American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez episode 3 recap and review: “Pray the Gay Away”

American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez episode 3 recap and review: "Pray the Gay Away"

As a seasoned gamer and a connoisseur of sports dramas, I must say that Ryan Murphy’s American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez has been a rollercoaster ride so far! The third episode, “Pray the Gay Away,” was another gripping installment that kept me on the edge of my seat.


Ryan Murphy’s series, “American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez,” resumed with episode three on September 24th. Throughout this third installment, viewers witnessed Aaron experiencing victories and defeats, seeking spiritual guidance, and announcing his intention to join the NFL draft. To recap episode 3, titled “Pray the Gay Away,” let’s focus on its key occurrences.

Warning: The following information contains spoilers for ‘Sports Story’ episode 3. If you haven’t watched it yet, I recommend catching up by streaming the episode on Hulu first, before continuing here.

The start of “Pray the Gay Away” showcases a very different Aaron from the one we see in the final moments of the episode. Now, remember, Murphy’s Sports Story is strongly based on the true story of former NFL star Aaron Hernandez (Josh Andrés Rivera), but several people and events are made up or dramatized for the story. That said, we are not sure how close Tim Tebow’s (Patrick Schwarzenegger) was with Aaron. 

The narrative in Sports Story implies a close bond between the characters, as Tebow frequently extends invitations to church and engages in discussions about faith with Aaron. This dynamic appears to influence Aaron significantly, particularly during episode 3 when he is seeking personal growth. Notably, Tebow encourages Aaron by saying, “God doesn’t require perfection, just effort,” which resonates deeply with Aaron.

In a new turn of events, Aaron decides to quit using drugs, places football at the forefront, and dedicates his full attention to schoolwork and training. Despite teammates encouraging him to stop emulating Tim Tebow, Aaron chooses to ignore their advice rather than succumb to peer pressure – something he’s known for struggling with. Although it’s not confirmed that Tebow played a role in Aaron attending church, this is the narrative followed by the series.

Unfortunately, during Thanksgiving, Aaron returns home and all his efforts to quit smoking back in Florida seem to go out of the window. However, he compensates for it by indulging with his friends from his hometown. His high school teammate, who is also a former love interest, happens to be in town as well over the holidays. They catch up, share laughter, and even smoke together in their car, just like they used to back then.

2009 saw the Florida Gators suffering a defeat in the SEC Championship Game against the Alabama Crimson Tide, leaving everyone disheartened. Among them, Coach Urban (Tony Yazbeck) felt it most intensely, leading to a panic attack that required hospitalization. In the hospital, he made the decision not to have Aaron back on the team for another year. Initially, Aaron had wanted to stay with the squad during his senior season, recognizing the need for additional training. Given his incomplete high school education, it’s worth noting that he hadn’t even completed high school. However, when Coach Urban informed him that there was no room for him on the team, Aaron chose to participate in the NFL draft instead.

Prepare yourselves for an exhilarating turn of events as Aaron makes his NFL debut in the upcoming episode! Mark your calendars for October 1st and tune in to episode 4, “Birthday Money,” airing on FX. If you miss the live broadcast, don’t worry – catch it on Hulu the following day!

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2024-09-25 06:27

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