Hank launched into a bitter tirade against Railton College, dismissing it as "Mediocrity's Capitol." The administration, facing mounting pressure, found itself compelled to consider his dismissal. Hank and Lily, in turn, began to seriously …

George Saunders’s arrival at Railton College sends a ripple of eager attention through the faculty, each professor striving for his approval. For Hank, the visit is a poignant reminder of his own unrealized aspirations as a writer. Meanwhil…

A disquieting sense of unraveling began for Hank when a storage pod, overflowing with his father's forgotten possessions, was unceremoniously deposited in his front yard. A similar unease gripped the professors as whispers of impending budg…

As speculation mounts regarding potential layoffs, the faculty turn to their union for protection, while Hank pursues an alternative course of action. Meanwhile, Lily seeks employment at an esteemed preparatory school in New York City.

Hank and Lily once again hosted the English department's annual dinner. Lily faced a difficult choice. For Hank, echoes of his complicated relationship with his father resurfaced, casting a shadow over the evening.

Hank and Tony journey to an academic conference, and the contrasting tenets of their philosophies regarding work and life begin to fray their camaraderie. Meanwhile, Lily finds herself navigating the complexities of Julie and Russell's marr…

Hank finds himself navigating his father's reappearance in Railton. Meanwhile, Lily searches for an apartment in New York City. In Lily's absence, Julie turns to Hank for support.

A daunting predicament has befallen Hank at work; the future of his department hangs precariously in the balance. Meanwhile, in New York City, Lily begins to find a steady rhythm in her altered life.