There are many famous musicians throughout "Battlefront." Some are world famous like Allan Toussaint and Elvis Costello. Some are New Orleans famous like Mr. Robicheaux and Kermit Ruffins. And then there are so many more musicians ducking in and out of scenes; it's disorienting to the viewer without a scorecard. I knew I should know some of these musicians, but, to misquote Donald Rumsfeld, I do not know what I do not know.
Much of Treme is in a secret language that can be frustrating to the audience. The non-New Orleans resident is constantly reminded of what they don't know about the Crescent City, but patience, as I said in last week's column, patience. "It's a beginning," as Albert Lambreaux, having returned home to clean up and gather up his Mardi Gras Indian tribe, says when only one person shows up for tribal practice.
I appreciate David Simon's refusal to ever talk down to his audience, trusting that they will follow these immersions into unique urban cultures. I also understand those who may be put off. A little patience by the writers with their audience would help. After all, isn't everyone a tourist somewhere? Isn't the audience essentially a tourist buying a tee-shirt, a story a souvenir hawked by a writer?
To their credit, there is acknowledgment of the other side. Creighton Bernette is hesitant to finish his book on prior New Orleans flooding. "I don't want to be accused of cashing in on the storm like some other schmucks I can mention." Just who are the schmucks?
The Wire still casts a heavy shadow on Treme, hopefully to dissipate with time, or maybe it won't. Perhaps that's what is inevitable to the follow-up series to the greatest television drama of all time.
It was disconcerting to see Clarke Peters (below) as Chief Albert Lambreaux beating up a young thief in a scene so dark I couldn't quite figure out what was going on. Lester Freamon would never do that! And the scene when the missing Daymo Brooks is found and to be reunited with his family doesn't quite work for The Wire fan. In a case of mistaken identity, David Brooks turns out not to be the vanished Daymo Brooks. "This is not my son" says the mother. "There's been some kinda mistake," says the attorney.
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.