From the start, Chad Powers seemed like a limited concept — but that’s exactly its charm. Russ’s impulsive disguise, a Mrs. Doubtfire–meets-Tootsie farce in football form, was never built for mystery. The fun was always in the inevitable reveal. In the 4th Quarter, that moment begins to take shape, and the result is funny, emotional, and surprisingly tender.

In American football, the “4th quarter” is the final period — the decisive stretch when the clock runs down and everything is on the line. It’s also a cultural metaphor: the last act, the critical turning point. In Chad Powers, it becomes both literal and symbolic — the end of the game that isn’t played on the field and the beginning of Russ’s reckoning with himself.

After an episode confined to one match, this one leaves the sport behind. Russ spends most of the time without the latex disguise, exposing the man underneath: vulnerable, lonely, and absurdly human.

No Ball, Just Panic

The episode opens, unexpectedly, with The Phantom of the Opera. It’s more than a joke — it’s the emotional code of the episode. The Phantom hides behind a mask to conceal his pain and shame; Russ hides behind Chad Powers to escape his own failures. And now, both masks are falling apart — literally.

While the Catfish prepare for their away game in Knoxville, Danny forgets to close the glue tube properly, leaving Chad’s transformation impossible. The choices are clear: call his father or come clean. Instead, Russ chooses chaos — sneaking out with Danny to find glue before curfew.

What follows is a delirious chain of misadventures: stolen car, Halloween store, dog-faced fan, and a bleeding hand. It’s slapstick, yes, but beneath the chaos lies truth — Russ is running out of ways to hide.

Between the Farce and the Mirror

The moment he spots a Halloween costume mocking him — “A-Hole Quarterback” — the laughter fades. His past self has become a punchline. A heated argument with Danny in the ER forces both men to face what they’ve been avoiding: Danny’s dependency and Russ’s selfishness.

Abandoned and wounded, Russ nearly calls his estranged father — but instead steals surgical glue to fix his fake face. Later, he bumps into Ricky, who recognizes him but treats him with kindness. He advises her to make peace with her dad — something he can’t do himself.

When the coaches approach for bed check, Danny pretends to be Chad, saving the cover. Together, they rebuild the mask through the night — and perhaps rebuild a fragile friendship too.

The Mask Will Fall

By morning, Ricky follows Russ’s advice and reconciles with her father, mirroring what Russ still can’t face. On the team bus, Russ and Danny fall asleep side by side — a wordless image of exhaustion, affection, and quiet redemption.

But calm never lasts in Chad Powers. Ricky stumbles upon headlines about the “disappearance of Russ Holliday,” realizing he was at the same hotel. The clock is ticking. The fourth quarter isn’t over yet — and when the truth finally surfaces, will Russ have the courage to be himself?