Entourage reaches "The End"

     On HBO's Entourage finale, appropriately titled "The End," everyone finds their happy ending. Ari (Jeremy Piven) quits his job so he can give his wife, Melissa (Perrey Reeves), usually known as Mrs. Ari, the attention that she wants. Vince (Adrian Grenier), after a single 24-hour date, invites everyone to his wedding with Sophia (Alice Eve) in Paris. With some help from his friends, E (Kevin Connolly) has another chance with the mother of his baby, Sloan (Emmanuelle Chriqui). Entourage begins as a series about friends, but ends with a focus on family, both actual relations, and friends that are as close as such.

     If there is one complaint to be had about "The End," it's that it is far too short. Minimum, it should have been an hour. Two would have been even better. The extra time is needed because there are a number of things that were not shown, but should have been. First, viewers never get to observe Vince and Sophia on that magical date, and only see them together as they are getting ready to fly away. Second, Ari's breakup with Dana (Constance Zimmer), though logical based on the previous episode, is also done off stage. There is no chance to see if E and Sloan will ever work things out, just that they have the opportunity to. And in a perfect world, Billy (Rhys Coiro), Lloyd (Rex Lee), and Scott (Scott Caan) would go to the wedding, because they are all part of Vince's expanded entourage now. Maybe Shauna (Debi Mazar), too. It would be nice, if a tad cliche, to see the wedding.

     Perhaps, biggest of all, Turtle (Jerry Ferrara) and Drama (Kevin Dillon) get no personal plot in "The End," spending all their screen time helping out friends. While that serves them well, fans also care about the two as individuals. One can assume that Drama's career is finally in good shape, given the development in the previous episode. But while Turtle now has money, fans never get to see how his next investment plays out, or if he finds romantic happiness. These are important elements to the character, and with the shortened final season, there is no time to address them.

     Vince's sudden nuptials are not surprising. His character is frequently passionate, and prone to obsession throughout Entourage. Given the way that he handles his career, it should be predictable that he will finally treat his love life the same way. Vince has great follow through, too, so it just might work out. But to complainers who think a single day is not enough time for Vince to choose marriage, re-watch the character for the past eight seasons and consider again.

     A feature film followup to Entourage seems an almost sure thing at this point, so it's hard to get too nit picky about how things should end. After all, life goes on, and the series has to stop at some point. Presumably, we will see if E and Sloan can make it work, if Sophia and Vince will last, how Drama will do with his renewed acting career, what happens to Turtle, and how Lloyd becomes a super agent replacement for Ari. It is for this reason that "The End" is not a total disappointment. The events that happen in "The End" are wonderful, and it's very much a feel good episode. But it definitely leaves viewers wanting more.

     Finally, what will Ari do? If you stick around after the closing credits begin to roll, you are treated to a scene where John (Alan Dale) calls Ari and wants Ari to replace him. Ari is clearly tempted, and lies to Melissa about it afterwards. Barely a week into their one year vacation, and hardly off of the brink of divorce, is there any chance he will ask her to consider letting him start a new, demanding career? Is there a way they can make it work and still save their marriage? Maybe she will grow tired of him after a solid week of being together, and wish for their old life back? These are questions for the movie to answer.

     Thank you, Entourage, for a great eight seasons. Here's hoping the beloved characters continue for some time to come.

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     To catch up on Entourage with streaming episodes and DVDs, please click here.

Article first published as TV Review: Entourage - "The End" on Blogcritics.

Entourage wishes for "Home Sweet Home"

     As HBO's Entourage begins its final season with "Home Sweet Home," a lot changes for the boys. Vince (Adrian Grenier) is out of rehab, and Johnny Drama (Kevin Dillon) goes to great lengths to make sure there isn't a substance around to tempt his brother. Drama is only partially successful, as Turtle (Jerry Ferrara) can't bear to part with everything. E (Kevin Connolly) and Scott (Scott Caan) have taken over the management company they work for, and their names now grace the letterhead. Sloan (Emmanuelle Chriqui) upsets E when she mails back his engagement ring. Ari (Jeremy Piven) is in much the same boat as E, learning Mrs. Ari (Perrey Reeves), from whom he is unhappily separated, is seeing another man.

     Ari is the single best character in "Home Sweet Home." At heart, he is the same guy he has always been. Ari talks a big game, as he needs to, to be successful in his chosen career. But he is still a devoted family man to Mrs. Ari and the kids. After ten weeks of being apart, Ari is letting work slip, though, as Lloyd (Rex Lee) points out. This is a change for the sharkish agent, and almost a tad regrettable. Ari does have a tendency to let work rule his life when it shouldn't, but only because he cares so deeply for his family and certain clients. Certain clients, of course, being Vince. However, Mrs. Ari says she wants Ari to put family first, and he is doing that now more than ever. He is bending over backwards to try to make her happy.

     Is it too late? While Ari does his best to work his way back into Mrs. Ari's good graces, she reveals to him that she is seeing another man. Ari talks tough, but he never cheats on her. They have been married many years. Besides only recently splitting, they are in counseling together. That, along with the lengths Ari is going to win her back, which are implied, even if not explicitly shown much, makes her reentry into the dating world so soon a severe betrayal to him. If she is that done with her marriage, why keep stringing Ari along, as counseling does? Why not tell him sooner? It's pure torture. Mrs. Ari is the heartless one in this coupling.

     The tears rolling down Ari's cheeks at the end of "Home Sweet Home," as he says he doesn't want to be left out to the guys, may be Piven's most moving, best acted scene to date. It also demonstrates range away from the loud, foul-mouthed character he usually is. Though, of course, no one wants him to permanently change from that guy.

     E has been in an on again/off again relationship with Sloan for nearly the entire run of Entourage. Disappointingly, they are currently off. Why? Haven't they been through enough? It almost feels like a cop out, that the fight over the prenup is only shown in aftermath. Did the writers decide that fans have seen enough of the duo arguing? Because that is true. But when there is a real issue to work out, and surely they will work it out before Entourage comes to an end, it would be nice to see them really explore their feelings. Instead, they are already in a bitter feud as "Home Sweet Home" starts.

     Professionally, E is having a better time of it. He doesn't always see eye to eye with Scott, but considering how the latter has become a part of E's circle of friends, there is enough commonality for them to work out a business arrangement. With the two having taken down their boss, again, something it would have been nice to see on screen, they will likely be capable of keeping things running smoothly. E certainly has his weaknesses as a manager, but Scott is a nice balance, who can pick up the slack where E falters. A brief scene where the two try to sign Johnny Galecki (The Big Bang Theory) as a client is nothing short of wonderful.

     Johnny Drama actually has an acting career in "Home Sweet Home," something he has merely yearned for throughout Entourage's seasons. With his animated series going well, and a possible TV movie in the pipeline, the older brother is in demand more than he has been in years. Will he screw it up? Inevitably, he will probably fail again. Drama is his own worst enemy, and cannot allow himself to do well for long. However, with the series so close to a close, perhaps this time will be different. Fans will be disappointed if Drama is back in the unemployment line as the final credits roll, which hints that maybe this time fame will stick. Well, relative fame, anyway.

     A sober Vince is a strange sight to behold. The lynchpin of Entourage, Vince has many ups and downs. Last season, his drug use reveals a brand new, very deep low. Now Vince is staying away from even alcohol. With his friends walking on egg shells around him, even Billy Walsh (Rhys Coiro), who knows how Vince feels, they are doing more harm than good. Vince needs to find normal again, albeit a new normal, where mind altering substances are not a part of it. If he cannot feel relaxed with the people he cares most about, how can he be expected to reacclimate? Worse, Vince may soon begin blaming his sobriety on their new behavior, and seek to return to an arrangement he is comfortable with, which will include alcohol and drugs.

     But, again, because Entourage is in its final season, it is more likely Vince will stay on top of his problem. He only has seven short episodes left to reignite his career, and so much focus will be on getting him there, rather than fighting old demons. His next big picture is months away, so something else will have to come along in the meantime. Whatever it is, for a storytelling climax, it is likely to be life altering.


     Entourage continues its final season Sunday nights at 10:35 p.m. ET on HBO.

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     To catch up on Entourage with streaming episodes and DVDs, please click here.

Article first published as TV Review: Entourage - "Home Sweet Home" on Blogcritics.

Hawaii Five-0 - "Oia'i'o"

     As CBS's Hawaii Five-0 wraps up its freshman year, a lot goes down in "Oia'i'o." The biggest surprise is that the governor (Jean Smart), the woman who founded Five-0, isn't who she says she is. Once Steve McGarrett (Alex O'Loughlin) learns her secrets, he becomes a wanted man, on the run from both the law and criminal mastermind Wo Fat (Mark Dacascos). Only Danno (Scott Caan), who is supposed to be leaving the island forever with his family, can likely clear Steve's name. Unfortunately, one of Five-0's own, Kono (Grace Park) is arrested, and another, Chin Ho Kelly (Daniel Dae Kim), turns his back on the department. All of this makes for one intense cliffhanger.


     Blue Bloods, take note. This is how you get around the CBS procedural trap, and make a show that is both popular and exciting. While many episodes of Hawaii Five-0 do feature stand alone story, it is the full season mystery of Wo Fat, and his connection to McGarrett's father, that is the driving force behind the series. With the season finale, the show drops all pretense of a case of the week, and focuses completely on the larger arcs that have threaded their way throughout the season.

     Steve McGarrett is the hero, and no matter what Wo Fat does, any obstacles thrown at Steve are only temporary. When McGarrett realizes the governor's assistant, Laura Hills (Kelly Hu), is the one returning his father's evidence to him in small packages, McGarrett turns his attention to Governor Jameson. Hills is blown up in a car bomb, and it isn't long before McGarrett figures out that Jameson is behind it. However, instead of taking down a corrupt official, when McGarrett goes to confront the governor, Wo Fat kills her and frames McGarrett, leading to the Five-0 leader's subsequent arrest.

     Thankfully, Steve does not work alone. He did on taking down the governor, and look where it got him. Luckily, Steve's story is not over, and next season, it shouldn't take more than an episode to clear Steve's good name.

     The most likely person to do so is Steve's partner, Danno. Danno cares more about his daughter, Grace (Teilor Grubbs), than anything else in the world. Yet, when Danno's ex, Rachel (Claire van der Boom), offers Danno a chance to run back to New Jersey with his family, he hesitates. That's because Danno knows the difference between right and wrong, and what is happening to Steve is wrong. If he doesn't stay, who else will help Steve's? It isn't a mark against Rachel and Grace that Danno doesn't make the flight. He'll catch up with them eventually. His only mistake is promising to get to the airport when so much bad stuff is going down around him.

     Of course, Danno is never leaving Hawaii, at least not until the end of the series. And considering that he moved his life all the way out to the island for his daughter, Grace's departure can only be temporary. She must be in Hawaii for Danno to stay, and Danno is staying, or the show would suffer severely. Therefore, logically, Grace and Rachel will soon return. Hopefully Danno hasn't screwed up his chances with Rachel permanently.

     Kono is also a loyal member of the team, so it is with great regret that she takes the fall in something they all participated in, stealing money from lockup. Five-0 stole the money to save Chin Ho's life, and it turns out the governor is the one who has been protecting them. With her gone, and evidence already having leaked against Kono, that protection is no longer guaranteed. But like Danno, Kono is an essential part of the Five-0 team, and like McGarrett, she is righteous hero. All that points to a very short stint behind bars for her as well.

     Sadly, Chin Ho doesn't seem to share Kono and Danno's loyalty. Sensing the end of Five-0 now that they are not supported by Governor Jameson, Chin Ho accepts a restoration to the police force, which comes with a promotion. The Five-0 unit is still new enough that Chin Ho can be forgiven his betrayal. After all, from where he stands, McGarrett looks guilty. But that forgiveness will only extend so far, so it is advisable to Chin Ho that he come to his senses soon and help clean up the mess he contributed to.

     And what of Jenna Kaye (Larisa Oleynik)? She is clearly taken with Five-0, and also wants to help McGarrett. Any chance she may be sticking around long-term, once Steve's name is cleared? Not likely, considering the cast list for season two of this as-yet-unrenewed-but-certain-to-be show has already been released, and includes only new name among the primary cast - Dr. Max Bergman (Masi Oka, Heroes). Sadly, that means Kaye's days are limited. Hopefully this means recurring status with much time spend off the island, rather than death.

     The final important cast member, who should also be ungraded to main character, but hasn't been, is Kamekona (Taylor Wily). Time and again Kamekona has proven himself invaluable to the Five-0 team, and in "Oia'i'o," he does so again, not only supplying Steve with firepower, but warning Danno that he did so. Kamekona is wise and helpful, keeping his finger on the pulse of both the legal and illegal communities. Considering where Steve and Kono are right now (in jail), Kamekona's assistance may be necessary once more if they are going to secure release for the team.


     Hawaii Five-0 gave an exciting first season. It will most likely return for a second outing next fall on CBS.

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Article first published as TV Review: Hawaii Five-0 - "Oia'i'o" on Blogcritics.

Hawaii Five-0 - "Ne Me'e Laua Na Paio"

     On this week's episode CBS's Hawaii Five-0, Steve McGarrett (Alex O'Loughlin) gets another piece of the mystery concerning his father's death when he learns Wo Fat (Mark Dacascos) may have ordered the hit. McGarrett is now being aided by C.I.A. analyst Jenna Kaye (Larisa Oleynik), who has a personal vendetta against Wo Fat, and after finding his location, takes a leave from the agency to track him. Steve isn't fooled as Kaye claims to be on an active mission, but soon the two team up and work together.

     I hope it doesn't take 12 years for Steve to catch Wo Fat. I am aware, though I never saw the show, that Wo Fat was a character in the original Hawaii Five-O that messed with the team from the pilot all the way through to the series finale after a dozen seasons. While the first half of this new show's first season has done little to deal with this overall arc, the past few episodes have been very good at furthering the larger story. As such, Steve may not take down Wo Fat this year, but two or three years from now, it'll definitely be time to find a new bad guy.

     As for the rest of the episode, it is fun, but not anything special. Like most procedurals, even though Hawaii Five-0 has a spectacular cast, things drag a little as the team pursues the case of the week. This week's murder is convoluted, making the team work through a number of twists before solving the case. That leads to some fun moments, such as Steve and Danno (Scott Caan) at a costumed convention, Kono (Grace Park) channeling her inner stripper to send a text, and the team talking to eccentric medical examiner Max (Masi Oka). But it did get boring in parts.

     One complaint, and I know this is being picky, but at the convention, a black man in a Star Trek uniform corrects Danno when he calls him Captain Kirk, claiming to be Commander Sisko, instead. The man, if he were really a Star Trek fan, would know that he is dressed as Captain Sisko from the later seasons of Deep Space 9. Four pips on the collar represents Captain, not Commander. Sisko began the show as a Commander, but was promoted about halfway through. The uniform in the episode is also the uniform design worn later, after the promotion, rather than the completely different design from when Sisko was a commander. Look up Commander Sisko and Captain Sisko on google images, and you will see a startling difference in appearance, though it is still the same actor, so I'm complaining about a lot more than just a button on the collar. The casual viewer would not catch such a mistake, but Deep Space 9 is one of my favorite shows of all time, and certainly the best Star Trek series. The man in the costume would definitely know the difference.

     I know this is the most popular new show of the season, and I will anger people with my criticisms, but it is the truth. Watching the same thing over and over again gets boring. I have watched all 19 episodes thus far, and have really enjoyed only about a third of them. Thus, the series joins the ranks of other popular shows that are really not very good. I'm looking at you CSIs, Law and Orders, NCISs, The Mentalist, etc. It's not a coincidence that most of those air on CBS. I won't even get into the plethora of reality shows like Dancing With the Stars and American Idol. The biggest difference with Hawaii Five-0 from those other shows is that this one has the potential to be really great, and sometimes is, rather than staying mediocre and rote.

    To make a consistently better show, I recommend they give more screen time to the larger arcs, and less to the case of the week. Sometimes, get rid of the case of the week all together. Have more interaction between team members. Sure, the group is often together in various combinations, but much of that together time is spend examining evidence. Steve and Danno's one on one conversations in the car are ALWAYS a high point of any episode. So why not have two or three, or even four, every week? And give a little more to Chin Ho (Daniel Dae Kim), who has had fewer fun bits than anyone else. Making Kamekona (Taylor Wily) a series regular, also not a bad idea. Embrace the humorous elements, and play them up more. Lastly, an English translation of the episode titles at the beginning of each episode would be nice.

     I am rooting for Hawaii Five-0 to succeed, and the winter has been better than the fall. If the spring can improve even more, we'll be in business.

     Hawaii Five-0 airs Monday nights at 10 p.m. ET on CBS.

Article first published as TV Review: Hawaii Five-0 - "Ne Me'e Laua Na Paio" on Blogcritics.

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Hawaii Five-0: TiVo 'Em, Danno!

     CW, take note. This is how you remake a classic television show. I was too young to have watched the original (it ended three years before I was born), but I loved the pilot of the new Hawaii Five-0 last night. Yes, the remake has a 0 instead of an O in its title, which seems weird to me. However, that was the only thing that appeared to be out of place.

     I dislike cop shows as a general rule, and procedurals as well. Hawaii Five-0 is probably both, and so may soon get boring and worthless. I suspect that will not be the case, though, because of just how right this first episode was. Not only do we get to see the beautiful island state every week, but CBS (which also aired the original show) brought together a terrific cast of four talented actors, and that may be what sets this series apart from other recent updates.

     The new Hawaii Five-0 is not a sequel to the original series, but rather a reboot, featuring the same characters played by new actors. Steve McGarrett, the leader of the squad, is played by Alex O'Loughlin. This was a bit of a surprise, since O'Loughlin has very recently starred in two short-lived shows for CBS: the mediocre Moonlight and the terrible Three Rivers. Neither made it to a full-length season, but gladly, the network is taking a chance on the actor again. Third time's a charm, right? Danno is now Scott Caan of Entourage and the Ocean's movies. Daniel Dae Kim, who recently completed the Hawaii-filmed Lost, takes on the role of Chin Ho Kelly. Finally, Grace Park plays Kona Kalakaua, as she is apparently the go-to girl when a series is remade and the producers want to change a heavyset male part into that of an attractive female (she did the exact same thing for Battlestar Galactica).

     Each one of those four leads have magnetic chemistry. Add to that the legendary Jean Smart (Samantha Who?, 24, Designing Women) as the governor who sets up the task force, and there are the makings for a real television classic that breaks the standard cop show mold. Despite the familiar situations, there wasn't a thing ho-hum about the pilot. It has charm and amusement that no other crime show on the air matches. Plus, it retains the original theme song. And, if you need another reason to watch, the pilot guest starred Buffy the Vampire Slayer's James Marsters.

     Tune into the new Hawaii Five-0 Monday nights at 10pm on CBS.

Article first published as Hawaii 5-0: TiVo 'Em, Danno! on Blogcritics.