Search - Entourage: Season 3, Part 2 on DVD

Great episodes of great show - but "The Suits" jerk us aroun

Mark J. Fowler | Okinawa, Japan | 09/24/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Interesting for a show that follows the entourage of a Hollywood actor, and makes much of the dichotomy between "the artists" (who lean towards prestige projects with actual acting, writing, etc.) and "the suits" (who ALWAYS have an eye on the money-making potential of a project) that HBO decided to break this admittedly SLIGHTLY longer season into two pieces - and charge the same for this 8 episode set as for the other 12 episode sets. The show that glorifies the artist and derides the suits is presented here in a COMPLETELY "suit" decision. Sad.

Do you feel a little jerked around? I do.

This is not at all an indictment on these 8 delicious episodes. Vinny has a professional breakup with Ari, but Ari still hovers just over Vince's horizon, trying to woo him back. Johnny Drama's show "Five Towns" debuts and the wonderful insecure bravado almost melts down when the reviews start. In one wonderful episode Drama is the targeted for a "Punk'd" type show hosted by Pauly Shore. After stealing a parking spot from UFC Champion Chuck Liddell Johnny is convinced that the professional brawler will be coming for revenge. They go home and tee up UFC footage - showing Liddell pounding another professional into smithereens. It is really a tribute to Kevin Dillon's acting ability that I simultaneously felt sympathy for Drama and was laughing my head off as he whimpered to his buds "sweet, merciful Jesus", imagining Liddell doing some similar damage to his insecure face.

Vince has a new agent, played by Carla Gugino, after firing Ari, and the tension between the three of them is palpable. There are several excellent Ari moments - such as Ari's sudden acquisition of a little humanity making him unable to fire an agent who is losing money. Ari's shrink tries telling him that his new compassion is a GOOD thing, but he is desperate to get his "edge" back. Another brilliant episode has Ari and another of his Jewish clients (Nick Rubenstein, played in matching apoplectic fashion by Adam Goldberg) trying to close a deal on Yom Kippor - while surrounded by their families and other worshipers who think that doing business, using any transportation other than foot, even using a phone, is a sin against God. Ari has never been more torn.

Turtle gets a hot romantic interest - the daughter of the custom car shop where he has Drama's cruiser fixed up. Eric is mainly a sidekick to Vince, although in one humorous episode he is hoping for a weekend retreat to Napa with girlfriend Sloan. He gets his wish, but as the saying goes - be careful what you wish for...

So - 8 excellent episodes of a superb series - with you the viewer jerked around by exactly the kind of people the creative artists of this series despise. Ironic, huh?"

Not sure why they broke season 3 into 2 parts...

Todd Hagopian | Michigan | 11/28/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"It is still not clear to me why they broke season 3 into 2 parts...but I can tell you that the first part was AMAZING, and the second part was not up to par. I was thoroughly disappointed in the fact that there were only 8 episodes in this part, and it did not even come close to matching up with the previous seasons.

Obviously, Entourage fans should buy and watch this episode, but you should buy it with the season 3 part 1, or the season 4 so that you do not end up feeling empty at the end of this short season."