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While, there are talks and aspirations of a Full Feature film with Vince and the Boys, season eight will mark the end of an era in popular culture, especially in the eyes of young men. But the real question here is how in the world do you end a show with no ending. The entire premise of the show began following the career of a developing superstar, and his stooges as they rose to the top of the Hollywood social stratus. Beginning as an attempt to buy viewership with glamour and prestige, the show once devoid of any emotional connection, character development, and even human characters and themes, has aged as well as any french wine. Utilizing the elaborate cameos and glamor of its early days to make a fundamentally astounding collection of programming spanning 8 years. Now Doug Ellin and the writers have made a will for the now iconic series, and it is eating at me to now what it says. Essentially, I see two paths season 8 could take. To Be or Not to Be, that is the question:
1) Vince Dies
It is the most logical conclusion based on the direction he has been heading in season 7. In six episodes, I cannot fathom how the writers could turn around the spiral in which Vince plunged himself into. If anyone needs a reminder of how season 7 ended, here's a refresher...
As he says by the end of the season Vince is officially out of control, we could all see that early in the season but as it kept developing, we lost being able to pinpoint just how out of control he was; and in the mind of at least this viewer he fell into that abyss where only addicts reside, the place where you can now longer know just how bad he is at any time. Vince's character in season 7, explored a topic very relevant to Hollywood and Superstardom rather effectively. Vince dies...It would be the ultimate ending to the ultimate Hollywood saga. And then the feature film would start with his funeral, it could be powerful stuff; and I am sure Ellin and the writers considered it. In terms of the other characters, Vince's departure from the realm of the living would finally send the rest of the boys from the nest, and as we have all seen they have become almost entirely independent, a process that has taken the full 7 seasons. Johnny's Bananas is green lit and looking spectacular. Turtle is doing legitimate business, with Marc Cuban, and while it was left on a distressed note Turtle will get his pot of gold and the girl. E, who has been in some ways has been the most dependent and independent character of the series (having the most important job, but having only one client), is getting married and has been building a client base. However, the take-down of Berenson, with Lavine may be too aggressive and fuck everything up for the little guy. As for Ari, these would be his darkest day and he would likely be a changed man. Vince is more than just a client he is like family to Ari, who has been through ups and downs with him. Additionally, I really think that his wife will stay gone. Ari has shown time and time again that he really does adore her and the kids. Dana Gordon has frequently, noted how surprised he is that Ari is one of the good guys in Hollywood, but his efforts to substitute his presence with money and material goods, combined with his anger, may just be to much. His hubris that they will stick around might just bite him in the ass in a very greco-tragic manner. Hubris, Bro... It'll Get you.
2) Vince goes to Rehab
This would be more in line with the bounce back tendencies of the series. However, the dillemma is how the fuck can the writers provide any closure to the series in six episodes if they put Vince in rehab. It has taken Kevin Kline two full seasons to come back from rehab. This is not a route I would like to see the writers take solely because I cannot see a way in which the show could be ended without a cliff hanger. (Note: the full feature has not been green lit by any studio, it is merely a desire from the cast and crew, not a definite reality.) A cliff hanger ending, a la Vince escaping from rehab, could lead to an excellent beginning to a full feature film; which based on the popularity and earnings of the show is a plausible endeavor, if the writers can actually create quality content for the big screen. It is a marketing campaign 8 years in the making. For the TV series as its own entity killing Vince makes the most sense, for a franchise sending him to rehab and ending upon his escape makes the most sense. It is a question of Mind v Money, and unfortunately I think we know who will win this battle. Entourage is at the peak of its game, and regardless of what they choose Entourage might just do what lucrative shows frequently fail to do: exit from the top.