FlipBoard
Getty Image
We are currently in the deserted no man’s land between the 2013-14 TV schedule and the roll-out of the heavy hitters of summer programming, so this is the perfect time to sink your teeth into a show on Netflix. We’ve already given you 50 good options, and if you haven’t watched Orange Is the New Black please do so before the June 8 Season 2 premiere, but if you’re looking for a breezy, action-packed trip in the wayback machine, allow me to toss this out there: Every episode of Miami Vice is on Netflix.
And you know what? It still holds up. I mean, kind of. It holds up as well as any aggressively-of-its-time 30-year-old show can hold up, which, I swear is a compliment. Yes, Don Johnson spends the whole series running around in pastel t-shirts under white suits, and the bad guys are often VERY 1980s bad guys, but as far as the pacing and action go, the show could still fit in pretty well in a modern TV schedule. And it’s fun. Hoo boy, is it fun. Every episode features a Ferrari vs. Lamborghini car chase, or a suitcase full of money or drugs or both being presented to a well-dressed cartel boss, or a henchman getting thrown out the window of a South Beach highrise, or something else hilarious and awesome. It’s sort of like if Michael Bay made Justified, which, again, I swear is a compliment.
So, yes, watch Miami Vice. Again, or for the first time.
![[avatar]](https://profilecdn-woven.netdna-ssl.com/photo/51/profile)
And so many wait, what? guest stars. This was quality crap to be sure.
“…if Michael Bay made Justified…”
YUP.
The first two seasons of Vice were straight-up good television. It was a gimmick, but the gimmick worked damn well those first two seasons.
Michael Mann is the director Bay wishes he was, and who Peter Berg is supposedly a protege of.
And they were foolish to change that gimmick in season 3 (as well as move the time slot from 10pm to 9pm, putting into competition with both Dallas and Cheers) by changing the look, style, and tone of the entire show. The music video element was gone, the humor was gone, Don’s hairstyle was cut to some short spikey look that just didn’t work well for him (even though the style was quite popular at the time), and of course, they flat out blew up the Daytona Spyder to replace it with a Testarossa. Season 3 is still leaps and bounds better than 4 and 5, but it was definitely a step down for the show.
I believe if they had stuck with the season 1 & 2 style for at least a 3rd season, then went dark and stayed with the style of season 3, the show would’ve actually made it into the 90s. Way I see it, if Law and Order is still on the air after like 25 years (and produced by the same guy, Dick Wolf), then there’s no reason why Vice couldn’t have lasted at least 7 or 8 seasons. Cop shows will never get old.
Seasons 4 and 5 are tough to sit through, but Seasons 1 & 2, and even 3 (though different than the first 2) is still great programming.
The pilot of The Americans has the best homage to the above scene ever committed to film.
This is true.
Holy shit now I want to see an episode of Justified directed by Michael Bay. Imagine seeing his name in the credits, out of nowhere. The internet would melt
YES.
Is the music all the original stuff?
I don’t want to hear some knock off of In The Air Tonight in the pilot.
I watched them all earlier in the year during a week long bout of the flu & from what I remember (DRUGS!) the original soundtrack was there.
Idunno. That might be kinda rad.
Also, now I am obligated to link you guys to some GREAT fan made music videos of this show people have made in recent years.
[www.youtube.com]
[www.youtube.com]
[www.youtube.com]
[www.youtube.com]
This one is a mix between Vice and Scarface, but still a great video: [www.youtube.com]
And here’s one that I made myself: [www.youtube.com]
Also, now I am obligated to link you guys to some GREAT fan made music videos of this show people have made in recent years.
[www.youtube.com]
[www.youtube.com]
[www.youtube.com]
[www.youtube.com]
And here’s one that I made myself: [www.youtube.com]
I’m gonna go ahead and say it: light suits and pastel t-shirts are due for a fashion comeback. Stubble is in, so why not?
I could do without the sockless loafers though.
When I was seven, we went to my cousins wedding and my parents bought me a white suit. I wore a pink shirt and white loafers with no socks. Spiked my hair and danced the night away. I had the worst blisters the next day and swore off wearing those damn things ever again.
I’ve been wearing something “Crockett-esque” in my wardrobe everyday for about a year now. I never do the full look though. Then again, I live in Brooklyn, so the hipsters get it and love it lol.
T.ough
U.nique
B.ad
B.old and
S.assy
And now that PMT is getting a little love, I am now obligated to post this:
[www.youtube.com]
Nope…..there is one episode from Season One that is missing, that episode is “Evan”.