A Bitter Sweet Goodbye
When the moment arrives to mark the end of a season, it is only natural for both the cast and crew to feel a whirlwind of emotions. Some speak of lingering regrets, while others express a sense of relief.
And up until Seasons 1 and 2, Ethan Simons had been firmly in the camp of those who felt relieved. As the head writer of The College Player, he held the reins of the storytelling throughout the season, which naturally brought immense stress. This had been true during the maiden voyage of Season 1, and it remained true during Season 2, even as he grew more accustomed to the pressure.
But Season 3 was different. Standing at the back of the studio audience, watching the live taping that was about to begin, he murmured to himself, Strangely, I'm going to miss this.
The reason was simple: It's because of Sion Lee. Everyone showered him with praise—calling him "brilliant," "cool," and "amazing." Perhaps due to his contrarian nature as a writer, Ethan had tried to find some flaws, but in the end, there were none to be found.
From the viral buzz Sion generated at the start of the season, to masking the narrative awkwardness of the previous season, and even reforming the lead actors—who had been his biggest source of anxiety—Sion had done it all. Above all, as an actor, his overwhelming talent and passion for the craft breathed life into the set, elevating the sitcom's quality to a whole new level.
Sion Lee was the undisputed MVP of this season, the single greatest contributor to breaking the 30% ratings barrier. That was an undeniable fact.
It was glaringly obvious from the roar of the audience the moment he stepped onto the set.
"The crowd is going absolutely wild," the PD said, stepping up beside him.
"Aren't you supposed to be standing next to the camera right now?" Ethan asked.
"Ah, I've got about thirty-two seconds. It's fine."
"You could probably read the complete works of Shakespeare in that time."
"Exactly. So, how did you feel about this season?"
"Ryan saved us. I'd love to make him a series regular, but I know that's a pipe dream." Ethan, who had been staring seriously at the stage, chuckled and relaxed his expression.
"Well, keeping a star of that caliber tied to this show would probably cost us ten million dollars."
"Tell me about it. I just hope working with us helps Sion Lee's career in some way. We really owe him... more than words can express."
"Honestly, it's an honor just to have our show on his resume."
"Ha, I can't argue with that. Thirty percent. I used to think that number was about the same as the probability of my wife not being annoyed when I walk through the front door." The PD pushed up the glasses resting on the tip of his nose and continued.
"I hope more people come to love him. Hollywood still thinks of Sion as a spoiled brat, a piece of trash who beats up paparazzi. But rumors are just rumors. We've seen the real him, and we know he's completely different."
"Indeed. And it's not just who he is as a person; he's incredible as an actor. His physical movement, especially."
A great actor always inspires creators. Their interpretation of a character provides a clear answer when writers like Ethan ask themselves, How do I write this? In fact, watching Sion Lee perform over and over this season had helped Ethan truly grasp who Ryan was.
"Thanks to him, we got to wrap early too. My wife told me she was going to take a shower as soon as she got home."
"...And how did that go?" At the PD's question, Ethan silently held up two fingers.
"I envy your stamina. Well, I'd better get back to it."
"Enjoyed the complete works of Shakespeare," Ethan replied with a smirk, a classic sitcom writer's wit. The PD flashed a thumbs-up and headed toward the director of photography.
After putting on his earpiece and barking out a series of complex instructions, the cameras finally rolled.
The College Player, Episode 3-22. The gang gathers to welcome Ryan back after his victory in a computer programming competition. Everyone prepares a surprise party for him. Remembering how the audience had roared with laughter in previous episodes when Belle asked, "Another party?" and Kyle and Max replied in unison, "Always," Ethan had structured the finale to mirror that dynamic.
And finally, Ryan stepped onto the set.
He wore his trademark nerdy glasses, but he was dressed in a sharp suit. The audience erupted at the sight of him.
"That's strange. Where did everyone go...?" Standing in their usual hangout spot, Ryan tilted his head at the empty room. Yet, unlike his first appearance in Season 3, his face carried a touch of comfort as he looked around. He tripped over the leg of the sofa, nearly falling, but this time, he caught his balance and stood upright.
Aha. Ethan watched with keen interest, appreciating the subtle acting details Sion used to show Ryan's growth.
"Oh, no... Am I being bullied again?" The audience burst into laughter as Ryan muttered, his nerdy trauma flaring up in his bewildered expression.
And then, Nancy quietly slipped in behind him.
"Ryan." Ryan jumped back with his signature over-the-top, startled reaction.
"What are you doing here?"
"I-I... today is the day I get back..."
"Oh~ was that today? I thought it was next week... pfft!" Chelsea Cartwright, who had been delivering her lines with deliberate awkwardness, suddenly burst out laughing.
"Ah, sorry!" An NG. Instantly breaking character from the popular girl, Chelsea laughed heartily. The audience cracked up along with her.
One of the joys of a live taping was witnessing the actors make mistakes. Chelsea covered her face in embarrassment and stepped back, and Sion walked over to her. His eyes widened slightly, and he gently wrapped an arm around her shoulders, turning her away from the audience.
Huh? What's going on? Ethan tilted his head. The audience also grew curious as the actors didn't immediately reset for another take. A crew member quickly ran over to check on them, then called for another staff member, suggesting a real issue had arisen. Just as the atmosphere threatened to turn awkward, Sion stepped forward to explain.
"Uh... we are incredibly sorry, everyone. Please bear with us for just a moment."
What's going on? Ethan wondered. Chelsea had never caused a "serious" delay during a live taping before. Is she feeling unwell? Or did she forget her lines? No, if it were just that, she could just look at the script.
Sion glanced back with a slightly troubled expression, then added with a grin:
"Since this is the final shoot of the season, it seems Chelsea got a bit choked up. Her nose is completely red right now. Like Rudolph."
"..." "..." A brief silence fell over the studio. Then, everyone burst into laughter.
"I think she got even more nervous because of our wonderful audience tonight! Let's hear a round of applause for Chelsea!"
It was a situation that could have easily turned awkward. However, the unique charm of a live taping, combined with Sion's smooth handling of the crowd, reignited the audience's enthusiasm. The popular girl Nancy, and the nerdy Belle—the fact that the real-life personalities of the two actresses were the exact opposite of their characters was one of the show's running jokes.
After playfully working the crowd for a bit, Sion walked back over to Chelsea, who was standing with her back to the audience, and patted her shoulder to comfort her. Watching this, the audience thought:
Sion really has grown up.He's become so mature since turning eighteen.Sigh, I wish Sion would comfort me like that.
...But the reality was a bit different.
"...Are you done crying?"
"Y-Yes..."
"What's with the sudden waterworks? Did your boyfriend dump you?"
"...No, he did not," Chelsea snapped, glaring at him. Amazingly, Sion possessed the superpower to annoy even the sweet-tempered Chelsea. Yet, looking at his face, she couldn't help but let out a small chuckle.
"It's just... knowing this is your last episode, I got overwhelmed."
"Why is that something to cry about?"
"...Sigh, I can't believe I got emotional over a guy like you."
"It's the finale. So instead of crying, let's give it our all so we don't have any regrets."
"Yeah, you're right." Calmed by Sion's blunt but practical advice, Chelsea took a deep breath and turned back around. The audience showered her with warm applause, and the cameras rolled once more.
But that wasn't the end of it. Strangely, Episode 22 had far more NGs than usual.
"Damn it! That doesn't make... Ah, sorry. Let's take it from the top," muttered Frederic Patterson, who played Kyle.
"...Pfft, hahaha! Ah, I'm just not feeling it today!" laughed Susan Hopkins, who played Belle.
"Whew... this is tough. Let's try that again!" said Dominic Cobbs, who played Max.
Everyone made mistakes, but strangely, the more they messed up, the more invested the studio audience became, and the energy in the room soared. Ethan Simons easily understood why.
Reality and fiction are blending together.
In Episode 22, Ryan was written out of the show with the storyline that he was leaving after receiving a programming offer from MIT. It was a smooth narrative choice that left the door open for future guest appearances, and since it was a plausible scenario for a brilliant college student, the audience would accept it naturally.
And in reality, the actor Sion Lee was also leaving after this episode. Everyone knew this, and their reluctance to let him go manifested as these frequent NGs—as if they wanted to stretch out their time performing together just a little longer. When Ryan finally broke the news of his departure in the climax, even the audience let out a collective, sorrowful "Awww..." sharing the characters' deep regret.
And so, they reached the final scene of the day.
"So, when are you coming back?" Belle asked. After a brief silence, Ryan smiled softly. In the end, the two of them never got together. Ryan never confessed his feelings to Belle. It was a decision made after weighing childhood memories, his friendship with Max, and his impending move from the West Coast of California to the East Coast of Massachusetts.
Standing among the friends he had built a life with, he slowly raised a can of cola in his hand and replied:
"When I feel like I'm ready."
It was a line loaded with meaning. He would return when his feelings for Belle were resolved, and when he had truly learned to love himself. Hearing Ryan's words, Nancy, her eyes welling with tears, stepped forward to hug him, followed closely by Belle, who embraced him gently.
Watching the three of them embrace, Kyle turned to Max and asked playfully:
"Hey, is this the part where we're supposed to hug them too?"
"...That is highly unmanly."
In response, Nancy reached out and yanked Kyle by his leather jacket. The audience roared with laughter. Shrugging as if to say, Oh, what the hell, Kyle and Max joined the embrace. As the five main cast members of the season melted into a single group hug, the studio audience erupted into thunderous applause.
After holding the embrace for a long moment, the five of them pulled apart, and Ryan checked his watch.
"I should probably get going. I still need to pack."
"...Hey, Ryan." Max stepped forward, his tough expression barely hiding his embarrassment. "Need a ride? You don't have a car, do you?"
"Ah, it's fine. I have a friend coming to pick me up."
"...Wait, a friend? You have other friends besides us?"
"Yeah, a really great friend. We got close while I was tutoring them. They're busy with work, but they promised to pick me up anyway."
"Ah..." "Probably some computer geek." "Or maybe the owner of a comic book store."
They felt a sense of relief knowing that Ryan had managed to make another friend during his time here. Just then, the door burst open with a loud bang.
"Heeeyyy!" a beautiful girl shouted as she made her grand entrance. The moment the audience recognized her face, they leaped to their feet.
The roar was loud enough to shake the entire studio. Elena Asimov, the rising young star whose cameo had been teased across various newspapers and media outlets, stood there dressed in a cheerleader uniform.
Instantly, Kyle and Max's faces flushed bright red, while Nancy and Belle reacted with exaggerated shock and bewilderment as she stepped into the room.
Her platinum blonde hair, shining like sunlight, was tied back in a high ponytail. She stood triumphantly with her hands on her hips, her sparkling eyes brimming with youthful, bubbly energy.
A cheerleader and a nerd! It was a trope straight out of a classic teen drama rather than a modern campus romance, but just as Sion had done, Elena's slightly exaggerated performance made it work beautifully.
"I'm here to pick up a certain someone!"
"A-Are you done already...?"
"Yep! I came to get you! That's why I told you to wait outside for me!"
"But our scheduled meeting time isn't for another thirty minutes. Unless I travel to the future to wait, there's not much I can do in this absolute dimension of time, is there? I'm not Superman."
"...Sigh. How did I end up with a guy like you?"
"Huh?" Elena sighed, grumbling shyly, while Ryan tilted his head, completely oblivious to her obvious "smitten girl" vibe. The other four characters grabbed handfuls of popcorn from Kyle, munching away as they watched the pair with rapt attention, determined not to miss a single second. It was a scene straight out of a classic teen romance.
"Take off those ridiculous opera-mask glasses already, you nerd!"
"...Ah! Hey! Give them back! My glasses!" Exactly as written in the script, Elena reached out and snatched his glasses away. It was a classic setup, the trademark gag of Season 3 that always delivered humor and a dramatic reveal.
But suddenly, Ryan stumbled forward, grabbed Elena's arm, and pinned her against the wall. A collective gasp and high-pitched squeals of "Kyaaa!" erupted from the audience and even the other actors.
If his partner hadn't been the incredibly talented Elena, anyone else would have broken character and screamed in surprise.
S-Sion?! Flustered by Sion's unscripted action, Elena's cheeks flushed crimson as she looked up at his face, towering over her.
Looking down at her with a sly, mischievous smirk, Sion said, "Ah, sorry. Shall we take it again?"
"A-Are you crazy?"
"I got a bit carried away. Because Ellie is just too beautiful."
"..." Her face burning a rosy pink, Elena let out a long sigh. Having observed him for so long and knowing his personality inside out, she could tell Sion was lying through his teeth. Because beneath the glasses she had snatched away, his eyes were slightly bloodshot.
Honestly... he's never honest.
Caught up in the electric energy of the audience and the bittersweet NGs of his co-stars, Sion, too, seemed to wish, just a little bit, that this shoot would never end.
"...Alright. Let's do it again." Slipping back into her cheerleader persona with a bright smile, Elena gently tapped Sion's cheek as she slid his glasses back on. While the audience buzzed with excitement over Sion's brilliant "NG" and the smooth recovery, she leaned in and whispered in his ear:
"I'll follow your lead, no matter what." Having watched Sion perform for so long, she had finally learned a thing or two about what it truly meant to put on a show.