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Photo: Warrick Page/HBO

Television

‘Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty’ episode 4 review: A new innovative approach

Winning Time hits the court and starts training camp.

So far on Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, we’ve seen Dr. Buss and company put together their team but how will the guys perform on the court? We catch our first glimpse of them in action during training camp.

The episode is carried by some great performances beginning with the man portraying the episode’s namesake, Tracy Letts. Following the Tarkanian setback, Jack McKinney finally receives the chance to be a head coach. Letts instills a very hard-nosed attitude into his character and is not intimidated by the stars on the team.

But there is a sense of genius there too in a mad scientist kind of way that he can actually pull it off. Especially when he proves he’s not as rigid as initially expected, and he mixes things up for some of the most exciting and flashy basketball. It also coincides with bringing the bigger personalities together seeing what they can accomplish together.

Quincy Isaiah is, once again, a stand out for Winning Time as he portrays this public and private persona of Magic Johnson. On the court, all he wants to do is spread the love but not all his teammates are ready for what he’s bringing. As he deals with his rookie hazing and adjusting to the other players, there is a wanting of being liked that affects his perspective of the past.

Cookie is the only person who can be real with him even if he doesn’t want to hear it or it paints him in an unflattering light. Though that million dollar smile each time he delivers Kareem’s morning juice and paper is enough to light up any room. And you can’t knock his work ethic with his persistence to win over the Laker captain.

winning time 4.1
Photo: Warrick Page/HBO

Even the less serious portrayals are entertaining. John C. Reilly has real man child vibes as Jerry Buss with his stubbornness in dealing with the team’s financial issues while heavily relying on his mom to make things right. At this point, Adrien Brody’s Pat Riley is the guy in high school who isn’t talented enough to make the team and becomes the manager instead. Then Jason Clarke as Jerry West is the hanger on who lurks around even though he has no official role anymore. At least it’s his sincere words that makes McKinney more flexible with his system.

Winning Time also makes some interesting and effective stylistic choices that complement the storytelling. The entire sequence of the different people driving out to Palm Springs for camp is well done. It creates the chance to introduce new players such as Michael Cooper, while providing the inner commentary of others through clever split screens. Everything is all interconnected by having the various trips crossover with each other along with the continuous talking heads playing on everyone’s radio.

How McKinney sees the game visually with the x’s and o’s and plays coming off the page helps emphasize his genius with his ability to attain nirvana and literally levitate while in thought is a nice touch. Most of the time it’s more style than substance but the metaphor describing what would eventually be the Showtime style to jazz is an artsy and deep comparison.

Sometimes the sex on Winning Time can be overly gratuitous. The running gag of how much Magic is a giver and using the scenes from the after-hours club are immature and becomes tiresome. What’s more irksome is Dr. Buss’ escapades particularly when a younger Jeanie is around. It’s disturbing to see a father behave that way in front of his daughter, but that’s the point: to demonstrate his poor parenting skills. It must have done a number on Jeanie because it’s that type of lifestyle that inspires the new marketing approach for the Lakers.

In spite of some cringey moments, “Who the F**K is Jack McKinney” is a stylistic episode with strong performances, notably from Tracy Letts in the titular role.

New episodes of Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty air Sunday nights on HBO.

'Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty' episode 4 review: A new innovative approach
Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty' E 4 Review: 'Who the F**K is Jack McKinney'
In spite of some cringey moments, “Who the F**K is Jack McKinney” is a stylistic episode with strong performances, notably from Tracy Letts in the episode’s titular role.
Reader Rating0 Votes
0
Great performances from Tracy Letts and Quincy Isaiah along with more comical contributions from John C. Reilly, Adrien Brody, and Jason Clarke.
Interesting and effective stylistic choices that complement the storytelling.
At times it can be more style than substance.
The sex scenes can be gratuitous and cringey.
7.5
Good

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