6.01 - Drive - Review

What Happened This Week? Vince learned to drive; Eric considered moving out of Vince’s house; Lloyd battled for a promotion.

The Funniest Line(s): “That’s why when you’re on a hot streak, you gotta press it like blackjack!”

What Made This Episode? First of all, it’s fantastic to see the gang in action again, but the theme of moving on was evident. And it worked. The premiere seemed to rely more on dramatic elements than comedic ones, and the balance between growing up while trying to sustain your relationships was dealt with perfectly.

In all honesty, this felt like the first time that Sloan and Eric’s relationship seemed interesting to me. I hope they continue along this path of a sort of tug-of-war between the two -- I think it’s a nice change from the usual.

We must not, however, ignore Lloyd’s role. His showdown with Ari is already a highlight to me -- he finally took a stand for himself after seasons of being trampled upon.

Favorite Moment? My immediate reaction is to say Lloyd finally defending himself, but Vince sitting alone in his massive mansion alone, while his friends moved on was touching. It worked.

Gripes? Even though I loved the premiere, I have to ask: what’s the goal this season? There’s a theme -- but no apparent goal. We may only be one episode in, but season five had Vince returning to Los Angeles and trying to break back in to Hollywood. Season four was about Medellin. Season six is about… making the Enzo Ferrari film? Hopefully the goal will become more clear as the season progresses.

Overall Opinion? Aside from a few gripes, this was the perfect premiere.

Next Week: Gatsby premiere. Need I say more?