On the series premiere of Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, we saw the maneuvering and the hoops Dr. Jerry Buss had to jump through in order to become owner of the franchise and to sign a generational talent in Magic Johnson. This week the good doctor receives a tepid welcoming into the league which would spark the decade’s best basketball rivalry.
“Is That All There Is?” recounts the first meetings between Dr. Buss and Red Auerbach. The two couldn’t be any different with Jerry’s flashy, and laid-back L.A. demeanor to Red’s blunt and business first mentality. What begins as a genuine approach to pick a brain turns hostile fairly quickly.
There’s some colorful trash talk and Michael Chiklis and his character serve as a stark contrast to John C. Reilly. Auerbach sees a green sucker to be taken advantage of, but he’s falling into the same underestimation that Buss has experienced his whole life. Their dealings only motivate the Laker owner even more and creates someone to focus on. This is some great makings of two arch nemeses.
There are some lofty expectations but the team will have to do it without their current head coach. We’ve seen how volatile and over the top Jerry West can be but this week, Winning Time takes a more toned-down approach with Mr. Clutch. He is a miserable wreck that can never be happy. Whether if it’s winning the NBA championship or given free reign with an open checkbook to build his team, getting what he wants doesn’t fill the empty hole inside of him. He resigns as coach before the season begins.
Although, maybe it is the right time to step down. In some painfully awkward yet entertaining scenes, West seems to have lost the interest of his players. His conversation with Norm Nixon especially stands out with the back and forth between present and past exposing his hypocrisy and loss of credibility. But the character isn’t entirely one-sided as flashbacks to his youth paint a more humanizing and sympathetic person who used basketball as an escape from a hard and tragic childhood.
While we receive a softer picture of Jerry West on this episode of Winning Time, the opposite can be said about Magic Johnson. His attempts to gain his mother’s approval can be relatable and it’s even more juicy the mind games Mrs. Johnson plays using her son’s crush as a pawn. LisaGay Hamilton skillfully walks that fine line of god-fearing religious and cold and calculating.
I also can’t mention enough the scene stealing Rob Morgan as Earvin Sr. He can talk trash with the best of them reminiscing of his glory days playing hoops while also serving as an effective facilitator between wife and son. He even turns one conversation with Christine about Magic into a very convincing romantic gesture. The man is so smooth.
It’s Magic’s endeavors in love that demonstrate a not so savory side to the smiling and charming person we know. All that confidence turns to cockiness as he tries to win the heart and attention of his crush, Cookie. He takes every opportunity to humiliate and disparage her boyfriend and when his advances aren’t reciprocated, he turns to womanizing another neighborhood girl.
At least there is one woman centered relationship that is uplifting on Winning Time. Claire and Jeanie started off rough because of how nepotism gave the latter her job. However, Claire realized how much she was dismissed during her career because of her gender and gives the owner’s daughter an opportunity to share her thoughts. Sometimes a youthful perspective can provide innovative ideas. It’s interesting to see these two collaborating more but it feels the subplot is placed into the background compared to the other storylines.
“Is That All There Is?” works on many levels advancing the Laker/Celtic rivalry, upping the drama of the team, and developing the characters with unseen sides to these famous and recognizable stars.
New episodes of Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty air Sunday nights on HBO.
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