DJ Davis McAlary: "Ladies and Gentleman, a live chicken in the studio!"
Not for long.
New Orleans' famous Coco Robicheaux appears in the introductory scene of Treme's second episode, having the dubious distinction of being the first to sacrifice a chicken in the series. The moment was a nod to the significance of Haitian voodoo and more than a nod to the importance of Haitian society to New Orleans culture. Summoning Ezili Dantor, mother and protector, Mr. Robicheaux pours the Barbancourt Rhum, lights the spirit candles, and hypnotically strokes a rooster's feathers with a fearsome knife. Slaughter thankfully takes place off camera. More on Ezili later.
In a recent radio interview Treme creators David Simon and Eric Overmyer posed the question: "Can you do a show about regular people - [a show] not about doctors saving lives or gangsters killing people or people making decisions about the fate of democracy in the West Wing?"
Apparently, the answer is yes. You can.
After just one episode, HBO announced it was picking up a second season of Treme. "I can't think of another show that is more emblematic of what we aspire to be as a network than Treme," Michael Lombardo, HBO's programming president, said Tuesday in announcing the renewal. "We are thrilled that the press has recognized the profound artistry and intelligence of this show and are eager to see where David Simon and Eric Overmyer take us in a second season."
In last night's "Meet De Boys on the Battlefront," named for a famous Mardi Gras tune, Simon and Overmyer take us to the music as New Orleans song moves to forefront of the story, as important as any character. I would argue, sometimes sacrificing forward movement of the narrative for the color and atmosphere of New Orleans. "Music was the raison d'être of the show, the heart of the show," explains Overmyer. "We've been learning how to do the music in such a way that it doesn't stop the show cold." The music in the episode soared; the story wasn't cold but started and stalled through its carefully paced, building and rebuilding storylines.
Simon describes Treme as a "fictional story but we're trying to be rigorous about what has happened in New Orleans since the storm." Trying to be rigorous forces a lot of exposition into the narrative. There is a lot of preaching and high-handedness as well in Treme so far. Moments with Steve Zahn's character thankfully balance all this out. Davis McAlary's (Steve Zahn) storyline was one of the more entertaining of the episode. Losing his DJ job over the bloodletting in the radio studio, an historic event "just not in the positive sense," he returns home, and we get a glimpse of Davis' sheltered childhood. Antiques? Garden District? McAlary is fast becoming one of my favorite characters with his mixture of bemusement and intelligence and his own self-mythologizing.
Article comments
1 - Kim
Wow. I didn't think someone could articulate my every thought about this episode, but you did. BRAVO on recognizing the smugness of some of the scenes, as well as pointing out the Wire characters. I still call Wendell Pierce's character in Treme, Bunk. :)
2 - Riva
Wow, great article! The best I've read, yet, and I'm reading everything I can find. I love the observation of the mothers. I hadn't put that together yet. I look forward to your take on the next episode.
3 - Brueso
1) Re the smugness- yes, it was unpleasent to see Sonny's attitude, but it would be also wrong to show every musician as cool go-with-the-flow types. Some have suggested that the Sonny-Addie story could be a recreation of the real life busker who killed his partner and then himself post-Katrina (covered in the book "Shake the Devil"). Perhaps Sonny's mood swing is a sign that that could be the case. I doubt there is much of anyone who didn't think Sonny was being a jerk- particularly toward some kids who had come down there to help. (How would they about the 9th ward pre-Katrina since if the media does ever cover N.O., it was French Quarter only). But just because the character says it doesn't meant David Simon share that kind of attitude.
What unhinged the Chief (and I share your sometimes thinking this character will be like Lester) probably had something to do with banging his head against the wall for 3+ months. Would he have given the kid a beating pre-Katrina? Probably. But maybe not as hard.
Re the Slim Charles appearance- I'm starting to wonder whether that won't just be a quick cameo. We heard the lawyer Toni say that some inmates were stealing bracelets. Maybe whoever Slim actually was portraying here was a more hardened criminal who took LaDonna's brothers wrist band cause he knew he was in for something comparatively light (the possibilities of what happened to the brother if that was the case are very bleak). I guess we'll find out!
4 - Kate
Hi! Thanks for the kind words. I hope I stop pointing out the Wire characters - it's lazy writing! But I can't help it. The Wire was my obsession for awhile.
Brueso, you absolutely right about Sonny's character. He is certainly there to balance out the story, but I have to hope his story isn't going down that "Shake the Devil" road! I was not aware of that murder until I read the Times-Picayune message boards yesterday. Gruesome! Wouldn't it be ironic if the crazy killer showed up here after being a hoax in the Wire? Oh, there I go again: the Wire, the Wire, the Wire. I'll stop - I promise.