Vinyl Season 1 Episode 4 Recap

Vinyl (2016-)

Created by:  Mick Jagger, Terence Winter, Rich Cohen, Martin Scorsese
Starring:   Bobby Cannavale, Olivia Wilde, Ray Romano, Juno Temple, James Jagger

Vinyl - Going down in flames seems like an apt metaphor.

HBO's '70s music scene series still hasn't lived up to its potential. The second episode, more than the first is reluctant to start the story proper. The latest episode gave us unnecessary flashbacks in an attempt to build backstory, when the show needs to progress the plot. The first and second episodes should have been combined into one hour long episode. Check out my Vinyl season 1 recaps.

Plot: 
Richie Finestra (Bobby Cannavale) is a New York record executive in 1973, endeavoring to sign the biggest and best talent.

Review: Episode 4 The Racket
I feel like I'm nearly done with this show. It just isn't giving me enough reasons to keep watching. I keep waiting for it to hit its stride and I'm wondering if it's already there.

Vinyl - Everyone agrees they don't like Richie.

Zak and crew, except for Richie are riding the limo back from Buck Roger's funeral wondering if Richie is embezzling money. None of them like the fact that he's back on drugs. They all took a hit when the sale of the company didn't go through. If they don't start finding and developing talent, the company is done. Richie is at marriage counseling with a less than enthusiastic Devin. Zak and Scott continue their discussion over a meal, noting Richie's narcissism.

Back at the office, Richie is courting funk star Hannibal while Skip has to stop his usual scam of returning records.

Zak is dealing with Robert Goulet's recording session to make a Christmas album.

Vinyl - Lester Grimes, the only interesting story so far.

The Nasty Bits have been waiting around all day to sign, but that turns out to be a good thing when Lester Grimes sees them and decides to give them an education, becoming their manager.
Lester is upset at the album Richie put together for him, earlier setting Richie's trash can on fire. Richie isn't happy with the business arrangement. He can't steamroll The Nasty Bits now. They hardball negotiate before Richie asks about the guy mixing records on two turntables.

Vinyl - Just what we needed, a pair of bumbling cops.

The cops that interview Richie over the Buck Roger's murder seem like a sketch idea instead of a drama show.  They state that Richie was the last person Buck Rogers called.

Vinyl - Devin, that annoying character that's too prevalent.

Devin visits a divorce lawyer, who advises her that she is still in love with her husband and just wants a card to play.  She doesn't even get to throw it in Richie's face when he hurriedly tells her he has to entertain Hannibal. I almost take joy in her defeat. She seems largely unimportant. Her only role is to add drama to the show, not to function as an actual character. What Richie is really doing is trying to create an alibi.

And then, thankfully the show ended. It's relying too much on forced drama, still. The show needs to tighten focus to the music. Lester Grimes is easily the best story. At least that is being developed.