Review: ‘Rooster Season 1, Episode 7 “All the Dogs’ Names⁩”

Greg and Tommy can’t look each other in the eye in class. Tommy refuses to speak to Greg; he needs a while which is understandable. Cristle then informs Greg how Tommy’s dad left them for Tommy’s high school teacher, so this scenario isn’t his first rodeo. Cristle suggests that it’s best if they no longer see each other, and Greg agrees. Later, he finds her extremely upset as she believed that he would have at least fought for the relationship. This of course confuses him and makes him feel bad.

Archie does not leave Katie alone. He camps outside her classroom door with her favorite coffees and pastries ready to go. He isn’t giving up on their relationship and explicitly states that he hopes Katie will choose them. She isn’t having any of it. However, she does like all of this new attention that Archie is giving her. He does it every day with different pastries that Katie likes. At first she hates it, but then she grows to like it. 

Dylan goes to Greg for support as she loved being the new Dean and feels it was just stripped away from her in an instant. Walt then asks Greg if he can fill in as the new hockey coach as the school’s existing one had to go to rehab. Greg needs time to think about this as many things are happening in his life. Dylan then takes matters into her own hands and confronts Walt about wanting to be Dean. Walt isn’t very cooperative as Dean Riggs is a good friend of his and the two go way back. Dylan pushes for the position as they both know she would be a better fit. Walt brushes it off. 

Sunny’s dad, Fred, is in town meeting Archie for the first time. Sunny’s roommate Mo tells Archie that she knows Fred will not like him, rightfully so considering how he treats Sunny. While on his bike, Greg sees Fred walking Rosco. They begin talking when Greg realizes that he is Sunny’s dad, and quickly gets away. Later, Sunny joins Fred and Archie and lets both of them know that she has an ultrasound appointment. When she leaves, Fred immediately questions why Archie doesn’t go with her. He needs to be there for her and their unborn child. Archie goes to the gynecologist and sees the baby and hears the heartbeat. Something in him changes. Fred later goes to Greg’s classroom as he is a fan of the Rooster series. They both realize how intertwined their lives are.    

Walt is very upset with Greg, blaming him for Cristle not doing her work and Dylan wanting the position of Dean. Greg urges Walt to take a step back on everything and assures him that things are fine. When Walt tells Greg that he knows about him and Cristle, Greg agrees to tell Dylan that the Dean position won’t  be handed to her. Walt basically silently threatens Greg as they ride together on their scooters. 

After Greg tells Dylan about what Walt basically forced him to do, Katie and Zoey go to Walt directly to explain how a woman in the Dean position would be phenomenal and helpful for the school. Walt later meets Dean Riggs and feels like he has no choice but to let him keep the position. Later in the hothouse, Greg tells Walt how he can do the right thing by hiring Dylan. He also apologizes for hurting Cristle’s feelings and for not being a good friend. 

The episode ends with Archie abruptly leaving Katie alone and Walt offering Dylan the Dean position. Afterward, we see Greg and Walt riding on their scooters. Fade out.    

This episode works well due to the storylines following one after the other. Characters are starting to be developed, specifically Archie. He is finally taking the pregnancy seriously and starts caring for Sunny. On the other side of the coin, Katie is left in the dust, feeling  like Archie completely led her on. This  is sad because it felt like Katie was finally getting over him. She has room to grow with her students as they are all rooting for her. Dylan finally gets the position she deserves! She works so hard out of all the staff, as she does her research and cares immensely about the students. It was such a good buildup, and we learn that Walt is a big softie who listens to his friends.  

8/10

Amanda Romero: Amanda Romero is a MFA student in Film & Television Producing at Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film & Media Arts. She is a dedicated producer and aspiring journalist with a strong passion for storytelling across film, television, and digital media. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Cinema & Digital Media, with a minor in Communications from the University of California, Davis. From a young age, Romero was captivated by the power of film and television to bring stories and characters to life—an early fascination that evolved into a lifelong commitment to creating impactful and meaningful content. Romero's professional experience includes collaborating with The Hollywood Reporter’s Scott Feinberg, further enriching her understanding of the entertainment industry and strengthening her skills in media research. She continues to explore the intersection of storytelling, journalism, and production.
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