As you likely noticed, I hired Erik Peabody to do the voiceover for this one, as I was traveling then caught bronchitis for a couple months, and this helped me get the video out this year! Please support my work: PATREON ► www.patreon.com/IndigoGaming | SUBSCRIBESTAR ► www.subscribestar.com/indigogaming Kit Ryder's original music is available on Bandcamp: kitryder.bandcamp.com/album/miami-vice-defining-a-decade-ost

@vikingguitar

8 ай бұрын

Thank you for asking me to help out! You've made another killer documentary here, bud. 🙂

@fuzzygokoss

8 ай бұрын

I think he's a good fit, and y'all sound slightly similar

@phoenixzappa7366

8 ай бұрын

Yesss an Indigo upload. Finally!

@JoshuaJacobs83

8 ай бұрын

I was wondering lol.

@cdizzytv3753

8 ай бұрын

Wuz thrown off 4 a sec, but still gr8 wrk as always...

Wild to think that the time since Vice City, 21 years, is longer than the time between Vice City's release and its setting, 16 years.

@Indigo_Gaming

8 ай бұрын

Yup! I posted about that just a day or two ago on Twitter. Time flies! 👴

@StodgyAyatollah

8 ай бұрын

That is wild. I still remember receiving two copies of the game despite only ordering one on release... and having a lot more hair at the time.

@salokin3087

8 ай бұрын

​@Indigo_Gaming it makes me realise how, for some reasons, the 1980s were and still are a ubiquitous period of cultural icons. Well probably still have 80s throwbacks by the 2080s

@avace917

7 ай бұрын

I actually went to Miami the same year that Vice City takes place. I was 15 at the time

@theTUBEboy44

7 ай бұрын

Thought the same lately

The timing with GTA VI going back to Vice City is perfect. Great documentary

@Indigo_Gaming

8 ай бұрын

Thanks very much! I was months into this before the announcement that GTA 6 was actually getting a trailer this year, but that helped motivate me to get it out before December.

@theTUBEboy44

7 ай бұрын

Absolutely, you can see some references like the flamingos in the trailer.

@Indigo_Gaming

7 ай бұрын

Yeah, I noticed that too! Some similar "vibe" shots to the Miami Vice opening credits.

@ryszakowy

7 ай бұрын

only gta vice city captures the spirit of 80's and the heat as well as scarface and gta 6 is a literal joke in contrast to what the series always was gta has died and braindead morons are cheering for memes form internet

@Carlito_Brigante93

9 күн бұрын

Enjoy it is going to be a pos 😂

Miami vice is one of the most important tv shows ever. It elevated tv into a artform.

@Indigo_Gaming

8 ай бұрын

Very influential! You can see the blueprint of HBO serials and such here. Way ahead of its time.

You know it's good when the vibe alone makes you miss the 80s even though you are a millenial or a zoomer

@ashleybanks-wm4cg

7 ай бұрын

Everybody is late I've been obsessed with this aesthetic and lifestyle forever I'm only 25

@RobertMorgan

7 ай бұрын

I was born in 1983 and looking back at this stuff I was too young to really witness makes me kind of long for it.

@tPsychedelic

7 ай бұрын

What’s a zoomer? First time I’ve heard that term.

@E3T7

7 ай бұрын

@@ashleybanks-wm4cgI’ve been into it for a long while, I just turned 20. Miami Vice was one of the first things I got into when it came to the 80s vibe

@ashleybanks-wm4cg

7 ай бұрын

@@E3T7 bro if you really want the vibes pick up a 80s interior design book or look up something about the styles of back then they were ahead of their times the 90s ruined everything

It speaks volumes that I never watched this show but it's elements are all recognizable, everyone that made current culture was heavily impacted by it.

@Indigo_Gaming

8 ай бұрын

It's extremely influential, and much of it (the first two seasons anyways) holds up well in the HD releases.

@WalkBesideMe

8 ай бұрын

@@Indigo_Gaming it goes off the rails in season 4 but season 5 is a great precursor to the Miami Vice movie.

@Jiub_SN

7 ай бұрын

Culture isn't made, it just happens

@Its_Me_Romano

7 ай бұрын

Where can you even watch it

@E3T7

7 ай бұрын

Facts, I see it everywhere as an avid lover of the show and I’m 20. It’s crazy how few people younger than gen X know of it (everyone around in that time would remember it clearly)

I love the aesthetic of Miami Vice. To me it IS the 80s.

@Indigo_Gaming

8 ай бұрын

Inimitable! Not all of the fashion was tasteful (especially with the intentionally tacky drug dealers and limits), but some of the Armani and Versace stuff still looks great IMO. To say nothing of the incredible sports cars, neon nights and atmosphere. 🤌

@garrettrains3916

8 ай бұрын

@@Indigo_Gaming Keep up the great work! Loved the Cyberpunk documentaries as well!

@RobertMorgan

7 ай бұрын

I watched a react video of zoomers to When Harry Met Sally (1989) and was shocked by how much I miss the fashion and look of that era. I was born 1983 so I remember when people dressed like that unironically, it was trendy and COOL. The slender chick in the pants suit with a simple gold chain and big hair was HOT.

@gluserty

2 ай бұрын

​@@RobertMorganYeah, my mom was born in 1942 (a bit older than most other moms) but she was always up with the new fashions. I was born in 1977, so I thought the women you described also were hot🙂.

@Rogue_Nine416

20 күн бұрын

my parents, both of whom are from miami, would absolutely agree with you i've seen a lot of 80s movies & media because of my dad and i really do have to agree with him, miami vice is the *perfect* capture of the 80s from the more normal 'brown' cars and scenery to the flashier neon nightclubs and sports cars, nothing else just really shows off how life was the same way except for anecdotes, photos or home video

Finally, a documentary that recognizes the emotional and dramatic aspect of Miami Vice (the tv show of the 1980's). Yes, there's the fashion aspect, the pastel colors, but above all, this series has a very present, captivating, touching, felt aspect (almost every episode ends badly, or bitterly), showing that life isn't always rosy, it's realistic: 54:50

@Indigo_Gaming

8 ай бұрын

I'm happy to see more people who believe so! Most just remember the series for its superficial qualities (which are enjoyable for sure), but the show delivered far more narrative gut-punches than I was expecting.

@Indigo_Gaming

8 ай бұрын

I mean the video itself (which I can't change after the fact) has "Miami Vice: Defining a Decade" in the opening credits. I adjusted the KZread title to represent what the story is about better, the legacy of the show. In retrospect, I kind of like "Enduring Legacy" better, but it's almost always a bad idea to have an apostrophe in the title ("Miami Vice's").

@thomasvleminckx

8 ай бұрын

Yep, I love the bad endings. They can keep you thinking for quite a while after the episode ends.

@gluserty

2 ай бұрын

​@@Indigo_GamingThat's what I think is great about the show: it can be enjoyed on a surface level with the clothes, cars, music, and vibe, but if one delves deeper, they have even more to enjoy (I mean, the show has an episode where Nietzsche is discussed, and season 1's "No Exit" is a title borrowed from the work of Jean-Paul Sarte. This show was often an exercise in existentialism and/or forensic/abnormal psychology).

@Rogue_Nine416

20 күн бұрын

i gave miami vice a watch over christmas with my parents, both of whom are from miami knew people who made the show, and i'm so glad i did. it's easily one of the best tv shows of all time and the fact it doesn't tend to get much recognition among my generation or at all these days is depressing. it's ruined television for me.

As a huge fan of Miami Vice and someone who is working on their own documentary on the series for radio, you have just raised the bar astronomically. This isn't a KZread video, this is a work of Pop Art.

@Indigo_Gaming

8 ай бұрын

Very flattering! Best of luck on your documentary, there's lots of ground and angles to cover. As long as this video is, you can't cover five seasons and 40 years of influence in two hours.

@gilescosgrove3933

8 ай бұрын

@@Indigo_Gaming it's very difficult to do indeed! Being based in the UK and being on radio I'm looking at the UK impact and the sound of Vice and have been lucky enough to interview producers, writers, casting agents, stunt men and actors who all worked on the show so there's a lot to work with. Condensing that all down into 2 hours is insane so genuine hats off to you, especially with the visuals, this looks gorgeous!

@Turbo_Waitress

8 ай бұрын

@@gilescosgrove3933this sounds really interesting! I’m curious to hear how it was received in the UK.

@gilescosgrove3933

8 ай бұрын

@@Turbo_Waitress In the UK in the 80s there were few TV channels, the main ones being BBC 1 which was publicly funded and ITV which was commercial. ITV was THE channel for glossy American imports, Magnum PI, The A Team, Knight Rider. So when the BBC got the rights to screen Miami Vice it was quite something. They scheduled it Friday nights as in the US and it was a massive hit. Crockett's Theme went to number one (which is how I found the show years later going through my parents record collection when I started collecting vinyl) and people would copy the fashions in the UK as in the US though the weather wasn't agreeable to it so you were freezing and looked like a prune. There's some great BBC Vice related stuff on KZread including trailers for the series 1 and series 2 pilots plus a big discussion around censorship of episodes here.

@TinLeadHammer

7 ай бұрын

I hope you will have your script proofread by someone who knows English grammar.

no media has such a profound impact on me as GTA VICE CITY did. since i first played it as a kid back in 2002 i was never the same, 80s became my lifestyle, clothes, gym culture, movies and especially music. i am a better person for it ,and it was all thanks to Miami Vice. shows how much a single show can do for millions around the globe.

@Indigo_Gaming

8 ай бұрын

I have several friends who got into 80s music and culture directly because of Vice City! It's had a profound effect on on our lives.

@Streetrocker28

7 ай бұрын

It made me go into the punk /metal and hardcore scene … even the music was a bliss when you just drove with regular music from te radio …. It was a time we took no shit and didn’t listen to what sjw’s told us to do … I would return in a heartbeat , and the women were all beautifull , I’ve married one and i am glad I did

@jackthorton10

7 ай бұрын

And the rise of Japanese Animation in are lexicon, culture and language, Cars got faster again, and meaner on the road, Computers got bolder, and the future got darker with the introduction and development of Cyberpunk, the 80s had arrived in earnest

@WinterWing-77

20 сағат бұрын

I was similarly influenced, and around the same time. Bless Miami Vice for inspiring the creation of GTA: Vice City!

GTA Vice City introduced me to the genius of Jan Hammer and his wonderful music

@Indigo_Gaming

8 ай бұрын

Still so listenable! Crockett's Theme is obviously legendary, but I'm really into Lombard Trial, Cool Runnin', Payback and One Way Out, especially!

@adro894

8 ай бұрын

@@Indigo_Gaming yes I listened to all of his albums there are lots of gems.

@gluserty

2 ай бұрын

​@@Indigo_GamingThose are great, and I also like "Candy" and "Out for Tai", along with the polo scene instrumental in "Little Prince".

As a young adult in the mid 80's it was the best time to be alive! I never missed a Friday night NBC episode of "Miami Vice", the last great TV show! Living in LA during that time was magical & affordable great times!

@Indigo_Gaming

8 ай бұрын

I was very young in the 80s, but even as a kid, I absolutely adored the media that came out in that decade. From the classic movies, the incredible music, and the unmistakable energy!

@vinniecorleone62

8 ай бұрын

@Indigo_Gaming You did a outstanding job profiling the 80's pop culture, very enjoyable from someone who lived it!

@Rico-ow3ys

Ай бұрын

Yes. L.A. was Poppin. Hit the club Friday night, Lakers games Sunday afternoon. 84 Olympics etc. good times.

I'm a Gen Xer and am in shock. I've seen documentaries of Miami Vice before, but nothing as comprehensive and downright cool as this one. Kudos across the board!

@Indigo_Gaming

4 ай бұрын

That's awesome to hear! Glad I was able to do the series justice.

@reconteam91

4 ай бұрын

@@Indigo_Gaming definitely subscribing. Keep up the great work!

40:00 that's a fact, Michael Mann is obsessed with filming the living night. Heat and Collateral are prime examples where Los Angeles is a major supporting character in it's own right.

@Indigo_Gaming

7 ай бұрын

Very good way of putting it. I love the way he captures nighttime. Absolutely spoils a movie when you see that blue day for night filter.

What a great documentary. Must have taken a ton of time and effort to make. Miami Vice was hands down the coolest thing on TV for a few years. It became a target for ridicule in the 90's, as styles changed, but its inherent awesomeness has made it an enduring cultural touchstone. I love the whole 80's vibe and aesthetic, and synthwave is mostly what I listen to nowadays. Thing is, us 80's kids didn't really appreciate the decade when we were living through it, it was just life. But now, looking back, it seems like some kind of magical golden age compared to today.

@Indigo_Gaming

3 ай бұрын

It was a colossal project. I started writing it back in 2022, finished a couple videos, then resumed in 2023, and it took most of the year to wrap up. Glad you enjoyed! I think the series has gotten a lot of undue mockery over the years as well, ignoring the trailblazing style and cinematography it introduced to the medium.

Don Johnson said Miami Vice was before the technological revolution of the 90s... As a 80s small child, I almost long for that time again. At least the time before the smartphone. Haha here in my middle-age I'm becoming a luddite. But man was the time before smartphones and social media fantastic. Nice video by the way. Will put Miami Vice on my watchlist.

I was born in 83, but i remember my parents watching this show. Besides my usual cartoons, this was the only adult show I have any memory of. I'm 40 years old now and bought the whole series on bluray. Watching it now and loving it, while feeling nostalgic for it at the same time. Great show, great music, great cameos, and plain cool.

Recently watched the entire series (im 23) and cant tell you how incredible this show was/is

@Indigo_Gaming

6 ай бұрын

Right on, brother! 🤜🤛

@gluserty

2 ай бұрын

It's really something, right? I was a kid when the show originally aired and had some idea that it was great, but I REALLY watched it when I was 34 and was absolutely memorized!

@seanmichael7714

2 ай бұрын

Imma try watchin again haha

@Sue-gq7xv

Ай бұрын

You had to be there.

No way 1984 is (almost) 40 years ago. It was YESTERDAY goddammit!

@Indigo_Gaming

7 ай бұрын

I want to believe!

This video itself is a love letter to Miami Vice. It’s documentary quality. Thank you

The production quality on this video is amazing - way better than documentaries you'd pay to see on streaming platforms. Super impressive.

@erickent4248

3 ай бұрын

This is the comment I was going to make, one of the most polished, best edited, best sound design on a KZread video I have ever seen, and the content is great too. I think they really did all the Miami Vice people proud.

I watched the 4 minute intro and I already know this is gonna be a banger documentary, adding it to my "watch later" for tonight.

@Indigo_Gaming

7 ай бұрын

Right on! I hope you enjoy.

There is no Miami Vice franchise. There can’t be because the 1980s were its biggest star. That’s why any attempt to bring it back always fails. This is the very best documentary on Miami Vice. The compendium. Thank you.

Just last week I showed a friend of mine the pilot on Blue-ray because she didn't believe me that it not only was a great show but that it still holds up to todays standards. She was much surprised, but it does. Funny to see this great documentary just one week later. 🙂

@Indigo_Gaming

8 ай бұрын

Great timing! Brother's Keeper still holds up as a solid movie, and there are a few episodes in S1 and S2 in particular that are incredibly powerful, even to those (like me) who didn't experience the show when it aired.

@FordHoard

7 ай бұрын

I showed the pilot to my nephew last year (he was 20 then) and he was just complaining it was too long. He also said he didn't understand it. Still to this day whenever I mention Miami Vice, he calls it a "movie" because of the pilot episode's length. He did not like it.

The Daytona Spyder destruction continuity error was NBC's doing. The episode where the car was destroyed was moved up so it could happen during the season premier.

You left out the fact that it's Sam Houser (along with Dan) who is the genius behind GTA Vice City, when he brought the idea to their Rockstar peers they all thought it was a terrible idea and were against it, but Sam being the absolute Miami Vice superfan convinced them and thus making their dream a reality. Ever since Vice City, every GTA game that followed (except for Liberty City Stories and Chinatown Wars), featured a couple of songs per game which were used in Miami Vice, as sort of a homage to the series. Like, I'm a huge "Vicer" myself and if I developed a game, of course I'm using music from the series lol. "But the thing that was more of a direct influence was Miami Vice, because it’s a little bit later. Scarface is earlier, like ’83, and it kind of looks it, but Miami Vice was ’84 to ’89, about five seasons, 110 or so episodes, and I’ve seen them all many times. Before you could get them on DVD I bought them off eBay - the crappiest quality VHS copies you’ve ever seen, and I have them all. What blew me away about that series - and Michael Mann is, I think, a visionary film maker - is that each episode was 50 minutes long, and they sort of hit on all the bases in every episode. It was very adult - I remember at the time watching it and thinking that it was very risqué. But it was an incredibly slick show, and when we were first talking about it, everyone was kind of laughing, like: “What are you on about?” And I was like, “No, no, no - it’s so slick”. Just in terms of music alone, when you look at the tracks that Miami Vice used, it’s an amazing list, and Michael Mann would create these miniature pop videos in every show which would be montages. So his use of music in the show was remarkable. A dream of mine and Dan [Houser]’s is to have a montage in a game, actually. We’re on our way; we’ll get it one day - a montage of your experiences set to music. Come on, that’s going to be amazing, right? Also, Michael Mann’s use of colour and light is wonderful. Miami is such a beautiful place anyway, so the light is gorgeous, but his use of night lighting made it so glossy and sexy. He’s also an expert in the use of weapons, and we met all of the weapons experts who worked on Miami Vice. We got into the details in a hardcore way. Then the other thing I loved - and we all loved, actually, although initially there was a lot of arm twisting that had to go on in order to make people watch it - was that each show was kind of like a mission. It may have had a few cool little action sequences in it which were novel, but the overarching story was like a mission, so there was so much cool stuff to take in, whether it was the vehicles they used - incredible cars, incredible helicopters, incredible boats - or whatever. While we were finishing GTAIII I would even go home at lunchtimes and watch episodes, and I did that for about a year - it was all I watched. You could sit there and watch it and get stills of so many moments in the show from just one episode and I’d think: “If we can just get that or this or that…” I remember Aaron [Garbut, GTA series art director] working so hard just to get the neon the way he wanted it. He’d been to Miami and he’d seen it in the show, and he knew exactly what he was looking for but it was so difficult [to achieve]. But when he got it right, you were just like [snaps fingers]: “That’s it!” So there were plenty of other things that influenced us but I would have to say the strongest influence of all became Miami Vice ” - Sam Houser speaking with Edge Magazine 2012 I thought you'd definitely bring up that article in a documentary about Miami Vice's influence on Vice City.

@Indigo_Gaming

7 ай бұрын

That's a great article! But to be fair, I cover Mann, Scarface and Miami Vice's influence in pretty comprehensive detail. Would have been nice to have a snippet from Houser about his inspirations, but oh well. I think the doc works fine as is. What interested me is that they even conceived Vice City in the first game, even before Houser was even involved in the project (back in the DMA Design days). Kind of a match made in heaven, I guess.

@dame3996

7 ай бұрын

Man, I didn't even know Sam Houser gave an interview like this! Thank you very much for writing about this, and I hope the new GTA6 will contain references to Miami Vice.

@Streetw1s3r

7 ай бұрын

@@dame3996 There were references to both the TV show and the movie in the trailer so I'm sure Sam's touch will be in this one too. There will definitely be music from the soundtrack too as with every GTA game.

@dame3996

7 ай бұрын

Yeah, i like that Rockstar added Los Santos Rock Radio in GTA5. There a lot music from 80's and Miami Vice. In trailer i saw Ferrari Testarossa. Hope, we will see more references in the game.@@Streetw1s3r

I started watching this series over a decade ago and for a long time it felt as if the series just was forgotten despite the cultural impact it had. Seeing this documentary and the comments it warms my heart to see MV is getting the recognition it had and deserves to keep having

@Indigo_Gaming

7 ай бұрын

I had heard about it for decades, but never sat down and actually watched it until recently. A lot of it holds up really well (even for someone who doesn't have nostalgia for it), and the more dated stuff comes off as cheesy in a charming way, and helps sell the atmosphere of the decade.

This is a well put together gem. Thank you for producing this and reminding fans old and new on how magnificent and unique Miami Vice as a show was and still is today.

You also gotta mention 2 Fast 2 Furious with Paul Walker and Tyrese Gibson - it's inspired by Miami Vice. Bryan O' Corner (Paul Walker) is an ex-cop from LA, working for the FBI to nail a South American drug lord. The 80s vibes made a comeback in 2018 with Cobra Kai, a sequel to Karate Kid. In Season 2, Robbie, Johnny Lawrence's son, rocks a Crockett look at a Hollywood-themed party. Season 3 ends with Phil Collins' 'In the Air Tonight,' and in Season 4, Robbie goes full Crockett in a red Testarossa at a dance party with his girlfriend Torrie. Cobra Kai nails everything '80s - from style to music. If you wanna relive those days, Cobra Kai is the way to go. And speaking of GTA, Vice City is making a comeback in GTA 6.

As a 35 year old and having watched Miami Vice as a kid, I'm baffled how I never connected GTA: VC, Archer: Vice or vaporwave to this serie. This was hands down one of the best youtube productions I've ever watched. It is a full-fledged, professional documentary. Thank you.

I'm halfway through the video and I must say, this is probably one of the best youtube documentaries I have ever seen! I love everything about it

@Indigo_Gaming

7 ай бұрын

That's so great to hear after many months of work, Matty! Thanks for stopping by and commenting. Happy holidays!

@mattykos715

7 ай бұрын

Happy holidays to you too!! Obviously gave you a sub for the hard work and can't wait to see your future projects. :) @@Indigo_Gaming

I’m only a half hour in and so far this has been amazing. I was born in 1986 but was introduced to Miami Vice by my uncles in the early 90’s and fell in love with the show ever since. Hell, I at least watch one episode or a clip from Miami Vice daily.

Miami Vice is what made me love Miami and the 80s That and scarface

This is by far THE BEST documentary/ analysis I’ve ever seen on MIAMI VICE.

@Indigo_Gaming

4 күн бұрын

Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed.

I never watched Miami Vice, but you sure sell it well and now I want to watch it. This is what I wished Cyberpunk 2077 would be like. And some parts aren't far, like the River Ward questline, or even Judy's quest line with Evelyn. Cops working in a corrupt environment, dark prostitution rings, human trafficking, drugs, etc.

@Yusuke_Denton

8 ай бұрын

One of the early ideas for the CP77 story, well before they added Johnny, was that you'd be working on several gigs alongside a detective, gradually unravelling clues that tied the mayor to criminals. I'm sure it would have had all that stuff. Those ideas were dropped and some of it rolled into the River storyline.

@Indigo_Gaming

8 ай бұрын

Sometimes storylines that are more down-to-earth and small-scale can be more compelling. The end of the world doesn't always have to be at stake.

@Texelion3Dprints

8 ай бұрын

@@Yusuke_Denton Really ? I didn't know that, sounds cool.

Man, you weren't kidding about that bronchitis. You sound totally different!

@Indigo_Gaming

8 ай бұрын

I got an entire new throat, voice box and everything! 😂

A show whose theme song permanently has residence in my brain. Even had the soundtrack cassette as a kid.

@Indigo_Gaming

8 ай бұрын

Awesome! Only discovered it in adulthood for me, although I was a big Collins fan. My favorite cassettes as a kid were MJ's Thriller and (embarrassingly) Milli Vanilli. 😂

@Grandmastergav86

8 ай бұрын

Crockett's Theme alone is perfection.

Something I think many people often forget is that Miami Vice not only worked for its style but also its harsh subject matter and especially the acting which in my opinion is better than the acting in some movies today. Great documentary!

@Indigo_Gaming

7 ай бұрын

I agree! There were some duds here and there, but I was very surprised at how much of the drama worked for me. I always saw parodies and superficial nods to Vice, but that painted a different picture than the actual show did.

@gluserty

2 ай бұрын

I think the acting is underrated, and I love how a lot of acting is done with a look or facial expressions; it makes me think, as well as appreciate a performer who can make me feel something without even saying a word (love the dialogue in the show though, very neo-noir).

One of my favorite documentaries I've ever seen. Thank you for this.

@Indigo_Gaming

7 ай бұрын

So happy you enjoyed it so much. Thanks for watching!

Watchin this after dark while having a few drinks was probably the best experience I had binge watching any show.

Excellent subject, Indigo! I thought about this since your Cyberpunk videos, because there are games and tv shows that mix elements from both sci-fi and Miami Vice. Even when MV is not an overt inspiration, you can still feel it. P.S Good job with the narration, Erik!

@Indigo_Gaming

8 ай бұрын

There's definitely a crossover in the synthwave/cyberpunk style. Although Miami Vice isn't sci-fi at all, the bright neons, vivid colors and seductive delve into sin is comparable.

@LoneWolf-wp9dn

8 ай бұрын

yes yes and yes... not only the styling but i would say in the portrayal of characters as well... when you get into these worlds you expect to have a focus on exploring complex ambiguous characters... and a lot of introspection

@JustGrowingUp84

8 ай бұрын

@@LoneWolf-wp9dn Indeed!

@harvestcanada

8 ай бұрын

Miami vice is more flashy neo noir and quasi Cyberpunk with it's neon lights, its finely engineered fast cars and the synth soundtrack.

I see some of Don Johnson's quotes are from his 2014 Rolling Stone interview, one I've read often. What he said when asked how much of Don Johnson was in Sonny Crockett, that the lines were blurred, very good. It goes well with what someone wrote in the "Miami Vice" online community, that Sonny Crockett was the idealized version of Don Johnson (nothing wrong with that!).

I admired the show because they had the guts to poke into politics. The Iran-Contra affair was a dirty affair on so many levels and Miami Vice were not afraid to put it on the screen. In a way, yeah, it perfectly fit their narrative.

@Indigo_Gaming

8 ай бұрын

Looking at how safe and sanitized most TV was back in '84-89, they poked the bear on more than one occasion.

Can't wait to watch this! So glad you're still make art and not compromising your vision. A real talent!

I'm starting to wonder if my young absorption of Miami Vice is the reason teal and neon purple are my favorite colors.

@Indigo_Gaming

8 ай бұрын

It's a lovely aesthetic, and I'm eternally confused by why they work together so well, since it goes against all the color wheels I've ever studied as a graphic designer. Blue and orange are complementary, and light red (aka pink) SHOULD be complimentary to green.

NBC should be paying you handsomely for this. Extremely well put together. The best doc on this legendary TV series out there.

@Indigo_Gaming

3 ай бұрын

Humbled by your high praise. Thanks for watching!

I was in my late teens when Miami Vice hit our TV screens, and life wouldn´t be the same. My best friend and I would get so into it that we purchased cheap H&M suits in mint green and turquoise respectively, added some (very old) gold necklaces, bracelets and fake Rolexes, no sox and of course got almost toasted at the local tanning salon (or self-tanner) to look the part. Then, these two skinny, white Miami Vice clones hit the local disco. Once while entering the club, someone yelled: "Which one of you is Crockett and which one is Tubbs?". We saw it as an absolute badge of honor. In our minds we´d 100% nailed the look and were now at the cutting edge of fashion and cool. We couldn´t quite make that fit with the fact that we had zero luck with the ladies. Thankfully, it took quite a while before we understood that our love for Miami Vice wasn´t really helping our social life :D

@Indigo_Gaming

8 ай бұрын

It's a style that's immediately recognizable but extremely difficult to pull off, hence the many parodies and skits imitating that style. Must have been a wild time! Thanks for sharing this story.

@lassebauer

8 ай бұрын

​@@Indigo_Gaming Anytime. Not sure how wild those times were. They felt more free than today, but that might have been due to our youth and innocence. What I miss the most is the fact that the world was mostly analogue so we had to have real interactions with each other, and speaking of analogue: There was just something way more interesting about having to wait for a show to come on TV, or popping a VHS in a VCR than today´s digital, glass screen interactions - despite today´s way better TV/movie quality. It was an event renting and then watching a VHS or gathering for a TV show.

@ChrisBennettGameDesign

3 ай бұрын

My buddy and I hit our local nice Mexican restaurant wearing our Crockett and Tubbs suits until some guy at a table started whistling ‘You Belong To The City’. 😂😂

@lassebauer

3 ай бұрын

@@ChrisBennettGameDesign You could have shut them up with. "We own the night!" 😂

I can't be the only one I chuckle every time the name "Dick Wolf" comes up, can I?! lol

@Indigo_Gaming

8 ай бұрын

Only slightly better than Richard Suckle: www.imdb.com/name/nm0837112/

This was so good! Thank you for all the love and care you put into this, it really shows. I was born during the show’s run, and vaguely remember it as a kid, but have since watched it on my own and it really does just feel like a piece of “the 80s” in the best way possible. That and “Crockett’s Theme” is such a great piece of music. It was interesting to see its legacy and impact on Miami.

@Indigo_Gaming

8 ай бұрын

I too was born during the show's run. After season one, but before season two. I didn't watch it growing up, but was curious about it, as my mother is a big fan, and she shared the excitement of the series, and especially the famous 'In the Air Tonight' night drive.

Incredible work, well done. Miami Vice's lingering legacy is truly something special.

☝🏼😳 That was a master piece! Damn!!

This aesthetic and lifestyle will neve die because IMHO it was the peak of American civilization and i wasnt even born yet

As an 80's child, and I mean I was 5/6 when Miami Vice came out, this all resonates HARD! There is not a day I do not lament on the 80's, the times, the music, the neon, the cars, the aura and mystique. I love and miss it all. GTA Vice City is without a doubt my favorite game of all time! I play it often still. When it came out in 2002 I was 24/25 and it was a flashback in time when I fired that disc up. It literally haunts my life, lol. But I'd rather be haunted by the 80's, Miami Vice, and GTA Vice City than anything else I have come across in my life and travels. This genre will never go away and I am completely at peace knowing that fact! This video was one of the best on the topic that I have ever viewed. Heck, this might be one of the best videos I have ever seen period! Amazing storyline, details, facts, explanation, editing, and of course, music and visuals! Serious applause for you and the team that made this iconic review poignant in 2024!

@Indigo_Gaming

4 ай бұрын

This means so much to me after working on this for many months. My aim was to make the most comprehensive documentary about the show out there, while also detailing its influence in the industry. Thanks for watching and sharing!

Mannnnn…I lived this ish! Me and my Air Force buddies every Friday night before going to the airman’s club. Some 40 years later, I’m still watching it. It was a snapshot in time that can’t be duplicated.

Hats off, Sir! I won't comment on all of your video but one aspect ins particular. Working under youtube's copyright restrictions and doing justice to Miami Vice of all shows with your own soundtrack and soundbites - that part of this video alone is a Masterpiece and I don't want to know how many hours and attempts it took. There is much to praise here, but I find that this part alone deserves to be highlighted.

@Indigo_Gaming

8 ай бұрын

Thanks so much for noticing! I can't tell you how many hours I spent carefully cutting, re-editing scenes and shots to pass the Fair Use test while documenting over 60 shows/movies/games together for this project, and Miami Vice alone has over 100 episodes. I even hired a friend to compose a few songs that evoke the style of Jan Hammer, Phil Collins and Hall & Oates, in order to emphasize the musical aspect of the documentary--a core component of what made the show special.

@catriona_drummond

8 ай бұрын

@@Indigo_Gaming His tracks are excellent! evoke exactly the right associations in a pleasant way.

Man I always enjoying these videos coming out. They're always well done and worth the wait.

This is the best video on the subject I've ever seen. Congratulations, pal

@Indigo_Gaming

6 ай бұрын

Don't mention it, slick.

I’ve been waiting for this documentary since I first watched Miami Vice a year ago. Which is not very long admittedly but I’m glad to see the show getting the respect it deserves.

@Indigo_Gaming

7 ай бұрын

Nice! I only watched the show in its entirety last year as well. Saw the pilot years ago but never got very far past it. I'm glad I gave it another chance, it's clear why it was such a sensation back in the 80s.

I love the fact that by supporting your channel I regularly get to watch thought-provoking movies on shows and games I have never watched/played

@Indigo_Gaming

8 ай бұрын

That's my goal. To inspire thoughts, or to entice people to take another look at something they may have previously written off. Thanks for watching!

The two cops tony meets in Scarface: The World is Yours are the guys from Miami Vice

@Indigo_Gaming

8 ай бұрын

Nice reference! I was considering mentioning the Scarface game, but I was already all over the place with the script so I decided to trim things down.

You've outdone yourself again Indigo, absolutely fantastic documentary

This will definitely bring out my Miami Vice DVD box set again! Outstanding work!!

Outstanding Video. Really appreciate the effort that went into it. Thank you very much!

Fantastic work as usual. Would have finished watching this sooner, but I've been busy and wanted to give it my full attention since your editing is so meticulous. Was a little sad to hear the lack of your narration at first, but Erik is a consummate professional. All I can say is that you're able to fully command my attention with a subject that I'd never seek out prior to watching. Hard to give a compliment higher than that.

@Indigo_Gaming

8 ай бұрын

Thanks for the high praise! Means a lot coming from you. I put a ton of time into researching and structuring this narrative, and though it repeats itself a few times, I hope you got something out of it. I know a 1984 show isn't exactly hot topic #1 after thirty nine years, but for some reason, the origins of the show and its influences seen in the media afterward, seemed like it needed a comprehensive primer on the topic. Thanks for watching!

@Ducking69

7 ай бұрын

Holy shit i love your videos

I’ve watched this documentary 3 times in its entirety. Absolutely Masterfully put together. Thank you for making this!

@Indigo_Gaming

Ай бұрын

Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed this adventure through the neon-lit 80s. 👍

EP did a great job narrating this fine doc about my favorite tV show of all time ! There’s only one MIAMI VICE !!

Writing a comment straight away to get this gem to trending! What a jolt of happiness every feature-length upload of yours is, Indigo. My future self is already enjoying this very much :)

@Indigo_Gaming

8 ай бұрын

Thanks very much! I really hope you enjoy this one. Been in the works for a while...

All the obvious time and work put into reviewing my favorite cop show is well appreciated. Detailing the time period and the impact(as one who was 23 yrs old in 1984), was pretty much spot on. Will note that I also loved the 2006 movie just as much, both vehicles were "of their time'! Anyway...Well done.

@Indigo_Gaming

Ай бұрын

Thanks, Duncan!

Bravo! This was fantastic! Renewed my love for all things Miami Vice! I was fortunate enough to watch these episodes as they aired in the '80s (I was 11 in 1984) and since it was a Friday night spectacle, I was able to stay up late with no school the following day!

Crazy work, I'm a fan of Miami Vice and I still learned a lot of things from your documentary, thank you for these 2 and a half hours of pastels, sunsets, glamor, gun fight, synthesizer and mustaches ;)🌴

@Indigo_Gaming

7 ай бұрын

You bet, pal. Thanks for watching!

One of the best Miami Vice docs! Kudos! Also I enjoyed that Fastlane was included. One of my favorite shows because I recognized the "new take" on Miami Vice. Shame it ended only after one season. Anyway, enjoyed this watch. One of those vids where 2+ hours feel like 2 minutes. Awesome!

@Indigo_Gaming

7 ай бұрын

Fantastic! If something long feels short, it means it's well-paced. Glad you enjoyed! From what I heard, Fastlane had a decent following, but it was incredibly expensive to make, for some reason. And that was during the cancel-happy Fox days, where they axed Firefly before they could even finish the first season.

What a great topic for a documentary.

@Indigo_Gaming

8 ай бұрын

Glad you think so. Thanks for stopping by!

Great video ...really appreciated the in depth look at Vice and all the effective offshoots of my favorite show ever...great worl !

Outstanding quality as always, Indigo. I've sent this to my Twitch friend, who runs a Miami Vice-themed channel and promotes a love of all these aesthetics and pop culture beauties. Time I figure out how to binge this show myself!

@Indigo_Gaming

8 ай бұрын

Nice! I hope they enjoy the video.

@IBleedMercuryOfficial

8 ай бұрын

Who is your Twitch friend? I'll follow him.

Zito was my favorite and I wish him and Switek got more screen time... Can't wait to play GTA6 later on and cruise around Vice City while Running with the Night from Lionel Richie plays on the radio 🦩🎵🎶

@Indigo_Gaming

7 ай бұрын

Yeah I wish we got more great episodes with Switek and Zito. I believe John Diehl asked to be written out of the show, due to not enough good material being written for his character.

@cheekydemon6131

7 ай бұрын

@@Indigo_Gaming I know and I understand his decision. His character has had almost no screen time, but his death still made me really sad. Good thing about modern TV series is that basically every character gets enough screen time. Great example of this is Orange is the new Black. I randomly bought the first season once, watched it and then kept buying all the other seasons, because they gave enough spotlight to almost everyone. Most of the time I am more interested in side characters than into the main ones.

@Rogue_Nine416

20 күн бұрын

@@Indigo_Gaming it was ultimately for the best, john diehl went on to have a very successful career in movies as a side character while most of his costars, except for edward james olmos or don johnson, had dying careers or were never really able to star in anything after

Absolutely incredible documentary. Thank you for this.

Outstanding work Indigo & well narrated Eric! Well crafted & researched videos like this (for free!!!!) are way more entertaining than 99% of mass media nowadays.

@Indigo_Gaming

8 ай бұрын

Thanks for the high praise! Glad you enjoy my work, as eclectic as it is...

@sub-jec-tiv

7 ай бұрын

Agreed. Really well-done! Only the AI voiceovers make me go ‘hmmm.’ It’s possible that may become illegal in the near future. It’s a real grey area, even if the quotes are accurate.

your best work by far was your cyberpunkt doc, cant wait to watch this one

@Indigo_Gaming

8 ай бұрын

Thanks very much! Cyberpunk will return one day, but the last episode is going to be a BEAST to create.

Your documentary really is outstanding. You put so much information together and present it in a style which is most appropriate for this legendary TV-series. Your feature caught my attention from the beginning until the end - true class. Thank you, and kind regards from Germany. Christoph

@Indigo_Gaming

7 ай бұрын

Thanks very much Christoph! It means a lot that you appreciated all the hard work myself and the people I hired to help me with this project.

This is the best documentary I've ever seen regarding this theme, from the clips used to the writing itself. Very good pacing. Overall, I think it does encapsulate a time I never lived, but I have a deep fascination for. Bravo. Greetings from Italy (and thanks for the English subtitles, those are always welcome).

@Indigo_Gaming

7 ай бұрын

Grazie! And thank you for watching. I make it a point to have subtitles for all my scripted videos.

Awesome documentary. Thank you for this nostalgic trip

Your work is always articulate, produced brilliantly, and entertaining. Thank you

@Indigo_Gaming

8 ай бұрын

Thanks very much! Glad you enjoyed.

Great timing for gta 6

@Indigo_Gaming

8 ай бұрын

It was actually kind of accidental. I started writing this last summer, while an editor helped me with the Quintet video early on, and I was going through weird health issues. Then, Quintet and Diablo III videos later, manage to finish it right before the GTA 6 trailer, haha. Hopefully it helps get some more eyes on this doc.

Damn, this is such a great documentary. Made me start to rewatch that show for the first time after roughly 30 years.

Drive literally made hype for synthwave.

@Indigo_Gaming

8 ай бұрын

The movie is absolutely carried by its mood and soundtrack, but that's nothing to be ashamed of.

@sandr6769

8 ай бұрын

@@Indigo_Gaming ofc you're right, maybe I should emphesize more on the positivity of that statement. Tron 3D was very impactful on the crystallization of synth retro aestethics, (it's a really unique Disney tbh, it had beatiful DVD physical release), but I remember it being a cult classic among enthusiasts, and it was Drive that really gave spotlight for that aesthetics, it took the cinemas by storm. I remember everyone talking about it. I even saw someone sporting the satin jacket with on the street. Hotline Miami is basically Drive game, but deeper, brutal and more abstract, just Only God Forgives, which is even weirder, more aesthetically pleasing and could be a honourable mention.

@Indigo_Gaming

8 ай бұрын

I almost mentioned Only God Forgives, Neon Demon, and NWR's later work, but I decided to stick with just Drive (it is most relevant to Michael Mann/Miami Vice/Hotline Miami, and is arguably his best work). His cinematography, style and lighting remained gorgeous, but I haven't enjoyed any of his TV/movie projects since Drive.

Awesome vid, love Miami Vice and the 80's. Thanks for this Indigo!

@Indigo_Gaming

8 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks.

30 mins in and i love this video. great job, buddy

@Indigo_Gaming

8 ай бұрын

Quick to the draw, you are! Thanks so much. I hope you enjoy the video!

I've lived in Miami for over 20 years, I always have a playlist ready for taking a drive through South Beach through 195, and then going North on Collins. It's a great drive.

@Indigo_Gaming

8 ай бұрын

Please tell me you have Phil Collins on that playlist while cruising up Collins.

@zerocool5395

8 ай бұрын

@Indigo_Gaming You know it! In a 91' Formula Firebird. It's no Ferrari, but it's white and the V8 makes beautiful music.

@Indigo_Gaming

8 ай бұрын

Test drove a 2000 Firebird once, really wanted to buy it but I was poor at the time. Sounds like a blast!

@zerocool5395

8 ай бұрын

@Indigo_Gaming If it was a V6, it would've been the 3.8L (GM 3800 Series 2) Only 200HP and around the same amount of torque. The car is

The quality of this documentary is too good for KZread

Kick ass as usual, good work man.

Only 13 minutes into your video and I must say it is one of the better researched videos on KZread covering a topic from before the internet where sources are a little harder to track down/double/triple check for possible inaccuracies. You have definitely hit on the style of video that best suits you. Keep it up. Even if you only complete one every once in a while, with this level of attention to detail the views/fans will find you. You make this your primary style going forward and I know that I will definitely be back to subscribe. Until then, I am eagerly sitting on the fence waiting to see what you may possibly produce in this style of video again…

@EvaFull

3 ай бұрын

******Addition****** Really surprised in all your mentions of shows influenced by Miami Vice that were about or in Miami that you didn’t mention Dexter at all.

Truly thankful to IG for consistenly producing this type of quality work, without unnecessary and dated humor, but still with a little flair to keep you interested. God bless you, brother.

@Indigo_Gaming

8 ай бұрын

Thanks so much! There are a couple tiny bits of humor here and there, but nothing jarring, and I try to avoid using memes that will be cringe within months. Overall, I try to keep things fairly straight-laced. Thanks for watching!

Another great documentary I watched the Cyberpunk series like 5 times each part . Love your work man thank you for everything

@Indigo_Gaming

7 ай бұрын

Thanks so much for watching! Really appreciate the loyalty and willingness to check out the variety of weird topics I cover, haha.

Amazing video! Great work as always! Thank you!

@Indigo_Gaming

8 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

Holy cow. Using KZread since 2006. I believe this is the very best video I have ever seen on this platform. Speachless.

@Indigo_Gaming

7 ай бұрын

Considering the countless hours of content uploaded every day, that's an incredibly high bar. Thanks so much, glad you enjoyed it!

Amazing documentary!!!! Thank you so much for this!!!

Excellent documentary ,it brought me sooo many memories of long gone times !!thank you!Also the re endition of crockett`s theme alternate theme was nailing !!!

@Indigo_Gaming

8 ай бұрын

Thanks so much! Was a ton of effort to put this together, and yes, my I hired a friend to compose a few tracks, including "Crockett's Vice," a track similar to Crockett's Theme. Sounds evocative of the original, but different.

This video is amazing awesome job!!! you deserve more views. I'm a huge fan of Vice City and the Outrun aesthetic. I was pretty young when Miami Vice aired but now I have the urge to watch it. Again fantastic video!!!! loved it. ☀😎🌴🏖

@Indigo_Gaming

8 ай бұрын

Glad to see so many fans of the show! I'd been aware of it since I was a kid, but hadn't sat down to actually enjoy it until recently. Thanks guys watching and sharing your thoughts! Hopefully GTA 6 will nail some of the vibes, but I don't think you can beat Vice City's setting and era.

I feel that just saying this is a great & well made vid just simply doesnt do it justice at all. Truly amazing & such incredible work

@Indigo_Gaming

Ай бұрын

Appreciate the shout out! Thanks for watching.

This was a fantastic documentary. Very thorough and well made.