Rooster, an HBO series, has the potential to be a comforting comedy, but it's struggling to reach its full potential. The show's co-creators have a proven track record of crafting heartfelt comedies with strong ensembles and emotional depth, as seen in Shrinking, Ted Lasso, Scrubs, and Sports Night. However, Rooster is falling short, and it's not entirely clear why. The chemistry between the cast seems uneven, the portrayal of academia is eyebrow-raising, and the subplots are flimsier than expected. Despite these issues, the show is often enjoyable, but it feels unable to fully embrace its comedic and wholesome potential. The central issue lies in the character of Archie, played by Phil Dunster, who is constantly engaging in push-and-pull dynamics with both Katie and Sunny. His behavior is not funny, and there's no one to correct him, which is frustrating. In the episode "All The Dogs' Names," Archie continues his mission to be the Worst Type Of Guy by gleefully love bombing both women in his life. This cyclical narrative is bogging down the show's ability to be heartwarming and funny. Fred, played by Jim O'Heir, nudges Archie to go with Sunny to her OB-GYN appointment, which is a telling moment about his disinterest in helping her out with the baby. Despite this, Archie seems genuinely moved during the scan, which gives hope that he might pick a lane and develop as a character. However, the show's writing needs to give Dunster room to develop Archie's character. Walt, played by John C. McGinley, is another character who is struggling to find his place in the show. His dynamic with the students and professors is confusing, and his interactions with Greg are tense. In the episode, Walt reflects on his relationship with Greg, realizing that he doesn't try to be good at his job. This gives insight into Walt's persistence without entirely excusing it. The show's writing also needs to explore Sunny's perspective more, as her joy over the baby explains why she is keeping it, but it would benefit from a deeper exploration of her thoughts and feelings. Danielle Deadwyler nails her line reading of "Oh, I'm not going anywhere" when Dylan and Greg are cornered by a cop, which is a standout moment in the episode. The show's potential for a slow burn between Dylan and Greg is one of its best parts, but it needs to progress beyond Cristle's breakup with Greg. In conclusion, Rooster has the potential to be a great show, but it needs to find a way out of the maze it has trapped its characters in. The show's writing needs to give the cast more room to develop and explore their characters' motivations and relationships. Personally, I think the show has the potential to be a success, but it needs to find its footing and embrace its comedic and wholesome potential. In my opinion, the show's struggles are due to its uneven chemistry, eyebrow-raising portrayal of academia, and flimsier subplots. If the show can find a way to develop its characters and explore their relationships more deeply, it could become a great comfort show. One thing that immediately stands out is the show's potential for character development, particularly for Archie and Walt. What many people don't realize is that the show's struggles are not insurmountable, and it can find its footing with better writing and character development. If you take a step back and think about it, the show has the potential to be a great success, but it needs to find its voice and embrace its comedic and wholesome potential. This raises a deeper question about the show's ability to develop its characters and explore their relationships more deeply. A detail that I find especially interesting is the show's potential for a slow burn between Dylan and Greg, which could become one of the best parts of the show. In my opinion, the show's struggles are due to its uneven chemistry and flimsier subplots, but it can find its footing with better writing and character development. Personally, I think the show has the potential to be a great comfort show, but it needs to find its voice and embrace its comedic and wholesome potential.
