Jump to content

The Deuce


Zorral

Recommended Posts

Good finale to the season. Dorothy being killed off-screen worked for me, especially with CC's murder being on-screen last week. Somehow it was more powerful her being just another Jane Doe until we realize along with, but really through, Alton. It had that much more of an impact.

Another contrast that worked extremely well was Darlene's and Lori's breaks with Larry and CC. Darlene was able to leave because they were simply "acting or playing  a role". (What an appropriate metaphor) There wasn't much emotion in it and it was fairly effortless and awkward. Especially Larry's attempted kiss. Contrast that with the sheer emotional relief of Lori upon learning of CC's death and her liberation. "Liberation" is truly what it was for her. Larry may have been going through the motions of his role as a pimp, but CC was a pimp, manipulative, vicious, abusive, making Lori's leaving that much more difficult than Darlene's. Not excusing any of Larry's actions, though.

Bobby's reaction to Black Frankie's murder of Carlos was so in-character for him. He thought Black Frankie was his tough and seemed more upset BF took the job without Bobby's permission. But Bobby really has never had any control in his life and his need for it has created so many problems in his life.

Candy had some great scenes this episode. Of course, that final scene with her parents not allowing her son to go on vacation with her, but I really loved her scene with Russell where he apologized to his conversation with the two guys at the premiere. She realized he really just saw her as a trophy and was cutting her losses. It seemed so emotionless, but with Candy, we all know she is very good at suppressing her emotions and putting on a good face. She finally broke in that final scene. She rolls with her punches, but she has a  lot of trouble doing that when it comes to her parental situation. Love her character.

Good thing for Haddix Rodney didn't know to sweep the leg.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Great finale and enjoyed watching the last 5 episodes back to back. I'm surprised how much depth the show and its characters have with so few episodes. Some of the characters have only had minutes of screen-time but they all feel like living and breathing entities.

The episode where Lori leaves CC was great. I spent most of the episode dreading what CC was going to do. I feared he was going to slice her face (like he did with Dorothy in the pilot episode) so it came as a pleasant surprise when he was killed by Bobby. Then the chilling off-screen killing of Dorothy that had me wondering whether I'd missed something. Who killed her? I was actually thinking it could have been CC taking his rage out on her instead of Lori. Or was it one of the other pimps? Afterall CC was the pimp who argued against killing her. Not sure whether it will be followed up or not.

I'm pleased the next season is less of a time jump and having it charge the birth of VHS makes a lot of sense. I guess it did change the world of porn as Harvey pointed out and I guess it wasn't superceded until the internet took off (or became capable of streaming video footage).

I also like how the show has transitioned into a genuine gangster show. Perhaps as much gang related as porn related now and the show has made a point of showing how the two intertwine.

This show has some great performances particularly regarding some of the nastier characters where you can't help but connect with them. CC and Larry don't deserve much empathy but the actors do such a good job you can't help but see their pov. Emily Meade was excellent in the scene where her sobs went from sorrow to confusion to outright relief.

It's almost a shame there's only one more season but I respect Simon and Pelecanos knowing exactly how long they want to spend on the show. I imagine it's also a commitment for Franco and Gylenhaal in the sense they probably only signed on knowing it would last 3 seasons tops. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...

I've read up on what happens this season, but have only watched the first episode of season two thus far. I really love the way this show captures the setting so well, and how it really brings this period to life. Granted, even though Vince is basically the focal point of the show, I tend to feel that he, Frankie, Abby, and Paul kind of take away from the more-interesting porn plot. 

Speaking of which, does anyone else find it hard to believe that a wealthy, attractive college girl would give up everything to shack up with James Franco for five years? 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 7 months later...

They're filming scenes for the final season here in Port Washington today. I'd seen the "TD" set signs around in other towns recently but it never occurred to me that it might be The Deuce until I started seeing people wearing the crew shirts today.

With all that suburban filming (though I actually have no idea how much they shot around here) I'm thinking some of our characters have moved out of the city by the time the third season picks up. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

41 minutes ago, RumHam said:

They're filming scenes for the final season here in Port Washington today. I'd seen the "TD" set signs around in other towns recently but it never occurred to me that it might be The Deuce until I started seeing people wearing the crew shirts today.

With all that suburban filming (though I actually have no idea how much they shot around here) I'm thinking some of our characters have moved out of the city by the time the third season picks up. 

I love Port Washington....lol... I'm from out there... haven't been back in a few years....

... and --IMO-- The Deuce is the best show on TV currently running... really looking forward to S3

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...
  • 3 weeks later...

I guess I should try to finish season two now that season three is coming out. The Deuce has great acting and is very atmospheric, but I don't know. . . I feel like it had so much potential and could have really built up to something more compelling. The show doesn't have much of a plot, and can feel like misery porn sometimes, but I think the biggest problem for me is that I just don't find most of the characters to be particularly likable. Sure, I want to see them achieve their goals and live better lives, but I don't really feel any sort of emotional connection to any of them, which makes it hard for me to stay engaged.

The trailers are fun, although they don't reveal much (fun fact: I have a cousin who worked on the editing team for the first season's trailer). It looks like they got rid of Abby's terrible season two wig, although I'm still not sure why she stayed with James Franco for fourteen years. I will be shocked if she hasn't left him by the end of the of the series.

Now that I think about it, the friendship between Harvey and Candy might be my favorite part of this show, along with Lori's journey. Even though they're definitely covering the AIDS crisis with Paul, I don't see how it could possibly not affect the sex workers as well. Maybe they just didn't want to reveal too much in the trailer. 

HBO doesn't seem to promote this show much, and I can't help but wonder if that's because of the many accusations against Franco. They started this show before Weinstein/MeToo, and I'm guessing they couldn't unload him without having to cancel the show entirely. Which is a shame, since I do think that Maggie Gyllenhall, at the very least, deserves more recognition for her work in this series.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

19 hours ago, The Bard of Banefort said:

feel like misery porn

considering what The Deuce is, that seems ... an odd choice of descriptor ... when commercial porn, like so much sex work, is built pretty much on exploitation of all kinds of misery (exceptions no doubt, but generally the majority

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 8/30/2019 at 12:39 PM, Zorral said:

considering what The Deuce is, that seems ... an odd choice of descriptor ... when commercial porn, like so much sex work, is built pretty much on exploitation of all kinds of misery (exceptions no doubt, but generally the majority

I get your point, but there have been other shows that have managed to consistently tackle troubling topics while also maintaining a degree of humor and levity. Six Feet Under is good example of that.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

32 minutes ago, The Bard of Banefort said:

I get your point, but there have been other shows that have managed to consistently tackle troubling topics while also maintaining a degree of humor and levity. Six Feet Under is good example of that.

Not equivalents.  Trafficking, Epstein/Weinstein, etc.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

31 minutes ago, RumHam said:

It's weird this is premiering on a monday, right?

I was trying to remember if it was on Monday’s last season? It’s annoying though. Sunday night is HBO night, why fuck with that? 

Their own network doesn’t even respect the show... :angry2:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 minutes ago, Nictarion said:

I was trying to remember if it was on Monday’s last season? It’s annoying though. Sunday night is HBO night, why fuck with that? 

Their own network doesn’t even respect the show... :angry2:

It's actually a commandment from AT&T. They want to make both Sunday and Monday big days for original programming on HBO. Chernobyl was a Monday release as well.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Good premiere to s3, but time jumps are always a bit odd. You'd think these characters would look a little rougher considering their lifestyles. So we're on to home video and the AIDS epidemic. This season may be the most depressing yet. At least we have 80's fashion to cheer us up.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Loved the premiere. The music, the clothes, the hairstyles -- they really nail the era, but then Simon's always been very good about that.  

Seeing Dominick Lombardozzi appear as Jack Maple was fun for a couple of reasons. First, obviously, Herc! But he's playing a guy who was basically the antithesis of Herc. Maple pretty much invented CompStat, using detailed crime stats to pinpoint problem areas and putting resources there. But while this is being shown as a positive, I assume, on The Deuce, back on The Wire the "Comstat" meetings were a load of bullshit that was being actively manipulated by the police department to try and paint a rosier picture than the reality.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...