Entourage: Season 8

This is another season that will divide fans because everyone has their own opinion about how the season was supposed to end.

Of the eight episodes of this shortened season, I thought that the first seven were fantastic. However, the series finale ended with a whimper instead of a bang.

Let's start with its good aspects and end with the less positive ones:

(1) The First Seven Episodes - Every character had major conflicts that he needed to resolve in this season. Johnny Drama is on the cusp of starring in a television show that could rival the "Simpsons" and "Futurama" in terms of its popularity. But, he will have to mediate between the strong wills of his co-star, Andrew Dice Clay, and his producer to push the project through. Turtle could make a name for himself as he spear-heads the U.S. launch of Avion tequila; however, despite his street-smarts and enthusiasm, he may not have the business acumen needed to turn a profit. As far as Eric ("E") is concerned, he has changed. We all believed that E was a naïve minnow trying to protect his friend, Vincent Chase, from the shark-tank that is Hollywood. By this season, we discover that E is a shark himself. Some of his actions this season are so breathtakingly manipulative and cynical that we have to wonder if he has lost his soul. As E loses his soul, Ari Gold struggles to find his. Once again, Jeremy Piven turns in an acting tour de force, as Ari ponders his life as a potential divorcee. What does a man in his mid-40s with all that clout, intelligence and ambition do when he has suddenly lost the family that kept his darker impulses in-check? This season we get to find out and the end-result is fascinating. Finally, we see yet another side of Vincent Chase. Vince is clean and sober after a court-mandated rehab stint. Internalizing the lessons of his sobriety support group, Vince decides that he is going to enrich the lives of those around him --- by any means necessary. Vince's aggressively good-intentioned meddling in the lives of others has both some awkwardly comedic and shockingly tragic ramifications. Overall Grade for these 7 episodes: A -minus)

(2) The Final Episode - The series finale seemed disjointed and oddly anti-climatic. This is particularly unfortunate since there were four episodes in the final season which are amongst the best of the series. HBO, as a whole, has been very hit-or-miss in how it concludes series. The finale to the Sopranos ended abruptly. While ambiguity can be a good thing,that finale seemed to do the series a disservice. Conversely, the finale to Six Feet Under was one of the best I have ever seen. I would place Entourage in the Sopranos category; its clumsy attempt to tie up loose ends will probably have a negative impact on how this season is viewed. (Overall grade for the final episode: D - plus)

With all of this said, Entourage was a great series and I will certainly will miss it.

I have had no issues with any of the seasons of Entourage, and this one was no exception. I still feel like the ending was a lead in to a future movie because the ending leaves you hanging with doors left WIDE open (make sure to watch the little bit after the end credits of the final episode). Seriously, this series could have gone on forever and I'm sad to see it end so I'm hoping for a movie or two in the coming years! One issue I have is Vince's spontaneous decision near the end which I didn't totally buy at all and felt it was rushed. In regards to the actual blu-ray quality it isn't the greatest. There is a lot of grain in a lot of the scenes and it's sometimes distracting. It's still an improvement over the DVD, including the sound which is more crisp, clearer and louder. Oh yeah and fyi, Mrs. Ari's name is finally revealed as Melissa.

I grew up a big fan of Entourage, In fact I enjoy every now and then to watch it all over since I have all previous seasons. My only issue with season 8 or series finale was the fact they were rushing it since season 7, don't forget that season has only 10 episodes. I think the whole deal for the finale was nicely done but rushed out. Believe me a lot of people will be bitching and complaining about how all of a sudden Vince gets married with the british girl. Producers not even developed that story line. In my humble opinion if they had reached 12 episodes instead 8 they would accomplished a little bit more.