to a lot of terrible things he did while he was using drugs – like switching a kid’s ADHD medication with fish tank tablets, sleeping with a friend’s girlfriend, and stealing from everyone. It becomes clear Jake isn’t just dealing with addiction; he’s generally not a good person. Scott MacArthur plays this flawed character really well, which makes Jake surprisingly watchable, though you definitely wouldn’t want to leave him unsupervised. And now, Cristle is sitting with him at the game…and flirting?! Cristle is in trouble, seriously.

The hockey game was a huge success, and surprisingly, Nico’s song “The Fairest of the Seasons” played during the second half. The song’s eerie sound created an interesting contrast with the intense action on the ice, though its sad tone almost masked the fact that Ludlow was winning. The crowd’s enthusiastic response really highlighted how exciting the victory was – even seasoned fan Joe Trustee told Walt it was an exhilarating game. It’s clear the hockey program and Coach Greg are staying at Ludlow, which sets up an interesting situation. It will be fascinating to see how Jake reacts to Greg remaining on the team, and their dynamic could be a highlight in the next season.

It’s strange, but Katie and her mom are nowhere to be seen at Greg’s game – they’re actually revisiting old arguments. When Katie applies for a program that could quickly lead to a permanent position, Dylan tells her it will take five years. However, after Elizabeth speaks with Walt, that timeline is suddenly reduced to just one year. Katie gets suspicious and asks her mom what’s going on. Elizabeth is blunt, revealing she always suspected Katie got her job at Ludlow through family connections, just like she did. Katie is shocked and incredibly upset by this revelation.

It’s hard to accept that Katie believes she earned her job at Ludlow – especially considering her mother is the college’s most famous graduate. It’s also strange she doesn’t acknowledge her father conveniently started working there around the same time she got off scot-free for a major campus fire. But let’s put that aside. The real problem is that Greg always supports Katie’s choices, and she’s fine with that as long as she doesn’t have to admit he’s helping her. When Katie finally challenges Greg about his involvement in her life, he confesses he took the job to protect hers, which sends her into a rage. She claims she could have left Ludlow and escaped her unhealthy relationship with Archie. Honestly, she still can! But instead of leaving, she runs back to Archie after the fight with her father, choosing to stay miserable.

The story ends with Archie and Katie reconnecting at a diner in a sweet and charming moment. Archie is surprisingly drinking basic bagged tea, while Katie is already on her third slice of pie – though the slices seem a little small! Their conversation is one of the most honest and touching they’ve had, finally revealing what their relationship is really about: both Archie and Katie express their love through words of encouragement and appreciation.

Both Katie and Archie deeply crave validation. Earlier, Sunny wisely pointed out that truly talented people don’t need constant praise, and that’s true! But when Archie tries to share this with Katie, it doesn’t resonate. They end up showering each other with compliments – Katie predicts Archie’s book will be published, and Archie declares Katie the most brilliant person he knows. (It’s a bit ironic, considering their situation.) For reasons that seem to stem from a desire to defy her father and finally feel appreciated, Katie decides she’s ready for a relationship with him. Beyond that rebellious impulse, there’s no clear reason for her change of heart. Archie hasn’t shown any personal growth or even a desire to be with her, yet Katie fully commits to him. As Greg observed, this is a risky gamble, and probably not a smart one.

Office Hours

One of my favorite moments in this episode is when Dylan and Greg are facing each other during a disciplinary hearing. The camera focuses on Dylan, who is brightly lit and clearly attracted to Greg, as she playfully tells him she’ll be sad to stop disciplining him.

When Dylan mentions she spent the night endlessly scrolling through Instagram posts of heartwarming military homecomings – the kind involving tequila and surprised kids – it reveals a bit about her personality. It seems like a sweet pastime, but also one that could easily make her emotional.

Elizabeth spotted the rooster decoration on top of Katie’s office and jokingly referred to it as ‘the cock.’ I’m playfully wondering when this detail will become important to the plot – hopefully before the season ends!

If Katie ranks fourth in attractiveness among the professors, that means there are three who are considered more attractive. Dylan is definitely one of them. Personally, I’d put Greg in the top three, without a doubt.

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2026-05-04 06:56