TV Review: ENTOURAGE, 8.7 - "Second To Last"
A solid effort for Entourage's penultimate episode of the series that sets up undoubted happy endings for many of the characters but still leaves a few loose threads dangling for next week's big finale.
Most bizarre courtship of my life - Sophia
rating: 3
Its been tough being hard on Entourage in my reviews here because I do genuinely still love the show; any doubt that my feelings had subsided was washed away as I watched this penultimate episode last night on Sky Atlantic and felt a genuine twinge of sadness when the continuity announcer hammered home the episodes penultimate status. Thankfully Ive been able to ease up on my negativity lately because after a very poor mid-season lull (if you can even call eight episodes a season) the show has improved in the last couple of episodes and its looking like next weeks season, and series, finale wont be a complete and utter dud. That said, I have no earthly idea how theyre possibly going to satisfactorily conclude all the various storylines currently being juggled in one half hour episode. Thats always been my beef this season though, Ive been hoping for some sort of focus to bring the show as whole to a close rather than just the season, but looking back that very rarely happens on TV these days. Going back to the last two big finales for me: 24 and Lost; they also both ended their final seasons in ways that left people unhappy with certain resolutions. I guess with only a finite amount of time to do things it becomes nigh on impossible to fit everything in, and the thing with Entourage is that the show has always had very little going on in terms of big, emotive storylines so theyre hardly going to start now. I feel like Im retreading old ground here though so Ill just end this little overview by saying that the point weve reached doesnt feel in any way, shape or form like a series finale, it feels more like a mid-season finale. I could imagine coming back in the new year for a second half, a la season three, where we see how Vinces relationship with Sophia has come along, Es struggle to deal with becoming a Father, how Johnnys show and movie are doing and how Turtles restaurant is faring. With a movie rumoured though, maybe that will act as the second half of season eight if you will and give us the satisfactory climax to the show that most of us are hoping for, but now not exactly expecting. Second to Last (see what they did there, again) begins with Vince having taken his quizzing of his exes about his qualities and flaws to a whole other level by making a movie to give to Sophia featuring numerous former flames extolling his virtues, with Turtle the Francis Ford Coppola of iMovie editing. If I was trying to win over a smart, sophisticated woman the last thing I would do is present her with a video of a plethora of ex-partners, especially if I was Vince Chase whos bedded more women than Ive spoken to, but each to their own. Amazingly though, in spite of originally suspecting his film might be anthrax and then rightly thinking the movie is creepy, Sophia seems to be warming to Vince and seemingly thanks to the kind words both Drama and Turtle also offer her about their brother and friend respectively agrees to a drink with him. From his conversation with Ari in this episode it does seem that Vince, at least thinks he, genuinely loves Sophia and not just because she hasnt exactly reciprocated those feelings. This could be Vinces first experience of true love and if it is then he deserves it, throughout this episode you were reminded of what a great guy he is underneath all the fame, past problems and bravado. He consistently helps his less-fortunate brother and has practically dragged Turtle up with him from absolutely nothing; as evidenced yet again in this episode on both counts. First Turtle, and even though Vince had repeatedly offered to help, Turtles stubbornness to go it alone with the restaurant saw him land in trouble when the DeLucas set their hearts on a restaurant that Turtle knew there was no way he could afford. The DeLucas havent come across very well during their time on the show so far but Im guessing thats the point, to make us feel sorry for Turtle struggling to deal with these unreasonable overgrown children. Although it mostly consisted of more moping about, I actually enjoyed Turtles involvement in the show this week, he had a lot of great lines, his Im sure I need it reduced when the realtor told him he didnt know the price yet brilliant and I really got a kick out of his interaction with his various investors. The majority of Turtles investors were New York sportsmen, including New York YankeesMark Teixeira & Alex Rodriguez, the former being especially great in bemoaning having to put his three kids through private school, and then Knicks star Amare Stoudemire and former New York Giant Michael Strahan who both hilariously told Turtle to go fuck himself. Just when it seemed things couldnt get any worse for Turtle, A-Rod dropped the bomb on him that Avion had gone public earlier that day and Turtle realised that by selling his shares hed missed out on millions of dollars that could have come in handy right about now. It was again left to Vince to save the day though as he revealed to Turtle that he never sold his shares and also bought out Turtles as well, meaning that much to Dramas shock Turtles a millionaire? He certainly is. Now though, hopefully that leaves nothing but maybe some sort of grand opening in the finale, although I suspect thats probably a bit too quick of a turn around so maybe it just means this storyline goes on the backburner for the finale, which given all they have to do next week wouldnt be a bad thing. Vinces generosity to Drama also continued as he doggedly pursued the miner movie which was stuck in development hell now as Phil has taken Johnnys strike over the TV show personally and wont work with him. Drafting in an increasingly emotional Ari to make it happen proved to be a masterstroke from Vince as Ari inexplicably really connected with the script, even being reduced to tears by how much he related to the main character. Realising the connection between the guy in the script and himself Ari decided to focus all his attention on making Vince happy as he realised that unlike the lead character in 12 Deep (which can I just say sounds more like a porn title) he doesnt even have my dog meaning all he has is his job and the one client whos always been like family: Vince. Ari rouses the troops with a moving, if incredibly offensive speech - Like a child with special needs, a real family member will stand by his side to make this movie happen and then scoops up Vince to go and confront a call-dodging Yagoda. It felt like old times with Ari and Vince working together again to convince Yagoda to put his differences with Johnny aside and make the movie and that whole scene, right from them talking about love on the way up to Phils office to the moment they break their success to Drama was about my favourite in the whole episode. There were so many little gems in that scene, seeing Ari interrupting someone yet again, the fact that Phil was getting a massage and the subsequent robe he wore to cover up and then the shot of Dramas box of Im sorry cookies all smashed up on the floor to name but a few. In the end it only took Vince a mere fraction of his Avion money to make the movie happen, donating $100,000 to Phils German Shepherd charity (a call back to his dog story last week). The moment where Drama hugs Vince and then Ari was a nice touch to end that particular episode arc as well, especially the look on Aris face when Drama bear-hugged him. Aris divorce didnt completely escape focus this week either, because Ari & Dana whilst great together would have always had Mrs. Aris spectre haunting them and souring the mood whenever her name was spoken. Rather than Ari irreparably fucking up his relationship with Dana I was pleased to see it end on a mature, sweet, if a little sad, note and the confession (not that we needed it) that Ari still very much loves his wife seemed to imply that the finale will feature one last attempt from him to win her back. Speaking of winning ex-partners back, our first glimpse of E at work in this episode was him gazing at a photo on his computer of him and Sloan. A poorly timed interruption from Scott (as always) prompted Eric to reiterate his threat from last week that the agency either dumps Johnny Galecki or E walks. Es jealousy over Sloan and Galecki then spiralled out of control, again in spite of the fact hed just finished having his way with Melinda Clarke once more, when Turtle called to say hed spotted the pair having lunch at the farmers market. After first insisting he didnt care, E then marched down there, with Clarke in tow, to confront the pair. The whole exchange was pretty entertaining with all four sniping at each other, before E crossed the line you just dont cross by calling Sloan a slut. The heat of the moment obviously got to Eric because he was soon following Sloan home to apologise and asking to get back together with her. Sloan makes it abundantly clear though that she couldnt get back with E even if she wanted to because her family all hate him before then dropping the biggest bombshell I think weve had on the show for quite some time: shes pregnant with Es baby and doesnt want E anywhere near her or the child. Cue credits. Im pretty upset with myself for not telegraphing the pregnancy a mile away, whenever exes sleep together one last time on TV someone always ends up pregnant, usually the female. So when E and Sloan hooked up at the start of the season I should have seen this development coming a mile away; but I didnt and it did make that closing revelation a lot more impactful and Im very curious to see how they end this on a happy note for Eric now because there is surely no way he can get back with Sloan Is there!? A Hail of Bullets: - My favourite bit of banter in this episode came in those opening few lines when Drama realised hed hooked up with Vinces latest interviewees sister and that shed asked about him since. Turtle quipped: she probably wants to find out if you were the one that gave her the herps to which Drama deadpanned, half-serious I think (which makes it even greater) at least I get laid often enough to be a suspect. - Drama also had a great moment the last time we see him, Vince and Turtle in the episode right after Vince tells Turtle hes now a millionaire. Vince leaves Drama and Turtle standing in awe of his greatness as he walks away and Drama simply remarks I love that guy with a great delivery. Hats off to Kevin Dillon for more great work as Drama. - I still cant get over how much gusto Melinda Clarke attacks this man-eating caricature of herself with, her do you wanna fuck one more time before you do? line to E when he remarked he was going to kill someone was a particularly dirty delight. - Second To Last was a pretty good showcase for Kevin Connolly on both sides of the camera. He got by far the meatiest storyline to sink his teeth in to and got some great little moments throughout the episode through his direction. I especially liked the last shot of the episode as E stood dumbstruck on Sloans driveway after her pregnancy revelation and the camera panned out behind the trees.
Entourage concludes next Sunday @ 10.30pm on HBO in the US and next Monday @ 10.45pm in the UK on Sky Atlantic