Anticipating Treme aka "Tremé" - David Simon and his buddies do post-Katrina N.O.

Wow, interesting stuff about Bowen and Hall, I had no clue.

Dunno if you've seen this, it's a nice blog by a Tulane music prof on the music in Treme:
http://soundoftreme.blogspot.com/

Great article on Tootie Montana:
http://www.louisianafolklife.org/LT/Virtual_Books/Hes_Prettiest/hes_the_prettiest_tootie_montana.html

I think Zahn's character is being redeemed - you can see why people like him, even if he's childish and irresponsible. He rushed right over to the restaurant with his check to make up for being a dick.

I'm confused by Goodman's reaction to Zahn - Goodman instantly loathed him, which I thought was weird for a guy who professes such love for the culture of NOLA. The only thing I could think of was he's wary of anybody out to interest his daughter in low-prestige, low-wage occupations (like being a musician). But his despising Zahn seemed really intense and came out of nowhere. Am I missing some subtext here?

i definitely picked up that goodman's character was concerned about zahn perving on his daughter.

the character goodman plays gives off an impressively imposing vibe. i'd be scared of him too.

i definitely picked up that goodman's character was concerned about zahn perving on his daughter.

i should add-- this was partly because there was a POV shot of zahn sitting a bit close to her on the piano bench, followed by a shot of goodman looking a bit incredulous. i think he's just supposed to be an overly protective father (and we know the zahn character is a perv, even if he may not be that kind of perv).

i mean, c'mon, Davis does look kinda dirty. that shaving line was wonderful.

I did see that POV shot - but Goodman's adverse reaction to Zahn is immediately after opening the door to him, that's what confused me. Goodman's dislike of him seems to be of the entirety of Zahn's character, rather than just fear of molestation. I'll let it go because I'm sure they'll follow up on this in future episodes.

I'm enjoying this but I feel that something needs to happen soon, aside from that kid being beaten up it all feels a bit first-episode still. Enough scene setting, now give us an idea of where you're going to take this.

I was confused by the piano lesson scene too. The Tulane professor hasn't come across characters like this around his beloved city before (he's surprised that a low-income musician didn't shave before giving a lesson)? And I didn't think it could be construed in any way that Davis was interested in his daughter, despite his reputation.
Yeah, I think they've run into each other before and we'll learn more about that later.

Davis seemed to know Goodman's wife, so why not...

I'm enjoying this but I feel that something needs to happen soon, aside from that kid being beaten up it all feels a bit first-episode still. Enough scene setting, now give us an idea of where you're going to take this.

― Matt DC, Thursday, April 29, 2010 9:35 AM (1 hour ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

yeah... i kinda said this upthread and maybe it's unrealistic to expect a seasonal arc quite as heavy and dark as The Wire usually had (at the very least the body count is gonna be a lot lower), but it seems like they have to be building to something and it feels like those gears are still turning very slowly.

I also think Goodman knows that his daughter a little developing hell-raiser in her, and wants to prevent her from being exposed to what he perceives - probably correctly - as a BAD influence.

Davis is an asshole, but he seems to have more good intentions than not. I think, like a lot of pothead musicians I know, he's just a very selfish person who rarely pulls his head out of his own ass.

His stripper song was pretty great, though - and I love how she was a fleeting muse the first few times he saw her.

I also think Goodman knows that his daughter a little developing hell-raiser in her, and wants to prevent her from being exposed to what he perceives - probably correctly - as a BAD influence.

Agreed – also it may be that having heard endless stories of his wife's clients he's suspicious of anyone she's representing.

The song was great!

i agree with that, but i also think it's meant to point out that as passionate as he is about new orleans, he's got a pretty different idea about/connection to the city than many of the other characters

goodman probably thinks that davis is a poseur, i'd bet...

in what sense? goodman doesn't seem like he's ever been at the second line, or really cares to judge people on their new orleans cred.

I think Goodman represents an entirely different part of New Orleans, as evidenced by his never interacting with anyone from the Treme, his being a professor at Tulane, clear statements by his wife that they didn't sustain serious damage in the storm...I believe we would call these folks "Uptowners", which, while entirely a part of New Orleans, is a world apart from the Quarter, the Treme, or the 6th/7th/9th wards.

Also, he seems to be a proud New Orleanian, and that he has a generous nature, but not when it comes to his daughter. Which I completely understand.

Have to add - the piano player going wino on the Beaujolais by himself is further convincing me that he's going to snap, and its not going to be good when he does. I like the fiddle player, and am worried for her safety.

Maybe he's sick of his wife bringing every joe she's bailed out and can't pay into his home? He seemed rather good natured about it to be honest, but there was a bit of, oh shucks, again honey.

I like the fiddle player, and am worried for her safety.

― Clerk all KNOWIN (B.L.A.M.), Thursday, April 29, 2010 3:44 PM (4 hours ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

yeah, i felt that way, too

I thought the Goodman/Davis thing was a reversal of the Davis-neighbours situation.

just caught up on ep 3... did Sonny buy that bottle of Beaujolais at Bacchanal?

this one was really good, i thought. also: slim charles! prez!

Loved the "Hampsterdam" reference in the episode.

McCoy Tyner! Still not much happening though is there?

getting worse than a malick movie w/all these cameos

I watched the first episode and it was a hoot.

Seems like there's plot aplenty to be had from corrupt city officials, misappropriated funds, FEMA shenanigans etc. if they wanted to go that way. Though I wouldn't mind just spending time with these characters. Melissa Leo in particular - when she showed up I punched the air, like just "yes!!"

They don't seem to be going down that road, not yet at any rate. We haven't seen any politicians at all yet, it's all at ground level.

Violinist girl is so hot.

this is basically just spending time with these characters: the show; there's v.little story or drama so far

i admit this is getting kind of boring, but it's not because of the lack of "drama." more like a kind of... thin quality to a lot of the scenes.

I just found out that Khandi Alexander will turn 53 this year. OMG she's so hot.

finally admitted i'd rather, like, read one of the Great Novels than try to dig through the episodes piling up on my DVR. Unless everyone starts getting HOLY SHIT about the show.

Loved the "Hampsterdam" reference in the episode.

― righteousmaelstrom, Monday, May 3, 2010 2:21 PM (1 week ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

that was so http://nolongerquivering.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/anim_smileyBARF.gif

Violinist girl is so hot.

I just found out that Khandi Alexander will turn 53 this year. OMG she's so hot.

this has settled into one of those shows i really like, but kind of have to force myself to watch since I'm not incredibly interested in what happens next - but once i'm actually sitting down and watching it, the acting and characters keeps me pretty into it and entertained, i'm sucked in. it's just that the momentum of everything is some of the slowest i've seen in a contemporary drama, though i trust that things are going to pile up eventually. (though by the same token, the whole parade shooting was surprisingly anticlimactic!) alexander, pierce and peters are still kicking all sorts of ass in every episode, and the rest of the cast still quite good if the characters are just kind of floating around. I mean, the cooking scene was well done, but Top Chef?

how weird was the violinist/junkie/iraq vet angle? all the looks through the doorway were so goddamn creepy, like all this hunger

I was pretty surprised when the gunshots started I must admit.

wondering how often those chefs all get together to hang out.

what is the deal w/ John Goodman not being listed as part of the main cast in the opening credits or anything btw -- afaik he's been in every episode about as consistently as the wife character, and Melissa Leo is billed in the cast.

anyone crazy about this?

not yet, but damned if i'm not watching every episode

This show makes a lot more sense if you think of it as an American equivalent to a working-class soap opera a la Coronation Street or Eastenders

Goodman might have some sort of contract issue that prevents him from being listed, maybe he's being granted permission to appear on the show?

wd love to see corrie after a massive fuck off natural disaster

i think i stopped watching after ep 2. has it gotten better? (didn't read thread)

^^ couldn't bring myself to watch s3 as it's so fucking tedious/pompous...so yeah, has it gotten better?

Eh... It's scene-by-scene... There are some great live music scenes, and some powerful/poignant/funny scenes between characters; but there are also some SUPER-clumsy speeches and interactions, along with some really jarring and unnecessary celebrity cameos. I'm still watching.

I can see why you'd think it was tedious but, pompous? Really? I mean, this is a pretty important subject that the characters are getting on their high horse about, it's not like they don't have a fucking good reason to be angry. I think the John Goodman polemics can be a bit on the blunt side but they're getting the balance right everywhere else.

Anyone else think it's really picked up over the last couple of episodes? After about five episodes of just hanging with the characters there's been a very marked shift in tone - we know where the characters are going now. There were a couple of "fuck..." moments in the last episode that really reminded me of bits of the Wire - that scene in the back of the truck was wrenching. Also Chief holing himself up in the projects - after several episodes of seeing characters getting angry at the injustice of it all, it's finally trying to make the viewers angry as well.

Wish they'd kept the Davis-running-for-council thing going a bit longer, that was great. Although my careometer is still pretty low when it comes to restaurant girl and the violinist and her dick of a junkie boyfriend.

I'm glad that the Chief storyline seems to be going somewhere (though, this being a David Simon show, it's far more likely that his efforts will be in vain - though I don't know what happened in real life), though his bits have always been entertaining, just like LaDonna's search for her son, though that storyline is a lot more motivated. Pierce's portrayal of Antoine is great enough where his plots are basically coasting on his likability; I'm okay with this. While I love John Goodman and Kim Dickens, both their stories seem too blunt, since they're both so obviously good sympathetic characters we're supposed to sympathize with. Davis... well, he's been growing on me, but not yet to the point where I feel all his screen time has been justified.

The violinist plot seems amazingly obvious, and hence feels like more of a waste of time than the others. I mean, either they're going to self-destruct and the asshole boyfriend will kill her and/or himself, or she'll finally leave him, then... so what? Is there going to be a greater point to be made about these two young people who are both imports to New Orleans? Were they just there to be young struggling musicians as a comparison to Antoine's middle-aged hustling? Lucia Micarelli's a beautiful girl, and glows wonderfully when she's playing music, but the scenes where she's had to act (fighting with her boyfriend, or this week's scene where she dogs her audition) come off incredibly hammy.

Not digging the celebrity cameos, but I am amused that Antoine seems to hate tons of other musicians.

I find it's straining my goodwill. Both the Goodman character and the Chief seem to be pretty straightforward editorializing sock-puppets, delivering monologues without much drama. Bunk-as-'Bone-man part seems underwritten - he's there just to be a loveable schlub. Goodman's wife seems similarly thin. Hate the busking couple. Find Davis annoying. Find a lot of the music scenes/celeb cameos totally indulgent. Can't believe nobody in New Orleans listens to hip hop... The truck corpses scene was good, but a bit too little too late. Are there really only 10 episodes in this season? Cos I can't see them bringing it round in the remaining three...

Nah, I gotta give the Chief credit. They gave him a ton of character set up and backstory - his strained relationships with his son and daughter and his community role as chief and white hat thug enforcer, not to mention smooth ladies man. His motivations are totally plausable, his connection to the area and people was gradually laid out competently, even though the gist of it was nailed in the pilot. His scenes are usually a pleasure to watch for me, whether he's getting in some politician's face or just eating dinner. Goodman on the other hand, I don't know why he cares so much - he just does - though who knows, kind of hoping him and Davis have a heart-to-heart about their motivations by the end of the season.

Melissa Leo's character's pretty straightforward, but I think she's managed to be effectively clever, compassionate and outraged in her own mostly procedural storyline; especially in those flashes of anger, like when she couldn't convince that ADA to file the joint motion last week. (Not as interesting in her own family, though, but I suspect there'll be boring arguments how about Goodman can't get his book done.)

Goodman is too obvious an editorialising sockpuppet I think. The Chief, no way, he's great and totally credible.

I dunno, the Chief seems too unambiguously The Noble Suffering Spirit of New Orleans to me. Love Clarke Peters work as always, though.

oh well at least it's one show where you don't have to worry about spoilers