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| Scene from The Deuce |
It seems so long ago since creator David Simon made a show as engaging as The Wire. The famous, TV-defining series has a lot to live up to, and his documentary-like approach to socio-political dramas has continued to make him unique. While The Deuce doesn't quite have the immediacy of his Baltimore-set series, his look at prostitution and adult films in the 70's captures the essence of why he's been vital to HBO over the past two decades. Even for a taboo subject that doesn't have the most accessible audience, Simon has captured an engaging drama that looks at the lives of the people who made a dirty industry into what it is. While it should be a bit repellent, the results end up being closer to an engrossing look at an industry most viewers probably wouldn't think to care about. The results are exciting, and it's once again Simon doing what he does best, which is just let his characters exist in their own special ways.
Much like Baltimore was to The Wire, New York is a character within The Deuce. By the end of the first season, there's a strong sense of how this community works after hours. There's seedy operations to expand businesses, while passionate adult film stars want to try and branch into serious film making. This is a world where opportunity is made by those who try. They don't always have the best approach, but they fight no matter what the cost. If this includes prostitution and unruly men on the streets in front of adult theaters, then that's what has to be done. It's a story that shows how one community builds upon itself, whether it be the police trying to keep the peace, or the people who want to make the industry into their own vision no matter how neurotic the boss actually is.
The show also has a great cast, centered around a dual performance by James Franco, and a heartwarming role by Maggie Gyllenhaal. Even if the various plots don't often intersect in any given episode, the storybook structure creates an ongoing flow where each event falls into the next in compelling manners. It's a story as much about ambitions as it is crime. It develops a language that makes the adult themes seem less offensive or disgusting by finding humanity in its characters. Some of them do it for fun, sure, but others do it for more personal reasons. At the end of the day, Simon recognizes that these are people with dreams and goals beyond their lowly jobs. It's why the show's most engaging moments are often the ones where everyone simply talks in seemingly rambling speeches, creating a connection that shows how people bond in times of need.
The Deuce is a solid drama that manages to use its adult themes without being exploitative. Yes, there's plenty of nudity and some violent, but everything feels built around understanding the characters better. Simon has been an expert at making his shows feel like they exist within a community, and this is no exception. It may not quite have the same immediacy or iconography as The Wire, but it definitely has enough of its DNA in its existence to make for an insightful experience. This is what HBO dramas could be if they weren't reserved to genre trappings or other more approachable themes. It uses its HBO uncensored qualities very well, and it does it without creating conflict over it. The Deuce is just a show about a community, and it's one that feels richer for having the how exist to tell its story.
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