"Paul Levinson's It's Real Life is a page-turning exploration into that multiverse known as rock and roll. But it is much more than a marvelous adventure narrated by a master storyteller...it is also an exquisite meditation on the very nature of alternate history." -- Jack Dann, The Fiction Writer's Guide to Alternate History

Monday, May 9, 2011

Treme 2.3: Crime and Music

Well, it's been clear, and I've been mentioning in previous reviews, that crime is rearing its ugly head much higher in this season of Treme than in last season.   In Treme 2.3, the worst crime we've seen so far dominated the episode,  as Ladonna is raped, robbed, and badly beaten.

It's not clear what Ladonna remembers, but the medical examination confirms the rape.  She has not yet told her husband - or anyone - and it's also not clear whether she's taking the "Plan B" (morning after) pills she's given in the hospital, in case she's now pregnant.

Ladonna did put in a call to the police, when she was first approached by a suspicious character as she was locking up her bar.   The cops, at very least, certainly did not respond with alacrity.   What will Lt. Colson do when he finds about this insufficient police response?  Presumably he'll be livid, and launch some kind of investigation, as indeed he should.   Sooner or later, there'll be at least three people hunting Ladonna's attackers:  Colson, Antoine, Ladonna's husband ... and likely Toni, too.

In other difficult but happier stories, it's good to see Janette back in New Orleans.   But her house has been looted and trashed - more crime - and she's having no easy time of it with the officials (that's because she came in without an appointment, but even so).

Musically, it's great to see Antoine progressing with his band, and the hilarious banter around his feeling that they're missing a beat.   It's soon realized that what the band is really missing is a guitar, and it's good to see Sonny on his way to filling that position.

And my favorite music in Treme 2.3 is Louis Armstrong's "Mack the Knife" - hey, the Kurt Weill-Bertolt Brecht song has always been one of my all-time favorites, ever since I heard Bobby Darin's hit version in 1959.   Darin's was a #1 song, Satchmo's only got to #20, but it was released 3 years earlier, giving it a little precedence.  (Good to see Steve Earle out on the streets, too, in another number.)

And here's a taste of Louis Armstrong's Mack the Knife ...



5-min podcast review of Treme

See also Treme Is Back! ... Treme 2.2: Bounce and Jazz

And also Treme! ... Treme 1.2: "If you ain't been to heaven" ... Treme 1.3: Fine Sweet and Sour ... Treme 1.4: New Orleans, New York, Nashville ... Treme 1.5: Delicious! ... Treme 1.8: Passions and Dreams ... Treme 1.9: Creighton ... Treme Season One Finale: Happy Sad Life

And: My Favorite Moment in Treme (Season One)



                 Special Discount Coupons for Angie's List, Avis, Budget Car, Garden.com, eMusic



The Plot to Save Socrates


"challenging fun" - Entertainment Weekly

"a Da Vinci-esque thriller" - New York Daily News

"Sierra Waters is sexy as hell" - curled up with a good book




Enjoy listening to audio books? Get a free audio book copy of The Plot to Save Socrates - or any one of 85,000 other titles - with a 14-day trial membership at Audible.com ...

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Is there a site where the full music credits for Tremé 2.3 can be found? Thanks.

Paul Levinson said...

Music of Treme has the credits, but they're a week behind in their listings.

InfiniteRegress.tv