What I’m Watching: Entourage (Series Finale)

Entourage: Season 8, Episode 8 “The End” (B+)

I tried not to read any reviews of this finale before writing my own, but I was privy to the occasional headline, which seemed to imply that this finish was somewhat contrived in the way that it so perfectly resolved everything. It’s intriguing to note that it’s essentially all about Eric and Ari since both Drama and Turtle found fortune last week and Vince seems to have made his own in the time between the two installments. What I would argue is that, even in the best of days back when Ari was walking out of his agency and had a female assistant, this show has never been too concerned with reality. That is to say that having everyone reach a happy ending is fitting since things do always work out for this bunch. And it’s not as if they haven’t had their struggles. While pairing Vince up with Sophia for eternity (or at least, until the movie) still doesn’t sit entirely with me, he genuinely charmed her with affection and his personality, so that’s an achievement. He also managed to woo Sloane for Eric by saying that it didn’t matter if he slept with Melinda. What really got me was Ari’s opera-scored decision to quit his job, leaving with the lucky horseshoe and family photo, and move to Florence with his wife, now colloquially referred to as Melissa, following a rousing confession of love to her. Scott not boarding the plane because it’s really just about the main guys makes sense, and I like that Ari does come with him since he’s always been a member of their extended family. I’d hope that the movie, should it be made, doesn’t take place in Paris but rather further down the road, though I’d be perfectly content with this being the way things were left off for good. It’s been a good, if not entirely reliable, eight years, and this was definitely a fun show to have on the air.

Season grade: B+
Season MVP: Jeremy Piven
Series grade: B+
Series MVP: Jeremy Piven
Best season: Season 2
Best episode: “Exodus”

What I’m Watching: Entourage (Penultimate Episode)

Entourage: Season 8, Episode 7 “Second to Last” (B+)

This episode has a fitting title, signaling that we’re almost at the end of the road here. It’s a strong second to last installment, putting four out of five of our main characters on a path towards a bright future while giving the fifth a bit of unexpected news without the corresponding hope. Vince is nothing if not determined, and it seems that his latest romantic efforts may end up paying off. While Alice Eve’s Sophia isn’t necessarily who I might have pictured as Vince’s eternal girlfriend, there isn’t really anyone else who might have fit him better (maybe Mandy, but that seems like so long ago). His generosity knows no bounds, as he pledges $100,000 to appease Phil Yagoda for Johnny and reveals that he didn’t in fact sell his shares as recommended by Turtle, making him a millionaire and able to put his own money into his business. Ari seems genuinely happy with Dana, but it’s likely that he’ll be able to come to some at least amicable arrangement with his wife, and Dana doesn’t seem to mind all that much since she wants what’s best for him. Things are a bit more rocky for Eric, as he ill-advisedly stops in to harass Sloane and Johnny Galecki while accompanied by the vengeful Melinda. Sloane’s pregnancy revelation is a bombshell, but it’s followed by so immediately by a harsh declaration of her desire not to be involved with him that he’s going to have to make a mighty romantic gesture to win her back.

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!

What I’m Watching: Entourage

Entourage: Season 8, Episode 5 “Motherf*cker” (B+)

This half hour feels a bit more on point as almost all of our characters (sorry, Turtle) achieve developments in their respective storylines. Alice Eve seems rather unfriendly as the reporter from Vanity Fair, and she definitely represents a challenge to Vince since she’s not ready to jump his bones and instead is going to put up a bit of a fight. Seeing him open up about his past is a rare thing, and it added some often unseen drama to the show. Drama trying to get Dice back and even considering giving him some of his salary was interesting, and I’m hopeful that his ultimate decision to walk won’t result in the end of his career reboot. E’s meeting with his ex’s ex-mother-in-law proved rather entertaining, and Melinda Clarke is among the better actors that play themselves on this show. Them bonding over Terence and Sloane was fun, and the reveal that she orchestrated the whole thing to get back at Terence was both hilarious and deeply troubling. Dana meeting Ari’s kids and having them ask if she’s the Dana that their mom hates was quite a surprise, as was Ari’s subsequent full-fledged apology to his wife. Unfortunately, she seems set on a divorce, but, wonderfully both for Ari and for us viewers, Dana is apparently willing to give Ari a try and be there for him. That’s particularly exciting to me since I think they make a great couple, and I’d love to see what more they do together.

What I’m Watching: Entourage

Entourage: Season 8, Episode 4 “Whiz Kid” (B+)

This episode was decently entertaining, but it still does feel like not all that much is accomplished in the span of half an hour. There’s not even a mention of Drama’s TV show woes after Clay was replaced last week, so I guess that’s just being put on hold for the moment. Drama has his hands full at the start of this episode, encouraging Vince to lawyer up before going to the police station and then suggesting many horrifying ways which Vince might be able to clean out his system before the drug test. He does seem to be doing better, but smoking just to prove that he’s not an addict was a stupid move, and fortunately Billy’s fake penis worked and he isn’t headed straight back to jail. It’s nice that Eric always thinks everything is going to work out, and I’m glad that it was all fine even though he didn’t win that argument. The return of Shauna, brief as it was, was extremely amusing. Ari and Dana’s budding relationship is highly entertaining, as they bet which of the two of them had gotten more e-mails and voicemails. Both Ari and Mrs. Ari were rather furious at therapy, and Ari seems so desperate to show off that he too has found someone that he’s stupid enough to take Dana out to dinner on a date to Bobby Flay’s restaurant. That’s a relationship that actually could have worked, and it’s a shame that he’s sabotaged both of his potential relationships.

What I’m Watching: Entourage

Entourage: Season 8, Episode 3 “One Last Shot” (B)

It’s interesting to see an actor like Kim Coates return to this show. I didn’t even remember him ever have appeared on the series, and after a bit of research, I discovered that he had been in the season five finale, which aired the same week of Coates’ signature show, “Sons of Anarchy,” first premiered. Now Coates has established a firm and fantastic role on that series, and it’s far better than his broken-down, drug-addicted producer Carl Ertz on this show. It’s mainly that Ertz doesn’t do anything productive on this show, and his involvement is yet another thing based almost entirely on one of Vince’s hunches that never seem to work out. His suicide at the end of the episode is almost surely going to send the show in a much more serious direction than might be necessary. Turtle getting retired just means that he’ll be trading one so-so business for another, and being broken up with on Alex’s behalf is a bit of a cop-out conclusion for one of his better arcs. Phil managed to deliver an Ari-like tirades about raises to Drama, but it seems that firing Dice is pretty much going to squash the hopes of the show being a hit. I liked how bothered Ari was by not having sent Lloyd an e-mail, and it’s nice that he entertains Lloyd’s desire to set him up with a friend. Clearly she wasn’t the right fit for him, and I wasn’t the least bit surprised when he called Dana and ended up spending the night at her place. I’m not sure how that’s going to play out, but I’m definitely intrigued.

What I’m Watching: Entourage

Entourage: Season 8, Episode 2 “Out With a Bang” (B)

I’m not sure this Johnny Bananas business is nearly as interesting as those on the show seem to think it is, and Andrew Dice Clay doesn’t seem like a particularly fascinating actor to feature. Trying to talk Drama into walking out on the show now that they have negotiating power seems like a royally stupid idea given how long it’s been since Drama and Clay were on top. Having Drama be successful for at least half a season could work, and I hope this show doesn’t blow it by forcing him to be down on his luck once again. I don’t know what to make of Vince’s script other than to note that crazy, deranged Billy is much more entertaining and exciting as a character than the current substitute. I’m very happy that E and Sloane were able to have some breakup sex so that they could be back on speaking terms, and her announcement about moving to New York will hopefully inspire E to make a romantic gesture and follow her out there at some point, which will certainly be great. Turtle’s relationship with Alex isn’t nearly as crucial to the history of this show, so seeing that peter out isn’t too disheartening. Ari, however, is not someone you want to mess with, and Bobby Flay is going to feel that as Ari launches a full-out crusade against him, once which likely won’t win back his wife but will more than likely ruin the life of the celebrity chef.

What I’m Watching: Entourage (Season Premiere)

Entourage: Season 8, Episode 1 “Home Sweet Home” (B-)

The gang’s all back as this show returns for its final year. Looking back on my grades from last season, it was actually decently solid, with a bit of a drop-off towards the end of the season as Vince’s behavior spiraled out of control. I’ve often said, as have others, that this show would do well not to revolve around Vince quite as much as it does since he often drags the show down, particularly when he’s showboating to prove his sobriety as all of his buddies do their very best to ensure that he doesn’t fall off the wagon. Drama deserves commendation for his intensive efforts to rid the house of all possible illicit substances, and it’s no surprise that Turtle can’t keep himself from smoking pot for even a few hours. Ari’s latest state is just as rage-fueled as ever, and I liked his interactions with his son and Lloyd at work. Discovering that Mrs. Ari was dating someone else, of course, really threw him for a loop, and I imagine he’s going to be very intent on getting revenge in the coming episodes. I’m saddened that E’s engagement with Sloane has been broken off and that they seem to be going through the aftermath rather poorly, with E spiraling downward just as Vince did at the end of last season. If nothing else, this should be a good last hurrah so long as Vince doesn’t direct a truly awful TV movie about himself as a Chilean miner or something like that.

What I’m Watching: Entourage (Season Finale)

Entourage: Season 7, Episode 10 “Lose Yourself” (C+)

This season finale really is a mess, and it makes it hard to remember that this season was actually pretty good, and certainly a big step up for last year’s lackluster season. What’s especially troubling about this finale is that it makes it seem like most of this season’s arcs weren’t really headed anywhere, and those that are going somewhere aren’t going anywhere good. We saw enough last year of Vince down on his luck and moping around after repeated failures, so there’s no reason he needs to go to jail for possessing cocaine after getting punched out by Eminem. The list of special guest stars during the closing credits of this episode was gigantic, and just because everyone from Christina Aguilera to John Cleese is willing to stop by this show to portray themselves doesn’t mean it’s a quality program. Compare its resonance with the show that airs before it, “Hung,” and it will quickly become apparent that it’s lost much of its mojo (though it wasn’t ever necessarily as good as “Hung,” with the exception of a few season two episodes like “Exodus”). Ari’s plotline was pretty great this year, but its culmination is one that should have been a long time coming. It took Cheryl David one less year to finally wise up to the idea of leaving Larry on “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” and this show is one far more grounded in reality. Vince has proven once again to be an almost entirely useless and boring character, and Eric hasn’t even done much this season. Scott’s mutiny feels a whole lot like what Ari did to Terrance (whose appearance in this episode was completely random at best), and Scott does not have anywhere near the same charisma as Ari to pull it off like he did. Drama’s show needs to start filming so we can see some of that, and Turtle actually ended up having the most to do out of anyone for a change in this season. I’m curious to see what his involvement with the company he nearly overloaded and destroyed will be, but honestly, not all that curious. This show has lost much of the energy and creativity it once did, and I can only hope that the eighth and final season will be the proper motivation for a gracious recovery and return to grace.

Season grade: B
Season MVP: Jeremy Piven

What I’m Watching: Entourage

Entourage: Season 6, Episode 11 “Porn Scenes from an Italian Restaurant” (B)

Why does everything always have to blow up in everyone’s faces on this show? Just as Drama’s career is finally taking off, Vince, Turtle, and Ari are down in the dumps again. Vince’s mopey act has become extremely tiresome, and it’s about time that he got rid of his porn star girlfriend since they’re really not doing too well and she’s definitely not a good influence. After Turtle worked his connections to get a potential $5 million investor, it’s a shame to see it all thrown away by impoliteness and intimidation after he discovers that Carlos doesn’t want to relinquish control of his family business. Unfortunately, Ari really takes the care for screwing up royally. After failing to truly get into family time, he makes a monstrous scene at the restaurant where he promises to ruin Amanda’s life in front of the NFL people. I don’t quite buy that Amanda would really want to include Ari in the deal since they are mortal enemies, but I guess it does say a lot about Ari’s self-destructive behavior that he can’t even take a friendly phone call. It’s good that there’s one sane mind on the show, but it is Drama, so I guess that’s not too comforting. I was worried that Drama’s lack of interest in Phil’s intensely-prepared presentation might jeopardize his deal, but things may actually be looking up for one Chase brother. I look forward to seeing Johnny go bananas in the future, and I hope the next episode does provide some decent closure for this decent season.

What I’m Watching: Entourage

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What I’m Watching: Entourage

Entourage: Season 6, Episode 7 “Tequila and Coke” (B+)

I do feel bad for Ari. After he came as close as he can to groveling and actually putting effort into a situation rather than just yelling at someone, he managed to convince his enemy to back down, only to have the information leaked by someone else. We didn’t get to see much of the fallout aside from the beginnings of the dissolution of the NFL project, but things are certainly not going to be good for Ari from here on out. I’ll make note once again of Jeremy Piven’s dramatic abilities that work extremely well in his (rarer) more serious scenes. Vince is continuing to ruin his career without knowing it by mixing painkillers with a porn star girlfriend and not taking care of himself. Sasha is going to be on her way out soon, I’d imagine, and Vince can hopefully get himself back on track. It’s fun to see Turtle operating as such a great salesman, and it’s a shame that his suppliers can’t back him up when he promises fifty cases of the good stuff to a vendor. Mark Wahlberg’s cameo was very amusing, and I like that the executive producer enjoys stopping by his show from time to time. Billy Walsh’s new idea is actually brilliant, but Drama’s stubbornness and allergy to animation will likely stall the project for some time, even if the rest of the crew is on board. It’s interesting to see all of the characters on this show shuffle around and interact with one another, and this series handles it better than you’d expect.

What I’m Watching: Entourage

Entourage: Season 7, Episode 6 “Hair” (B+)

Scott’s suggestion that Vince ditch Ari and find new representation is a frightening one: what would this show be without Ari? Even if the Emmy voters have moved on, Jeremy Piven still commands the small screen with his incredible performance as Ari. Having recently expanded his trope of powerful women he despises and frequently belittles from three – Dana, Barbara, and Amanda – to four – adding in young upstart Lizzie – he’s still the central force of this show and easily the most intriguing and engaging of the five major characters. His reaction to meeting Scott was just one instance of his great acting job this episode, and the fact that he’s so obnoxious makes watching him squirm (at the idea of Lloyd having to represent good treatment of employees) a whole lot of fun. The return of Billy Walsh seems a bit randomly-timed, but it’s interesting to see him back and completely changed from the psychotic crazy person he used to be (we’ll see how long that lasts). This week it’s Turtle’s turn to have trouble trying new things in the bedroom, and I’m hopeful that his relationship with Alex will work out considering it’s not off to a strong start. Vince is certainly doing a commendable job of working to screw up his career, and that ending shot of him unconscious by the pool does not bode well at all for his future. Drama officially has nothing to do now, so Vince may not be far from following in his brother’s footsteps.

What I’m Watching: Entourage

Entourage: Season 7, Episode 5 “Bottoms Up” (B+)

Everything seemed like it was lining up nicely for all of the characters and now it’s pretty much all turned sour. Vince’s fling with porn star Sasha Grey (who really wasn’t all that impressive in her feature film debut in the much-discussed “The Girlfriend Experience” by Steven Soderbergh) has gotten him in trouble for his latest project. Things should likely work out, even though Stan Lee insisting that he recognized Grey from somewhere seemed like it would derail things remarkably quickly. Drama getting ousted by Bob Saget of all people is quite embarrassing, but it does make sense that Stamos might prefer to work with his former “Full House” costar, even if the fictionalized version of Saget on this show is quite detestable. Saget’s meeting with Eric was pretty funny, though the most entertaining plot involving Eric came from the episode-opening suggestion from his buddies which prompted some uncomfortable activity with and a hilarious Internet discovery on the part of Sloane. Turtle’s cautious approach, going through Eric, to asking Vince to be the new face of the tequila was interesting, though Vince combining alcohol with Vicodin may be more a problem for both of them. Ari was great in this episode, frantically scheduling meetings with Mike Tyson, Jessica Simpson, and Aaron Sorkin and managing to offend all of them. Ari trying to keep his wife happy while simultaneously rooting out the foe who hired Lizzie was fun, and the return of Carla Gugino as Amanda should make for an intense war in the coming weeks.

What I’m Watching: Entourage

Entourage: Season 7, Episode 4 “Tequila Sunrise” (B+)

More so than any other show, I’d say, this series is skilled at doing what might otherwise come off as stunt casting and making it seem natural. Sometimes it isn’t thrilling, in the case of directors like James Cameron or Gus Van Sant whose acting turns out to be rather one-note, but here it works great. John Stamos is certainly more interesting as a character than the other former “Full House” cast member who has recurred on this show in the past, even if he’s not quite as infinitely more likable as would be expected. It’s no surprise that Drama messes up initially in his first meeting with Stamos, but in his defense, Stamos really is just a jerk who only wants to hang out with Vince. It seems like the show might actually get going and Drama might be able to reboot his career. It’s good to put an end to the Eric-Scott rivalry and have them play as a team, though I suspect that their new friendship is going to quickly get Eric in trouble with his fiancée. It’s sad to see Turtle get used just for his connection to Vince, though he may have found an ideal romantic relationship out of it, and Vince can always use another gig to ensure that he doesn’t have an off year like the one he had last season. I find it somewhat hard to believe that Lizzie is able to pull off a coup similar to the one Ari did at Terence’s agency (I doubt she would have the same pull), but the idea of Autumn Reeser in a more major role is definitely something I’d be okay with, so bring on the competition!

What I’m Watching: Entourage

Entourage: Season 7, Episode 3 “Dramedy” (B+)

Everything is really kicking into gear in this episode as each of the characters gets something concrete to do that should keep them occupied for the next couple of weeks. Vince is still kicking back and relaxing as he doesn’t have much to do, living it up and racing people on motorcycles (“can’t be careful, we’re racing!”) in the middle of searching for jobs with the help of Eric’s number one nemesis Scott. Turtle’s financial woes may give him his most interesting plotline in years, allowing him to reconnect with Alex and embark on some new, potentially illegal international venture. As long as Alex doesn’t start bleeding from the eyes and reveal that she has a twin brother, I’m happy to have her around. I like the spot-on casting of Jeff Garlin, who stars on another long-running HBO comedy series, “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” as the Emmy-winning writer brought in by Lloyd to reinvigorate his finances and Drama’s career. I like Eric and Drama together, and I think that Drama and John Stamos can hopefully do some good work and help put Drama back in the game. Even though I always tend to like Ari’s plotlines, here he has a fresh and interesting one, for once putting his wife’s wishes ahead of his desire to succeed. I enjoyed Ari not threatening his employee’s jobs but their lives, and I was also delighted to see him take part in a dramatic plotline for a change. His delivery of “I’m sorry, kid, but I’m not the one who’s going to satisfy you” was very impressive. If only the Emmys weren’t over Jeremy Piven – he’s probably going to deserve his accolades at the end of this season just as much as in years past.

What I’m Watching: Entourage

Entourage: Season 7, Episode 2 “Buzzed” (B+)

After struggling last year, it’s good to see a second consecutive good installment that gives every single character something to do. Not only that, but it brings back some entertaining recurring characters like Shauna, Lizzie, and Bob Saget. There’s also quite a startling ratio of real people playing themselves to actors playing fictional characters in this episode, featuring Saget, Nick Cassavetes, Jerry Jones, and Maria Menounos. Ari really hit the jackpot unintentionally in this episode, although of course constantly putting his work first and the tragic timing of his embrace with Lizzie will likely result in major trouble with Mrs. Ari. It’s great to see Lizzie being featured prominently, and it’s good that her character is so ambitious, especially because it gives Mrs. Ari exactly the right ammunition to fire at Ari after she catches them celebrating together, reminding him of the now departed Andrew. Drama engaging Eric in his never-ending search for a job is probably a good thing, since his unemployment could drag on and on otherwise. I have a sneaking feeling that Turtle’s involvement with Alex isn’t over considering the effort he’s going to in order to right his wrongs with her. The important thing that he needs to remember is that he still needs a good driver! Even if they come to an understanding or start dating, she has no idea how to get anywhere and, like Ari did after Emily, he should probably hire a male employee for that role. Vince’s haircut was certainly drastic, proving once again that he doesn’t care what anyone thinks, and his decision to go skydiving with Scott is definitely going to ruffle Eric’s feathers.

What I’m Watching: Entourage (Season Premiere)

Entourage: Season 7, Episode 1 “Stunted” (B+)

After an uneven past couple of seasons, I’m not ready to say that this show has returned to form, but things are definitely off to a good start. The most reassuring aspect of the premiere is that Vince actually has something to do instead of just hanging around meeting women and chilling with his friends. He’s had problems on set before, but not quite like this. His desire to be a team player and do the stunts even when he really wasn’t sure he was up for it worked well, and his need to do them after realizing his friends had no faith in him was particularly intriguing. While I don’t buy his apparent confidence at the end of the episode following his big crash, it’s nice to see Vince putting on a face for his friends and trying to impress them. Seeing how both Eric and Ari got involved was amusing as well, and it was great that Nick Cassavetes went so far as to get revenge on Ari for interfering in his project. Ari’s promise of making up for his absences by taking his wife away for a romantic weekend seemed genuine, but it’s no surprise that he couldn’t follow up on them since he had yet another commitment he deemed more important than his family. Turtle’s decision to make a move on his poorly-performing employee was truly embarrassing, and hopefully this won’t be a season of letdowns for any of the members of the entourage. Things aren’t looking good for Drama, though, but I’m very eager to see him try, with Lloyd’s help, to resurrect his long-dead career.

What I’m Watching: Entourage (Season Finale)

Entourage: Season 6, Episode 12 “Give A Little Bit” (B+)

This is a terrific sendoff for this show after a rather unremarkable season. All of the characters pull together and finally man up and do what they’ve been trying to all season. The very unoccupied Vince gets ready to go to Italy and actually do something, to shoot the Frank Darabont movie he’s been waiting to do for so long. The appearance of a vigilantly charitable Matt Damon was entirely hilarious, and was even funnier than his guest spot as a member of the gay chorus on “Will & Grace” a few years ago. Drama’s continuous auditions were getting embarrassing, but fortunately William Fichtner had the good sense to see him as a legitimate serious actor and offer him his own project. Turtle’s inability to move on from Jamie was a nice twist, and his last-minute decision to fly to New Zealand to tell her how he felt was capped by her predictable “let me go” call which came only moments after Turtle could have deplaned. His sarcastic comment upon landing in New Zealand was a highlight of the episode. Eric’s decision to try to win Sloane back seemed like a bad idea, but he really pulled it off with that unexpected ring. Seeing Sloane excitedly show off her bling to the guys was really nice – Eric and Sloane were always good together, and having them back again is a wonderful thing. The most entertaining of all the storylines, as per usual, was Ari. He was so initially frustrated with Terence’s desire to keep his name on the masthead of the agency, and his paintball gun rampage on the employees of the company was fun. His ultimate acceptance of Terence’s offer and apology was a great dramatic high, and his positive, much overdue promotion of Lloyd was a truly nice touch. Lloyd’s speech to Ari was ballsy and awesome, and he’s one of the best characters on the show. I’m glad that he’s here to stay. Hopefully next season can coast off this fantastic finale and go back to its original quality.

Season grade: B/B-
Season MVP: Jeremy Piven/Rex Lee

What I’m Watching: Entourage

Entourage: Season 6, Episode 11 “Scared Straight” (B)

Putting Ari front-and-center is always a good way to reboot this troubled series. The reappearance of Terence and Ari’s reference to him being escorted out by security recalls the days when this show was incredibly awesome. Ari is right in his suspicion of Terence’s motives, and his impressive research into the situation is quite entertaining. His visit to Terence’s workplace is fantastic, especially in the way that he so casually dismisses Adam Davies and so threateningly taunts a hiding Lloyd. It’s gratifying to see Ari on top and doing well, completely in control of everything. Vince continues to do nothing but have sex with random strangers, which seems particularly careless considering the potential sexually-transmitted infections of two of his closest buds. Drama taking time off doesn’t change much since he hasn’t actually been regularly working for most of the show. His audition wasn’t as exciting as it could have been, and the phenomenal William Fichtner was tragically underused. Dean Cain’s cameo served as an effective indication of the kind of star status Drama is supposed to have. Jamie’s jealousy-inspired breakup with Turtle is expected, though I’m much more impressed with how it played out than I expected to be. Jamie’s tendency to jump to conclusions and become suspicious and possessive quickly was quite fun while it lasted. Eric’s episode-long visit to the doctor was fine, but it’s his secretary I want to see more of – Kate Mara can really do a lot, and considering what the show did with the less talented but still great Samaire Armstrong as Ari’s assistant in season one, I have high hopes for her in the future. I could use a little less Scott Caan, and a little more Bridget.