Netflix’s award winning documentary series “Last Chance U” released its newest season on March 10. But this time, instead of football, it features a basketball team. A much needed change in my opinion. There was only so much that could be featured that wasn’t on any of the previous 5 seasons. And to be honest, the last season following Laney College’s football team was mediocre at best. Thankfully, this year we got to follow the East Los Angeles Community College basketball team under head coach John Mosley. I’ve heard mixed opinions about the show from others but personally, I thought this season was excellent. I finished the entire season in 3 days.
The characters this season and the storyline overall truly reflected the premise of the show. The team has a combination of D1 bounce backs, high school stars with low GPAs, and everything in between. And unlike seasons of the past, there are no scholarships to play here. These players came to play on their own fruition because of the reputation Coach Mosley had for getting people out. And what they hoped for, he delivered on.
Maybe it’s because I have more of an affinity towards basketball, but I think this is by far the best season of the show. Other than the very first season, mainly because of how raw and exciting it was, each one after that felt methodical. It was the same sport, similar storylines, and they may or may not with the championship. But not this season. Of course, the players have seen the show before, but not with this sport. Not with this program. And definitely not when their state championship dreams go down the drain because of COVID-19.
So, what are my two cents for Netflix? Do one, at most two, more seasons following basketball and then switch sports again. I’d love to see a woman’s basketball season, and perhaps one on men’s soccer. Shoot you could even throw baseball in there and I think that’s the most boring sport ever. What’s important is continuing to evolve the narrative. Every sport has people that make mistakes and have to find a different route to get to their ultimate destination. The average person just doesn’t get to see it. And that’s where “Last Chance U” comes in. Giving us the quality content we didn’t know we needed.
Caleb Michael 