Bruce Willis played a villain in this Crime series

Bruce Willis needs no introduction. Apart from the (epic) 'Die Hard' franchise, the actor has appeared in a wide range of blockbuster films – from 'Sin City' to 'The Expendables' – and established himself as a reliable action hero. While Willis' career is with over a hundred performancesit's time to go back in time and look at one of his earliest roles before he became a star. Before his starring role in Moonlighting Willis had a guest spot on an episode of “Miami Vice” titled “No Exit.” One episode would stand out this season for more reasons than one, as it proved to be a turning point in cementing the show's recurring themes and narrative archetypes.

This formulaic quality unique to “Miami Vice” might be considered dated by today's standards, but even as the series stumbled to find its footing, it continually pushed the boundaries. As a result, Willis' turn as the antagonist in “No Exit,” considered one of the most entertaining entries in the first season, undoubtedly feels significant. As usual, this episode follows undercover Metro-Dade cops Sonny (Don Johnson) and Ricardo (Philip Michael Thomas) who are now investigating a deal involving military hardware. After the dealers are apprehended, all fingers are pointed at Tony Amato (Willis), an elusive supplier who plans to sell stolen missiles. Things get uglier when Amato's wife, Rita (Catherine Borowitz), gets involved and reveals Amato's obsessive, abusive nature in dealing with everything he believes he is owed.

Let's take a closer look Willis Amato in “No Exit” and how this episode offers much more than your standard police procedural, diving deep into existential waters.

The episode's title is a reference to philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre's book of the same name, and it's beyond such a sloppy head. “No Way Out” explores the Satrean view of all relationships based on a struggle for dominance, where the inevitable presence of conflict drives our defining worldviews. The popular and often misinterpreted quote “Hell is other people” comes from this book, essentially emphasizing how the gaze and actions of the “other” (as opposed to the “self”) can influence our choices and rob us of our freedom. Sartre argues that once this instinct to make choices prompted by self-awareness is removed, it is tantamount to denying our humanity.

Willis Amato embodies the ultimate manifestation of the “other” as he is the one who pulls the strings and influences those around him to their detriment. He is a scoundrel without (self-justifying) principles and sees people as objects that are either desirable or destined to be discarded. Because of this skewed power dynamic, Amato robs people of their choices and therefore their freedom to free themselves from their harmful influence. Willis portrays this unsavory character, juxtaposed against truly gruesome acts and a distasteful wardrobe, to drive the performance home. You can't help but hate Amato for being so stupid, which makes the moment of his inevitable downfall deliciously cathartic.

There is a a lot to like No Exit even more than the pre-Moonlighting Willis, so I'll leave it up to you guys to check it out if you haven't already. It's also no wonder the actor became an absolute sensation as detective David Addison when Moonlighting began airing on ABC a year later, although a significant part of the show's appeal can be attributed to the character's electrifying chemistry with Cybil Shepherd's Maddie Hayes. . Needless to say, “Moonlighting” makes for great televisionand you can catch it on Hulu if you want to wash away the existential vibes of “No Exit” with something more comforting.