Boooooooooring.
After the hot streak, in which two episodes in a row had some pretty thrilling developments, we're back to typical Entourage wheel-spinning. Vince and Sasha are hotter and heavier than ever, making out at clubs that includes using their tongues to shove pills down the other person's throat. Turtle is still wondering how he's going to fill all those tequila orders. Drama isn't into making "the next Simpsons" (I really wish networks would stop trying) because he wants to show his face literally and figuratively. Ari does two things at once.
There was a moment, though, where Turtle is speaking to the owner of the tequila company, and he's told not only can the orders not be met, but five million dollars would need to be acquired to build a new factory. The owner assures Turtle nothing can be done, but Turtle is determined to make things happen. So he's given the blessing to do so, albeit hesitantly. "Wow," I thought, "Turtle is totally being played right now." For a second I wondered if this tequila thing, relationship with Alex included, was all one giant set-up to find a wealthy entrepreneur who can raise serious capital. They make the tequila by running Patron through a Brita, or something, ship a few, get the guy hooked and, then, disappear. It would be a twist I didn't see coming (until now), and it's a story that would require multiple weeks to tell.
There were moments this season, too, where I thought the show was trending towards larger story arcs, but many of those—like the separation of Lizzie from Ari's firm—ended much quicker than expected. That's fine if they're going to move the story forward, but in the case of Ari tonight, it doesn't seem to be happening, as he spends the episode talking things through with his wife and gallivanting about as usual. Thus I have little faith that any problems Turtle encounters will amount to more than face value. This time he needs to find rich people to give him tequila money, and he's found Mark Cuban and "Better Call Saul" Goodman. Problem —> solution.
The show has been ramming the Vince situation down our throats, though. He almost dies doing his own stunt, then suddenly he's an adrenaline junkie. He meets Sasha Grey (whose acting wasn't doing her any favors this week), and suddenly he's an actual junkie. The inherent problem with all this Vince stuff is that the major life changes should have been coming from him. There should be something personal behind the action. But there isn't. Vince's actions, as his existence on the Hollywood map at all, still seem to be driven by other people and their actions. So tonight Vince finally loses it and snaps at E, demanding, among other things, that E find Sasha a part in his new movie. I can understand why somebody like Vince would do that. I don't really buy that Vince himself would, even given all the (quickly escalating) circumstances. Vince is by far the show's weakest link, and it's really starting to show.
Stray observations:
- "She has sex on camera, which all of us do on some level." Entourage, please no more "commentary."
- Also, nice worldview, Scott: Porn stars are all broken.
- Jeffrey Tambor needs to show up unannounced more often, though.