Discussion
Season 1 Episode 2: Raise Up
Aired: June 28th, 2015
A cash-strapped Spencer struggles to close a deal when Vernon’s best friend, Reggie, refuses to step aside, while Jason works hard to renegotiate for his client. On his first day of workouts, Ricky finds that not all his new teammates are friendly. At his new job, Charles finds it hard to keep his mind off the game. At a brunch to talk business, Spencer counsels Vernon to learn from his mistakes.
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I was totally ready for Rock to beat the shit out of Reggie
Well, the season's still young.
I think it's interesting that they're setting up Spencer as someone who wants to be a professional. One thing people haven't really talked about is how he's popping those pills like candy. I assume they're pain killers for aches left over from playing in the NFL.
I would agree. Those have to be a pain killer. I have a feeling those will come in to play soon.
Reggie is the example of a guy with great intentions, but is just bad at what he does. I think the Rock sees this and understands fighting with Reggie will only push Vincent away.
"it's good enough for Peyton Manning"
"That's just a commercial. He drives a Mercedes."
End scene.
I like the rock character because he is relatable. He seems like a good guy who is down to earth just trying to make it work while dealing with a bunch of assholes. I'm glad he isn't super macho or some alpha douche (he has the physique for it). His insecurities make him human and I'm glad they highlight it. To see him keep his composure while dealing with Reggie (i think that's the friends name) and not actually tell him and the mom to fuck off was refreshing. I can relate to his character and it's defiantly a positive.
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I'm not big on celebrities but Dwyane is such a hard working, kind and endearing person and am really happy he's found success in Hollywood.
Speak softly and carry a big Rock.
Gonna take me a few weeks to get the names down.
Yeah. Exactly. I forgot the Rock and Rob Corddry's character names already :S
spencer, and um, worm face
lmao The Rock is named Spencer in this series!!
An actual GM for the Cowboys? This really is fiction.
He's actually the GM for the Seahawks.
I guess he got fired after making the trade. Lol
Pancake eating mother fucker.
I KNEW I RECOGNIZED HIM!
Rob Corddry is killin it right now
He and the Rock need more scenes together
dude is straight comedy. no filter from him which is what I like.
Could quickly turn into the Ari Gold type character
I could see it happening. But I'd kinda like to see him develop his own character style even though Ari was arguably the best part of Entourage.
He seems to be typecast to fuck, but I like the character so I don't really care.
I'm glad that this show has the kept it rolling from Entourage by keeping the quality music.
And the pool girls
If nothing else, they definitely did music right.
This show is getting better, I needed a less serious show in my life now that Silicon Valley is over.
That was the most stressful comedy I've ever watched. I loved the sense of humor, it made me laugh plenty, but the curve balls at the ends of episodes and shit, fuck me. They didn't even give us a happy ending to the season, HBO can be so cruel.
And yeah, I'm happy that Ballers is lighter, although still somewhat serious for a comedy.
Yeah Silicon Valley was a love hate haha. And Ballers is filling the hole entourage left.
However I can't really bring myself to like the characters yet, I love the rock but there's only two characters left besides him. Ricky is hard to like and the other guy is alright so far.
Edit: you probably won't read this though
Yeah, definitely. I like how after True Detective, the following shows (Ballers, The Brink, and Last Week Tonight) get progressively funnier and not as serious as TD.
Is that the same McLaren they used in Silicon Valley?
Probably
Depends, which way do the doors go?
like THIS!
Looks like someone is in the three commas club!
^ This guy fucks.
You know, I've been known to fuck myself.
Now he can buy a car with doors that go like this. Not like this. Like this or like this.
I don't know about anyone else, but I keep feeling like this show is missing something. It's like there isn't a main story line, only a few small side plots. I really want to get hooked on it, but the first two episodes haven't really "grabbed"..
Yes, I haven't watched the second episode of the Brink yet, but I came into last week expecting to love Ballers and forget about The Brink, but that one at least kept me interested. I'm just not feeling it with Ballers yet. Something is definitely missing.
What no kiss goodbye?!?
This show is going to stick.
Until it gets too real and gets shut down like Playmakers, which was far better.
And someone is in the two commas club xD
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This guy fucks!
Thats not the only thing anyone has ever said on Silicon Valley
No shit, but it's the way of acknowledging that it's a fellow fan.
The show is getting better. I'm not too keen on the Charles Greane spelling or storyline. He's a big guy, sure, but he's got skinny arms. Looks out of place talking about going back.
Also, with Reggie making decisions, wouldn't the auth form override that? "I'd bet Edward Norton doesn't run a script by his pizza boy..."
I like the Rock. Him and Cordroy are excellent together. The agent seems good but not aggressive enough.
I'm hooked, another cult classic.
I'm decently sure they would override. Fuck Reggie tho
Even if Reggie could be overridden would you want to? He has no real legal power, but he has what matters: soft power.
Nah I don't think he'll directly override him. Actually I think he will, get fucked for it, and then learn how to play the pseudo-power game with Reggie
Yep. Vernon places way too much power into Reggie. Spencer and Cordry obviously have mama Vernon in their corner though
Shows like this shouldn't be taken too seriously. Mostly these kind of shows have lots of unrealistic scenarios.
That is the part you had a problem with. Not the whole I was an ex football player and I'm just going to give you a cashier's check for 300k. All agents know you give small increments of money so the player is on the hook and you have a personal relationship. [My favorite agent article explains it in one story.] (http://www.si.com/more-sports/2010/10/12/agent)
think there was another story like this with Ryan Leaf, where the agent gave Leaf too much money and fucked up.
Must have given you a warmfuzzy seeing that SC jersey framed up huh?
lol had a feeling they were gonna choose a former SC player as one of the main characters with an attitude problem. especially with our close proximity to Hollywood. Saw the Jarrett jersey and immediately thought of Dwayne Jerret who was number 8 and wondered what happened to him.
We are talking college to pros and 2,500 to 12 million signing for 3 years. I absolutely get what you're saying. I think the only reason I have less of an issue with that is its the main storyline right now.
To me, it doesn't seem too far fetched to have an agent (or whomever) spot 300k. I doubt he blew through 12.5 million in 4 years though, simply because the horror stories of Iverson and Tyson are so prevalent outside of sports that there must be dozens more inside.
The show is about suspending belief. I get that, and you're right, the main arc is a huge loophole. But it's going to be this way until we have to deal with the 18/81 storyline, the pills, or a new shop for Rock and Corddry
That was a great article, thank you for that.
I didn't expect this in the thread.
I can see folks making a mistake and just doling out money. 300k though....that's just unrealistic.
I feel like they should have made it 30k. 30k would make it feel like dude was about to be behind on his mama's house payment or whatnot. 300k? That's Vince Young territory!
the intro looks like it was made from windows movie maker
I like the intro... I think it's meant to look like old home movies or something, right? Whatever, gets me pumped up, I dig it.
Definitely going for some 90s miami style with that
I watch a lot of football clips on YouTube and they all look like the intro and I love it. I just watched a Reggie bush highlight real and i couldn't tell which team he was playing against. To me it also shows the purity of the game from pee wee to college and to the money/business that the NFL is. I thought I saw a lot of Instagram videos on there especially from The Rock.
I think it was... There's an instagram video of Odell Beckham in there I noticed.
Also a clip of Julian Edelman doing pull-ups with chains around his neck.
It really is offputting. I love me some HBO intros, and this one doesn't do that pedigree justice.
I agree. Looks cheaply put together
It's all old footage from the actors past isn't it? That would be why it looks old. Like at the start there's footage of Johnson playing at Miami.
...and this week.
Watch out you're going to be downvoted for saying that like I was last week...
Glad to see a bears reference snuck in.
Why do they want to manage a guy who is broke?
I guess he may not have cash per se, but he still has a lot of assets and investments (like they mentioned in the show)?
He's got another huge contract coming up next season. Plus endorsements.
Also, if they reign in his spending, downsize the house, sell some cars, tell all the homies to fuck off, he's likely still in a pretty good spot financially.
Yup! That obviously is on their agenda. Given the way this show is going, I don't think it ends well for that guy. I see him getting an injury and having to leave the league. I don't think this show is like Entourage, where everything ends hunky dory.
Best line! She blew the entire 72 Dolphins front four.... That's impressive.
really relaxing show so far. perfect for summer.
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It could just be a joke.
Yeah I thought it wasn't any product placement but a rip at Axe
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It was absolutely supposed to be a joke
both
Obviously a joke
It was a joke...
I think it's some promotional work
What's the name of the song that's playing while Ricky's girlfriend is painting?
Falling short by Lapsey
Awesome, thank you so much!
Do we think Reggie is the big bad for the season?
He's going to fuck something up big time
This show isn't that much better than Playmakers. The only difference is the actors since we are getting cameo appearances by NFL players and obviously The Rock. In terms of content, nothing special but only first two episodes.
I tried to watch Playmakers and the writing and acting in that show was just abysmal. The production value all around felt very shoddy. This show has iffy acting from the non-actor players of course, but it's much, much, much, much, much better imo.
I think cameos and actors matter. It's what separates Entourage from a show like Dirt (or whatever the Courtney Cox show was called). You don't really notice until you don't have it.
that GM from the Cowboys was the gm of the seahawks movie
Draft Day movie Related to Ballers Tv show ?
This feels like one of those types of shows where by episode 5, you are either in...or out. It doesn't have the intriguing storyline to be a "I can wait a full season" type of show. I personally like Rock as an actor...but it'd been better if he was the guy struggling to stay relevant in the NFL. Could be a fun parody on his real-life career (though of course, Rock ain't struggling picking up those checks!)
Quick thoughts:
Why can't Charles just tell his wife "I'll be ready for regular life in a year". They should have introduced that he has some type of injury, or is afraid of CTE trauma.
I realized what's wrong w/the Spencer/Reggie dynamic; Reggie was way too damn passive aggressive. He went from "don't make me cause a scene!" to one of those 'don't do it to me!' types in about 15 minutes of time. I wanted a fight. A verbal. Something. Instead, Vernon signed it and Reggie just stayed quiet. VERY TAME.
Vernon's mom suggested that they eat alone. Spencer shows up...the whole hood there. It went from a "Rock goin' have to bang his mom" vibe to an outrageous party vibe. YET, with all those folks there....you could quietly have a convo about fantasy football. Word?
Ricky = WWE NXT Enzo Amore. Look him up if you don't watch wrestling.
The NFL has contracts with HBO that they would threaten to bail on if they did this. The show would get shut down, just as Playmakers was.
deleted 0.3856 What is ^^^this?
Help me get this: Spencer works with (for?) Rob's character, but what about Jason? Is he part of the same company, or is he just an agent? Is Reggie Vernon's agent or just some random homie?
Rob is Spencers boss, they are financial advisors for some company (Anderson Financial I think it was?) Jason is Vernon's agent. Reggie is Vernon's buddy from childhood who is like a wannabe money manager. In reality he's just spending Vernons money.