Treme - Season 1 (HBO) [Blu-ray][Region Free]

I read a review here and I must retort. This is a series about New Orleans getting its dignity back after being abandoned by its own government during a disaster, the effects of which are still being felt today. The characters portrayed are entirely believable, warts and all. That also goes for the accents and vernacular which did stump me a few times but thats part of my love of this series. Its not easily accessible. Its not pretty people doing funky things. Its ordinary people doing what ordinary people do in New Orleans. Sometimes this involves jazz, sometimes it doesnt. The music is a background to the unfolding stories. Music matters to New Orleans. The revelations of unkept government promises, discrimination against the poor black residents and the heavy handed police force made for uncomfortable viewing, as it should. There is a lot of talking and sometimes the subject matter sent me scurrying to the internet, e.g. to find out why people were dressing up in feathers and using native American names. But thats what I like to do. I loved this series but its not for everybody.

The writing is superb, the acting is note perfect. If you like slow burning intelligent dramas like Mad Men and The Wire then you're in for a treat. It's not patronizing spoon-fed drama and will often have you playing catch up but that's what brains are for. It's beautifully shot and the script keeps that modern Dickensian feel that David Simon established in his earlier works like The Corner, The Wire etc. The dignity bestowed upon the characters, the denizens of the city and New Orleans is heart-warming and the occasionally maligned soundtrack adds so much atmosphere that you could almost believe you were there whilst you watch it.
Jazz aficionados will lap up the live performances;those who aren't may well find it irksome but, if you have warmed to the characters as I did, you will come to accept it as part of the character of the piece as a whole.
Whilst ratings were modest - to say the least - the quality of the finished product has allowed for it to be renewed for a second season. I hope, as with Mad Men, that positive word of mouth brings this drama to a wider audience.

For those looking for David Simon to follow up the Wire with a similar crime related series Treme will come as a real disappointment; those alternatively looking for one of the best American dramas in recent years from the superb HBO stable then the "eagle has landed". The series is essentially a love letter to the shattered city of New Orleans post Hurricane Katrina. It certainly is an indictment of the Bush administrations gross mishandling of aftermath and like Dave Edger's recent book Zeitoun there are times when "Treme" makes you literally fume at the debacle that followed infused by racism. In particular the spectacle of a largely poor black community "left behind" and an incredibly nervous and paranoid Police force.

But if your singular interest is examining the wake of the unmitigated disaster, which is Katrina, then Spike Lee's "When The Levees Broke" should be your port of call. "Treme's" landscapes are far wider and it aims to capture the essence of New Orleans by tapping into traditions of jazz music, culture, carnival & Mardi Gras, language, cuisine and particularly the sheer bloody minded resilience of its residents. Like all David Simon scripts it builds slowly but surely until the characters hold your attention in a vice like grip. "Treme" is the district epicentre of New Orleans jazz and around that culture are woven human stories of resettling in the destroyed city, people seeking lost relatives dispersed across the USA or eking out a living as the city attempts to recover. Music is at the heart of the series and Treme is not afraid to stop the story and introduce a jam session or a carnival band. Thus you have highlights such as a great version of "My Indian Red" led by the great Dr John; the fabulous Kermit Ruffins playing "Skokiaan" in another episode and a soundtrack jam packed with great music. Throughout we also have the appearance of stellar musicians like Steve and Justin Townes Earle, Elvis Costello and Allen Toussaint. In sense who are we to argue with HBO claim that Treme sees "one of the best organic uses of music in a series".

The characters at the heart of the series are drawn from "Wire" stalwarts like Wendell Pierce who plays the colourful local musician "Antoine Batiste" and Clarke Peters who plays the chief who leads one of the exotic Mardi Gras "Indian" tribes with their mix of African/American/Indian traditions feeding into the glorious city Carnivals. These resume three months after Katrina but with them re-emerge problems of gang violence and crime. The there are a number of other key characters namely John Goodman's angry Professor Creighton Bernette whose epic foul mouthed tirades against George W Bush are oratorical fireworks as he reminds the President "You rebuilt Chicago after the fire you rebuilt San Francisco after the earthquake". Then there is Gonzo DJ Davis Mclary played by Steve Zahn. I have to admit that in the first couple of episodes I disliked this character but stick with Zahn since his anarchic portrait of the passionate Bohemian New Orleans resident "who wants his city back" grows to be one of the series best. Equally the redoubtable Khandi Alexander who plays the tough bar owner LaDonna Batiste-Williams also in a desperate search of her "lost" brother is superb throughout.

"Treme" is unique series superbly directed by Eric Overmyer and one that invest enormous and intricate detail into its warm and diverse set of characters. It is New Orleans Cajun, Creole and whatever other culture writ large with its nuances, colours and language firmly placed at the heart of this show. At the opening point of one of his Internet rants "Creighton Bernette" proclaims "yes we are still here". At this moment you feel the pain and the passion in his words and fundamentally its channelling that same pain and passion for this historic, flawed but vital city into the medium of TV that gives "Treme" its big beating heart.