And Wallis is even better as she’s given a rich subplot about an abusive coach, and she finds ways to play trauma in a way that’s heartbreakingly real. Azoroh never leans into the potential for stereotype in a single mom role, allowing Jenna to be supportive but also concerned and even playful. One of the smartest things about the writing on “Swagger” is how much room it allows these two characters to become fully three-dimensional instead of merely devices for Jace’s arc. Jace’s closest allies are his single mother Jenna ( Shinelle Azoroh) and close friend Crystal ( Quvenzhané Wallis, Oscar nominee for “ Beasts of the Southern Wild”). Everyone wants a piece of Jace, often forgetting that he’s just a kid who’s dealing with everything that comes with athletic fame from criticism on social media to his own inconsistent self-confidence and performance. Newcomer Isaiah Hill confidently plays Jace, the talented player who becomes a social phenomenon and the target of everyone who knows the potential that comes with linking yourself to a future superstar. who has been told he’s the next, well, Kevin Durant.
READ MORE: ‘Invasion’ TV Review: Simon Kinberg’s Sci-Fi Drama Is A Disjointed, Self-Serious SlogĬreated by Reggie Rock Bythewood (“ Get on the Bus”), “Swagger” is a story of a basketball prodigy, a 14-year-old kid from Washington, D.C. Sometimes that’s all a TV show needs to be.
It’s just a remarkably likable show filled with people that are easy to root for and spend time with on a weekly basis. The writing sometimes tends to underline its themes a bit too boldly but the ensemble and the rich characters that they’ve been given slowly overwhelm any criticisms with each subsequent episode. Character-driven drama will always have a place on the landscape when it’s done this well.Ĭo-produced by NBA superstar Kevin Durant and loosely based on his own life, this story of a young man navigating the minefield of youth athletics is confidently made and incredibly easy to like. The latest Apple TV+ series, “ Swagger,” is a reminder that quality television doesn’t always need a high concept or a clever hook.
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