WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Young Rock Episode 4, "Check Your Head."
NBC's Young Rock has been a comedic dive into Dwayne Johnson's past, addressing how young "Dewey" grew up in the wrestling business with his family. It involves humorous adventures with the likes of Andre the Giant and the Wild Samoans, while incorporating the tricks of trade from high-school to university. However, it takes a serious turn when the show reveals how college Rock battled first battled with and triumphed over depression.
The Rock wants to be relatable as ever, which is why on a talk show he details intimate secrets for his political ambitions. After all, this is what makes him human, so he confesses how it wasn't easy making the transition to the University of Miami in 1990. Played by Uli Latukefu, Dewey's prowess on the football field stood out, impressing the likes of NFL star and university alum Michael Irvin and allowing the freshman defensive lineman to become touted as the school's next big superstar. He took out the big names in practice, which is why Coach Orgeron had high hopes.
Sadly, the unthinkable happened and the prospect damaged his shoulder in the final practice before the start of the season. He was relegated to the bench to recover but was also hit by a downward spiral. Bit by bit, he started to feel like he wasn't ever going to live up to his potential, becoming depressed.
Dewey pulled away from his teammates, coped by playing too many video games, stopped going to classes and ducked out of final exams. He basically dropped out for a bit and headed back home to Tampa, lying to his parents about having time off. He proceeded to keep watching games, hurting on the inside, and he spent most of his time eating junk, gaining weight and wallowing in self-pity. Thankfully, his mom noticed and got his pops, Rocky, to address the situation.
The wrestler had his own style and hashed it out in a gym session, though, surprising Dewey. As they lifted weights, Dewey lashed out over the pressure, since all he wanted was to make it and support his family financially. Now, he felt like a failure because of his dad's boasting to everyone. But Rocky told him it was part of the game. He could hit life back or let it keep him down, but most of all, he had to be honest so his family could care for him.
In the future, the Rock admits he didn't think someone in the '90s could look at mental health with such a proactive take, but that conversation gets him back on his feet. He gets hyped to drop the hopelessness, understanding that he's his own worst enemy, which makes Rock even more appealing to voters down the line in this heartfelt confession to inspire the public.
Starring Dwayne Johnson, Joseph Lee Anderson, Stacey Leilua, Adrian Groulx, Bradley Constant, Uli Latukefu, Ana Tuisila, Fasitua Amosa and John Tui, Young Rock airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC.