'Ballers' Episode 5, Season 2 Review

Image from Sports Illustrated

By Darian Scalamoni

            Season 2 of Ballers continues to impress and this week’s installment is no different. Though episode 4 was probably the weakest entry of the season, episode 5 has to be the best of the season. This week’s episode started with some eye opening news for our star Spencer as the hip issue continues to bother him since his spat with Terrell Suggs in episode 1. Ever since then, Spence has been “popping pills like Altoids” according to his physician and he might require hip surgery due to arthritis starting to flare up. This can no longer be avoided by Spencer and in need of medication he seeks out new alternatives to his management of the pain.

            Unfortunately, this wasn’t the only low for Spencer this week as he also dealt with the NFLPA. Spencer has had a dream of being an official registered NFL player agent but it hit a major setback this week as a member of the NFLPA came in and reminded him that a bad deal that he made back in 2008 with his former agent/enemy this season Andre Allen could screw his chances. Last week, Andre told Spencer that he’d ruin his life and it seems that we’re starting to see that this week. I love Spencer but it’s an interesting take to finally see some of his old demons as an NFL player come back to haunt him years after retirement.

            Ricky Jerret continues to struggle with his decision to find a new city to play in as he receives a better offer from Buffalo than he did in New Orleans. The issue with this is that Jerret has a flamboyant personality, one that worked well in Miami and he doesn’t want to go somewhere like Buffalo where there would be no real hoopla surrounding him and his play. After meeting up with his old girlfriend from the first season, Jerret decides to sign with the Saints which Spencer agrees with.

            Charles also stepped up this week after a young, teenage neighbor had been making a lot of noise since the birth of his child, he finally took a stand this week. In addition to making some noise of his own in his professional career, Charles stormed into the office of the Miami Dolphins GM, Larry Siefert explaining why he has issue with the direction the team is going. Impressed by Charles’ passion and knowledge of the game, Larry offers him a job in the front office, to which Charles gladly accepts.

            This week’s edition of Ballers was filled with drama, comedy and intrigue which is something you often don’t get in this HBO show. But, this being one of (if not, the best) episode in the history of the show. A perfect midseason episode to provide us with a new look of the show that stars Dwayne Johnson.

8.6/10