Ep 4. Check Your Head

In season 1, episode 4 of Young Rock, entitled "Check Your Head," viewers are taken back to Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's college days in the 1990s. As a freshman at the University of Miami, Johnson is still adjusting to life away from home and struggling to fit in with his peers.

The episode opens with Johnson getting his first taste of the college party scene and quickly realizing that it's not his thing. However, he befriends a fellow wrestler named Tracy who introduces him to the straight-edge punk scene. Johnson becomes enamored with the punk lifestyle and begins to embody its ethos of non-conformity and anti-establishment.

Meanwhile, Johnson's father Rocky is dealing with some financial troubles and resorts to some unsavory tactics to make ends meet. This causes a rift between him and Johnson's mother Ata, who believes that he should prioritize their family over his business ventures.

As Johnson immerses himself in the punk scene, he begins to clash with his football coaches who want him to cut his hair and conform to team standards. Johnson sees this as a personal attack on his individuality and fights back against the system.

The episode does an excellent job of juxtaposing Johnson's rebellion with his father's more conventional approach to life. While Rocky is primarily concerned with providing for his family and fitting into society, Johnson is more interested in carving out his own path and being true to himself.

Ultimately, Johnson's decision to embrace the punk lifestyle leads to some unexpected consequences, and he is forced to confront the reality of his situation. The episode ends on a bittersweet note, with Johnson realizing that he can't completely abandon the football team if he wants to achieve his goals.

Overall, "Check Your Head" is a well-crafted episode that explores themes of rebellion, conformity, and self-discovery. It's an excellent addition to the Young Rock canon and serves as a reminder that even The Rock had to go through some tough times before achieving success.