California Dreaming

Episode 8 "California Dreaming" of "HBO's" "Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty" was again another interesting and drama filled episode. As the Lakers continue to win right up into the all-star break, tension and behind the scenes drama and power struggle is brewing. As head coach Jack McKinney wants to come back into the picture despite the current success of Paul(Jason Segal) and Pat(Adrien Brody) who are both coaching and leading the team just fine or so they believe. Also Magic is selected to the all star team as a rookie and he meets his boyhood idol who's play for the opposing East squad and that's the one and only Dr. J(Julius Erving). Also Team owner Dr. Jerry Buss is faced with another private and close personal drama. This episode was revealing and drama filled as it showed the team dealing with winning and behind the scenes bickering. Another fine episode that has me ready to see the final two episodes of what has been a thrilling series.

What this show does so brilliantly is that it hired the perfect people for the right job! So in my book, the MVP of "Winning time" is actualy the casting director! Go figure, right!

Because what would have otherwise been a rather average episode of TV drama was so effectively pierced by performances that make me go "All of you were born to play your role!" that I just can't help but feel goosebumps and root for all of these people like I'm in this team with them. The way Adrien Brody's Pat Riley ruffles Jason Segel's Paul Westhead's feathers, or the stupendously brooding Jason Clarke who brings wisdom and fatherly mentorship at the perfect time to Magic Johnson, wonderfully played by Quincy Isaiah.

Every single actor brings their own A-game energy to the table and what they have established are major-league charismatic characters. Each carefully cast and crafted to bring their own kind of Magic when called upon.

So kudos for this, and here's to the last two episodes knocking our socks off!

Just like the LA Lakers, this show's team has all the odds in their favour. All they gotta do now is stick the landing.

No wonder someone tells Pat Riley to take out life insurance. He becomes Interim Interim Head Coach.

Paul Westhead ends up being hospitalised due to kidney stones. Meanwhile Jack McKinney ruffles feathers as he leaves hospital and wants to be Head Coach even though he is clearly not ready.

It leaves Westhead guilty as he needs to tell Riley that he is out. Meanwhile Riley wants Westhead to tell McKinney to sit the season out.

No wonder it all got too much for Westhead and the team were doing so well.

Meanwhile Magic meets his idol Dr J and is schooled in the basketball by the latter.

It is left to Jerry West to explain Magic a valuable life lesson. It is not enough to be liked.

An enjoyable episode. Winning Time is good when it motors along. It starts off with a story about Roger Bannister.

While the show is never short on visual intrigue and exciting editing, it had shown some weakness in the reality of its characters. This episode threw that all out to give us raw drama that I found extremely effective. Feels as though the time for partying is over and everyone is finally taking the goals ahead seriously. This added a lot of believability to the otherwise spurious history. Buss and his mother, the Haywood conflict, and the coaching conflict were very well done. I'm glad the show has a sympathetic villain now!

Side note: hopefully this is the last time magic has to break another girl's heart which was becoming pretty tired and never had much effect on the plot. We get it. He was a womanizing superstar in the 70s/80s, but I don't think any of us are here for that. This is typical HBO though...

Overall: 10/10.