When we last saw Chad Powers, his true identity was threatened to be revealed by Coach Ricky Hudson, someone he was hoping he could actually have an intimate relationship with. Fast forward to season two, and the lie has never been bigger, and the disguise has never been more under threat. This sophomore season brings back the comedy but also adds a dark edge to what was a light-hearted debut season, and it’s all the better for it.
Russ Holliday’s (Glen Powell) cover identity as superstar quarterback Chad Powers for the South Georgia Catfish faces intense scrutiny as his odd off-field behaviour makes Coach Hudson (Steve Zahn) and rival player Gerry (Colton Ryan) deeply suspicious. With the team chasing a College Football Playoff run, Russ must rely on Ricky (Perry Mattfeld) to keep his massive secret from destroying the entire program.
What stands out most from the six episodes of the second season is the dark edge that is present and grows throughout. It all stems from Gerry losing his place in the team to Chad, the jealousy consuming him as he becomes full of vengeful rage the deeper into the season we go. Yes, there are plenty of jokes and goofing around when it comes to disguises, but the show certainly feels a lot more mature and compelling thanks to the conflict between Chad and Gerry this season.
Chad’s deception is no joke either for the rest of the team and coaches – anyone finding out results in the team’s efforts leading to nothing. His desire to live the life that he could have had is what drives the lie, but his ego wanting to maintain the lie when it could ruin the integrity of those he cares about makes him a morally conflicted protagonist. He wants to do well for himself and the team, yet his actions could have such a negative impact on the future of others. Actions have consequences, but Chad Powers is almost blind to those consequences throughout, just not as blind as those are to his disguise, which isn’t even that much of a change from Holliday’s appearance.
Luckily, they have Powell at their disposal to play the titular character. He is great at playing the douchebag and, while his Chad Powers gimmick means well to an extent, you can’t help but think of him as a true narcissist. As with the previous season, the Top Gun: Maverick star excels with the comedic side of the character while also carrying the responsibility of playing both the cunning Russ Holliday and buffoonish Chad Powers incredibly well. He may be the centre of attention, but the supporting cast feel like they get a lot more to do in this season. Mattfeld is impressive as Coach Ricky Hudson, caught between a rock and a hard place in whether to reveal the secret or not. She shares great chemistry with Powell, which makes the romantic tension between the two far more believable.
Two more cast members who have meatier roles this time around are Frankie Rodriguez as Danny Cruz and Ryan as Gerry. Rodriguez brings great loyalty to Cruz, even if you can’t help but feel he’s being used by Russ, while Ryan brings a real sympathetic nature to Gerry, even if he does go a little too far in his attempt to bring the Chad Powers ruse to an end.
While it’s a slight improvement on the first season, Chad Powers still doesn’t do enough in its sophomore season to warrant a higher rating. At six episodes, though, it’s easy to digest and play along with at home, no matter how ridiculous you might find it that no one can see Powell under the disguise.
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Streaming from September 3rd on Disney+ / Glen Powell, Perry Mattfeld, Quentin Plair, Wynn Everett, Frankie Rodriguez, Steve Zahn / Showrunner: Michael Waldron / Disney+
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