Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty - Season 2

With this second season, Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty is less than the first, but still fascinating television, with a number of strong elements that also characterized the first season. The second season of Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty concluded on September 18, 2023 on HBO with the seventh episode 'What is and what should never Be'. Some readers of this review will know that this is an iconic Led Zeppelin song from 1969. And music also plays an important role in the episodes this season, and that starts with the strong but rawer opening theme of this season. The sequel to the successful first season covers the years 1980 to 1984 for owner Jerry Buss' L.A. Lakers (John C. Reilly, Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!) and after winning the 1980 NBA Finals the question of whether the team can maintain its success.

In the following year, things are, as always, restless for the Lakers.

In the following year, things are, as always, restless for the Lakers. Magic Johnson (Quincy Isaiah) is the star of the team, but not a real team player. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Solomon Hughes) is especially sensitive to this, why doesn't Johnson see that it's all about the team and not just about Johnson? Head coach Paul Westhead (Jason Segel, How I Met Your Mother) is having a difficult time with Magic Johnson and working with the experienced Pat Riley (Adrien Brody, Poker Face). The women of the series may not be the main characters, but they are all strong people. The wife of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, mother (LisaGay Hamilton, House of Cards (2013)) and Cookie (Tamera Tomakili), the first girlfriend and later wife of Magic Johnson and of course the pillars of owner Jerry Buss, daughter Jeannie Buss (Hadley Robinson, Utopia (2020)) and manager Claire Rithman (Gaby Hoffmann, Transparent).



And then there is the mother of Magic Johnson's great rival: Larry Bird (Sean Patrick Small, Similar Odds) of the record champion, the Boston Celtics. This Larry Bird has gotten into the head of Magic Johnson and the question is which of the two exceptional basketball players will win the psychological battle. This season there is one episode in which we get to know Larry Bird better through images of his youth, his parents and the start of his career. That episode entitled The Second Coming is a nice follow-up to the episode of the first season, which outlined Magic Johnson's background.



I give this season an eight. With this second season, the series is still fascinating television, with a number of strong elements that also characterized the first season. A lot of attention to character development, beautiful sets and good original music. The acting is strong, even from the inexperienced actors. But the choice for only seven episodes, less humor and the somewhat unsatisfactory ending means that I have given the second season a lower rating than the first. The relationship between Jerry Buss and Magic Johnson remains more superficial and Buss hardly breaks the fourth wall anymore. HBO has unfortunately announced that there will not be a third season and that is a disappointing decision for me. In the 1985 and beyond of the L.A. Lakers, I think there is still plenty of room for more seasons, but declining ratings and the writers' strike were reason enough for HBO to call it quits.