Supercut

## Episode guide

"**Supercut**" is the third episode of the second season of *Maddox* and the seventeenth episode of the series overall. It premiered in 2023.

## Synopsis

With help from the drama club, Hakeem puts together a short film to let go of the past. Dallas's new friend draws Andrea's ire.

## Plot

During lunch, Hakeem has Ehsan and Lucy read a script he’s worked on over the summer that Ehsan quickly realizes is inspired by Hakeem and Boogie's relationship the previous year. Hakeem wants to make a short film to put that moment of his life behind him. Lucy is enthusiastic about the idea, and eventually Ehsan relents and agrees to help out.

Still seeking a new extracurricular, Dallas attends a drama club meeting. He pairs up with Ellie for pair exercises when he notices her alone. She questions his decision to wear eyeliner, which Dallas defends by framing it as an act of reinvention in line with what the drama club is all about. When Debby interrupts the pair exercises so that Hakeem can promote his short film project, Dallas volunteers as one of the actors.

The next day, Mars notices Dallas chatting to Ellie in the hallway and informs Andrea. During lunch, the two interrogate Dallas about this new relationship. Dallas responds to their claims of Ellie’s transphobia by appealing to her ignorance, but Andrea demands that he not be her friend.

Hakeem books the theater studio for rehearsals for actors Dallas and Oscar, with Lucy and Ehsan serving as script supervisors. Dallas, who has been cast as the Hakeem stand-in, Josh, questions the ethics of playing the role, but Hakeem angrily shoots him down. Hakeem grows increasingly agitated and snappy until a frustrated Ehsan walks out. Lucy calls off the rehearsals to give everyone the chance to calm down.

A week goes by without Dallas and Ellie interacting. At the next drama club meeting, the two pair up again and Dallas explains his situation. Ellie calls Andrea a coward, but Dallas argues that her defensiveness likely comes from being mistreated at McCormick School. Ellie dismisses this, which leaves Dallas unsettled.

On shoot day over the weekend, Hakeem seems unfocused, which makes it difficult for the actors and Caleb, the cameraman, to produce material. Ehsan takes him aside to talk. Hakeem admits that Dallas’s question about the ethics behind the short film have been getting to him, and that he still wishes he could have resolved things with Boogie differently. Ehsan assures him that he has the right to use art to move past the previous year and that it’s ultimately just a fun, hobbyist project that Boogie will never see, He also assures Hakeem that he'll eventually find someone who's just as interested in him and more committed to him than Boogie ever was. Comforted by Ehsan’s words, Hakeem apologizes for his behavior and resumes rehearsals.

During lunch the following school week, Dallas promises Andrea and Mars that he will not pursue a friendship with Ellie. Hakeem and Ehsan arrive at the table and Hakeem thanks Dallas for acting in the short film. Andrea and Mars are excited to see it. As Hakeem pulls out his laptop to show them the final result, Dallas and Ellie make eye contact as Ellie finds a seat alone in the cafeteria.

## Credits

### Cast

#### Starring

* Allison Bourne as Ellie Vanderjagt
* Wesley Carter as Hakeem Franklin
* Julia Chee as Andrea Salazar
* Samir Devani as Ehsan Patel
* Rosalía Mejía as Lucy Suárez
* Cleo Robinson as Debby Murphy
* T. J. Shapiro as Dallas Cowan
* Tanner Paige Wise as Mars Maddox

#### Recurring

* Spencer Dillenberger as Oliver Parrish
* Martin Hays as Oscar
* Joel Seidman as Caleb Blumenthal

## Trivia

* This episode takes its name from the song "Supercut" by Lorde.
* Though it isn't named in this episode, the short film Hakeem writes and directs in this episode is titled *If Boys Could Talk*. Its title is revealed in "No Hard Feelings" when Hakeem premieres it at the Marshall Maddox High School talent show.