'Ballers' Episode 2, Season 2 Review

Image from HBO

By Darian Scalamoni

            Season 2 of the HBO sports comedy Ballers got off to a fast start last week, a great premiere episode that included Dwayne Johnson brawling with real-life NFL linebacker, Terrell Suggs. This week’s episode continues to engage and immerse the viewer within the football culture in American. The journalists, entourages, agents and of course, the players. Dwayne Johnson’s Spencer continues to deal with issues, but for the first time, we see the beginning of what could potentially be a downward spiral for the retired defensive standout turned money manager.

            It seems that after the physical altercation that happened with Suggs, Spencer has quickly run out of his Vicodin prescription, not only that, but he’s taking them at such a rapid pace that his doctor is concerned about writing a script to prescribe more pills. Not only physical pain, but it seems that Spencer has a real emotional issue with taking down the man who screwed him out of money some time ago, Andre. Andre also reps Suggs still and refuses to give up his client and even hitting Spencer with a hard-hitting line of dialogue like “he’s a football player, so he doesn’t know what he wants”.

            Also within the episode we get great scenes with Joe, one that includes him slapping Spencer across the face to psych him up before seeing Andre. Another, including Joe “adding up the numbers” to show how much he pays Reggie for his services to Vernon. Both make fantastic laugh out loud moments in the HBO comedy that gets better week by week.

            On the more serious side, Ricky and Charles are both looking to get new contracts after having their careers revitalized in the past NFL season. Miami claims they don’t have the money to bring back Ricky so Jason and a member of Ricky’s entourage begin to try to sell the star wide receiver on a new team to play for. Some of these teams include the always winning New England Patriots, the San Diego Chargers and defending Super Bowl champions, the Denver Broncos, where the weed is legal by the way. Too bad that Ricky doesn’t smoke. Charles on the other hand is out for a drink with one of the Dolphins coaches (cameo by director and creator of Ballers, Peter Berg), who wants the 12-year vet to switch from the left side of the O-Line to the right side. Though Charles is offended at first, it seems that the more he hears into the plan, he begins to buy in.

            Week by week, the show continues to impress not only with the acting and comedic chops by all involved, but also by really selling the audience on why the show is called Ballers. With lavish suits, big-tie parties and fantastic cars, it’s believable that these guys are essentially, on top of the sports world.

8.5/10