Entourage Season Finale Redux: A REAL Analysis
Thesis is my boy and all, but as a die hard fan of Entourage, I had to drop a redux review and detailed analysis of season finale of Entourage.
Earlier this year, HBO put all their eggs in one basket to make Entourage the new “Sex and the City” - but for men. Who could deny Entourage’s potential for crossover success after a strong plot with mesmorizing characters, especially when Vince, E, and Walsh had everything to lose for the Medillen project.
During the season finale, Entourage avoided taking it to the next level in character development and dodged their intriguing Hollywood based plot to produce the most predictable season finale in the history of HBO. The previous seven episodes, while slightly entertaining, foreshadowed the H-bomb Medillin would generate amongst its critics, especially the critically selective Cannes audience. The only cliffhanger was the obvious unfulfilling question is “I wonder what will happen next?” I mean, I wondered that same question when Will Smith told Phil that he wanted to live in Philly on the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (remember The Fresh Prince of Philly?). Why not continue to intrigue the smart, mature “Entrourage” audience crowd with a breathtaking cliffhanger? (see: when Ari Gold lost everything at the end of Season 2)
The problem with season four is that the writers (Doug Ellin) didn’t know where to go once the decision was made to evolve the series into its own plot versus being loosely based on the career of Mark Walberg. Why would the executive producers and writers want to abandon the successful formula that have its core audience hooked on the dream life that everyone is curious about?
Entourage was once a show the depicted that the street rule of “Bros before Hoes” (To be more PC: no matter how rich, famous, or sexy you are, you are nothing without the loyalty of your friends and loved-ones.)
Now, the writers have dumb down the show to become a male Sex and the City (note: S&TC was a smart show, but they dumb downed Entourage). Sorry HBO, I know you want those S&TC apples (S&TC averaged approx. 6 million viewers per week; Entourage averages approx. 2 million per week), but Entourage oranges will never compare, even if there are the same number of main characters (but not really…SITC didn’t have an Ari).
And what happened to the character development of Turtle and Johnny Chase? It’s great that they’ve been the comedic relief of the show (sidenote: Drama getting in Rush Hour 3 and Drama getting the marijuana card – CLASSIC) while we get a heavy dosage of Eric Murphy and Billy Wash, but how come every episode they role continues to be minimized? So, you give Turtle some French head and have Drama chase some French sex and we are satisfied with the series finale? I think not. What ever happened to Turtle’s love interest Lauren London? What happened to Turtle starting his own business related to the music industry? What happened to Drama’s show? We saw him on set once this entire season.
Where the series finale did not disappoint is the character development of Ari Gold and Eric Murphy. Ari’s interaction with Dana Gordon and Mrs. Gold makes me FIEND for a spin-off prequel that shows Ari rise to Hollywood power (HBO/Doug Ellin, I usually get paid for ideas like this). I do think it was slightly interesting that E’s sixth sense for scripts and directors continues to come to light. In Season 3, Vince once said that he would never go against E’s judgment and now, Vinny continues to challenge him. This dynamic could (and will) be great for season five, especially with Walsh and Vinny going hard for Walsh’s new script while editing the M-bomb.
I must admit, the season finale continued to reveal seesaw lifestyle of being rich and famous that Entourage portrays well. For instance, the Entourage fellas walking down the red carpet felt like you were dressed in a tux on looking a crowd of thousands; while on the other hand, how difficult must it be to see $20, $35, $50, $75 million guaranteed dollars go down the trash was heartbreaking (yet predictable).
Season 5 can definitely savage to the show as they left so many unanswered questions.
Do you agree or disagree with my opinion? Why or why not? What do you think of the recent developments of Entourage? Are you content with the movement of the plot? Did you enjoy season five? What suggestions do you have to improve? Or should they keep doing what they’re doing?
firstly, i agree that there are a lot of unfulfilled and unanswered questions in season three and four. i believe that Vinny’s enfatuation with Walsh’s script has become evident that actors really have no business picking scripts, nor should they go against the opinion of their manager; especially when Vinny has said multiple times that he’d never go against Eric’s opinions. Eric needs to receive the respect he’s been denied for so long.
Season five should further develop Eric, Turtle, and Drama’s characters. In the episode where they bet to have sex, it felt as if there might slightly be some annimosity between the three actors. What i always loved about the show is the bros before hoes philosophy. In retrospect, not much of this has taken place. Eddie Burns was also an intricate part of the show, where is he???
Lastly, they need to stop half assing and phoning in the episodes. it took way too long for season four to develop, and it did so quite predicably. the shots are cool, they impress and inspire me as a film student. i just want the show to grow because it’s not going down the right path.
Season 5 of Entourage will deliver if it does the following:
1- See Medillin recut and released to a cult-like success. It will further prove that Eric was right when he said that there was genius in the movie and just needed someone to bring it out.
2- Further explore the rift that has come between Vince and Eric. Possibly, they need to sever their professional relationship in the interest of their friendship. This way, they can go back to depending on each other for support, instead of being at odds. Vince can try out a different manager or two, and Eric can take on different clients. There is enough material in both those scenarios to keep the season going.
3- Let Turtle get a client. Eric and he will both have office space to work out of Season 5. Let us see them working there.
4- In that vein, have the guys try out different assistants each week. Of course, there will be the busty blonde starlets, and the inept clumsy girls, and the older lady that treats them like a den mother. They could have a guy, who tries to hang with them. Lots of material here too.
5-Introduce a strong, female character who is not intimidated by Vince. Unlike Amanda, she does not want to sleep with him. As a matter of fact, they have a very strong dislike for each other. She can be a tv star, musician, or outside of the industry altogether. It is getting boring watching girls jump into bed with him each week, when he hasn’t had a hit movie in a while is getting older (not that 31 is old by any means). Maybe Vince will even take a liking to this girl, but she is more interested in Eric, because he is dependable and sensitive.
6-Bring Drama’s girl Jacqueline back from France with him. Have her move in to the condo with him and turn his world a bit upside down.
7-Show the guys having fun again. Let Vince make a fun movie with no controversy surrounding it. Send them to Hawaii, or Cancun, or Vegas again. The show is ultimately about 2 things:
Friendship and Escapism.
Season 4 was flawed because it tested both these foundations.
That being said, can’t wait til June 2008!
Can’t help but to agree with the original Thesis. Season Four, whilst exciting, was actually quite predictable, the whole Cannes thing being a flop with Medellin…. duh..
And yes! Turtles career with Hip Hop yes! get him with some real stars. Get Pharell on the show. Hook turtle up with some Star TrACKS! YES.
What was with Snoop’s cameo just to tell em that the Medellin trailer was online…. c’mon Turtle hook some shit up!
DRAMA.. what a fuckin star! Drama’s character is the best in the whole show. How the hell can he be so bad but so f=good at the same time. I’m not talking Micheal Jackson BAD… just real bad… but good. Those shirts he wears are just awful. Drama! you da king.
E////? what the fuck? Sloan was cool. Why you an ass and fuck shit up? Get some Fucking balls, you wanna be a producer.. do it little man. Forget the above advice… None of this E and Vinnie break up shit… That is so fkin cliche… E needs to realise that he is a valuable part of the team. Fuck Walsh. Kick his ass again…
ARI, is also excellent… keep that character going, more to the extreme…. I work in advertising.. I know people like that (to a degree) Ari, you slime ball mother fucker!.
and Lloyd! Is becoming my next favorite character, Lloyd you rule.
Anyway… just finished Season 4…
Can’t wait til 5…..
Yep.