Glen Powell is back under center for Season 2 of Hulu’s breakout sports comedy Chad Powers, which arrived in full on Thursday, September 3. The first season — created by Powell and Michael Waldron and sparked by Eli Manning’s wildly popular 2022 hidden-camera stunt — followed fallen football star Russ Holliday (Powell) as he attempted the ultimate career reset. With the help of convincing prosthetics, a wig, a new voice, and a completely fabricated personal history, Russ transformed himself into Chad Powers and talked his way into college football tryouts. His gamble paid off when Chad became the starting quarterback for the South Georgia Catfish, giving Russ one more shot at the dream he thought he had ruined. But the Season 1 finale left him in serious trouble after Coach Hudson’s (Steve Zahn) daughter, Ricky (Perry Mattfeld), discovered who Chad really was. Now Season 2 asks the big question: is Russ’ secret finally about to blow up, or will Ricky help protect the lie long enough to push the Catfish toward the college football playoffs?
CHAD POWERS SEASON 2: STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?
Opening Shot: After a quick refresher on Season 1, Chad Powers returns by taking viewers into Chad’s basement hideout, where his prosthetic faces and wigs hang like superhero gear in a makeshift Batcave. As the quarterback heads downstairs to begin another transformation, When In Rome’s “The Promise” kicks in, setting the perfect tone for the disguise-driven chaos ahead.
The Gist: Season 2 begins about two weeks after Chad and the South Georgia Catfish stunned rival Georgia at Sanford Stadium, Coach Hudson endured a heart attack, and Ricky confronted Chad on the team bus. To Ricky’s frustration, Chad’s popularity has only exploded since then. For a brief moment, things appear to be working in the starting QB’s favor — until the premiere throws him into a messy new crisis involving an in-game injury and a disastrous prosthetic nose malfunction, otherwise known as a “Pinnocchio.” As questions begin to mount, Ricky finds herself reluctantly joining forces with Danny (Frankie A. Rodriguez) to keep Chad’s secret intact for the sake of the team, her own future, and most importantly, her father’s recovery. With booster power player Tricia Yeager (Wynn Everett) demanding victories, careers hanging in the balance, and backup quarterback Gerry (Colton Ryan) determined to expose Chad, the pressure around Russ’ double life reaches a new high.
What Shows Will It Remind You Of? Chad Powers shares some clear DNA with Ted Lasso, from its unexpected origin story to its feel-good sports-comedy heartbeat, and it also taps into the same uplifting underdog energy found in the Apple TV series Stick. Because of its secret-identity premise and constant web of lies, the Hulu series also plays a bit like football’s answer to Hannah Montana. The creative team’s stated influences, including Mrs. Doubtfire and Jerry Maguire, are easy to spot as well.
Our Take: Viewers who were already on board with Chad Powers in Season 1 should find even more to enjoy in Season 2. And for anyone who needed time to settle into the show’s unusual premise, this new chapter may win them over. The sophomore season is sharper, warmer, and more emotionally grounded, while still keeping the absurd comedy that makes the series stand out. Freed from the need to spend time establishing its world and introducing its players, the show leans into richer character dynamics, especially the tender complications between Ricky and Coach Hudson and the unexpectedly funny partnership forming among Ricky, Danny, and Chad. Powell remains terrific as Chad, capturing the character’s goofy sweetness and awkward sincerity, but Season 2 becomes stronger by allowing more room for Russ to exist outside the mask. When the disguise comes off, Powell gets to show a more dramatic side, giving the character’s growth real weight and making it easier to root for Russ to finally earn the redemption he has been chasing.
Season 2 also shines because supporting Season 1 characters get much meatier roles. As Coach Hudson prematurely returns to the field with a secret of his own, he confronts his own mortality and legacy with a standout Episode 3 performance from the great Steve Zahn. Everett and Tricia steal scenes as Chad Powers’ comedy queens. And though Gerry is backup QB, Ryan demands the spotlight, exuding cursed main character energy as his jealousy over Chad’s flourishing career fuels a hilarious and horrifying revenge plot. In line with Season 1, Season 2’s final two episodes absolutely change the game. This time around, the show transforms into a gripping comedic thriller with the vibes of Powell’s former Chad show, Scream Queens. Throughout Season 2’s six episodes, as Chad/Russ and Ricky navigate their complex feelings for each other, Chad Powers skillfully embraces and builds on its rom-com roots. Simply put, the show’s writers and stars understand the power of a world-altering crush. Powell and Mattfeld portray 10/10 yearners, delivering swoonworthy performances with palpable chemistry and ubiquitous romantic tension. And when handsome, wealthy Catfish alum Jay Palmer (Colin Woodell) sets his sights on Ricky, the one-of-a-kind situationship gets even more complex.
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When the end credits roll on Chad Powers’ breezy six-episode season, you’ll have seen it all. Comedy. Drama. Romance. Horror. And quality sports scenes to boot! The exploration of how far Chad and his accomplices will go to avoid revealing the QB’s true identity, and the consequences of those actions, ends with several new jaw-dropping twists that build excellent Season 3 momentum.
Performance Worth Watching: Wynn Everett deserves a special shoutout for taking Tricia to the next level. But it’s Gerry’s season; we’re just watching it. Colton Ryan is a star, and I lost track of how many times his unhinged performance made me laugh out loud.
Parting Shot: As the team celebrates a win, cheering for MVP Chad Powers, the camera finds Gerry, who’s furiously sketching a picture of himself slicing Chad’s head off with a sword. Before “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” returns, menacing music swells, teasing Season 2’s battle of the QBs.
Our Call: STREAM IT. Chad Powers seriously stepped up its game in Season 2. The genre-bending comedy strikes a brilliant balance between character development and football. With big laughs, heartfelt moments, and captivating performances from Powell and the cast, Season 2 is a touchdown.