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ENTOURAGE 706 - Hair| Review By:
Conan
Milne
Original Air Date: August 8, 2010
HBO
Rating: 4/5
Dub Quotable:
With the biggest criticism of this series being it’s plodding pace, the last couple of episodes have done much to rectify such complaints.
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Nobody could ever accuse Entourage of delivering intense
viewing. For several years the show has provided viewers with assuredly
lightweight thrills, dispersed with the occasional dramatic revelation. While it
remains largely faithful to its comedic roots, new episode “Hair” was arguably
the first of the series to hint at foreboding developments. It also perfectly
straddled the lines between being bleak and broadly humorous, resulting in
another solid addition to this rapidly improving season.
The episode began with what is becoming an oddly familiar sight; a giddy,
intoxicated Vince revelling in the company of girlfriend Sasha Grey. Adrian
Grenier is doing a fine job of portraying Vince’s irresponsible slide, his
judgement clouded by the wild allure of his new flame. However, unlike the
immature actions displayed by the pair last week, their behaviour is quickly
becoming dangerous. When a viral video of a drunken Vince rambling is mistakenly
leaked, his millions of Twitter followers are beamed footage of him boasting
about tequila that helps women, “Fuck like a porn star!” Vince’s chuckled
dismissal of this problem was another subtle hint at his current inability to
take anything seriously. His failure to realize that his behaviour is
jeopardizing a one hundred million-dollar franchise is one of the shows most
gripping plot points.
Similarly interesting was Ari’s failure to juggle his waning personal life and
embattled empire. With Mrs. Ari neglected in favour of salvaging his
professional reputation, Ari was as tumultuous here as he has ever been. Piven
plays the troubled agent as a resilient force, albeit one who has been
unexpectedly tested. He barks with the usual authority at Eric and Scotty,
hilariously dismissing Scott as E’s “dopplegangbanger.” However, he flits
between forced niceties and shaken threats with rivals Lizzie Grant and Amanda
Daniels. In doing so, Piven expertly portrays a sudden desperation in Ari that
viewers have never witnessed before. His unfocused glances as telling as his
uncomfortable attempts at polite negotiation, there is a new vulnerability to
the agent. This adds further layers to an already unforgettable character.
“Hair” is also arguably the first episode of the season to make excellent use of
Kevin Connolly’s Eric. With his fleeting rivalry with Scott laid to rest, E has
been the victim of some unremarkable plotting lately. Here, he is reacquainted
with an old enemy that makes a welcome return: humbled film-maker Billy Walsh.
It was an inspired decision by writer Doug Ellin to have the notoriously
abrasive Walsh return cap-in-hand to someone he was often so hostile towards.
The directors pitch to Eric, where he finally recognizes E’s ability to fight
for his clients, was a fantastic and surprisingly affecting moment. The hesitant
duo also intrigued with their discussion of creating an animated sitcom for the
angry – and drunk – Johnny Drama. Finally, Drama might have found a vehicle
befitting his unique talents.
With the biggest criticism of this series being it’s plodding pace, the last
couple of episodes have done much to rectify such complaints. The inspired
ending, featuring a spectral Sasha Grey slouching towards the pool as Vince lies
motionless nearby, was a shocking indication of how far the writers are prepared
to push Vin’s teetering breakdown. No longer implying the possibility of
deconstructing the shows leading man, it now seems like a compelling
inevitability. With just four episodes left in this season, viewers can only
hope that they provide as much fascinating reveals and acerbic one-liners as
this entry did.
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The views expressed here are those of the authors and not
necessarily
those of Dubcnn as an organisation.
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