Fantasy Island (Entourage)
Vince and Turtle hide in Mexico after Medellín's failure.
"Fantasy Island" opens the fifth season of *Entourage* and is the 55th episode overall. Doug Ellin, the series' creator, wrote it, and co-executive producer Mark Mylod directed it. HBO aired the episode on September 7, 2008. The story picks up after the disastrous reception of Vince's film *Medellín*, with Vince and Turtle hiding out in Mexico while Ari works on a new opportunity for him.
After the Cannes premiere, *Medellín* goes straight to DVD and gets trashed by critics Richard Roeper and Michael Phillips, both naming it one of the year's worst. Six months later, with no film offers coming in, Vince (Adrian Grenier) has been living at a Mexican resort with Turtle (Jerry Ferrara). Drama (Kevin Dillon) is still in a long-distance relationship with Jacqueline (Julia Levy-Boeken), who remains in France. He gets into a fight with a director during a photoshoot for the *Five Towns* poster. Producer Carl Ertz (Kim Coates) contacts Ari (Jeremy Piven) about casting Vince in his new film, *Danger Beach*. Ari brings Eric (Kevin Connolly) and Drama to Mexico to retrieve Vince. Vince initially refuses to come back but eventually agrees to the role. When he returns to Los Angeles, he meets Carl and learns that Carl never intended to cast him; he only used Vince's name to lock Emile Hirsch into the lead. That night, Drama and Turtle drive to Carl's house and smash one of his cars as payback.
The episode was Ellin's 35th writing credit and Mylod's tenth directing credit. In its original broadcast, an estimated 1.65 million households watched, with a 1.0/2 rating share among adults 18–49. That was a 25% drop from the previous episode, which had 2.19 million viewers and a 1.2/4 share.
Critics generally liked the episode. Ahsan Haque of IGN gave it a 9 out of 10, calling it "amazing" and praising the soundtrack and pacing. Josh Modell of The A.V. Club gave it a "B–," noting that while some thought the show had declined, he still found it funny. Alan Sepinwall of *The Star-Ledger* appreciated that the show didn't let Vince bounce back too easily. Trish Wethman of *TV Guide* enjoyed Ari's return and Kevin Dillon's performance as Johnny Chase. Jonathan Toomey of TV Squad felt the episode played more like a standard installment than a season premiere.
Quick Facts
- Series
- Entourage
- Season
- 5
- Episode
- 1
- Director
- Mark Mylod
- Writer
- Doug Ellin
- Photographer
- Rob Sweeney / Colin Watkinson
- Editor
- Gregg Featherman
- Released
- 2008-09-07
- Length
- 27 minutes
- Prev
- The Cannes Kids
- Next
- Unlike a Virgin
- Episode List
- List of Entourage episodes
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The episode opens six months after the Cannes premiere of Medellín, which was sent straight-to-DVD and slammed by critics Richard Roeper and Michael Phillips, both putting it among their 'worst movies of the year' lists. Vince has left for a resort in Mexico with Turtle. Drama is in a long-distance relationship with Jacqueline, and Ari is contacted by producer Carl Ertz, who says he wants Vince for his new film, Danger Beach. Ari gets Eric and Drama to accompany him to Mexico to bring Vince back. Vince initially rejects the offer but is eventually convinced. Upon returning to Los Angeles, Vince meets Carl and discovers that Carl never planned to have him star; he only wanted to suggest he was hiring him to lock Emile Hirsch in the lead role. That night, Drama and Turtle drive to Carl's house and smash one of his cars in revenge.
Reader's Guide
Fantasy Island serves as the season premiere of Entourage's fifth season, marking a tonal shift after the disastrous reception of Vince's passion project Medellín. The episode was written by series creator Doug Ellin and directed by co-executive producer Mark Mylod. According to Nielsen Media Research, it was seen by an estimated 1.65 million household viewers and gained a 1.0/2 ratings share among adults aged 18–49, a 25% decrease from the previous episode. Critical reception was positive: Ahsan Haque of IGN gave it an 'amazing' 9 out of 10, praising the soundtrack and pacing. Josh Modell of The A.V. Club gave it a 'B–', noting the show's continued humor. Alan Sepinwall of The Star-Ledger observed that for once, success didn't come easily for Vince. Trish Wethman of TV Guide highlighted Ari's return and Kevin Dillon's performance. Jonathan Toomey of TV Squad felt the episode was less like a season premiere and more like just another episode.
Did You Know?
- It originally aired on HBO on September 7, 2008.
- Critics Richard Roeper and Michael Phillips put Medellín on their 'worst movies of the year' lists.
Frequently Asked Questions
What season and episode is Fantasy Island on Entourage?
Fantasy Island is the Season 5 premiere and the 55th episode overall. It aired on HBO on September 7, 2008.
Who wrote and directed Fantasy Island?
Doug Ellin, the series creator, wrote the script, while co-executive producer Mark Mylod directed the episode.
What is the plot of Fantasy Island?
The episode follows Vince and Turtle as they go into hiding in Mexico after their film Medellín was savaged by critics and sent straight to DVD, while Ari tries to land him a new project.
Why is Fantasy Island significant in the Entourage timeline?
As the fifth-season opener, it establishes Vince at his career's lowest point following the catastrophic reception of Medellín and sets up the central conflict for the entire season.
What happens to Medellín in Fantasy Island?
After its Cannes premiere, the film is panned by critics Richard Roeper and Michael Phillips, both of whom name it one of the year's worst, and it goes straight to DVD with no further theatrical or streaming release.
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