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Storyline
Life after Hurricane Katrina as the residents of New Orleans try to rebuild their lives, their homes, and their unique culture in the aftermath of one of the worst natural disasters in the USA.
Plot Summary
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Plot Synopsis
Taglines:
Won't Bow Don't Know How.
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Did You Know?
Trivia
Wendell Pierce is not a trombonist. He started taking lessons when he was cast as a trombonist, so his handling of the instrument would look credible on-screen. When Antoine Batiste plays, a professional trombone player off-screen provides the actual music. In season 4, a version of this behind-the-scenes story plays out in one of Antoine's story lines, when Antoine is hired to teach a non-trombonist actor (Lanny Fox, played by Wilson Bethel) to fake playing the trombone credibly during a movie shoot.
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Goofs
The computer John Goodman's character uses is running Windows Vista and Office 2007 (you can tell from the user interface), yet that software wasn't released when the series took place (in 2005).
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Soundtracks
Treme Song
(uncredited)
(main title)
Performed by
John Boutte See more »
As a local who lived here during Katrina, I find this show particularly moving and powerful.
There have been so many films, documentaries, novels, etc. about New Orleans, and most tend to sensationalize or to give non-locals what they want or expect to see. This is the most real portrait of the city I've seen, and it does justice to the spirit of the city. Living here is a strange experience because it feels like a small town: you run into the same people again and again; people are always eager to show newcomers where to eat or drink or listen to music; people are very friendly; people do tend to cringe when visitors never stray from Bourbon (even though Bourbon is fun); people do have a fierce loyalty to local bars, restaurants, etc. Simon really captures all of this in the show.
I never saw The Wire, but I'm impressed with the style of giving snapshots of the city or characters to build portraits of the people and the atmosphere - particularly the second line parade, John Goodman's character reading the Tulane renewal plan (brought back some painful memories for me personally), the Mardi Gras Indian practice, the reaction of people walking into a house or bar for the first time since the storm and surveying the damage.
My main concern for this show: I have no idea how non-New Orleanians will feel about it. So much of my enjoyment of the show is rooted in seeing people I know and finally seeing a director do justice to some of the most wonderful things about this city. But I'm not sure how I would feel if I weren't so emotionally invested in it.