HBO’s “Entourage” limps across the finish line and hits a note of cynicism in its eighth and finale season. No one evolves. Conflicts fueling the series are mere misunderstandings not worth fleshing out. Betrayals are easily forgiven when money and fame are on the horizon. Smart women and money are easy. These are the lessons viewers are to take from “Entourage.”
The story of Vince’s attempt to develop a relationship with a seemingly “intelligent” woman not enamored by his celebrity is completely gutted, going from 0-160mph in the off-screen space between the second to last and finale episodes. Instead of a touching story of the playboy finding true love and essentially growing up, viewers are served an off-screen and apparently steamy first date that turns into a shot gun marriage in less than 24 hours. This story might work if it were told onscreen. But since viewers must fill in the gap, the entire season, which revolves around this storyline, feels cheap and poorly written.
Viewers don’t know if Vince’s fiancé, Sophia, is a crazy whore masked as a smart girl. By marrying a former drug addicted sexaholic after sex on the first date, she certainly doesn’t act like the sophisticated hard-to-get reporter introduced at the start of the season. And given the foregoing, it sure Vince’s assurances that he’s changed seem rather hollow. How could an intelligent woman fall for that? Maybe she’s a gold-digger or a sexaholic herself. Or worse, could she be a con artist? Many questions are left untended to.
The main character is not the only one to receive little attention in the finale. Drama and Turtle wither on the vine as well. Has Drama learned to stay out of the way of his moderate success? The finale doesn’t address the issue. Has Turtle found a way to sustain any capitalization of his relationship with Vince? With his newfound status as a millionaire coming as a gift from Vince, it seems Turtle has yet to evolve. This is disappointing because the series spends time developing these characters only to drop the ball in the finale.
Eric and Ari get similar treatment. Eric and Sloan reconcile and Ari patches things up with his wife. These resolutions are somewhat satisfying. Problem is, neither man changes his behavior enough or says anything substantial enough in the finale to warrant serious reconsideration by their significant others. Accordingly, viewers end the series thinking these “smart” women are actually pretty easy marks, which is shocking because they are not characterized as ‘pretty dumb girls’ in earlier episodes.
Overall, the finale plays like a showcase for Jeremy Piven and Kevin Connolly. This is a disappointment for anyone actually interested in the Vince Chase story. Were his story well told, one could almost stomach the low regard in which “Entourage” seems to hold women and friends of celebrities. Perhaps an “Entourage” movie will compensate for these lapses.