Treme Review: "Tipitina" (Episode 3.10)
There was no way of watching "Tipitina" last night and not getting a series finale vibe. read more
Found in: TVTreme Review: "Poor Man's Paradise" (Episode 3.9)
Treme's thematic interest in showing not just key events but also the process that makes them happen tends to be both the show's strength and also its primary weakness. read more
Found in: TV, ReviewsTreme Review: "Promised Land" (Episode 3.7)
It's fitting that very little happened in "Promised Land," since the episode centered around Mardi Gras, and as Everett found out, that largely shuts down the entire city until it ends. read more
Found in: TV, ReviewsTreme Review: "I Thought I Heard Buddy Bolden Say" (Episode 3.5)
At its best, Treme is essentially a post-Katrina version of Robert Altman’s masterpiece Nashville, only with more authentic (and, frankly, better) music. Of course, the time period is a pretty key part of the show, and also makes the show have more of a plot than Nashville did, not to mention the show’s serial nature. As time moves on, the city and its people need to change, but that doesn’t mean that very plot-based storytelling works particularly well for the show’s large cast and musical focus. Procedurals require something closer to linear storytelling, and that’s simply not what Treme does... read more
Found in: TV, ReviewsTreme Review: "The Greatest Love" (Episode 3.4)
What various corrupt police officers did during the flood has been part of Treme since its very beginning, though it's been simmering slowly. read more
Found in: TV, ReviewsTreme Review: "Me Donkey Want Water" (Episode 3.3)
Practically no show has been as filled with artists as Treme, whether it’s the main characters or just musicians who play in one episode and are never seen again. Last week I spoke about how strangely uninteresting the show’s investigatory and law-based side is to me, and a lot of this is because although the Treme as a whole is about the rebuilding of New Orleans in the aftermath of Katrina, individually it’s always primarily been about making it as an artist. These artists come from all strata of life, from the extremely successful Delmond Lambreaux to the always-on-the-verge-of-hitting-bottom Sonny.... read more
Found in: TV, ReviewsTreme Review: "Saints" (Episode 3.2)
One oddity of Treme has always been that the aspects of the show that most resemble David Simon’s masterpiece The Wire have also been, almost universally (I say almost because of Sonny), the most uninteresting parts of Treme. Criminal investigations have been part of the show ever since its inception—after all, one of the main characters is a civil defense attorney—but the probes into Katrina-era crime have always felt de rigeur. I wouldn’t say that it’s a matter of poor execution, but rather that its resemblance to what we saw in The Wire is never quite enough to be satisfying.... read more
Found in: TV, ReviewsTreme Review: "Knock With Me—Rock With Me" (Episode 3.1)
Most of the time, my least favorite episodes of David Simon's shows occur at the beginning of the season, which is only natural given the way they're structured. read more
Found in: TV, ReviewsAnthony Bourdain Hired as Treme Writer
Culinary/travel badass Anthony Bourdain was recently recruited to write one of the many complex, intertwining plot lines on David Simon’s Treme. The host of the popular Travel Channel show No Reservations was a consultant for a few details of the show’s first season. For the second season, Bourdain will be writing a thread of the show focused on a woman in New Orleans, struggling to keep her small but acclaimed restaurant going during the wake of Hurricane Katrina.... read more
Found in: TV, NewsBaltimore Police Commissioner Criticizes The Wire, David Simon Retorts
The Wire has been hailed as one of the greatest TV shows of the decade by myriad critics. It is a triumphant drama that tells the story of a broken system, a decaying city,and the fight for the American Dream. However, not everyone is in love with The Wire—particularly the Police Commissioner of Baltimore, the city that provides the setting for the show.... read more
Found in: TV, News
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