'Ballers' Episode 9, Season 2 Review

Image from The Players Tribune

By Darian Scalamoni

            I’m honestly very impressed with the quality of content we’ve received in Ballers this season. Week by week I’m becoming more invested in each and every character and storyline throughout the show. This past Sunday’s episode is no different.

            Spencer is trying to buy ASM from his former employer as is his rival and former financial manager, Andre. We saw last week that the only way Spencer can do so is by borrowing some cash from his own clients to try and generate a good offer for his old boss to buy a company that he’s not entirely open to selling in the first place. That trend continues this week as the episode concludes with Spence asking Vernon for a five-million-dollar loan. It’s clear that Spencer is having some real issue with his current unemployment, especially because Andre seems to be flipping the script in regards to how his character has acted all season. This includes a meet up between himself and Spencer in which Andre wanted to buy the company himself and have Spencer head the football division. Obviously this is a no-go for the former linebacker turned financial manager because he’s been very much about himself this season. Not only with his business ventures, but also with his health. Yep, he’s still dealing with that bum hip ever since he fought Terrell Suggs back in episode one.

            Charles and Reggie are actually regulated to side-duty for much of this episode. Reggie has now changed his mind yet again on where he wants to play. He’s been flip-flopping all season long between teams like the Los Angeles Rams, New Orleans Saints and Miami Dolphins, but now he wants to play for a contender. He then sparks a conversation with his father whether he believes he should play for the Panthers, Packers or Patriots. We’ll have to wait till next week to find out, maybe…

            Also, Charles is dealing with issues at home that are making him itch, literally. He begins to develop hives after stress from his wife continues to build as his new front office job is taking away time from being a family man. This leads his wife Julie to hire a nanny. A sexy, latin man by the name of Manny actually who has worked with kids for years but Charles does not approve. Expect to see Charles make some sort of sacrifice for his family in next week’s installment.

            I think what I loved most about this episode though was the real interaction between Andre and Spencer. It made you see that there is another side to Andy Garcia’s character, a side you could actually root for. It made you see the compassion that he had in a situation that really seemed like it was more so Spencer’s fault that he lost all of his money.

9/10