The Deuce

Maze Runner

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Anybody watch the first two? I did last night, loved some of it, liked a lot of it, and disliked a bit. Maggie Gyllenhaal was the stand out for me. But I always think she's the standout. Also, the actor who plays the pimp, C.C. is good. James Franco plays the Martino twins. When they're in the same scene, it almost doesn't work, as there isn't that much of a distinction, by my lights, between the two personalities. Still, I definitely liked it enough to have another look or two. Interesting thing, to me, about a series, is they almost always, if they last, get better. Everyone eventually figures out what the story is and what their part in it is.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Deuce_(TV_series)
 

Elaine Margarett

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I've only seen episode 1 so far. 2 is on my DVR.

I'm torn.

I love James Franco when he isn't in a movie with Seth Rogan (although I admit I liked the "end of the world" one). And Maggie Gyllenhaal as well as the rest of an outstanding cast along with David Simon tells you this will be a story with depth about characters acting with gritty realism. But it already seems dreary and depressing, and you know this is only the beginning of the misery. I'm still recovering from The Wire.
 

Maze Runner

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...But it already seems dreary and depressing, and you know this is only the beginning of the misery...

Absolutely, true. It's dark, and it's ugly, and hard to watch at times. The subject matter would almost demand it, I guess. But I agree with you, if I don't stick it will be for this exact reason. I won't give anything away...
 
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robeiae

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I've only seen episode 1 so far. 2 is on my DVR.

I'm torn.

I love James Franco when he isn't in a movie with Seth Rogan (although I admit I liked the "end of the world" one). And Maggie Gyllenhaal as well as the rest of an outstanding cast along with David Simon tells you this will be a story with depth about characters acting with gritty realism. But it already seems dreary and depressing, and you know this is only the beginning of the misery. I'm still recovering from The Wire.
I love the cast--especially Franco--as well. I watched the first two episodes, but it just didn't draw me in at all. It's a very slickly made period piece, but I'm just not moved by anyone . Plus, most of the characters seem to be basically just stock characters who are mostly just stereotypical.
 

ElaineA

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I liked Ep 1, but thought Ep 2 was kind of stagnant. I'm still going to give it the season to see where it's going. I'm particularly intrigued by Darlene, who has some serious spine hiding under that exterior. She's wary of her pimp, but she doesn't shy from going around him to find those films.

Not having had any personal experience with sex workers, I can't say if these are stereotypical portrayals or authentic, but they strike me as at least having a collection of situations that are probably shared by a lot of people who get into the sex trade, whether involuntarily, out of necessity, or by choice. The downside of the portrayals so far is we're barely getting to see them in their non-working hours (really, we've only been shown Candy and a tiny glimpse of Darlene), which does make them seem 1 dimensional. I hope that will change once we get to know them all a little better.
 

Maze Runner

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I can't say if these are stereotypical portrayals or authentic...

I'd say the stereotypical thing is a fair criticism, so far! But let's see how they round everyone out. I don't know if I'll give it the season, probably a couple more installments anyway. Let's hope it's great and we all stick. We can watch it together.
 

Maze Runner

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After the third, I'm still a little, meh. The scenes are too short, no time for texture or depth, and I'm digging Franco's dual roles a little bit less. Gonna hang right in there for a bit longer though.
 

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Was going to watch this one and totally forgot about it! Guess I'll wait for it to come out on Netflix and then binge it.
 

Celia Cyanide

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I like it so far. I like some storylines more than others. I love Darlene. I want to buy her piles of books and movies and point her toward some classes she can take. I am really not interested in the college dropout who wants to stay in this cesspool to prove how hardcore she is or something. Unless she gets more involved with Darlene and helps her find a way to get an education.
 

Maze Runner

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I like it so far. I like some storylines more than others. I love Darlene. I want to buy her piles of books and movies and point her toward some classes she can take. I am really not interested in the college dropout who wants to stay in this cesspool to prove how hardcore she is or something. Unless she gets more involved with Darlene and helps her find a way to get an education.

I'm trying to remember what was going on between Darlene and the college dropout at the end of the last episode. Some advice, or tip, or something between them on the QT.
 

ElaineA

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Maze, sent you a rep with the answer.

We're caught up to Epi 3, but I was very unhappy with the heavy focus on Franco in both his forms. I noticed he was the director of the episode. He likes directing himself, I guess.

Franco's Vincent is friendly to the sex workers but not in the trade, which is what I thought this show was supposed to be about. I'm starting to wonder if they're wimping out and trying to equate him being beholden to the mob boss as some sort of pimp/prostitute relationship, too. (Not that it isn't a similar dynamic, but the sex workers have their own experience, and we're not getting nearly the depth from their stories we are from Vincent's.)
 

Maze Runner

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I think it's improving. I'll be careful not to spoil anything for the stragglers. "Why me?" Vincent finally asks Rudy. I'd say the answer was satisfactory, but I've been wondering since the beginning, "Why him?"

I like where Maggie's story line is going. We all saw it coming a couple episodes ago.

And a beautiful move Rudy made, through his LEO connections, to make life downright unlivable on 42nd Street and thereabouts, for nearly all of the female cast members--leaving their "men" to see Vincent's new place as a viable option.

I'm getting more of a handle on all the characters, and I think we'll see them narrowing the playing field from now on, until they play it out and have to move on to another.

I'm starting to like it more. The only other HBO dramatic series that I latched onto was The Sopranos, but it took me a while there, too.
 

ElaineA

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Huh. I'm getting bored. I tuned in for a show about sex workers in an extraordinarily dangerous time, and I'm getting a mob show. Been there, done that.

I mean, there is the sex trade plot line, but outside of Eileen's story, it's distinctly secondary to Vincent's. I had high hopes that the sex workers' lives would be an integral part of the show. Not just them street walking, but their histories, real lives, etc. Abby is getting more focus than most of them. (Yeah, there's a distinct attention on the white women.) I wandered away during the second half of Sunday's episode. I don't really care about Vincent, his scallywag brother, his doofus brother-in-law, or the mobster.
 

Maze Runner

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Now, Elaine, you committed to the season. No, I hear you. This is about the rise of the Porn industry, so maybe it will all come together. I agree with the lack of back story, etc. Seems like Simon and Pelacanos may have spread themselves a little thin.
 

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Those guys just write s-l-o-w. The Wire was ungodly slow -- this isn't much better in terms of pacing. But I do think we're getting to the point of things actually happening in terms of overall plot development -- the censorship rulings and the moving inside the brothel to get the girls off the streets into a more confined environment.

It's funny -- while ai have no experience as a sex worker, I would have thought the brothel was a preferable environment to streetwalking. But after the show, I don't think that's the case. Even the reasonably nice rooms had a stench of hopelessness to them.

I think it's been a pretty good show so far -- I appreciate that the nudity has been at least sort of equal, and there's certainly no glamorization of the life. I also think they are showing pimps as the total lowlife scum they are, and not doing anything to make their characters redeemable, either.
just on a side note, Maggie Gyllenhall has chosen and interesting career path, hasn't she? From Secretary to this (also the British thing about the women's health movement), she's picked good, interesting and risky roles.

Of course, she also made Stranger Than Fiction -- my all-time favorite writer's movie -- so that's deep in her favor.
 
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Maze Runner

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whiporee, your mention of the contrast between streetwalking and working in a brothel immediately brought back the expression on Darlene's face when she's first installed in a room, which was utter hopelessness. Maybe with a sprinkle of feeling trapped.

Don't know if you've seen it, but if not check out a movie Maggie made called, Sherrybaby.