Idiot Boxing (2017): Ballers, season 3; Insecure season 2

Ballers, season 3 (2017)

Striking out in a somewhat bolder direction, the show feels similar to the plight that its protagonist, Spencer Strasmore, undergoes during this third season - perhaps reaching for more than it can handle but ultimately staying within its lane.

At the end of the second season, NFL star-turned aspiring financial advisor Strasmore had to rely on a last-ditch safety line from some of his own clients in the form of a multi-million dollar loan. The loan was so that he could buy the company that hired him, run it his own way, and avoid certain other obligations. He was also outed as having played an unknowing part in several fellow players' losing millions of dollars through misguided investments. This third season sees Spencer getting some of his footing back, though he is still under the pressure of debt to his own clients. Despite this, he decides to swing for the fences and try to orchestrate a deal that will move an NFL team to Las Vegas, a move certain to upset many owners of other NFL teams. This invloves juggling even larger egos than the ones he is accustomed to dealing with, and some of his own demons and skeletons threaten to torpedo the deal throughout the process.

I enjoyed this season, and would even say that it's the best of the series so far. I was skeptical at first, when the first few episodes features some shaky scripting and even a few cheap-looking visuals. And Steve Guttenburg (yes, he's still around) shows up to completely overplay his role as an unctuous and smug Las Vegas casino owner. But the second and final thirds of the season hummed along nicely, with some enjoyably tense moments to go along with the several good laughs that each episode provided. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has found himself a nearly perfect role, which can showcase his not inconsiderable acting abilities. And there were some new supporting cast members, such as Steven Weber, who turned in some solid little performances.

One thing that seems a bit odd about this season is that the stories of the secondary characters have become rather fragmented from Spencer's. That wouldn't necessarily be terrible if they were a bit more interesting. As it is, though, Ricky Jarett's romantic life isn't nearly as compelling as his battles with possible CTE; and Charles's attempts to find a life in football after this retirement can feel a bit forced and oversimplified at times. I hope future seasons either integrate these guys' stories better with the main one, make them more engaging, or just abandon them altogether. There is also the odd little question of what, exactly, happened to the hot young prospect Travis Mack, who was a significat part of season two's story arc? A strange omission from this season.

The ultimate test of whether I enjoyed a show is simply whether I will be tuning in for the next season. With Ballers, it's a definite "yes." It has its flaws, to be sure, but it's still a fun sports show that focuses on the equally fascinating world behind what happens between the lines.


Insecure, season 2 (2017)

Just one of a several awkward run-ins that Issa has with her
ex, Lawrence. Both of them have some exciting and bumpy
experiences back in the world of singles dating.

An impressive sophomore effort for this dramedy, made stronger with a greater emphasis on the "comedy" component.

I mostly enjoyed the first season of Insecure, though as I stated in my review, my enthusiasm waned a bit by season's end. That first season saw a shift in tone, with it starting off around 80/20 skewing towards comedy over drama, but being more like 50/50 by the latter half of the season. By the end, the laughs were far fewer, as we were simply watching Issa's personal life with her longtime boyfriend Lawrence come crashing down.

The second season picks up not long after the first ended. Issa is still struggling to find her place and fulfilment at her job as a social worker, but she has now officially declared herself a free, single woman. As such, she throws herself back into the current-stricken waters of millenial dating, complete with its many pitfalls. This of course leads to plenty of awkward and hilarious hook ups and near-misses, making for great comedy fodder. At work, she and her closest co-worker, Frieda, face the challenge of bringing their after-school program to a high school where the African-American vice principal is all too happy to exclude non-African Americans from the extra help. Not to be out-dysfunctioned, Issa's best friend Molly is experiencing plenty of occupational and romantic difficulties of her own.

For my money, the strength of the show is almost completely in the comedic elements. Show creator Issa Rae and her fellow writers have a great sense of comic set-ups and dialogue, and Rae herself is an outstanding comedic actress, both in her delivery and her physical humor. A bit of an issue that I had with the first season was how the comedy/drama balance went from being around 80/20 in the favor of comedy in the beginning to being about 50/50 by the final few episodes. This second season, however, struck a balance that was more consistent and satisfying throughout, with the trend generally skewing towards the humorous from season's beginning to end. I will admit that, as a guy who is about to turn 42 years old, my frustration with the dramatic elements are quite possibly due to my age. When one looks back at twenty-somethings bungling their personal lives by making short-

Issa with her closest girl friends. A particularly fun standout
was Kelli (second from the right). She's mostly a comic
presence, but her attitude and lack of filter are hilarious.

sighted and selfish decisions, it can be a bit tedious. However, were I watching this show while I was myself the age of the characters, I would probably be more riveted and curious. As it is, though, I sometimes just shake my head at the predictably negative outcomes of the their decisions. There are also a few reactions and decisions that simply come off as strange or inexplicable (to both me and my wife, with whom I've watched every episode). My hunch is that these little enigmas are either due to the age difference, cultural differences between my white, Texan self and the Los Angeles African-Americans whom the show focuses on, or likely a combination of both. Whatever the case, there was nothing so puzzling that it affected my enjoyment of the show.

It would seem that HBO has once again done the smart thing by keeping this show limited to an efficient season of a tidy 8 episodes, each being between 25 and 30 minutes. The lack of extraneous plot or weak jokes is evident in the brisk story pacing and the crisp jokes and dialogue, where they were clearly able to avoid any lame filler. Issa Rae, her writers, and cast members seem to have more places to go with these characters, and I'm looking forward to future seasons.