Like The Pacific which airs before it, Treme suffers a problem built into the concept of the show: it doesn't a central narrative to move it forward. Island hopping in the Pacific doesn't lend itself to a direct story with something tangible the characters move towards, and life in New Orleans after Katrina doesn't either. In its infancy, Treme is held up by the great acting and writing, but not a complex overarching story that can adapt and develop in the coming seasons. What worries me is where the show will be in even one season. The ratings haven't been average and without a real hook, it's hard to imagine more people watching the show if they aren't already.
"Shame, Shame, Shame" was another impressive episode, and since I'm low on time, I'll focus on the highlights (purely my opinion). The Japanese guy following Antoine was a pleasant diversion from the police brutality and incompetence that came to light in the episode. It was funny, heartwarming, and odd all wrapped in one. Batiste gets a trombone and the Japanese jazz enthusiast gets to talk with Batiste, so everyone wins.
Davis is one of those characters who could potentially be funny if he just turned down his act just a bit. Part of me was amused at his sales pitch in the beginning and the other part was irritated with his voice and mannerisms. His mouth finally gets the best of him when he gets clocked for saying the word nigger. Maybe it's time for an attitude change.
Once The Pacific ends next week and the broadcast shows come to an end, I hope to devote more time to these reviews. There's so many things going on that I simply can't get to.
Score: 9.2/10
