Ryan Rebalkin and guest host Kyle sit down for the next chapter of their Rocky V breakdown: Tommy Gunn having dinner at the Balboas’. The young fighter is now in the house, the family is trying to make it work, and one question keeps coming up — did Adrian use too much garlic?

They unpack the dinner scene, the awkward family dynamics, how Tommy is settling in (or isn’t), and what this quiet little sequence is really setting up. Plenty of the usual deep-cut observations, continuity notes, and honest talk about whether this stretch of the movie actually works.

Kyle is back in the guest-host chair. If you like this kind of scene-by-scene Rocky talk, also check out Ryan’s other show, The Worst of the Best Podcast (every major app, YouTube, Facebook, and X). Follow Ryan at @RyanRebalkin and the Rocky feed at @GTDRockyPodcast.

Ryan Rebalkin and special guest Kyle pick up the Rocky V breakdown right where they left off. The Balboas are back in the old neighborhood, and Rocky Jr immediately finds out the schoolyard plays by prison rules. Chicky (Kevin Connolly) and his crew size up the “rich kid,” a jacket gets stolen, and the graffiti on the wall quietly nods to Rocky and Mick.

Then it’s over to Mighty Mick’s Gym, where Rocky is training amateurs, Paulie is hustling a used coffee cup with “lip marks” for five bucks, and a hungry young fighter named Tommy Gunn (Tommy Morrison) walks in looking to prove himself. What starts as sparring quickly turns personal. Rocky sees too much of his old street-fighter self in the kid and has to decide whether he’s ready to step into Mickey’s old role.

Plenty of deep-cut observations along the way: the Jimmy/Mike continuity headache, the “kajones” pronunciation mystery, visual callbacks to Rocky 1, and why this “failure” of a fifth film actually set up everything that came after.

Ruban couldn’t make this recording, so Kyle steps in as guest host extraordinaire.

If you like this kind of movie-by-movie, scene-by-scene breakdown, check out Ryan’s other show **The Worst of the Best Podcast** (available on every podcast app, YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter). Follow Ryan at @RyanRebalkin and the Rocky show at @GTDRockyPodcast.

00:00 – Intro, naming the show, Rambo location ideas (Hope, BC and the Philly steps)  
02:31 – Kyle’s honest take on Rocky V and why it aged better than expected  
06:39 – Playground scene: Rocky Jr, the high fence, “Rocky and Mick” graffiti, and Chicky’s crew  
15:00 – The beatdown and stolen jacket  
18:23 – Mighty Mick’s Gym: Rocky training amateurs and the return of Jimmy (Mike?) Gambina  
24:02 – Paulie sells a used coffee cup with lip marks for $5  
27:40 – Tommy Gunn walks in and asks to fight  
31:31 – “Kajones” pronunciation debate and script continuity roast  
35:29 – Sparring gets out of hand: no headgear, full power shots, Rocky sees red flags  
40:22 – Post-spar conversation: “You fight like a street fighter” and Tommy asks to be managed  
45:06 – Tommy Morrison’s real name on the gear + visual echo of Rocky and Mickey  
50:49 – Wrap-up, The Worst of the Best plug, and checking the credits for Jimmy’s name

 Ryan, Ruban, and guest host Andrew pick up after the Mickey flashback as the Balboas settle back into the old neighborhood.  

We cover Rocky giving Robert street advice on the walk to school, neighborhood scams, the cut Little Marie scene, the introduction of Tommy Gunn, and the tense confrontation with George Washington Duke outside the pet shop where Adrian firmly shuts down the fight offer.  
 
00:00 Live Start & Ruben Joins  
01:46 Recap of Mickey Flashback  
05:49 Smoking Talk & Chevy Nova  
07:52 Back in the Neighborhood  
09:20 Street Advice to Rocky Jr.  
12:13 Coat Scam Setup  
14:22 Little Marie Cut Scene  
16:45 Urban Blight & Aluminum Siding  
32:45 Tommy Gunn Introduction  
37:16 George Washington Duke Confrontation  
42:21 Adrian Intervenes  
45:52 Closing Scene & Thoughts  

  We cover the emotional auction of the Balboas’ belongings, Rocky Jr. on the motorcycle, Rocky reconnecting with his old clothes and past, the visit to Andy’s bar and Mighty Mick’s Gym, the powerful Burgess Meredith Mickey flashback (including the Rocky Marciano cufflink), moving back into Paulie’s place, and George Washington Duke’s opportunistic phone call to Adrian.  

00:00 Live Start & Missing Ruben  
01:20 Auction / Garage Sale Scene  
05:19 Rocky Jr. on the Motorcycle  
08:39 Attic / Old Clothes Scene  
12:08 Going to Andy’s Bar  
13:51 Mighty Mick’s Gym  
15:05 Mickey Flashback Begins  
19:14 Cufflink Gift Scene  
20:30 Flashback Discussion & Timeline  
25:34 Moving Back to the Neighborhood  
30:10 George Washington Duke Phone Call  
32:13 Closing & Next Episode Tease  

Ryan and Ruban dig into the shocking revelation that the Balboas have lost everything thanks to Paulie’s power-of-attorney mistake, the shady accountant, and the irreversible brain damage diagnosis.  

We cover Adrian’s powerful performance, the real-lawyer cameo, Rocky in glasses, the cavum septum pellucidum explanation, the emotional “if you love somebody” scene, newspaper headlines, and more. Special thanks to Trisha Morrison for the Tommy Gunn jacket note.  

00:00 Live Start & Recap  
01:39 Adrian vs Paulie Argument  
04:43 Power of Attorney Explanation  
06:51 Father Carmine Chat Question  
09:37 Rocky Statue & Blame Game  
12:48 Lawyer Scene & Real Lawyer Note  
14:16 Rocky in Glasses Trivia  
16:59 Mickey’s Gym Nest Egg  
23:41 Doctor Visit & Brain Scans  
26:49 “Simply Stated… Brain Damage”  
28:18 Adrian’s Emotional Plea  
31:02 Newspaper Headlines & Auction  
32:50 Tommy Gunn Jacket Note  
33:12 Closing Thoughts  

Continuing our Season 5 Rocky V breakdown on Going the Distance! Ryan, Ruban, and special guest Andrew pick up right where we left off at the airport press conference as Adrian announces Rocky’s retirement.  

We dig into Rocky’s reaction, the over-the-top reporters, the limo ride home, the changing Balboa houses across the series, the almost-robot from Rocky IV, Rotten Tomatoes scores, and the sweet (and funny) father-son scenes — including Rocky Jr.’s drawing of his French teacher, the “mushroom” joke, Russian currency, and the goodnight kiss.  

Huge thanks again to Andrew for joining us live.  

00:00 Live Start & Voice Apology  
01:05 Andrew Returns & Recap  
02:50 Adrian Announces Retirement  
04:12 Rocky’s Reaction & Press Pressure  
08:53 Union Cane & George Washington Duke  
10:46 Cindy Roberts Reporter Note  
14:38 Limo Ride & House Continuity  
15:50 The Missing Robot  
16:51 Rotten Tomatoes Scores Discussion  
24:55 Rocky Jr.’s Room & Artwork  
27:51 French Teacher Drawing Scene  
32:51 “Mushroom” Joke & Russian Money  
34:43 Born Again / Better Life Talk  
38:30 Goodnight Kiss & Cultural Notes  
43:17 Closing & Thanks  

This is our Season 5 opener and the first live guest recording as Ryan and Ruban welcome local Rocky fan and boxing enthusiast Andrew to break down Rocky V.

We cover the 1990 box office numbers (far from a flop), teenage theater experiences, how the film deliberately returned to the roots of Rocky 1 & 2 after the spectacle of 3 & 4, the Burgess Meredith/Mickey flashback inspired by Cus D’Amato and young Mike Tyson, the airport press conference, George Washington Duke, and more.

Huge thanks to Andrew for joining us live for this special occasion.

00:12 Intro & Episode 101 / Season 5 Kickoff
00:53 Guest Andrew Introduction
03:04 Rocky V Box Office & “Flop” Myth
06:19 Initial Theater Reactions as Teens
08:52 Street Fight Ending Debate
09:48 Original Ending Where Rocky Dies
12:41 Burgess Meredith / Mickey Flashback
13:28 Cus D’Amato & Mike Tyson Inspiration
16:38 John G. Avildsen Returns as Director
39:43 Timeline & Rocky Jr. Age Issues
41:23 Airport Press Conference Scene
48:53 George Washington Duke Arrival
53:30 Adrian Announces Retirement – Cliffhanger
54:40 Closing & Thanks to Andrew

Join Ryan for an amazing interview with stand-up comedian Joe Matarese!

Joe Matarese is a South Jersey/Philadelphia-area comedian known for his sharp, autobiographical material about family, neuroses, marriage, parenting, and everyday life. He’s appeared on America’s Got Talent (standing ovation), The Late Show with David Letterman, The Howard Stern Show, Comedy Central, Chelsea Lately, and more. He has four one-hour specials available for free on YouTube: Medicated, The Poster’s Wrong, Mullets and Mixtapes, and Almost Sold Out.

His current tour is called “It’s In The Wooder.”

Find everything about Joe here:
Website: http://www.joematarese.com/
Instagram / TikTok / X: @TheJoeMatarese

Robert Doornick, creator of the iconic SICO Robot from Rocky IV, joins the podcast! Robert shares how SICO was designed as a therapeutic tool for special needs children, his connection to Stallone via his autistic son, on-set stories, voice work, future of robotics, and more. A fascinating look at the man behind one of Rocky’s most memorable characters.

Trisha Morrison, widow of Tommy Morrison (Tommy Gunn in Rocky V), joins the podcast for a heartfelt interview. Trisha shares stories from Tommy's room filled with memorabilia, their meeting, his personality, health journey, Rocky V, and legacy. Emotional, honest conversation touching on bullying, faith, and keeping Tommy's memory alive.