'Rooster' Episode 4 Recap: Is Tommy Going To Get A Booklet? 

Rooster episode 4 finally goes back to focusing mostly on Greg, and turning him into the Rooster we’re looking at from day 1. In it, we’re reminded of Greg’s middle-aged loneliness and inability to move on. Outsiders tend to find that they fit in best where they certainly aren’t meant to. This is exactly what we see go down in episode 4. Greg’s invited to a party that Walt has set up for his wife after her return from Japan, but Greg doesn’t want to attend for the love of him. Really, he’s terrified to go to a gathering where everyone knows him, and will likely judge him in some way or another. Honestly, this scene felt like that bit in Marty Supreme, you know which one I’m talking about, and Greg is Marty, while Walt is the executive he’s trying to bring on board. Only difference is Greg doesn’t care to impress anyone, he isn’t even trying to win, he’s simply trying to be. Will he manage to do that when he makes a mistake every chance he gets? I’m not entirely sure, but let’s find out more in episode 4.

Spoiler Alert

Before we get into Greg’s side of things in episode 4, let’s get through everything that goes down with Katie, Archie and Sunny. In this episode, Katie’s students inspire her to step out of her comfort zone and try the dating thing now that Archie is out of the question. So, that’s what Katie decides to do, she puts on the best dress she owns and decides that Walt’s party is where she’ll find someone to take home. However, earlier in the day, Sunny had a conversation with Walt and his guidance in the sauna was for her to be authentic, and she took this so literally that she instantly told him she hated the necklace his wife got him (apparently to make him look like Paul Mescal). But later, she decided to announce the pregnancy on her socials, forcing Archie into commitment. More so because he has to like the picture too, or it would be weird. 

Archie, feeling very confused and unready for this situation, goes to see Katie because he wants a weekend with their dog. This is when he sees how hot she’s dressed up and decides to follow her to the Walt party. As usual he makes everything about himself, or at least that’s how Katie feels. Especially after having failed to flirt with a bartender with Dylan as witness. But the shocking reveal at the end of the episode is that Katie and Archie end up sleeping together after all of that and nobody is the wiser. Sigh. 

This brings me to the graffiti that almost got Greg arrested. Someone has been painting the words “For Katie” on random things on Campus, including trees and Archie’s precious car. But, this is a mystery that will get solved later on in the show I’m guessing. However, my guesses for this are Katie’s students, the same ones who suggested she date now. Or the female students who told Greg that their favourite teacher was Katie, maybe he was the one who accidentally encouraged them, especially considering what all he’s been doing accidentally on campus. I thought at first it might be Archie himself, but seeing as it damaged his car, this is unlikely. Who do you think is damaging public property for Katie? 

Finally, let’s get to the crux of episode 4. Greg finds himself lonelier than ever after his argument last week with Dylan. However, after he pulls a “Walk Like An Egyptian” and gets called in for yet another disciplinary meeting, which is mostly spent in Dylan and Greg apologizing to each other. Hey, at least they know their own flaws. On the other hand, Walt is insistent that he comes to the party, but Greg is certain he doesn’t want to go. For no other reason but that he’s genuinely afraid that nobody likes him. In class, Greg reads out a bit from his book and then asks for assignment submissions. Seems like Tommy has taken a liking to him and decides to take him as inspiration for his essay, however, much to the shock of Greg who believes everyone is innocent and is therefore not meant to be a professor,  the essay is clearly AI and Tommy doesn’t even deny it. It’s especially funny because Greg genuinely thinks Tommy is a good student and he should be encouraging him. I think it’s more because he sees a little bit of himself in the guy, and Tommy also likes him back, so it’s a win-win. 

Anyway, Greg decides he’ll spend the rest of the evening with Tommy in the library, something the latter doesn’t know anything about, to get him to finish the assignment, but their plans are interrupted when Walt waltzes in and closes the place down just so Greg can come to his gathering. Greg dresses his best and goes to the party only to accidentally (yet again) do some cultural appropriation after seeing Walt’s wife in a kimono. He immediately runs out of there and runs into Tommy who invites him to join him to make friends. What I mean is Tommy speaks to Greg’s lonely side and tells him he has no friends, so he’s trying to impress them with a tank of beer. 

We already know Greg’s great at throwing things into a jar/mug, so he’s ace at beer pong which shocks all of Tommy’s friends. Yes, they’re already friends, but they then drag Greg out to an almost Frat party, there are no frats in this liberal arts school, of course. Immediately Greg is wallowing in his sorrow because even his daughter abandoned him and now he’s spending time with some younglings who don’t even care about his work or teaching. But, it’s Tommy who comes to the rescue again. He admits he might’ve lied about his friends but he’s still an outsider because he’s a “townie.” 

In the ending of episode 4, Greg returns to Walt’s party and Tommy gets writing. Basically, Tommy recommends Greg become the person he could never have been before, because it’s all inside him. He essentially compares him to Rooster, because like Greg says, if it’s not within you, it can’t be written, or something like that. So we watch as Greg turns into Rooster and Tommy writes this story of a confident man getting exactly what he wants. Greg finds Dylan and tells her he regrets leaving her alone that night, but she introduces him to another guy making him think she’s dating him. I think this is a misunderstanding, but we’ll find out. However, Greg’s an animal, well, he’s a bird right now, he’s Rooster, so he decides to sleep with Cristle tonight. Finally, breaking out of the 5 year rut, and finally starting to move on from his wife. Yay, he’s not a loser anymore. I think.