Based on the book “Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s” by Jeff Pearlman, and renewed for a second season on HBO and HBO Max, Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty: The Complete First Season is a fast-break series that chronicles the professional and personal lives of the 1980s Los Angeles Lakers, one of sports’ most revered and dominant dynasties — a team that defined an era, both on and off the court.
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Video Quality
Winning Time – The Rise Of The Lakers Dynasty: The Complete First Season arrives on Blu-Ray with a very distinct AVC encoded 1080p transfer in its original broadcast ratio of 1.78:1. Those who have become accustomed to HBO providing shows that are a feast for the eyes may struggle with this release. There is nothing wrong with the release – it is actually practically perfect for what it is trying to accomplish. The show just implements a visual style that could be classified as chaotic. There is such a gritty texture to every moment of this “film” with thick grain piled on top of the image and intentional damage showing up to recreate the aesthetic of the time. Video anomalies are on the menu, and this disc is having a feast.
Yet, you have to admire a modern show being bold enough to shake up the norms when it comes to its cinematography. You really feel like you are watching something special here. The color palette runs on the warmer side with a focus on yellow, but there are some magical instances of beautiful colors popping off the screen. Black levels are appropriately deep and give way to a strong amount of detail in shadows. Skin tones appear very natural across the entire cast throughout the season. This series may not sound like it would benefit from an HD presentation, but that could not be further from the truth. Thanks to this Blu-Ray, all of the anomalies featured on the disc are exactly as the creative team intended and not a splash more because of a lesser format. This is a great release for the series.
Audio Quality
This Blu-Ray comes with an incredibly dynamic DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that serves this series well. The spatial awareness of the track is pretty impressive at times, and the panning techniques are used to great effect. Dialogue always comes through crisp and clear without being overwhelmed by the groovy score or any sound effects. Kinetic moments are given the appropriate presence in the mix with a notable showing in the low end. Ambient sounds are also precisely placed in the rear channels for a fully immersive experience. The music perfectly sets the tone for the story, and it creates a nicely suffused sound that draws you further into the show. The audio presentation here is a knockout on all levels.
Special Features
- The Forum: Each episode is given a “post game” show hosted by Rick Fox in which he brings on a panel of guests to discuss the events of the episode. There are a lot of fun, lively conversations within these brief videos featuring the likes of Quincy Isaiah, Max Borenstein, Adam McKay, Adrien Brody, Rodney Barnes and more.
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- Episode 1 (6:28)
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- Episode 2 (5:52)
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- Episode 3 (6:38)
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- Episode 4 (6:27)
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- Episode 5 (6:10)
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- Episode 6 (6:12)
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- Episode 7 (5:35)
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- Episode 8 (6:24)
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- Episode 9 (6:29)
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- Episode 10 (7:45)
- Winning Time – Invitation To Set: A three-minute overview of the time period which the show covers and why it was so exciting, along with the deeper themes it explores.
- Winning Time – Horse: A two-minute game between Solomon, Quincy and DeVaughn where they discuss the series between shots. This is a fun way to present the material.
- Winning Time – Changing The Game: A two-minute look at the state of the NBA before the monumental change depicted on this show and how things have never been the same.
- Winning Time – Set Tour: A three-minute exploration of various sets used in the series.
- Winning Time – Training Time: A minute-long look at the work put in by the performers to get to the skill level necessary to perform on this series.
- The Costumes Of Winning Time: A four-minute look at the very distinct costume design implemented in this show, the attention to detail, how it informs the characters and more.
- The Craft – Rodney Barnes: A two-minute look into the work of the executive producer/writer.
- The Craft – Richard Toyon: A minute-and-a-half exploration of the role of the production designer on the series.
- The Craft – Argya Sadan: A two-minute conversation with the set designer in which she discusses her background and journey to her role in film and television.
Final Thoughts
Winning Time – The Rise Of The Lakers Dynasty is a show that seems tailor-made for sports fanatics to devour and delight in with fervor. This may be true, but there is an easy entry point for those who shy away from sports thanks to the raw drama that comes from the behind-the-scenes machinations to make an unparalleled cultural impact. All of the performances are serving up something interesting, the direction and editing is snappy and the writing is thoughtful. This is a well-rounded gem. Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has released a new Blu-Ray set that offers a pretty excellent A/V presentation and a nice assortment of special features. This is a show that will appeal to hardcore basketball fans and newcomers alike. Recommended
Winning Time – The Rise Of The Lakers Dynasty: The Complete First Season is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray and DVD.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this set free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.