Chad Powers becomes the show it was meant to be
Chad Powers has one of the most ridiculous concepts on TV right now: Disgraced college quarterback Russ Holliday (Glen Powell) dons prosthetics and a bad wig to become Chad Powers, unlikely walk-on star player for the South Georgia Catfish.
Oh, and the whole thing is based off an Eli Manning prank video. (Eli and Peyton Manning are producers on the show.) Naturally, the show still treats that crazy concept seriously.
In Season 1, that seriousness manifested in Russ's internal struggles as he searched for redemption under an entirely different identity.
That meant that when Powell was in Russ mode, the show operated more as a character drama.
But when Powell donned the Chad makeup, the show functioned more as a zany comedy, complete with its fair share of cringe comedy and pratfalls.
SEE ALSO: 2026 fall TV preview: Every show you should know about The result was silly fun.
Even when Chad Powers ' tone grew uneven, sometimes suffering from as much of an identity crisis as Russ, Powell's performance served as a strong unifier.
In Season 2, though, Chad Powers is taking every moment seriously.
Yes, there are still jokes aplenty, and the Chad Powers prosthetics still manage to possess Powell like the Green Goblin mask (if the mask made you talk like a Southern chipmunk).
But as Russ's lie begins to collapse around him and his co-conspirators, Chad Powers ups the ante and becomes a propulsive football thriller.
Chad Powers Season 2 is a killer thriller.
Glen Powell and Perry Mattfeld in "Chad Powers." Credit: Disney Chad Powers Season 2 establishes its more thriller-tinged vibe right from the jump, with a fast-paced episode taking place almost in real time throughout a stressful game.
After taking some intense contact and losing his prosthetic nose, Russ flees his trainers and goes on a mad dash around the stadium in order to get his face back into shape.
What follows is a slick manhunt full of more disguises (including an eerie plastic Chad mask) and close calls.
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