Vinyl Season 1 Episode 10 & Season Recap

Vinyl (2016-)

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

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 10
I saw a few flashes of a show that could be good this season, but it's only potential and not realized. I have no desire to see a second season, I had no desire to complete this season. I considered stopping after episode three, and I regret that I didn't. Episode eight is my favorite episode because that episode was about a record company. This show gets bogged down in drama, drama that could have any setting. It never takes full advantage of the '70s music scene. Instead of the drama adding to, it takes away from the record industry. This show is an empty shell. Richie's involvement in a murder has plagued the entire season since the first episode. It's unnecessary drama. HBO has already renewed it for a second season, and I hope that it can start fresh and focus on what makes this series unique. This needs to be a start up record company in the '70s. It's teased that, but never committed to it.

This is an engrossing episode, though a bit mob heavy. Everything related to bands and the record company works well. If this season had more episodes like this it could have been pretty good. It helps that Richie's drug problems and family are avoided.

Richie playing informant just seems wrong. It's going to pull the show in the wrong direction. This show needs a time skip in the interim to reboot the series.

Zak seeks out Galasso to talk about removing Richie from the company. He's still mad about Richie losing ninety grand and skirting the blame.
Galasso reprimands Zak for petty problems and selling out his partner. When Galasso's chop shop gets raided, Zak looks guilty. Tempers flare and Zak discovers Richie was involved in the murder of Buck Rodgers.

Richie can't release The Nasty Bit's new album until he gets the rights to the song they remixed written by Lester. Lester drives a hard bargain and signs over the rights.

Kip overdoses. He's jealous of Jamie's relationship with his band mate Alex. He's probably jealous in general that he lacks talent. His best song is one he remixed from Lester.
Richie fires Jamie from the band since she is causing the rift. The band has the biggest opportunity of their career and they're flushing it, but they make it on stage and deliver a great performance before getting arrested, bolstering their popularity.

Richie stumbles upon the inception of CBGB's and then encourages everyone to graffiti and wreck the ACR office at the Alibi Records launch party.