The Deuce (serial)

The Deuce is a 3-season drama starring Maggie Gyllenhaal and James Franco and full disclosure, I will watch Gyllenhaal in anything. This series follows the residents of Times Square (The Deuce) in New York from the late 70's through the 80's. This is the time of the mafia and corrupt police protection rackets, prostitution and the development of pornography. Gyllenhaal is a prostitute who becomes a film-maker over the course of the series. Franco is outstanding as he plays a set of twin brothers (Vincent and Frankie). Franco is outstanding in both roles, never played as "a good portrayal of twins", but instead as actual twins, with independent personalities and lives. As a 3-season show, it is also a 3-act drama. 

Season 1 is grit and desperation. We are introduced to the prostitution and pimp relationship, the desperation of the girls and both the psychological trauma and dependence on their man. We see the transition of Gyllenhaal from trying to work the street independently to starting to work in film. Vincent is a bar owner who pays regularly to his mafia financier and is so reliable that he starts several new ventures for them. Frankie is a screw up who is always gambling or drinking away his money and basically is living on the edge. This season shows New York pre-glitz, and how it became a magnet for desperate and downtrodden, and was effective in keeping the downtrodden down.

Season 2 is 5 years later. This is the roaring success of the group. Gyllenhaal is now directing films, and working on ground breaking art/porn films. Vincent is running a bar, a club, a massage parlor and starts another club and theater with former bartender Paul, all earning well for his mafia guy. Everybody is making money, the film business is booming, the girls relationships with their pimps is evolving and basically portrayed as good. Everybody is making money and life is good.

Season 3 is reality sinks in. Here we see the long term effects of pornography and prostitution on the women. The realization that this is basically PTSD showing up before PTSD was a diagnosis. The trauma is real and deep and has fingers into all aspects of life in The Deuce. It is painful.

There are lots of other themes floating around the seasons (police corruption, gentrification, AIDS, advocacy, etc.) and every story is well told and meaningful. The story is of New York as a city and how the people make the city what it is. I am glad I watched all seasons together. Don't stop after season 2, remembering only the heyday. You must watch the pain and ugly to even start to understand. 

5 stars (out of 5)