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Instead of evaluating why Entourage is shit, let's ask why it once worked. It can't just be Ari Gold's quips or Turtle's fledging rap producing career that have us hooked, the show is too repetitive for that. Maybe behind the tequila companies and the threesomes, Entourage follows a great literary tradition that actually has some philosophical weight. Vincent Chase parallels many spoiled protagonists in great American fiction, longing for a treasure that keeps slipping from his grasp: which in Entourage plays more like "Will Vince do the movie?" "Oh, he's looking like he won't do the movie!" "Oh cool, he's doing the movie!" Vincent Chase is Gatsby and international stardom is his Daisy Buchanan. Or is it his green light? Is E Daisy? Is Mandy Moore Daisy? Maybe we invest in Vincent Chase because he's doing what we want to do, executing one of the most pure existential journeys a person can undertake: he is following his personal legend.Maybe behind the tequila companies and the threesomes, Entourage follows a great literary tradition that actually has some philosophical weight.
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In The Alchemist we're told "moving when luck is on your side" is the way of the universe. The universe wants you to succeed, fool! Vince's bad (and arrogant) business decisions are all built on his belief that things will just work themselves out, ignoring the 20 or so people it takes to keep his career on track. He almost quits Aquaman, does quit the sequel to work on the train wreck Medellin, burns a whole studio who vowed to never work with him again, gets fired from the set of his comeback movie for fighting with the director, and decides to try his own stunts and almost kills himself. He continually pushes his luck and wants the best of the indie and blockbuster world because he knows that ultimately it will all work out. And it does! His track record for picking projects isn't fantastic but that doesn't seem to shake his resolve. Vince may shows signs of insecurity throughout Entourage's eight seasons but there's always someone to remind him he's the shit. Santiago had dreams to keep him on track and Vince has his homies.At the end of The Alchemist—27-year-old spoiler alert—Santiago realises "life is generous to people who follow their personal legend". Entourage is all about the rewards that come from following one's destiny: the rewards generally being cars and porn stars. Vince makes ill-advised decisions because he knows that being a star is his true destiny. Maybe aside from the jokes about self absorbed actors and the Drama's elaborate breakfasts, people like to watch Entourage because it's nice to witness someone with so much faith in their personal legend. It's life affirming to see someone follow through with a sometimes ludicrous dream.Maybe. But yo, the guest stars are pretty cool too.Follow Sinead on Twitter: @SineadStubbinsLike this article? Then like VICE on Facebook for a bunch of other awesome content.Santiago had dreams to keep him on track and Vince has his homies.