By Janet Grant
“Clipped” is an FX mini-series that revisits the notorious 2014 scandal involving the Los Angeles Clippers and their proprietor, Donald Sterling. The present takes a fancy story about privilege, race, wealth, and fame and weaves it right into a drama that explores the dynamics of a sport the place white house owners revenue from predominantly Black gamers.
The sequence is instructed from three views:
– Coach Doc Rivers (Laurence Fishburne): a former Clipper who unexpectedly finds himself on the heart of one of many 12 months’s largest sports activities tales. Fishburne’s portrayal is not only good. It’s distinctive, capturing the quiet intelligence and management required of a coach.
– V. Stiviano (Cleopatra Coleman): the assistant/mistress whose relationship with Sterling sparked the scandal. Her function within the saga is pivotal, and Coleman delivers a really charming efficiency that may go away you wanting extra.
-Shelley Sterling (Jacki Weaver): Donald Sterling’s spouse, who tries to suppress Stiviano’s involvement. Weaver’s portrayal provides depth to the narrative.
Whereas the present sometimes stumbles with an bold episode-long flashback, it greater than makes up for it by efficiently addressing the societal points raised by the scandal. Ed O’Neill additionally shines because the blindered troll model of Donald Sterling, emphasizing the privilege and status of NBA possession.
In abstract, “Clipped” presents a messy but extremely entertaining exploration of a real-life scandal that rocked the sports activities world. In case you’re intrigued by the intersection of race, wealth, and basketball, this sequence is not only value a watch however a must-see for any drama sequence fanatic.
