This might sound shallow, but it needs to be said: Steve Carell has never looked hotter than in Rooster‘s latest outing. It’s partly because the show finally allows Greg to step out of the whole “I’m a sad old dude” vibe to have some fun and gain confidence, and Carell runs with the opportunity to be free. So far, he’s played Greg as awkward and pragmatic, which fits his post-divorce journey. But in “Angry, Like An Angry Person,” he embraces being pushed out of his shell. First, his daughter encourages him to go on a date, and later, while trying to help a student, he ends up attending a frat party, gets high, and, by the end of the night, hooks up with someone unexpected. In other words, Greg has an essential college experience.
The only problem is that Greg is not a student. He’s a professor who blurs boundaries with someone he teaches, even if it’s for noble reasons: to help Tommy (Maximo Salas) because he’s late in submitting an assignment. Greg has told those in his class to file an essay emulating the style of their favorite author. Tommy, the same kid who tricked Greg into buying beer in the premiere, chooses our very own Rooster, so to speak, and writes his paper in Greg’s style. Except Archie (Phil Dunster) is convinced Tommy is using AI to do it. To prove his estranged son-in-law wrong, Greg takes an extra interest and sits with Tommy in the library so they can put pen to paper together, and so he can hopefully motivate Tommy to focus on college work. And later, after running away from a party at Walter’s (John C. McGinley) house, Greg reunites with Tommy, who takes him to a party.
It’s only a small gathering at first, so Greg indulges in rounds of beer pong, smokes weed, and leaves a fun impression on the boys. (Michael Scott would’ve been so proud.) The shenanigans escalate when Greg hops over to a proper frat blowout with them. I’m talking loud music, lots of college kids, neon colors, drugs, alcohol, the works. Greg, who’s already pretty high by this point, quickly reaches a sulking state and, as Tommy’s friend puts it, “murders the mood.” Hey, that’s what happens when you request the DJ to pivot from Lady Gaga’s “Abracadabra” to R.E.M.’s “Everybody Hurts.” In a span of one night, Greg experiences the highs and lows of being free. As fun as it is to watch Carell here—and it really is—Rooster still doesn’t comprehend the meaning of boundaries between teacher and student, making it a little tough to buy into.
Yes, it’s often wholesome, as seen when Tommy actually bonds with Greg over their shared experiences. In their own way, they’re both outsiders struggling to fit into this strange world. Tommy reveals he’s a local and only got into Ludlow because one or both of his parents work there, and now he has to compete with smarter and richer people. Greg, of course, is here for the sake of his daughter and has to follow a learning curve himself. So it’s nice to see these two disparate people find common ground. That’s usually the Bill Lawrence M.O., so the emotional beats hit. It’s when you start applying logic that Rooster threatens to fall apart, like when Katie (Charly Clive) hangs out with a couple of her students and basically gossips about her broken marriage with another professor at this college. Girl, don’t do that!
Look at how everything goes down between Katie and Archie just in this episode. She seeks a fresh start after seeing Sunny (Lauren Tsai) announce her pregnancy to the world. So for Walter’s party, she puts on her finest dress and heads to the bar for some liquid courage. Over a dirty martini, she tries and fails to flirt with a hot bartender. Luckily for her, he’s also at Walt’s house serving drinks, and Katie fares much better when she’s being herself there. Clive continues to win me over with each passing episode, and I’ve realized a lot of the credit goes to her on-point facial expressions, like the reaction to Sunny’s post or the realization that, despite claiming he wouldn’t attend, Archie is commanding the room at Walt’s party. Once again, he lies to her and tries to woo her all in the same night. And just when you think common sense will prevail, the episode ends with the reveal that Katie and Archie slept together. I repeat: Girl, don’t do that!
It’s frankly unnerving (but not surprising) that Archie doesn’t just have his job at Ludlow after getting a student pregnant, but that it’s normal for him to be employed at the same college where his estranged wife and father-in-law also work. Boundaries are not Rooster‘s, or probably academia’s, strong suit, huh? It’s why all that the interim dean does while witnessing Greg and Archie yell at each other is a whole lot of nothing. That’s also why Sunny is at her mentor Walt’s home for advice on what internships to take, but they’re conversing in his hot sauna instead of, I don’t know, an office. It’s also why the board keeps dismissing the complaints against, of all people, Greg. Wait until they hear about how he accidentally inspired two of his daughter’s students to spray “For Katie” graffiti all around campus.
Anyway, the episode ends with Greg, inspired by his final conversation with Tommy at the party, returning to Walt’s bash with a newfound conviction. He belongs here, damnit, and he’s going to prove it to everyone else and to himself. So he almost hits on Dylan (Danielle Deadwyler) again, expressing regret about saying no to her before, but she reveals she’s got a date. But Greg’s walk and cool sunglasses are enough to impress Walt’s assistant, Cristle (Annie Mumolo). So the two hastily rush to, yes, Walt’s office and just go at it. This may not end well for the people involved, but at least Greg sleeps with someone his age! Hopefully this twist also gives Mumolo more than a single line or two per installment. Let Greg Russo hook up more.
Stray observations
- • The episode title refers to how Tommy describes Rooster in his take on Greg’s protagonist.
- • Lodging an official complaint that this episode had very little Robby Hoffman and Rory Scovel. Only one scene for each of them? Do better, Rooster.
- • When Katie’s student tells Greg, “I appreciated you taking the fight to the male oppressor,” my eyes rolled so far back into my head.
- • Here are the types of walks not allowed on Ludlow’s campus, according to the official rulebook: Crip, clown, Scooby, Quasimodo, and, of course, anything to do with The Bangles’ “Walk Like An Egyptian.”
- • “You can’t write it if it’s not in you.” Honestly, a lot of Greg’s advice to his students is pretty spot-on.
- • Also, after not knowing who she is, Greg is currently reading Zadie Smith’s 2000 novel White Teeth.
Saloni Gajjar is The A.V. Club‘s TV critic.