(S06E01) "Can we drive with the airbags deployed?" - Drama
The boys are back, and as I mentioned in my Early Look review last week, everything we knew about Entourage finally seems to be evolving. Some of it's logical and some of it's forced so that the story progresses, but all of it makes sense. Entourage was due for an overhaul if you think about it, and what could be more perfect than seeing what life is like for the guys when they aren't constantly worrying about Vince's career?
You think Turtle would have ever had time to smoke a J in a hot tub with Jamie-Lynn Sigler if Scorsese hadn't called Vince? I don't think so.
That fact right there, the Scorsese call, might be the biggest forced plot device of the season. But like I said - whether you believe Vince is good enough or not to be in a Marty Scorsese flick is irrelevant because it was necessary to get where we're going.
A lot of the premiere was familiar territory with just a lot more emphasis. E's love life is easy fodder for humor at this point, but seeing him play the field is just as mesmerizing for us as it is for Drama and Turtle. That's the uncharted territory but it doesn't seem like all the women will last long with Sloan back in the picture. You really do have to question her motives here. Is she just trying to be a friend or is she trying to mold Eric into the man he never could be by living with the rest of the guys? Something tells me we'll see a lot of her at his new place.
Turtle clearly has plans for the future, too, but it's a little iffy because the guilt of abandoning Vince definitely weighs on him. Having someone successful like Jamie-Lynn push Turtle is definitely the lynch pin, but other smaller factors like Vince finally getting his license certainly can't hurt. That was another forced development. The only reason he got the license is because his next project is the Enzo Ferrari bio-pic. What would have happened if Vince landed something else? Turtle would still be behind the wheel. Now Vince just needs to learn how to drive safely.
As for Drama and Lloyd, they're like polar opposites. Drama is still content just doing what he does on Five Towns (no real change there) while Lloyd refuses to let his career stagnate any longer. I think it's a safe bet that he will become a junior agent, and I can't wait for it to happen. Lloyd dealing with celebrities will be comic gold.
A few more thoughts on the season premiere:
-
No mention of that bar Drama bought at the end of last season?
-
Ari and Lloyd's exchange about Mad Men and how they'll all have heart disease, lung cancer, and cirrhosis by season four was hilarious.
-
Speaking of Ari, I'm loving the interaction between him and Andrew - they're great together.
-
It's not often that Entourage feels dated, but the time in between seasons really killed it this time. The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Greg Garcia/My Name is Earl in one ep? Ouch.
-
And speaking of Leno, I was really hoping we'd see a scene from Gatsby.
-
And speaking of Gatsby, I was also really hoping that the premiere would have featured at least one or two scenes of Vince filming in NYC, but the film has already wrapped.
How about that final scene? Has there ever been a shot where Vince is totally alone on this show? And I don't mean when he's filming something and you just don't see anyone else. I mean alone. He still has his friends, but they've got their own lives now. Looks like Vince may actually have to take control of his own life for once, which leads me right into my favorite exchange of the ep - Lloyd taking control of his:
Ari: "I will not be strong-armed, Lloyd!"
Lloyd: "You just were, Ari Gold!"
The TV Squad Podcast: Linda Purl talks about The Office, we talk spoilers, and more
Ask TV Squad: Ghost Whisperer and more!
The TV Squad Podcast: Bill Scheft of The Late Show, Cake Boss, Mad Men and more
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-13-2009 @ 10:41AM
jamaph said...
Hey nice review! I'm very excited about this season. The premier set so many potential plot lines.
FTA: "It's not often that Entourage feels dated, but the time in between seasons really killed it this time. The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Greg Garcia/My Name is Earl in one ep? Ouch."
Are saying you feel like the show has become dated?
Reply
7-13-2009 @ 10:41AM
The Guy Behind The Guy said...
Am I the only one that completely forgot what happened last season?
I find the height of some of the cast members amusing. I get a chuckle out of watching E. He's visibly tiny even for TV. Did anyone else notice when E sat down and tried to put his legs on the table, he didn't reach it?
Reply
7-13-2009 @ 10:41AM
Cam said...
They've known Leno was going to be over for years...I don't think its a sign the show was dated...why is everyone mentioning this? I'm sure it was a nod to Leno more than a 'oops'
Reply
7-13-2009 @ 10:41AM
Cam said...
BTW...this episode was great. I like where the show is going this season. Hopefully they'll recapture some of that season 2/3 magic
Reply
7-18-2009 @ 1:14PM
paris phillippe said...
this show was too funny, loved it, vince taking the driver's test, backing up into E's car, E looking out the window, Lloyd demanding a promotion, too funny, gotta tell you Turtle looks good thinner and cuter. Drama yells too much. Calm down, buddy.
7-13-2009 @ 10:41AM
Alicia R. said...
That was it. It was the Leno and My Name is Earl that set this episode into the Eh category for me. I heart Rex Lee as Lloyd, but I don't want this season to be nothing but Ari spanking him.
Reply
7-13-2009 @ 10:41AM
Alicia R. said...
Oh! And Turtle is looking Hawt this season. He looks great without those extra pounds.
7-13-2009 @ 11:24AM
tom said...
I can't believe this was the season premiere. Vince taking a driving test? Eric looking to buy a house? Seemed like more like a filler ep than a season premiere.
Reply
7-13-2009 @ 11:25AM
cdawg said...
This show should just be the Ari/ Lloyd show. They are the best (and sometimes only) thing about this show. Drama is second, E and Vince at the bottom.
The My Name is Earl thing definitely got a chuckle from me! But didn't make me think "dated."
I was wondering what happened to the bar too! I thought we'd see some more scenes in NYC, and I was really looking forward to that.
I wonder if the DMV guy gets in trouble now that Vince told his story :)
Reply
7-13-2009 @ 2:15PM
Silly Man said...
Emmanuelle Chriqui cannot act! She sounds like Paris Hilton does in a movie.
Reply
7-13-2009 @ 2:16PM
ramen fan said...
I'm stunned at the positive review of this episode. To me, with this episode, I'm done with this show. The show has been running on fumes for the past couple of seasons and this premiere was the nadir -- you can tell they just don't care anymore about the show, so why should we?
Reply
7-13-2009 @ 2:16PM
RamenFanatic said...
I'm surprised by the positive review of this episode.
I think with this episode I'm done with this show. The past couple of seasons have been quite terrible and this new episode was the nadir. As much as I like Drama and Ari, that's just not enough for me anymore. With Mad Men and other quality shows coming up, I don't need Entourage anymore.
Reply
7-15-2009 @ 1:59AM
tony DiMeo said...
I thought the greg garcia reference was pretty ironic considering that the show was cancelled two months ago and the fact that greg garcia beat doug ellin to an emmy 3 years ago. Besides that i liked jay leno's appearance but i wish they would have shown more from that like vince's second segment or leno or the part where jay shows a clip from the movie or maybe some backstage with vin talking to jay before the show, besides those things it was entourage as usual things are changing but the show is not, liked the Mad Men joke seems like lloyd has something against the show
Reply
7-14-2009 @ 10:07AM
MacGuffin said...
Love the show. It's not Shakespeare, so I don't have any illusions that the show is anything but a great fun show about a bunch of guys in LA who are buddies and all the things that go along with fame and stardom.
Emmanuelle Chriqui [as Sloan McQuewick] is a picture of loveliness. She is really beautiful and has a great vibe. She would make a great GF for E or MacGuffin. We're both dorky white guy producer-types.
Reply
7-14-2009 @ 10:07AM
Ari said...
My top shows all time are sopranos, the wire, recently mad men and breaking bad. But that doesn't mean i don't look forward to Entourage. Its still laugh out loud funny, the jokes between the guys always laughs. Who cares about plot and filler episodes and all that BS. This is a pure get my mind away from everything relaxing show, with a tiny bit of drama and a bunch of poor acting. If you cant wait for Mad Men and therefore are giving up on entourage its not the right show for you in the first place.
Reply
7-14-2009 @ 3:37PM
dkny said...
Emmanuelle Chriqui was born for silent films - she is hot but is not a good actress . Other than that it's the same old thing. Good not great but fine for the summer.
Reply
7-18-2009 @ 1:13PM
Jimmy said...
I want to see Drama get fired from Five Towns. Last season's Ben Silverman cameo was awesome.
Reply
8-06-2009 @ 2:15PM
Janelle Bonifacio said...
I actually was feeling a little iffy about season 5's finale episode only because 1-4 always had a feel of "what's in store for the boys next?". And you always felt like nothing could ever break up their friendship. But now:
-Drama has a part he loves on Five Towns (I wish I could watch Viking Quest, looks more awesome than Xena!)
-Turtle has a relationship with some potential (I think he really deserves someone pretty and sweet that is 100% supportive of his future...I think something having to do with customized collectors sneakers? We've seen how much he loves them)
-E's finally becoming more and more independent (After seeing how great he was with Charlie, I'm beginning to feel excited that he really does have the drive to manage lots of clients, he deserves to have his own place and a life outside of Vince)
-Vince is the only one that doesn't seem to have anything new or potentially life-changing in store. (It occurred to me at the end of last season after he fired E that he can't seem to take care of himself at all! As sweet as he can be, he's becoming too selfish)
This separation of the group is really going to change things. I hope that:
-Vince evolves into more than a pretty face and can take care of himself.
-Turtle finds his true calling career-wise and is wildly successful (after the Saigon mishap [he was totally screwed over!], I realized how much potential he has to promote and push for what he believes in. I think Jamie will help in this endeavor.
-E will continue to manage a series of clients and that they'll go on to be successful (after all the work he put into pushing for Vince, he deserves some acknowledgment in the "business"). I also hope Sloan doesn't hurt him. She's gorgeous and nice but he loses all sense around her, it seems.
-Lloyd will be promoted. I'm very upset with Ari because he KNOWS Lloyd is more than an assistant, he is probably Ari's best friend (calling someone while shrooming because you're scared and alone and need them to ground you...that DEFINITELY qualifies them as a best friend]
-Ari can still be his asshole ruthless lovable self but that he lets up on certain people that are supportive (like Lloyd) and really helpful to his client's careers (like Dana Gordon and Babs at times)
-Perhaps we'll see Ari and his home life with his family a little more. They briefed on that in the last season and it was an entirely different side of Ari, great contrast. I love Mrs. Ari Gould, she's such a badass character and is the only one that can keep Ari in his place.
-More Ari and Lloyd interaction! They are definitely why I've seen every episode.
I hope and pray to never see Bob or Amanda again. They're life ruiners.
So that's my hopes for the future. And I will most definitely continue to watch in the hopes that everyone's dreams will come true.
Reply