Ep 4. Retarding It All Up

Retarding It All Up is the fourth episode of the first season of Con Man. Wray Nerely, played by Alan Tudyk, is a struggling actor who played the role of the spaceship pilot in a cult classic sci-fi show called Spectrum. In this episode, Wray is asked by his friend and fellow actor, Jerry Lansing, to speak at a panel at a sci-fi convention. Wray is hesitant to do so as he is worried about the pressure of speaking to thousands of fans and fellow actors. However, Jerry reassures him that it will be an easy gig, and Wray agrees to do it.

Meanwhile, Wray's friend, Jack Moore, played by Nathan Fillion, who used to play the lead on Spectrum but now enjoys massive blockbuster success, is wrapping up the shooting of his latest movie. He invites Wray to join him on set and Wray jumps at the chance to hang out with his friend and see the movie-making process up close.

At the convention, Wray begins to feel the pressure as thousands of fans are gathered to hear him speak. He is assigned a moderator who is more interested in taking selfies with him, and his tech fails when he attempts to show a clip from Spectrum. Jerry steps in to help him out but ends up accidentally unplugging the whole sound system. The crowd becomes restless, and Wray panics, trying to make up for all the problems that keep happening.

Back on the movie set, Wray quickly realizes that he doesn't fit in with the Hollywood elite, and his role as a fictional spaceship pilot is less glamorous than he had hoped. He becomes disillusioned with the whole situation and starts to feel like he's wasting his time there.

Back at the convention, Wray has managed to get the moderator to listen to him, but he starts to ramble on about obscure facts and trivia, even interrupting himself mid-sentence. The crowd is getting bored, and Jerry is trying to get Wray to wrap it up. Just when it seems like Wray is going to crash and burn, he spots a familiar face in the crowd- it's Jack!

Reinvigorated by Jack's presence, Wray finishes his panel strong, even getting the crowd to chant "Spectrum" along with him. Jack congratulates him afterward, and the two catch up. Jack tells Wray that he misses Spectrum and the good old days of their friendship. Wray realizes that their bond is still there and that he doesn't need to be a big Hollywood star to be happy.

Retarding It All Up is a well-crafted episode that showcases the insecurities and struggles of a struggling actor in Hollywood. Wray's journey of self-realization is both inspiring and relatable, as is his friendship with Jack, which provides a much-needed sense of grounding. The episode is a testament to the power of fandom and the impact that it can have on an actor's life. It's funny, heartwarming and leaves viewers wanting more.