'Ballers' Episode 1, Season 2 Review

Image from Indiewire

By Darian Scalamoni

            Dwayne Johnson returns as retired linebacker and now sports agent in the masculinity driven HBO show Ballers for the season two premiere. The comedy looks at life as a professional football player and also, what happens to some when you stop playing. Though the show is mostly an ensemble with great supporting talents like Rob Corddry, John David Washington and this season’s new addition, Andy Garcia; Johnson still leads the way as the financial manager Spencer Strasmore who once played for the Miami Dolphins.

            In the Season 2 premiere, Spencer’s clients tackle negotiating new contracts as they both had bounce back years for Miami. Ricky (John David Washington) had a fantastic year and is looking to get paid, but also, Charles’ (Omar Benson Miller) new gig might not be going as well as he had hoped. Last we saw Ricky, he was trying to get his long-time girlfriend to take him back but when we see him at the beginning of this episode, it seems he is passed that and has even let his father move in with him. He came a long way from wearing jerseys to dignify “fuck you dad”. Charles, on the other hand, recently had a baby girl and thinks that he has a guaranteed spot starting for the upcoming season but after his old employer at the car dealership brings him in a marketing ploy, it seems the coach is thinking that the big man might not be cut out for the Dolphins anymore.

            Within the opening of the episode, Spencer and Joe (Rob Corddry) are with their client, Ndamukong Suh (real-life Dolphins DT) at an event for his new restaurant when Spencer notices an old enemy, Andre (Andy Garcia) a fellow, intimidating agent along with Ravens linebacker, Terrell Suggs who Spencer has his issues in the past with as well. After NFL journalist and personality, Jay Glazer asks Spencer and Joe to come on the show to talk about their new empire, Suggs joins them which turns brings the mood from professional to controversial. The two defensive superstars get into words and then a literal sparring match on set of Glazer’s show.

            It’s obviously not considered a cool thing to fight with a fellow athlete on live television, but it all works out in the end at Ricky’s 30^th birthday party where the two men squash their respective beefs. The party also leads to Ricky unleashing a chainsaw on his Miami Dolphins inspired ice luge from his anger of not receiving a new contract yet.

            All in all, the Season 2 premiere of Ballers was just as it usually is; fun, filled with humor and most of all Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. I’m excited to see where this season will go, especially with the newest addition of Andy Garcia.

8/10