Background of the Show
Glen Powell’s Chad Powers, arrived on Hulu as a six-episode comedy built around a disgraced former college quarterback, Russ Holliday, who adopts a disguise to walk on struggling, small college team under the alter ego “Chad Powers”.
The series, co-created by Glen Powell and Micheal Wladron, draws inspiration from an ESPN skit by Eli Manning who was a NFL quarterback. The show blends athletic competition, identity-swap comedy and emotional stakes.
Lead character Holiday was once hailed as a star quarterback until ego and mistakes ended his career. In order to get a second chance at stardom and a football career, he reinvented himself with prosthetic, a wig and a new persona. He would then try to walk on. To walk on to a college football team, you must first be a full-time student at the university and contact the coach to inquire about tryouts, which are open to all enrolled students. You should also maintain good grades and be physically prepared for tryouts, which often involve intense drills and a demonstration of work ethic. Underneath his disguise lies a redemption story about what it takes to give back, rebuild trust and fix his past self.
Episode Guide
Episode 1- 1st Quarter
Holliday has a problem with an awkward prosthetic adjustment, trying to pass as a nerdy jock but underscores Russ’s desperation. It succeeds in hooking the viewer’s attention, although it spends more time on setup rather than action. Good starting episode and easy to follow along, funny and unique.
Episode 2- 2nd Quarter. This episode starts with Chad struggling to fit in with younger players and impress the coaches. He forms a connection with assistant Coach Ricky Hudson, who sees potential in him despite his odd, stupid behavior. He slowly is turning away from Holliday and turning into more of Chad as the episode goes on.
Episode 3- 3rd Quarter
Chad finally gets a chance to play and shocks everyone with his skill, leading the team to a comeback victory. Ricky Hudson begins to suspect there is more to him than he is letting on. More suspicious activity of how Chad is taking over and pushing Russ Holliday away.
Episode 4- 4th Quarter. Russ’s secret identity starts to cause problems as teammates grow suspicious of him. The pressure of living two lives begins to take a toll on him, and he starts to get rid of his real self Russ Holliday; Chad Powers starts to consume him.
Episode 5- 5th Quarter
As the team faces setbacks, Russ’s true identity comes dangerously close to being exposed. Emotional conflict rises between him, Ricky, and her father, the head coach. They then have to go on TV and act like they’re having dinner talking about football. But his wife crashes out about how Coach Hudson only cares about football. This causes drama and the TV segment to be pushed back and try to deal with the family situation. Coach Hudson then has a heart attack due to the stress and him overthinking.
Episode 6- 6th Quarter Russ’s identities edges toward exposure, relationship tendons between him and Ricky come head to head. The final game’s stakes become bigger and bigger, and the cliffhanger leaves multiple threads open for a presumed second season. The ending is emotional but also frustrated by the stalling results of the big cliffhanger. Multiple fans noted this episode as, “great episode, horrible cliffhanger.”(PrimeTimer)
My Thoughts
Overall, Chad Powers is a funny, heartfelt and surprisingly inspiring series that blends sports, comedy and redemption in a fresh way. Glen Powell’s performance carries both humor and emotion, making the story more than just a disguise. With its mix of underdog spirit and genuine heart, it is a feel-good show that is absolutely worth watching, whether you are a football fan or just love a good comeback story. Very well made production with an engaging story.
The show does an excellent job of combining humor, emotion, and creativity to keep the audience interested from start to finish. Character development and bringing a lot of personality and energy with them. Writing and performances work together to create a strong sense of realism and heart, while still keeping things fun and lighthearted. Chad Powers stands out as a creative and enjoyable story that captures attention and leaves a lasting impression.
