On paper, Rooster has the makings of an ideal comfort show. Its co-creators have established they can deliver heartfelt comedies anchored by a great ensemble, as well as emotionally heavy storylines with relatively low stakes. (See: Shrinking, Ted Lasso, Scrubs, and Sports Night.) So, seven episodes in, HBO’s series should be a breeze, but it isn’t. Perhaps the reason is uneven chemistry, the eyebrow-raising portrayal of academia, or flimsier subplots (like the return of Alan Ruck’s Dean Riggs, who couldn’t be more of a caricature of a misogynist if he tried). It’s not like Rooster doesn’t click into place because it is often enjoyable. But it feels oddly unable to reach its comedic, wholesome potential despite the efforts of Steve Carell, Danielle Deadwyler, and Charly Clive. Or maybe I’m just that goddamn frustrated by Phil Dunster’s Archie, whose back-and-forth between his estranged wife and the grad student he got pregnant tempers my excitement.
In “All The Dogs’ Names,” Archie continues his mission to be the Worst Type Of Guy by gleefully love bombing both women in his life. He’s just that afraid of rejection and is driven by his insecurity and desire for validation. So he promises Katie (Clive) that he’ll bring her breakfast daily before class, a way to woo her until she takes him back. On the same day, he also hangs out with and tries hard to impress Sunny’s (Lauren Tsai) father. Once again, the only one speaking sense here is Mo (Robby Hoffman), who is visibly annoyed that Archie and Fred (Jim O’Heir) are bonding. At least she can see what a tool her roommate’s boyfriend is, but this cyclical narrative is exactly what’s bogging down Rooster‘s ability to be heartwarming and funny. Unfortunately, there are no laughs to be had about Archie’s behavior, and there’s no one to correct him on it either. (That ass-whooping from Greg Russo at the end of episode two had no impact.)
For his part, Fred nudges Archie to go to Sunny’s appointment with her OB-GYN. It’s the first time he goes with her to the doctor, and that speaks volumes about how uninterested he is in Sunny and helping her out with the baby. At the clinic itself, though, Archie seems genuinely moved for a change during the scan. Based on his reaction and the fact that he decided to abandon his “bring Katie her favorite latte and croissant every morning” plan, I hope he’s picked a lane. (If it were up to me, the lane would lead him directly out of Ludlow, far away from both Katie and Sunny.) I would also assume this is Rooster finally building some character development for him. Hey, if Dunster could pull it off in Lasso, I have faith he can do it again here, if the writing gives him room for it.
Plus, seeing Walt’s growth gives me hope. So far, John C. McGinley has been the oddest one out. He’s so-so comic relief, and Walt’s dynamic with the students and professors is confounding. (Stop inviting everyone into your home sauna, my guy.) He does that again in “All The Dogs’ Names,” asking Greg to accompany him to discuss the state of their friendship. Walt admits to feeling disrespected by Greg, the man he blackmailed into taking the writer-in-residence gig to save his daughter’s job. Anyway, Greg keeps avoiding him because Walt is “a lot,” which is fair. But the college president has had just about enough, especially because he’s aware that Greg and Cristle (Annie Mumolo) banged in his office. So Walt and Greg bond by riding bikes and not sweating in the sauna.
I appreciated Walt’s much-needed arc in this half hour also because of the conversation he has with Riggs, who resumes his Dean Of Faculty position. But it’s clear to everyone that Dylan (Deadwyler), who took the job in the interim, is a better fit. She goes back to being a poetry professor, and Walt even offers her a promotion as head of the English department. (Um, how easy is it to just pass jobs around on this campus, considering Walt also makes Greg the interim hockey coach?) But after taking Greg’s advice about demanding more for herself, Dylan states her desire to go after Riggs’ role. It leads Walt to seriously reflect on whether he should defend his old friend, whom he realizes doesn’t even want to try being good at his job. Riggs refused to let a student reschedule an exam on the day their grandparent died and told a classics professor that she was “top-heavy in a good way.” Sigh. Walt rightly tells him off, saying, “I felt this place leaving me behind, so I ran as fast as I could to catch up. I don’t always get there, but I damn sure make the effort. You? You don’t even try.”
This gives us some insight into Walt’s persistence with everyone around him without entirely excusing it. And as the cherry on top, he ultimately makes the right choice and, presumably, after talking to the Ludlow board, gives Dylan the job. It helped that Katie also went to bat for Dylan and roped in her student to do it, too. Evidently, Greg is on team Dylan as well. Their slow burn continues to be one of the best parts of Rooster. Maybe the two of them will progress now that Cristle has broken up with Greg, afraid of the impact it’ll have on Tommy (Maximo Salas). However, she’s also upset that Greg accepted the decision without fighting for her, and it leads to a bit of a breakdown.
Cristle isn’t the only one who ends “All The Dogs’ Names” in a dour mood. Katie, once again, is heartbroken because Archie doesn’t choose her. She expectantly waits for him to show up with sweet treats in hand, but all he can muster from afar is a sad wave. It’s the reality check she needs that he isn’t going to change, so she gathers herself up and struts into class to start teaching. Clive’s facial expressions are appropriately crushing, but I’m getting tired of this push-and-pull, and I want Rooster‘s remaining three installments to find a way out of this maze that it has trapped Katie, Archie, and Sunny in.
Stray observations
- • I’m thrilled this episode fit in a couple of scenes with The Office‘s Steve Carell and Parks And Rec‘s Jim O’Heir together. Fred reveals that Greg is his favorite author and gets him to sign a copy of the book while awkwardly discussing how they’re now a part of each other’s lives (thanks to their daughters’ questionable tastes in men).
- • I felt it when Fred turned to Archie and asked him with a straight face, “What’s wrong with you?”
- • Fred’s joy over the fact that Sunny is having a baby explains why she is keeping it, but Rooster could benefit more from exploring Sunny’s POV.
- • Danielle Deadwyler nailed her line reading of “Oh, I’m not going anywhere” when Dylan and Greg are cornered by Rory Scovel’s cop, who threatens to throw them in jail for riding a bike together.
- • Dylan is going to offer Greg the position of head of the English department to set the stage for season two, right?
Saloni Gajjar is The A.V. Club‘s TV critic.
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