Episode 6 - Hair
25 August 2010
Synopsis: Vince's new tequila and porn star lifestyle begins to worry everyone. Johnny too joins in the binge drinking as depression about his career sinks in. Turtle finally sleeps with Alex but finds he can't perform as he had hoped. Eric takes Vince's offer for the Airwalker movie to Ari but Scott suggests that they take on all the work themselves. Billy Walsh returns asking Eric to help him get his career back. Finally Amanda revels in making Ari squirm and Lizzie says she has sent all the damaging evidence about his behaviour to the press.
The Good: What always made Entourage better than it should have been was the straight stuff. When the script called for it the writing would seem real and the acting would match it. Once more the show turns on the serious stuff here to good effect.
Vince's spiral of bad behaviour escalates believably once more as he drinks and drinks till he can't wake up. Once more the writing is strong making it clear that it's still Vince. He hasn't snapped or changed, he is still laid back, he still cares about his friends. But he has started to lose perspective on how his behaviour affects his career. His assertion that his drunken ramblings must have been charming sounds like someone who is no longer making wise decision. Around him his support structure has fallen away too. Turtle's desire to be a success has now become too selfish a desire and he enables Vince without realising the susceptible state his friend is in. Similarly Johnny's depression keeps him from recognising what is going on.
Finally Eric is being distracted by Scott. I really liked the anger Eric showed when Ari questioned his control of Vince. Eric has tried to let go and let Vince be his own man. He has tried to focus on other clients and his fiancée. But Vince has dragged him back to babysit and you can see the guilt and anger at having Ari point out his failings and responsibilities. I also like Scott's character. His hyper active performance adds a believable veneer to his scheming character. The writing continues to keep him just the right side of reasonable as he whispers dangerous words in Eric's ear about circumventing the authority of their senior colleagues.
Billy Walsh's return is an interesting one. The return of such a toxic character, now rehabbed and reformed could be good timing. Perhaps Billy will ironically be the one to pull the guys out of their gutter. Certainly his frankness could be fun as he points out what no one could bring themselves to say about Johnny "maybe he's not having any luck because he's too ugly to star in his own show."
Ari too gets some good straight stuff to play up against Amanda and Lizzie. We haven't ever delved into the legal issues which Ari's volcanic anger could cause in real life and so the story feels like it has teeth. Ari sold it like it was deadly serious and I liked that they threw in potential marital problems too. Ari's job would certainly demand more and more of his time so seeing real life consequences of that is important. The confrontation scenes were pretty intense but the follow up will need to be just as strong if the story is going to have the impact it could.
The opening scene with Turtle's camera phone was a nice change of visual pace from the usual plot recap the show goes in for.
The Bad: The Turtle story was about as frivolous and unnecessary as any the show has come up with. It doesn't help that he and Alex have little real chemistry and voice their every thought about one another. There is no real relationship there, they are just two people who narrate the state of their interaction constantly.
As much as I praise the continuity of casting which Entourage goes in for there is the possibility of overkill. Dana Gordon would indeed still be a network head but with Amanda and now Billy back as well the show is in slight danger of looking too far backwards for inspiration.
Comic Highlight: Not the funniest episode with all the sombre plots unfolding. But I did smile at drunk Johnny missing the point of Eric's BBM video. The video was of Billy Walsh asking Eric to see him and Eric was amazed that washed up Billy could think he would have any time for him. Once the message finished Johnny honestly exclaims "Technology's amazing!"
Victory?: This was good dramatic stuff which moved the plot forward. Hopefully things get a lot worse for Vince (for the sake of good drama) before the inevitable comeback.
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