Entourage, HBO, Airs Sundays 10pm E/P
Episode: “Pie” (Season Five, Episode Nine)
Synopsis: Vince’s first day on the set of Smokejumpers starts with a dickish Drama, includes feelings of nervousness, and ends with a realization that Vince’s career has sunk so low that Jason Patric actually carries more weight. Meanwhile, Ari reaches out to an old friend who needs his help, and ends up offering more than he planned.
Review: I’m still reeling from Ari’s decision to pass on the studio job, so I was hoping for an outstanding episode this week to help me begin the laborious process of rebuilding my relationship with the show. Unfortunately, I didn’t get one. This week’s episode isn’t terrible and it isn’t great, it just is.
The episode opened with a reminder that Drama is the biggest dick on TV as he runs around the cabin waking everyone up by clanging pans together. Anyone who’s ever been awoken this way knows how extremely annoying it is. The meat of the episode followed two story-lines… Vince’s first day on set where he gets walked over by Jason Patric, and Ari’s meeting with an old friend played by the wonderful Gary Cole then ends with Ari’s offer to buy his friend’s company. So one at a time…
When did Vince become such a pussy? More specifically, how does Vince, or anyone, feel threatened by Jason Patric? The studio passed on Vince for the lead and went with Jason Patric? The director (Stellan Skarsgard) is a Werner Herzog clone, meaning he is a maestro of masculine mayhem, and he’s supposedly afraid of Jason Patric? Sure I’m happy to see Patric working, but I just don’t buy that he demands that kind of respect or fear. And this is more of a nitpick than anything else, but the first scene where Patric steals Vince’s line, the one where the smokejumpers are all walking down the street of the burning town… building are blowing up on either side of them, and they all look oblivious and ignorant of the explosions. These are shitty firefighters.
Ari’s meeting with his friend Andrew was interesting as it provided an opportunity to see Ari relaxed, sincere, and having fun. Buying up another agency that handles only television is a nice move and could provide some interesting fodder for new storylines. Not as much or as interesting as Ari as studio head would have, but still… The episode ending does a nice job of placing Ari in yet another tight position, having already made the deal to buy Andrew’s company, only to find out that his partner, Barbara, is going to block the action. I’m curious what Ari will have to give up in order for Barbara to accept the deal. Cole is fantastic in anything he does, so hopefully the character will stick around for a few episodes at least.
For more coverage of your favorite shows, check out the Control Freaks Archive.
What did you think of this week’s episode? Will DJ Icecold return this week with a mea culpa for his rude comment and wholly inaccurate prediction last week?
Related Topics: Control Freaks, HBO
