“This steak is medium-rare.
I asked for it medium.
And I wanted extra gravy on my mashed potatoes.
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Let me ask you something: How hard is your job?
How intelligent do you have to be to take a food order?”
And thiscoming-of-age panicis best personified inJustin Long’s character, Dean.
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What Is ‘Waiting…’ About?
Dean works at Shenaniganz, a franchise restaurant.
Dean is in a quarter-life crisis.
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Meanwhile, Dean is aimlessly taking classes at a community college part-time.
The news of Chett’s accomplishment weighs on Dean for the rest of the day.
At work, Dean’s manager (David Koechner) offers Dean the position of assistant manager.
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What is he doing with his life?
High school begins to feel more and more distant like it was a different life altogether.
Finally, someone sees potential in him.
He crumbles up the card, defeated.
We want someone to believe in us so that maybe we can believe in ourselves.
Waiting…' Is ActuallyRelatable
Waiting…was released the same year asGrey’s Anatomy.
In the pilot episode, Dr. George O’Malley (T.R.
It’s a moment that’s supposed to be relatable for viewers, but, is it?
We were so young yet life had already chewed us up, and now we were just commiserating.
I felt stuck.Waiting…knows what it was like to feel stuck, waiting for what’s next.
Dean takes the last table of the night.
As he greets the table he realizes that it’s none other than Chett.
Dean goes to Chett to peek if he put the right bill in.
Chett felt that Dean could use it more than he could.
Now Dean is perplexed as to how to feel about himself.
Ultimately, Dean decides not to take it, and he quits on the spot.
When he gets back home to the after-work party, he tells Monty of his decision to quit.
Dean feels good about his decision and decides to pursue college more intentionally.
It’s a warning not to be complacent; eventually, the after-work party will continue without you.
Don’t get stuck in the “in-between” phase of your life.
So, what are you waiting for?
