What I’m Watching: Entourage

Entourage: Season 8, Episode 6 “The Big Bang” (B+)

It seems right now that all five of the major characters on this show are desperately trying to prove to those around them that they are someone other than who they’re perceived to be. Vince is obsessed with getting the stuffy British journalist to believe that he’s capable of something more than seducing women. Eric wants Melinda to know that he’s prepared to be professional, and wants to ensure that he hasn’t lost Sloane for good with his latest misdeed. Drama is struggling not to make the biggest mistake of his career, but continues to let himself be pushed around by Dice. Turtle is trying to be taken seriously, but his hometown friends just want to see celebrities and be treated like royalty. Ari wants his wife to know that he’s changed, and he actually does a surprisingly good job of keeping his cool, storming out of his wife’s house without getting into a fight. The effectiveness of all this depends on the person. Vince is now doubting himself, while Eric received a disturbing visit from Johnny Galecki that causes him more concern than he needed. Drama, it appears, got what he and Dice wanted all along, though there’s still the chance that it could all fall apart. For all the following around he does, Turtle has never been so vain about being in the company of celebrities, which I find quite interesting. Most valuable of all, we finally know Mrs. Ari’s first name, dropped so casually by Bobby: Melissa!