Hiii I just wanted to add to the Roller Rink conversation! You touched on most of the major points but I also hate Dennis's characterization because they specifically make it a point in High School Reunion to say that Dennis has always referred to himself as the Golden God and inflate his own ego, and also deny his involvement with Mac and Charlie at all costs. They make it seem like he's besties with Mac and Charlie even though we know canonically he's always been terrible to them! Idk that's just something that bothers me
Oooo, yes more Roller Rink discourse! Thank you!
I don't think Dennis acting more soft in this episode contradicts him being an asshole and calling himself a Golden Gold in the past, personally. He's always been mercurial and as I said in my first post, to me it makes sense that he's acting more put together because he feels like this is the first chance he's gotten to impress his dad. He's being on his best behavior because he thinks that's how he can win Frank's love. And by Dee Sinks in a Bog, he has the realization that he and Frank have a better relationship now that Dennis has embraced the evil in him, and he's long since realized that Frank could have never loved the softer parts of him anyway.
The Mac and Charlie stuff I've never seen anyone bring up--that's an interesting point! I hope you won't begrudge my disagreement, haha. While it is canon that Dennis tried to pretend he wasn't friends with Mac and Charlie in high school to try and seem cool, it's also canon that he always hung out with them anyway when he thought no one was looking. He was awful to them and avoided them in front of others to save face, but he's never pretended they weren't friends when they were alone together, as far as I remember. Plus, if I'm reading the timeline correctly, Roller Rink is set right after Dennis graduates college, so there's been at least four years of distance from high school and the people there who Dennis was trying to impress by pretending to hate Mac and Charlie. It makes sense to me that Dennis would be acting like Mac and Charlie are his best friends, because in truth they are, and there isn't anyone around that Dennis wants to impress by pretending that isn't true.
And because it's Roller Rink there's the whole "this is a story the guys are telling so who knows how much of it is even accurate anyway" mess too lol.
Thank you for sharing your perspective!
