[Drama Review] 'Entourage' - Episode 9

AKP STAFF

Amber, Sohee, Lee Kwang Soo, Seo Kang Jun, Lee Dong Hwi

'Entourage' episode 9 begins with the soundtrack "Put It Down" by�Dok2�ft.�Kim Hyo Eun�&�Changmo, from track #6 of the 'Entourage' mixtape series. And man oh man, was it seriously the wrong choice of music to put on while Cha Young Bin (Seo Kang Jun) is bedridden, moping about his breakup with Ahn So Hee (Sohee).�

Despite the great scores I've given this drama thus far, today is going to have to be the day I put my foot down. I was disappointed on so many levels by this episode, with what all the hopes I'd had for the storyline and the characters up until now.�There's only one question I want to ask Young Bin, because I think I really do understand why he can't stand the thought of filming a movie with his ex. But his whole thing this episode is that he's sick of everyone around him telling him he needs to suck it up and do the movie while he's unwilling to budge on his decision to quit. So why doesn't any of that lead back to how he was with Sohee? He tried to tell her to not do certain movies consisting of too much skinship with opposite actors who aren't him. He tried to tell her to listen to the movie director about her role. He tried to tell her to confide in him about all of her possible roles from now on. All of us can plainly see why she dumped him. Now he's become Sohee this episode, surrounded by not just one overbearing boyfriend, but like, five. And he still doesn't see it. I even thought to myself at one point while I was watching, "Is Young Bin actually the antagonist in this drama?"

This is what happens when you watch 'The Walking Dead' too much, kids.

It sure as hell ain't Kim Eun Gap (Jo Jin Woong). I'm a little worried about whether or not the direction of the rest of this drama will head toward differences in Eun Gap and Young Bin's visions drawing them apart. This episode, Young Bin has managed to tear down every single good trait we've seen in him. He's literally become a flat character - one who is stubborn, angry, and difficult. Meanwhile, Eun Gap continues to prove he's a real character you want to root for, especially seeing his family standing behind him so firmly and supporting him.�

Feel the wrath of the lopsided Ho Jin kick!

All the more reason Cha Jun (Lee Kwang Soo)'s comforting words at the end of the episode did not sit well with me. The production tried to continue the light, doting theme it's had with its characters throughout the first half of the series, when Cha Jun tells Young Bin, "It's okay!"�I would've been okay with Young Bin accepting that he's giving up his movie role despite the fact that it affects everyone around him negatively if the decision had been made after weighing all of the variables in the problem very seriously and if Young Bin's character learned something from this fiasco. Did any of you see Young Bin experiencing a deep change in character after all this? Did any of you see Young Bin thinking about anyone but himself while he moped around in bed? Did any of you feel even an ounce of empathy for Young Bin while he disappointed everyone around him? Not me, especially not after we saw Ho Jin (Park Jung Min) finally caving to let Young Bin have his way, and then Turtle (Lee Dong Hwi) and Cha Jun, and even Sohee. Their romance in itself was also a disappointment for me. We never got to find out whether or not Sohee's feelings toward Young Bin were real or not, because even after potentially ruining this super high-investment movie, Sohee's character manages to express no tangible feelings whatsoever. She should be angry at Young Bin, not understanding of whatever the fudge she apparently understands about him! I might be buying myself some hate here by saying this, but if this is the last we see of Sohee in the series, then good riddance. Give me a character with more real emotions any day.�

Ji Suk Jin: I can't believe you're saying all these nice things about me, Kwang Soo!

Lee Kwang Soo: I don't mean a lick of it, hyung.

The only ray of sunshine in this incredibly dull and frustrating episode is Cha Jun and Turtle's adventures with Cha Jun's new variety show picking up. Hidden cameras - it was a rather classic approach to Korean comedy, but even knowing that Cha Jun was eventually going to embarrass himself in a hidden camera prank actually aimed toward him, it's still the little antics here and there that make it work. Plus, he's best in these types of roles anyway, in the drama as well as in real life (like in 'Running Man,' for example), right? Not to mention he had awesome chemistry with cameos Ji Suk Jin and Julien Kang ('High Kick Through the Roof' reunion!).�

Please don't whoop my ass, sir... when Kwang Soo doesn't need to know English to be able to understand what's gonna happen to him.

Not only was the soundtrack at the beginning a mess but also I just found the music throughout this episode not working for me. Plus, I'm starting to get tired of the majority of scenes being sitting at a cafe, or bar, or wherever, staring off into space as characters converse. It's getting very stagnant and it fails to add anything to the storyline. Cinematography went out the window thanks to some of those factors, plus pacing gets the lowest score ever this episode, thanks to the fact that nothing really happened. I'm desperately hoping the next episode makes up for whatever this bad episode was.�