The ending of "One Last Shot" surprised me. Carl Ertz resembled other characters who have come and gone but lasted for an arc in a season. Usually, the those arcs drag out for far too long before the boys learn their lesson after being burned (or they emerge unscathed from the potential career-ending movie). So, the Carl storyline annoyed me because I judged it without waiting to see the entire episode. I figured Vince's sympathies with Carl because of their bond as recovering drug addicts would screw Vince and his project in three or four episodes; however, Carl shot himself in the mouth, so there will be no arc with that character. I'd speculate about the future of Vince's arc but the previews for the next episode revealed where Vince's arc goes from this dramatic ending, and it's predictably and totally Entourage.
Vince's brief time with Carl created more conflict between he and Eric. E felt betrayed that no one told him about Vince's meeting with Carl, especially considering the history between the two men. I remember vague details about the rift between the best friends (don't mix business with friendship). I assume the conflict will last until the penultimate episode or the finale where Vince and E will realize that friendship comes before business and they'll be able to work everything out.
As Vince tried to secure a deal for his project with CBS, he helped Turtle with yet another business plan. Turtle and Avion parted ways because he never actually contributed to the company. Turtle, apparently, attended various tasting parties and pitched the idea for Alex to become the model Avion. Disappointed and frustrated, Turtle turned to Vince with another proposal. Vince offered to sell his Avion shares to help Turtle bring New York clams to Los Angeles. Combined with Turtle's liquidated shares, the friends have $1.3 million to make the business a reality. The story makes sense for Turtle because he's never been comfortable as the only member of the Entourage who doesn't contribute. And the story makes sense for the season because Ellin promised the show would return to its roots--everything began in New York for these four.
The most interesting story of the episode, in my opinion, was the Dice Clay nonsense just because I wondered how veteran Hollywood writers and producers would handle a contract situation that arose after a mere test screening. The agents and producers thought Dice was a mad man for his demands and urged Drama to continue with the show because test screenings mean nothing. The network won't re-negotiate contracts until they're sure that the animated show in a prime-time slot will be a hit. The producers replaced Dice Clay because of his demands. Billy Walsh claims that the show's a disaster without him. E, Scott and Drama look as if they lost millions from a stock market crash. It's one of those instances where Entourage asks the audience to believe that Andrew Dice Clay's as good as every character claims he is, and that the show couldn't survive without Dice. So, what the hell? I'll roll with it. However, the majority of potential fictional viewers for the fictional animated show wouldn't know who was replaced.
Also, Ari and Dana Gordon had sex. While I have little interest in the future of the arc (which will inevitably involve Ari-Dana and Mrs. Ari-Bobby Flay at the same place), it's fun to see Ari and Dana together after seven seasons of innuendo between the powerful Hollywood figures.
Entourage is what it is. I won't criticize it week after week for the hell of it. I'll write about each episode honestly.
Wesley S. Nickerson III and Kenny Niebart wrote the episode. Dan Attias directed the episode--he directed the first and last Hurley episodes of LOST.
THE YOUTUBE CLIP OF THE WEEK
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