Vinyl Season 1 Episode 5 Recap

Vinyl (2016-)

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

The first half of the season feels like Richie looks.

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 5 He in Racist Fire
Is this show still going? Why? That was my thought going into this episode, but I actually enjoyed it. I was teetering towards outright disliking the show, but this episode was better. I still can't recommend it, but I'm hoping the second half of the season is better than the first half.
The window into the music world is good. Richie battling Lester and kip on the band's direction and trying to keep talent is where this show should focus and this episode actually realized that for a change.

We start the episode by listening to renaissance faire headliners. This is where we are now. Thankfully the rest of the episode is better.

Richie has talked his dad into giving him an alibi, but the cops have a tape of Richie discussing it with his dad. I'm guessing the cops have audio surveillance. It's enough to arrest him, but not to convict him. Richie is inspired to call his new label Alibi Records.

Richie meets with Kip Stevens and Lester Grimes to talk about marketing for the band. Jamie helps sell Kip on meeting radio stations and working with Richie. Kip just wants to make music and doesn't realize the majority of getting a record heard is marketing. Richie palys hardball and sets Kip straight, telling him he signed Kip and some other guys. Richie  wants guitar player Duck cut. If they want to get the band booked, you follow the order. Lester takes charge and cuts Duck from The Nasty Bits.

Cece lets Richie know that Hannibal is thinking about leaving the label. Richie is desperate to keep Hannibal, and he uses Devon to woo Hannibal back. Richie doesn't like where that goes when it ends with Hannibal dancing close with his wife. Richie abruptly leaves, pulling Devon behind him which causes Hannibal to sign with Richie's competitor. Hannibal appeared in episode five and I'm guessing this will be the last of him. His point was to split Richie's marriage further, and push the story line and Richie to recruiting Andrea.

Richie is looking for a new head of publicity. He tracks down a former employee and flame, Andrea, who wants core changes to the company and wants to be a partner. She declines Richie's offer initally as working for Richie is a downgrade. Richie has an idea but no vision. After the fight wtih Devon about Hannibal, Richie goes back to Andrea who reiterates she wants to be a partner. Richie agrees, desperate after losing Hannibal. He offers her nothing more than before, but she agrees. I guarantee that Richie's marriage problems will lead to him pursing Andrea who already stated she doesn't want a romance and wants to keep their relationship strictly business. I'm guessing they will hook up in episode six or seven.