The Deuce: Season One (1 Viewer)

[TravisR]

I don't know how much interest there is for The Deuce here but I'll start a thread. It's the new show on HBO ostensibly about the beginnings of porno in 1971 New York City and focusing on the lives of the people working in or around the sex industry (pornographers, hookers, pimps, johns, the mob).

They put the pilot up early and it's fantastic. An early scene with a pair of pimps talking about how Nixon is pimping is classic David Simon & George Pelecanos (and pretty accurate). The show looks great and has a great attention to period detail that makes the whole thing really seem real. The cast is excellent across the board.

If there's a better show starting this year, I wanna watch it.

 

[Walter Kittel]

All I needed to know was that David SImon & George Pelecanos were involved. Considering that some of my favorite films are from the late 60s and early 70s and feature a somewhat gritty aesthetic; such as The Seven-Ups, The Last Detail, Taxi Driver, The Friends of Eddie Coyle, and Point Blank to name a few; this series seems like a natural for me.

- Walter.

 

[ScottH]

David Simon...Chris Bauer...the 70's...porn...sex...sign me up.

 

[Hollywoodaholic]

So I continue to stick with this show, and while I appreciate the great writing, acting and parentage by David Simon and George Pelicanos, I just feel a little bit dirty watching the seediness of it all. I guess that's to be expected from a 1971-based Times Square experience. I remember a family trip to NYC that same year and my parents steering their teenage kids very clear of that area (except for some cheap electronics stores, of course).

 

[TravisR]

So I continue to stick with this show, and while I appreciate the great writing, acting and parentage by David Simon and George Pelicanos, I just feel a little bit dirty watching the seediness of it all.

I was shocked when they showed Darlene back home with her friends to realize that she was so young. I figured the character was in her 20's but it's horrible to think that she's a teenager living the life she's in. Not that it's good for anyone but it's really rough for essentially a kid.

 

[Hollywoodaholic]

I was shocked when they showed Darlene back home with her friends to realize that she was so young. I figured the character was in her 20's but it's horrible to think that she's a teenager living the life she's in. Not that it's good for anyone but it's really rough for essentially a kid.

And now the pimps have recruited her friend even younger at 16.

But the show does a great job of capturing the sleazy seediness of it all - it just oozes out of the screen. And obviously Maggie Gyllenhall's prostitute character has just about had enough and is headed toward a much less seedy career... producing porn.

 

[TravisR]

And now the pimps have recruited her friend even younger at 16.

But the show does a great job of capturing the sleazy seediness of it all - it just oozes out of the screen. And obviously Maggie Gyllenhall's prostitute character has just about had enough and is headed toward a much less seedy career... producing porn.

David Simon show logic seems to dictate that she's headed towards some awful final straw that forces a change in her but I'm hoping she makes the change to porn production without anything THAT bad happening.

Also, that scene in last week's episode with Maggie Gyllenhall and Method Man arguing on the street was fantastic.

 

[Hollywoodaholic]

David Simon show logic seems to dictate that she's headed towards some awful final straw that forces a change in her but I'm hoping she makes the change to porn production without anything THAT bad happening.

Also, that scene in last week's episode with Maggie Gyllenhall and Method Man arguing on the street was fantastic.

She will definitely get an Emmy nom.

 

[WillG]

So I continue to stick with this show, and while I appreciate the great writing, acting and parentage by David Simon and George Pelicanos, I just feel a little bit dirty watching the seediness of it all.

I've seen the first couple of episodes and pretty much get that same feeling. I feel like I need shower afterwards. Probably not a show that lends itself well to binge watching.

 

[ScottH]

Can't disagree with the "dirtiness" of it, but I'm loving the show. The way it's shot reminds me of some of the old classic Scorsese films like 'Mean Streets' (some bad wigs aside).

I also think James Franco deserves some Emmy consideration. And David Krumholtz is excellent as the sleazy porn producer with a heart (although I don't know how realistic that is). Did he put on all that weight or is that makeup/fat suit?

 

[TravisR]

Can't disagree with the "dirtiness" of it, but I'm loving the show. The way it's shot reminds me of some of the old classic Scorsese films like 'Mean Streets' (some bad wigs aside).

I might be wrong but I think Franco (the Frankie the gambler one) even was even dressed to resemble De Niro in Mean Streets in the latest episode.

And David Krumholtz is excellent as the sleazy porn producer with a heart (although I don't know how realistic that is). Did he put on all that weight or is that makeup/fat suit?

I think he's gained weight. His Twitter has been shut down but on Google, you can see some old Tweets and back in July 2016 (which was at least close to the time that they were shooting this show), he said "Don't @ me about my weight. Let it be my problem. MYOB please and thank you. I'm happy."

 

[Dave Scarpa]

i like the show as well one of the few new shows i'm watching , two things I'm wondering from the latest episode, Narcan was mentioned for bringing back the near dead Junkie Prostitute, was that even around in the 70's also unless I'm hearing things did one of the Pros's reference Beyonce when saying the other one was getting favored treatment from Bobby ?

 

[MarkMel]

I thought the same about Narcan, I thought it was new. Google tells me the FDA approved it for use in 1971, so it's use on the show fits the timeline.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naloxone

 

[TravisR]

I thought the same about Narcan, I thought it was new. Google tells me the FDA approved it for use in 1971, so it's use on the show fits the timeline.

That made me wonder why Black Frankie would know about Narcan so early on after it went on the market but given his various illicit businesses, it does make sense that he'd know about stuff like that. I guess I can assume that everyone else in the room wondered what the hell he was talking about though.

 

[TravisR]

...unless I'm hearing things did one of the Pros's reference Beyonce when saying the other one was getting favored treatment from Bobby ?

She said "like your fiancee" and not "like you're Beyonce".

 

[MarkMel]

LOL, I first thought Beyonce too for a second.

 

[Hollywoodaholic]

So I don't know if anyone else is watching, but I'm thoroughly enjoying the Second Season of The Deuce, which, when building upon the characters introduced in the first season, is taking on The Wire proportions of good to great (with many of the same writers). Elvis Costello's "This Year's Girl" is also the perfect theme song this season, and I never skip it when firing up the DVR of the next episode.

There's no way I will get my wife to watch a show about porno films, peep shows and hookers in New York in 1975, but, ironically, with this series. it is absolutely more about and for the evolution of women's rights, power, and voices at that time.

 

[TravisR]

One of the best things on TV by far.

I liked last week's episode when the cops just watch the porno shoot and Candy says "I love this town". I think that line sums up the show.

 

[MarkMel]

"Damn, y'all just murdered the sh*t outta that mother f*cker."

Best line of the night.

 

[Flashgear]

This show definitely is showing signs of turning into something worthwhile...the season two finale left me wanting to stay with the story. The crackdown, corporate redevelopment and gentrification phase of the evolution there and the effect on the principle characters could be fascinating. Although other episodes in both seasons just left me with the feeling like I had just rolled around in a greasy and filthy alley on the "Deuce" and needed a shower ASAP...but some of the imagery certainly reminds me of NYC 42st circa 1972-75 when I first saw the fabled Times Square for myself...getting plenty of helpful warnings from friends in Queens and being equipped by them with a proper "blade" with which to defend myself while wandering Manhattan far and wide...I did ready the blade on one occasion in broad daylight in Battery Park, showing it to three Morlocks who thought me to be an easy roll...I would have swept the street with 'em, ha, ha...they sure wouldn't have gotten my less than $40 without a fight...

I'm an old man now, which might explain my feeling that Alysia Reiner ('Kiki Raines', porn star Lori's manager) is by far the hottest woman on this show and maybe (for me, at least) the hottest woman on any current show...I would hope we would see far more of her next season, if it is coming back...