Zorral Posted September 11, 2017 Share Posted September 11, 2017 The new Simon and Pelecanos HBO series, The Deuce, even its first episode which went out Sunday, has received nearly unanimous praise from the television critics. Here's a sample: https://www.vox.com/culture/2017/9/8/16271090/the-deuce-review-hbo-james-franco Oddly though, hundreds of laymen viewers, even though they hadn't seen it yet, already hate it, judging by the hundreds of angry comments they left at yesterday's UK Guardian interview with Simon: https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/sep/10/david-simon-george-pelecanos-the-deuce-pornography-drama-interview-the-wire Ah, it's not The Wire, but then, nothing else is The Wire. Maybe not even The Wire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaxom 1974 Posted September 12, 2017 Share Posted September 12, 2017 I didn't see The Wire. I know it's supposed to be good. I chose to jump on this bandwagon now, in the event it does become the next thing. I didn't dislike it. Not by any stretch. Bit I'm not 100% certain what I just watched...but I'll keep at it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baxus Posted September 12, 2017 Share Posted September 12, 2017 3 hours ago, Jaxom 1974 said: I didn't dislike it. Not by any stretch. Bit I'm not 100% certain what I just watched...but I'll keep at it. This is exactly how I feel. If it follows The Wire's pattern, it will take a few episodes to set up all the characters and everything to really get the show started. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
briantw Posted September 12, 2017 Share Posted September 12, 2017 Yeah, seems like a lot going on in the first episode, but one of the best things about The Wire was how it was a story about dozens of different people and how their worlds came to intersect with each other. You had cops, drug dealers, politicians, teachers, kids...it just weaved them all together into a compelling story about crime in Baltimore and how it impacted everyone. This show feels like it's very much that same style, although obviously it has a long way to go before it matches The Wire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sperry Posted September 12, 2017 Share Posted September 12, 2017 I am so excited about this, although going to remain cautious. No matter how beautiful the setting, how great the actors, how "dark and gritty" you get, if the story isn't good the whole show is worthless. I.e. True Detective Season 2. Now I don't think there is much chacne this show is that bad, but it could also just be a beautiful looking mediocre story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cas Stark Posted September 12, 2017 Share Posted September 12, 2017 I have to admit, it hit me about the same way as Vinyl did: amazing period piece, great cast, meandering story that did not really hold my interest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astromech Posted September 12, 2017 Share Posted September 12, 2017 7 hours ago, briantw said: Yeah, seems like a lot going on in the first episode, but one of the best things about The Wire was how it was a story about dozens of different people and how their worlds came to intersect with each other. You had cops, drug dealers, politicians, teachers, kids...it just weaved them all together into a compelling story about crime in Baltimore and how it impacted everyone. This show feels like it's very much that same style, although obviously it has a long way to go before it matches The Wire. This is basically what I'm expecting style and structure-wise. It is David Simon after all. If it is using the story I'm assuming is the central plot or based upon, Spoiler the story behind the making of the film Deep Throat ,than it could be quite interesting. Of course, Simon and Pelecanos will be capturing time and place while weaving in stories and arcs revolving around that central story. They've already done a fine job capturing 1970s New York and Times Square. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zorral Posted September 12, 2017 Author Share Posted September 12, 2017 Well, Simon and Pelecanos appear certain the series is about the intersection of work and capitalism in the creation of the porn industry, which came into being in the early 1970's, and which was birthed particularly in this particular place and time on the blocks of Times Square. And yes, they plan to dramatize this narrative via the stories of intersecting stories of a variety of characters, as Simon & Co. did in The Wire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaxom 1974 Posted September 13, 2017 Share Posted September 13, 2017 Did the twin James Francos have to be identical so completely as adults? If not for the forehead wound, I had to really try to make certain which brother was in the scene at times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astromech Posted September 13, 2017 Share Posted September 13, 2017 15 hours ago, Jaxom 1974 said: Did the twin James Francos have to be identical so completely as adults? If not for the forehead wound, I had to really try to make certain which brother was in the scene at times. This article tries to help. http://www.tvguide.com/news/james-franco-the-deuce/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martini Sigil Posted September 15, 2017 Share Posted September 15, 2017 I'm from NYC... born and raised... and I remember how seedy 42st was before Guilliani turned it into a family destination... I'm awestruck at how they've captured the feel for how it was... I was only 7 years old in 1971 (when the show takes place)... but from the lighting, to the cars, to the bars, they really nailed it... I think that the story has a way to go, but I think it should get there... the subject matter is really original, and this has all the makings of a great show... time will tell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DireWolfSpirit Posted September 17, 2017 Share Posted September 17, 2017 I really love this periods soul music. Curtis Mayfield (Move on up) was just fantastic. 2 songs i'll be hoping they can work into future episodes are Marvin Gayes (Inner City Blues) and Bobby Womacks (Across 110th Street) aka the airport opening in"Jackie Brown". Heres the very beautiful "Inner City Blues" from 1971( So belongs in this series). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zorral Posted September 17, 2017 Author Share Posted September 17, 2017 I know -- every time I hear "Across 110th Street", I just time travel. And even more so, I see, hear, and feel it all, particularly uptown whenever I heard Eddie Palmierie's "Harlem River Drive". The 1970's was a great period for latin music of all kinds in NYC. I hope they get some of this in the series. You sure as hell would have been hearing "Harlem River Drive" all over the Deuce back then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martini Sigil Posted September 17, 2017 Share Posted September 17, 2017 17 hours ago, DireWolfSpirit said: I really love this periods soul music. Curtis Mayfield (Move on up) was just fantastic. 2 songs i'll be hoping they can work into future episodes are Marvin Gayes (Inner City Blues) and Bobby Womacks (Across 110th Street) aka the airport opening in"Jackie Brown". Heres the very beautiful "Inner City Blues" from 1971( So belongs in this series). Damn F'ing right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astromech Posted September 18, 2017 Share Posted September 18, 2017 Another good episode. Everyone in the show is just hustling. Love all the jockeying for position in the diner between the pimps and prostitutes. It's so cutthroat. The short inside the episodes are quite informative. I appreciate learning more about various aspects of the police, the trade, character inspirations, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GallowKnight Posted September 18, 2017 Share Posted September 18, 2017 Damn, there is a lot of David Simon regulars on this show. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nictarion Posted September 18, 2017 Share Posted September 18, 2017 3 hours ago, GallowKnight said: Damn, there is a lot of David Simon regulars on this show. Yep. It was weird seeing Maurice Levy playing a cop. I'm already liking this much more than Treme or Show Me a Hero. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astromech Posted September 18, 2017 Share Posted September 18, 2017 8 minutes ago, Nictarion said: Yep. It was weird seeing Maurice Levy playing a cop. I'm already liking this much more than Treme or Show Me a Hero. I was happy to see Chris Bauer again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mexal Posted September 19, 2017 Share Posted September 19, 2017 I think this show is great. Love seeing NYC in the 70s, especially as I live there now. My wife remembers when Times Square was all seedy so she's loving this too. The atmosphere is great, the acting is great, the story is interesting. Really glad it was just renewed for season 2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bard of Banefort Posted September 19, 2017 Share Posted September 19, 2017 My parents are both from NYC, and they and the rest of my relatives have always talked about how miserable it was there during the 70s (and the 80s too, for that matter). I've never watched The Wire, although I know it's held in high esteem by both fans and critics alike. Thus far, the storytelling style on The Deuce has been extremely slow, and a bit monotonous at that -- obviously a show with this much crime, poverty, and abuse is going to be dark, but without any humor, it all just kind of blends together after a while. I think James Franco is talented, but I'm not quite on board with his performance here yet. The twins don't seem different to me, and playing an Italian guy involved with the mob is a surprisingly big role to fill when you consider all the other iconic actors who have gotten famous after playing Italian guys involved with the mob. Hopefully he'll get better as the show goes on. I'm curious if they're going to kill Emily Meade (Lori) off in the first season, since that's apparently what happens to her in every HBO show she's in. Also, does anyone else think she looks a lot like Hannah Murray (Gilly)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.