It’s supremely hard to get a series made these days. So many things have to align to get it into production, not to mention the luck and talent needed to make it a successful series. Then there’s the hurdle of getting renewed for another kick at the can – probably the point where most, even lauded shows, fall. But Glen Powell and Michael Waldron’s Chad Powers beat the odds on all fronts.
The sports comedy follows a former star college quarterback (Powell) who disgraces himself on the field, losing all credibility with his team and with fans. Instead of embarking on a new life, he decides the better idea is to disguise himself so he can join a different school’s struggling football team as a walk-on player under a completely new identity: Chad Powers.
The first season was a hit with viewers and critics alike. It gained praise for tight, funny scripts, a banging soundtrack, and a solid team of lead and supporting actors. Powell gelled perfectly with his dual roles, and Steve Zahn, as the coach of Powers’ team, was an ingenious addition to the proceedings. It’s no wonder audiences clamoured for more after the final episode of the premiere series. Luckily, they didn’t have to wait long for news, as it was announced that a sophomore series had been greenlit before the year ended.
This week marks the much-anticipated arrival of Season 2 on Disney Plus. Ahead of that, That Shelf was lucky enough to sit in on a press conference with cast members (Powell, Zahn, Perry Mattfeld, Quentin Plair, Wynn Everett, and Frankie Rodriguez) to learn more about the upcoming storylines and character arcs. Here are just some of the highlights:
What’s Changed for Russ
“Can [Chad’s experiences] actually change the man underneath the mask?” Powell wonders aloud. The actor thinks its possible, especially when you combine that with the “weird” family unit formed by people who are in on the core lie. Russ, Ricky and Danny may be pulling off what is, essentially, an act of dishonesty, but that complicated woven web still requires a huge amount of trust. As that pressure cooker of a situation simmers, those bonds of friendship intensify, but it also creates opportunities for romance. Russ has learned a lot over the first season, and that will continue throughout the second. But don’t expect he lessons to make him a completely new person all in one go. As Powell points out: “You gain a few yards and you lose a few yards, and that’s what makes good TV.”
The Relationship Between Chad Powers and Jake
Steve Zahn points out that to his character, Jake, Chad Powers is “that missing link”. Chad’s football prowess is exactly what Jake has needed to coach a winning team. Because of that desperation, Jake will put up with pretty much anything, even if he doesn’t understand what Chad is all about. As their relationship plays out, though, Jake gets more used to Chad, and their time together becomes calmer and less fraught. And that continues to play out in the second season.
How the Series Confronts Serious Issues Through Comedy
According to Powell, the show has consciously baked comedy into its approach to serious issues from the get-go. The storytelling is deliberate, and each character has desperate issues to deal with. Powell sees them all as throwing a personal “Hail Mary pass” in different ways, and their investment in survival makes them relatable and human. Incredible casting helps, with actors adept at not only understanding the layers but also communicating them. So while Chad Powers is a comedy at its core, the show’s talented ensemble cast allows the series to pull off nuanced dramatic beats that widen its scope.
Season 2 of Chad Powers premiered with all six episodes on Thursday, September 3, on Hulu on Disney+ in Canada.
