So for my penultimate post, I thought I’d talk about last night’s Entourage. I have to say, ever since I started writing about the show for the esteemed MMM, I’ve liked it less and less. When I’m watching the episode, its entertaining and I like it. But when I sit down to think about what happened after, the plot was usually predictable and almost always repetitive. Tonight’s episode had some nice twists, and a great cameo from an all time great movie character – in my opinion. But I have to question why I always find myself occupied and into each episode, then when I sit to write about it I can’t really find anything good to say about it. What I finally decided is that Entourage isn’t a thinker, and any significant mental probing into the show will only reveal a ton of plot repetition and enormously underdeveloped characters. On to last night’s episode – and the easy to read, even easier to write bullet point notes format!
-Vince
Character development? We might be seeing some from the most one dimensional guy on TV today. Think about other shows, and what you know about the characters, how we see how they feel, things in their past that affect them today, and how they react to abnormal situations. Then think about Vince. I know nothing about Vincent Chase the person. But, in this episode, he turned the corner a little bit. He was the only person who actually read the script, then liked it so much he convinced Ari (who really didn’t have any other choice) to go for it with the studio. Vince seems to be taking his career more seriously, to which I say, It’s about time. And who does Ari go talk to? Mr. McAllister himself, John Heard. No matter how many shows Mr. Heard pops in on (Battlestar, Prison Break) I’ll always remember him giving Kevin his bag with all of his cash and credit cards, and not remembering until 5 hours later.
E/Anna Faris-
The other big story line in the episode, which I really liked. E was very professional and a great manager. Maybe he has learned something in his 4 years in LA after all. Or maybe hes just trying to get with Anna Faris. Either or all of those could be true. As for Anna’s now ex-boyfriend, I didn’t love him, but he produced a couple great lines – about how his pilot didn’t get picked up by the CW, and in the end when they are arguing in the trailer and you can still hear him yelling about his plan to have Anna pose as various animals. I thought his goodbye was actually pretty sad – “OK, movie star” was his reply to Anna after she dumped him. A nice injection of pathos into the episode.
-Turtle/Drama
Turtle tried to read the script and fell asleep. Drama wore a sleeveless shirt. Did I miss anything?
Liked this ep, and hopefully there are still a few more twists to go before the season finale, which is only 2 episodes away. I’m also looking forward to watching the next episodes and not thinking about them afterwards in order to satisfy the Maven’s rigorous writing demands. Stay tuned for my last post, which, as grand finales go, will be somewhere between The Last Waltz and Baby Geniuses 3. A solid B- for this week’s Entourage.
B-??? Wow, that’s pretty harsh, Greg. You “liked the ep” but gave it only a notch over average? To be fair, the show is only about 25 minutes long, so there can’t be that much plot. And from everything else you said, it sounds like you liked the episode. So why so low a grade?
Love the turtle/drama analysis.
Hello, “Media Maven”, thanks for writing in! And thanks for saying that B- is “harsh” and “a notch above average” to someone with a B- GPA!
Your comment on the show being 25 minutes seems to infer that I think there wasn’t any plot in the episode. There was – Ari running around trying to get a movie together for Vince. That particular plot moved forward, but as for the plot being fresh? It’s nothing we haven’t seen 10 times.
Usually when I write about the episode i have to simplify it to what I can fit/remember about the episode. But seriously, E had about 9 scenes in a row with Faris’s crazy boyfriend, Ari called Dana Gordon a few times, went to see a studio exec, and that was it. Turtle and Drama seriously did almost nothing.
I mentioned the problem about liking the episode while watching it and then liking it less when I went back to think about it, write about it, and eventually give it a grade. Which is why I liked the episode, but eventually didn’t give it a sterling grade. but still, B- is nothing to be ashamed of, or at least thats what I tell myself.
Thanks for commenting!
i do like this show, although it is getting worse instead of better.
the program has to b taken with a pinch of salt nothing serious, just watch it for 25 mins hav a laugh and get on with life. i live in England and nobody i no watches this show so unlike lost, sopranos etc i dont hav to talk about it with any1 thus i can happily wait till next week which is somethin i cant do with lost, prison brk (wen it was half decent) and sopranos (wen it was still on)
thanks for commenting on my post, bid. I’m glad we share the same opinion of entourage – like watching it, can’t stand talking about it. I feel like part of the intrigue of Lost is talking about what just happened or what will happen. It’s just too much to do all of the figuring out, remembering old random plot lines that somehow tie in, and testing conspiracy theories alone.
Fun fact regarding the last two shows you mentioned: the Maven watches prison break every week, yet has never seen an episode of The Sopranos other than the pilot, which he watched when it first came out.
Whats the name of the song at the end of this episode?? Please help.