The second season of ‘The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins’ returns with a clear ambition: to make viewers laugh as often as possible. The NBC sitcom follows former NFL running back Reggie Dinkins, played by Tracy Morgan, as he continues working toward a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame decades after being expelled from the league for gambling.
At the start of Season 2, Reggie has received his first Hall of Fame votes. His documentarian, Arthur Tobin, played by Daniel Radcliffe, is still trying to find the right angle for their comeback film, while Reggie’s agent and ex-wife Monica, portrayed by Erika Alexander, attempts to build on the progress made during the previous season.
The series is driven by an ensemble that the review describes as having no weak link. Its stories move between topical ideas and deliberately absurd situations, including a murder conspiracy and a disastrous Thanksgiving gathering. Every element is shaped around comedy, from the staging and performances to the tightly calibrated pacing of the scripts.
That approach is especially evident in the Season 2 premiere, which turns a brief mix-up over two different public figures into a sequence of connected jokes. The humor builds through quick cuts and contrasting reactions without becoming so rushed that the individual gags lose their impact.
The style reflects the work associated with Tina Fey, an executive producer on the series, and Robert Carlock, whose previous collaborations include ‘30 Rock’ and ‘Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.’ Carlock continues the show alongside Sam Means, while the production also benefits from established connections with Morgan, Radcliffe and Bobby Moynihan.
The premiere broadens its focus beyond the central relationship between Reggie and Arthur. Arthur wants Reggie’s family to discover the secret relationship between Reggie’s son Carmelo, played by Jalyn Hall, and Delilah Basmati, the daughter of Reggie’s rival. Monica searches for a new publicity assistant to help reach younger audiences, while Moynihan’s Rusty contributes jokes, reactions and physical comedy throughout the episode.
Although Reggie and Arthur temporarily feel less central, the review argues that this reflects the show’s confidence in its full cast rather than a weakness. Later episodes return more attention to the pair, while the series demonstrates that its comedic momentum does not depend on a single character dominating every scene.
The assessment is based on four episodes from the season, leaving open the possibility that the show’s tone or writing could change. For now, however, the review presents ‘The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins’ as the standout comedy of the year, praising its dense jokes, polished rhythm and commitment to making every part of the series serve the laugh.
Season 2 premieres Monday, November 2 at 8:30 p.m. ET on NBC. New episodes will be released weekly and will be available on Peacock the following day.
Sources: IndieWire.