Entourage, new season

Better? Meh. To each his own. And even I'd say yes to that. But much better? No chance.

 

I've been trying to figure out exactly what I don't like about this season, and here's what I've come up with:

In most previous seasons, the group was still a group. Vince/E/Ari were the center of the show, and everyone else seemed to be there for color, with an occasional secondary storyline. Now, the show seems like it's trying to give equal time to everyone. Notice how seldom the entire group is together anymore? The flow of the show also seems pretty choppy to me now, and none of the storylines are getting enough development. (Especially this Vince-turns-daredevil stuff.)

It's the kind of thing that only a writing overhaul would fix, and unfortunately that probably won't come until next season.

 

I really don't get it. So many people on here are saying this season isn't any good. But honestly, it's turning into one of my favorites.

 

I agree with much of what you say: There is a definite move from the group of previous seasons, and the multiple story lines do make it seem choppy.

This season is starting to grow on me, though, because it is different than the previous seasons. While the episodes so far have been so-so, I really like that each of the characters has a unique story line. It's something new.

 

I agree that moving from the group dynamic has made it choppy, I guess my biggest complaint is that I've grown to not care about most of the characters. I used to really like Drama, Turtle, even E and I found myself rooting for Vince because his situation directly affected the other three. Now, I just don't care whether Drama gets his show or Turtle gets the girl. I still watch but it's mostly because I still thoroughly enjoy Ari. I wish we could see more of Lloyd working in the agency and trying to make it as an agent as well.

 

No one has mentioned the fact that Vince took a vicodin because of his back pain from the accident. Isn't that destined to turn into a probelm?

 

I think the druggin' and drinkin' and the ex-porn star are taking him toward a train wreck ...

 

Another thing I liked about previous seasons was how everything revolved around one or two of Vince's film projects. Now, his career (and in some ways the industry as a whole) are almost irrelevant in the show. They never explained what the hell that Cassavetes movie was supposed to be. All of Ari's wheeling and dealing is about the NFL franchise or keeping his clients from Lizzy. Since the first episode, it's like he's only occasionally paid attention to Vince because the underlying basis of the show sort of necessitates it.

I guess I was expecting the show to turn a corner of some kind this season. But Vince and Ari are still yo-yoing between success and disaster (usually of their own making), E farts around and has phone conversations (and 10 seconds of buttsex) with Sloan, and Turtle continues to be shocked that waking up 30 with little education and no real work experience is a poor career path. I couldn't fake any sympathy for him in the first season and I certainly can't do it now.

However, Drama's still my favorite and I do find myself rooting for him to hit it big. They are giving his story arch some time, at least.

 

Do a google search for Sasha Grey's videos, some very solid work

 

I think that might work in another format, but in a half-hour show, they're not devoting enough time to each of the 5-6 separate story lines to invest me in any of them. (Again, with the possible exception of Drama.)

 

Can't believe I'm writing this, but I actually laughed out loud 2/3 times during this week's ep. Ari fucking with Tyson being the foremost among them. And any Carla Gugino sighting is fine by me. I watch it out of habit at this point, but hell, there's nothing else on..