"The Deuce (2017) New Simon/Pelecanos show coming in September"
They've been talking about this since last year, new trailer/teasers are finally out. Spotlights Time Square in the 1970s and the porn scene that went along with it.
Starring James Franco as twins and Maggie Gylenhall as a prostitute. Also features Wire alums D'Angelo Barksdale, Chris Partlow, Frank Sybotka, Slim Charles, and Method Man with a perm. Black Thought also has a role.
2. "looking forward to it, also to Capitol Hill if/when that happens" In response to Reply # 0
But yeah: James Franco playing twins, Ralph Macchio as a washed up cop, Anwan Glover in a starring role, 70s NYC, lots of wire alumni, Simon doing Simon... sounds pretty wonderful
I hope the sex work stuff is done efficiently, and that the inevitable larger story gets its legs and quickly
6. "Fire all around; everyone is at the top of their game" In response to Reply # 0
I was afraid for the Franco as twins angles thinking he was going to pull one of his stunts but he plays it straight and kills the role as the 'good' brother.
7. "Which is iller: Slim Charles' afro or Method Man's perm?" In response to Reply # 0 Mon Sep-18-17 01:04 AM by mrhood75
Meth's suits are looking fly as well.
I also didn't recognize Ralph Maccio until the last roll call scene with Levy as a police officer. Gotta re-watch to appreciate him in the earlier scenes.
Later, watching the cold potato soup scene, I was thinking, "Damn, they're really letting HBO show everything these days." Until they panned out to the turkey basters and soup cans.
Some really great acting so far. Gary Carr (C.C.) and Gbenga Akinnagbe (Larry aka Chris Partlow the Zombie King) are fucking killing it. It's obvious C.C. is spinning Duluth girl 20 tons of bullshit; it's drama, but it sounds real good. Franco and Maggie Gyllenhaal are also doing their thing.
I'm guessing Abby gets into the movie business rather than hooking.
I'm impressed so far. Love how David Simon shows come together.
21. "I'm on S2. I'm really enjoying it " In response to Reply # 18
It's not the Wire obviously, and nothing groundbreaking. It's a police procedural that's superior to most police procedurals.
I dig the LA aspect of it. The cast is solid. It's kinda noir-ish. They go with season long story arcs. Youll see tons of familiar faces. Pelecanos has some involvement. I'm not sure how much.
23. "I think it's a mixture" In response to Reply # 21
of Justified (only because there's a big bad for each season that eventually gets caught or dealt with) and a far, far less gritty version of The Shield (because the main character definitely has some demons, but not enough that he cuts too many corners, at least morally).
The actors and actresses do great work with the material though, so even though the story-lines are pretty much by the numbers throughout the seasons, it's still an entertaining show.
"Sean sparks like John Starks, nah, Sean ball like John Wall" - Rest In Power Forever Sean Price.
i was hesitant to use the shield, since Vic was just (to my knowledge) the first time the main character in a cop show was straight up dirty, yet you still rooted for him in a Tony Soprano kind of way.
but yeah, as far as your by-the-numbers cop shows, this is probably as good as it gets. it's infinitely better than bullshit like Blue Bloods
8. "This better win Production Design Emmy next year" In response to Reply # 0
The scope they are working on is mind-blowing. So often period stuff doesn't look lived in or real especially on TV (I know, I know, it's HBO) but the fidelity here is amazing
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9. "Can someone breakdown that construction job grift for me?" In response to Reply # 0
That made dude is financing the construction company it's payroll in exchange for 5% fee for cashing the checks and it's getting paid for four bogus jobs as well, right? What I don't understand is if the construction is able to eat those four fake jobs that were created, why can't they afford to front the construction workers their paychecks in a quick enough manner.
"Sean sparks like John Starks, nah, Sean ball like John Wall" - Rest In Power Forever Sean Price.
it's not that the company can't afford to pay the workers. it's just that they give them their checks at the end of their friday shift rather than the beginning, to make sure that they work the whole day and don't cut out early.
the problem is that by the time they get their checks, the banks are closed, so they can't cash them until monday.
so it's basically a short term payday loan, for a 5% fee. franco and sobotka are functioning as a check cashing / currency exchange, with mob-fronted cash as the bankroll.
since sobotka's the payroll supervisor, he can oversee the operation, along with the no-show jobs, with the higher-ups being none the wiser. it's a classic mob setup. pretty common practice.
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it is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts. - sherlock holmes
It's pretty wild now the Made Men guys are trying to provide the 'good' Franco brother with a come up when those guys were potentially there as a threat to him in the first episode. It goes without saying that I'm a huge Wire fan, so I will give the show the benefit of the doubt, but that storyline changed over mighty quick.
"Sean sparks like John Starks, nah, Sean ball like John Wall" - Rest In Power Forever Sean Price.
15. "Well they seen an opportunity to make some money with him" In response to Reply # 14
They cant do what he can and thats manage a bar (he's also clean) and hes better with money than his brother. They know his brother is in debt so its extra motivation to really make money with the opportunity in front of him because he's the one making sure his brothers debts are paid in full plus make them more money while doing it by turning the gay bar around.
20. "Lol i think he knows why it was given to him " In response to Reply # 19
Cuase it was more of do this while you do the other thing for me from a guy in the mafia is not a negotiation LOL he had to take it cause he knew he wouldnt haventhe other scheme
25. "Franco seems to know the deal though" In response to Reply # 19
his wife's family is mobbed up, so he's not completely naive to that world. I think he believes he can work within that world with one foot out. Will be interesting to see how it plays out, or if his in-laws will be a factor at some point.
>I'm surprised he didn't see through that I mean who da hell >just gives you a bar?
26. "So did people keep watching this? Hopefully so. ***SPOILERS***" In response to Reply # 0
I've liked the whole series so far, but the last two episodes have been especially dope.
I found Abby so fricking clueless, as she's so unaware that she's far less edgy/rebellious than she likes to believe she is. Father and her family continue to see right through her.
LOL @ three of the pimps talking about "Fantasia." Going to be interesting to see where things go next season, because, as C.C. said, there's barely a place for the pimps in this set-up. And we know that pimping doesn't go away.
R.I.P. Reggie Love aka Thought. Leon/Slim Charles wasn't having that shit anymore. And the basically re-used the Cutty origin story (based on a real incident in Baltimore) over again.
27. "absolutely loving it" In response to Reply # 26
These last two have been the best ones
I caught the Cutty origin story callback as well, but i didn't know it was based on a real incident
the existential crisis for the pimps is both funny, and interesting. One of the inside the episodes points to small details in the pimps, like CC's cuffs being slightly frayed or flaws in car interiors, showing a side to these guys trying to maintain their flashy image, and keep their heads above water. they've struck quite a balance between humanizing them and showing what horrible human beings they can be.
Abby's pop's reaction was funny as hell. He loves and respects her, worries for her, and he sees right through her. She's just being a young know-it-all for the most part. She's a smart girl who hasn't really been through much. it might unfortunately take some harsh reality for her to actually grow. I was kind of worried about Reg going at her, even though their back and forths were funny as hell. No worries on that front now. And much like everyone else on the show, i feel like I kind of give her a pass because she's so goddamn cute.
Maggie's been absolutely killing it. along with many others. I'm digging Macchio in his small role as well.
34. "I find Abby Fine as all get out" In response to Reply # 27
There's something about her. But every time I see her I marvel at how good she looks. And the actress who plays her is 37. Playing a college student. Man.
But she is a character that does too much. Being all "Miss Liberal Feminist" like she's gonna save these "hoes". Gave Darlene that bus ticket like she was gonna stay in South Carolina. Meanwhile, Darlene out there trying to recruit some new talent.
>And much like everyone else on the show, i >feel like I kind of give her a pass because she's so goddamn >cute.
>There's something about her. But every time I see her I >marvel at how good she looks.
Same
And the actress who plays her is >37. Playing a college student. Man.
lol peeped that too
>But she is a character that does too much. Being all "Miss >Liberal Feminist" like she's gonna save these "hoes". Gave >Darlene that bus ticket like she was gonna stay in South >Carolina. Meanwhile, Darlene out there trying to recruit some >new talent.
I wonder if Ashley will come back. It seems Darlene either went straight to Larry, or fessed up pretty quick after he grilled her. Either way, they worked it out as a business trip. Ashley is fed up with CC, partly for how he treats her, and because Lori is his star. There's a decent chance she'll be back though.
39. "Seemed like a definitive end for Abby's arc" In response to Reply # 36
It would seem a little redundant to do the Wallace thing again where someone tries to leave the life that could potentially kill them only to discover that their "need" for it is worth the risk. And it would be redundant to have Abby get burned twice by a prostitutes that she tried to save.
Certainly I think that's the last we see of her this season. They might be able to pull it off down the line, but doing it now would be lazy storytelling.
>It would seem a little redundant to do the Wallace thing >again where someone tries to leave the life that could >potentially kill them only to discover that their "need" for >it is worth the risk. And it would be redundant to have Abby >get burned twice by a prostitutes that she tried to save. > >Certainly I think that's the last we see of her this season. >They might be able to pull it off down the line, but doing it >now would be lazy storytelling.
40. "RE: absolutely loving it" In response to Reply # 27
>the existential crisis for the pimps is both funny, and >interesting. One of the inside the episodes points to small >details in the pimps, like CC's cuffs being slightly frayed or >flaws in car interiors, showing a side to these guys trying to >maintain their flashy image, and keep their heads above water. >they've struck quite a balance between humanizing them and >showing what horrible human beings they can be.
That's pretty brilliant in that they're not beating you ever the head with it. Of all the pimps, it seems like Larry is the "nicest," even though he's still pretty much an asshole. I guess there's the white guy too, but he seems like a Rest Haven for ho's.
>Abby's pop's reaction was funny as hell. He loves and respects >her, worries for her, and he sees right through her. She's >just being a young know-it-all for the most part. She's a >smart girl who hasn't really been through much. it might >unfortunately take some harsh reality for her to actually >grow.
Yeah, I'm guessing shit is going to go sour for her. Probably second season. Wouldn't doubt it if she ends up in the film industry.
>And much like everyone else on the show, i >feel like I kind of give her a pass because she's so goddamn >cute.
Haha, me too.
>Maggie's been absolutely killing it. along with many others. >I'm digging Macchio in his small role as well.
Yep, she's deserves an Emmy. Watching Method Man on Desus and Mero talk about the extra work she put in to make sure their extended scene together went well was dope.
48. "was this in the extended interview? ill have to check that out" In response to Reply # 40
>Yep, she's deserves an Emmy. Watching Method Man on Desus and >Mero talk about the extra work she put in to make sure their >extended scene together went well was dope.
28. "My thing with Reggie" In response to Reply # 26
-----====SPOILERS====----
Is he and many of the pimps have been habitually line stepping outside of people involved in the life. Like he totally disrespected Vince at his bar and while Vince already got punked by em episode one it would have been a whole different scenario if his brother, the mafia dudes, probably even Black Frankie were there.
Part of it could be that they feel their hold is slipping cause they are lashing out.
But like Slim Charles showed, just cause they spit game to naive young women doesn't mean they really about some gangsta shit if it went down.
>I've liked the whole series so far, but the last two episodes >have been especially dope. > >I found Abby so fricking clueless, as she's so unaware that >she's far less edgy/rebellious than she likes to believe she >is. Father and her family continue to see right through her. > >LOL @ three of the pimps talking about "Fantasia." Going to be >interesting to see where things go next season, because, as >C.C. said, there's barely a place for the pimps in this >set-up. And we know that pimping doesn't go away. > >R.I.P. Reggie Love aka Thought. Leon/Slim Charles wasn't >having that shit anymore. And the basically re-used the Cutty >origin story (based on a real incident in Baltimore) over >again.
31. "That was for Joe....." In response to Reply # 26
Big G out here shooting rappers.
That said, digging the show this season. Really is no reason for Franco to play a twin other than why not, I suppose. Other than that I've been impressed and entertained. The scene between Meth and Maggie was fire
<-- Dave Thomas knows what's up... __________________________
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32. "Pretty good so far." In response to Reply # 26
The show is pretty straight-forward and there isn't much to discuss in terms of trying to figure out the motivation for the characters, hence why I don't think folks are going to post too heavily about the show.
"Sean sparks like John Starks, nah, Sean ball like John Wall" - Rest In Power Forever Sean Price.
44. "Good points you made here" In response to Reply # 32
Usually when I am into a show, I'm looking at recaps and peeping podcast related stuff to dig deeper. But this stuff is just reality, and while entertaining and captivating at times, doesn't really lend to in-depth dissection.
35. "loving it, David Simon is the GOAT at developing TV characters " In response to Reply # 26
nobody is on his level of having 15+ characters and dividing the screen time so that each one has an interesting storyline and genuine levels of depth.
46. ""Summer night's dream?"" In response to Reply # 0
That was a good end to the season. Pretty depressing overall, as things were increasingly bleak for the prostitutes: working the massage parlors is just as crummy as working the streets, and poor Thunder Thighs/Ruby getting thrown out the window was awful. Things "worked out" for Candy, as she finally got to leave the streets behind and seems to understand the porn industry pretty damn well. It is a little sad that Vinnie got into all of this just to manage his own bar, and it lead to him, his brother, and his brother-in-law being in increasingly deep with the Mob. And I guess it reamains to be seen if the new Captain at the precinct is going to do anything to clean things up, and whether Chris is going to end up a detective, or everything will just remain the same.
Also always good to see Lester/Big Chief. Seeing C.C. legit shook at how his mentor's life turned out once he retired from pimping was great.
47. "Also, there's apparently going to be a big time jump with Season 2" In response to Reply # 0
According to Simon and Pelecanos, Season 2 will take place about seven years after the first season. And they've said not everyone in the first season will necessarily be in season 2. Makes sense given how "transient" the population of The Deuce was during that time. I'm guessing that they haven't decided yet who stays and who goes yet. In the case of this show it makes sense, as I think the characters story 7 years down the road may be more interesting than what happens to them the next year.
They added that if they get a third season, there will be another time jump so that it will take place in the mid 1980s.
High Society Member since Oct 13th 2003 7375 posts
Mon Oct-30-17 01:32 PM
49. "we know Abby will be back." In response to Reply # 47
There's a reason they cast specific people that are much older to play younger characters.
With the time jumps 7 and then maybe 14 years... we've got to see age wear on characters. If gets a 3rd season, have to jump 14 years in a 3 year period of filming.
Paul is going to the Village, we'll see more from his perspective. I imagine we'd see him in season 3 if it made it that far, I'm sure he'd end up with aids.
Larry was trying to get hooked up with a package, The Wire lingo...my bad lol.
Will we see someone like CC move into the drug game? We know he's copping for recreational use with Lori. Lori probably realizes she doesn't need CC "to hold her money." But I could see her spiraling into a life of addiction possibly.
Simon and Pelecanos said Anwan Glover goes where they go... He'll be back - 7 years later might mean he's out of prison. Killed a pimp, "cleaning streets." Probably gets looked on favorably at time of parole. Great call back to Cutty's legend story as well.
50. "RE: Also, there's apparently going to be a big time jump with Season 2" In response to Reply # 47
He did a podcast on The Ringer and if I remember right he basically laid out the whole arc of the show (here if you want to fact check, I could be wrong: https://www.theringer.com/2017/8/31/16236624/george-pelecanos-the-deuce-grittiness-new-york-the-70s) explaining he wanted to do 4 seasons covering 4 distinct moments in the cycle of this part of town: the early 70s, late 70s, mid-80s and the clean up of the 90s.
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