'Treme': A flashback in the season finale opens a window to Season 2

In Steve Earle's cameo during this week's season finale of "Treme," he's playing a guitar that has "This machine floats" written on its body.  It's a clever reference to the inscription that Woody Guthrie had on his guitar, which read, "This machine kills fascists."

Earle's message is a wonderful metaphor for the way in which "Treme" over the course of the 10 episodes in Season 1 has illustrated the resiliency of its characters. Countless lives were lost to Hurricane Katrina; billions of dollars worth of property was destroyed; families were torn apart. But music exists above the water, moves around the city in that secret place that can't be touched by the physical world. Yes, instruments can be destroyed, and players can drown. The music itself, however, floats.

Throughout the first season, we've been treated to some memorable musical moments, and none of them were greater than watching genius singer Irma Thomas sidle up to a poker table and start playing cards with Antoine Batiste. After winning most of the money, the trombonist got paid from a session with Allan Toussaint, Thomas, best known for her rendition of Toussaint's lovelorn ballad, "It's Raining," gets onstage to do a fantastic take on "Time Is On My Side," which she first recorded in 1964 (the Rolling Stones' version is perhaps the best known).  

Lloyd Price won some money from Batiste too. Price performed a rendition of the classic murder ballad, "Stagger Lee," with which he had a hit in 1959.

Why all the music talk this time around? Well, other than because I stated my opinion on the first season last week and angered a lot of fans of the show, this particular episode was particularly strong music- wise. Plus, what do I know about building narrative? I'm the pop music editor at The Times, not a television critic (although I completely stand by the post).

All that said, this finale opened a window into what's going to happen next season, and it bodes very, very well. We got a flashback to the day before Katrina struck, and it seems as though co-creator David Simon and company are reversing the hands of time for Season 2. Now that we know the characters and have gotten a feel for how they handled themselves in the aftermath of the storm and the flood, Season 2 -- or at least some of it -- is going to shine a light on the events of late August 2005.

It is, quite honestly, the best news that we skeptics could have hoped for, and which I didn't see in the cards. But with the confirmed death of John Goodman's character, Creighton Bernette, in episode 10, it stands to reason. Goodman is listed as a cast member in Season 2, and I was starting to worry that the only way that was feasible is if he came back as a ghost or some such nonsense. Thankfully -- hopefully -- that's not the case.

-- Randall Roberts

Photo: Allan Toussaint. Credit: Paul Schiraldi

Comments

[annie's secret boyfriend]

Most telling line is in graph 5: "What do I know about building narrative?"

Best line of the finale: "Respect for respect, you dig? Respect for respect."

A touching& poignant moment on the best show on tv. Can't wait for Season 2. RIP David Mills.

[tom in nola]

I don't see any indications that season 2 will hold more flashbacks. I think they were using this one instance to show how far the characters have come, and what they had before the storm took it from them. In fact, I'd be surprised if we ever see a pre-Katrina flashback again.

[Kathy P.]

Tom in NOLA, I think we will see more flashbacks. That's why Goodman is listed as a cast member. He will be in the flashbacks. The storm is too big to leave to vague memories. I predict we will see flashbacks for many seasons.

[mm]

I was so captivated by the Indians! I love gettng a peak into that world. I agree wiht Annie about the best finale line. And Ladonna looked beautiful as she danced that second line. I will definetly watch season 2.

[SOUTHERN MISS ELITE]

I had a lot to type, but I'm going to sum up Treme for someone who didn't watch the season yet or someone like me who started watching...then quit..only to download the rest after giving it a few weeks.

TREME DOES NOT EQUAL THE WIRE!!!!

Get that out of your head and it becomes very enjoyable. It's not fast paced at all. It's very slow and deliberate. And that's what really happened in the gulf area. We didn't rebuild our lives quickly. We didn't have much exciting things happening to us. We just took our time.

For the next season, it looks like we're going to probably get answers to what made Goodman's character tip over. Of course the season will focus on how LaDonna's brother died too. Shoot, in fact, there are so many small storylines available that we could easily start getting ready for season 3.

My advice to someone who disliked this show; take your time and enjoy the music. Sometimes people want to force a TV show to do stuff for their pleasure. This one forces you to wait and look at the character faces, their dialog cues, and their environment. It makes you look to see who's going to break down and who's the type that survived the cane. It's the anti-TV series.

It's just about the music and people who dance to it. Once you realize that the music comes before the concrete actions of the characters, it gets much better. Trust me!

[Jeanene]

I will be anxiously awaiting the second season. This is a great, well written and well acted show.

[Tula]

I couldn't agree more. The series is excellent if you realise its about explaining the lives of the people that grew up in that area and how they felt compelled to bring their city back through tradition and music. Imagine if your family & friends were all displaced around the United States due to a natural disaster. We all know what blunders the government made in the aftermath but this series gets down to the roots by showing us the trials and tribulations these people went through in order to get back to normal.

Whether is seems believable to you or not New Orleans is a very musical oriented city. There is a lot of history there and I'm sure the people that were born and raised there have a extreme pride in that. Mardi Gras woulnd't be Mardi Gras without the locals. Jazz wouldn't be what it is without New Orleans. Brass instruments wouldn't have roots in Hip Hop if it weren't for New Orleans.

Personally I think the series is great because its true to life. I live in South Florida and I can tell you that after a hurrice (Cat 3 or higher) you pretty much go back to the stone age. If you don't have food, water and a gun your pretty much out of luck. Now imagine that multiplied by 1000. These people lost everything and stayed to rebuild the only way they know how, by tradition.

I can't wait for Season 2!

[tim]

i don't think we're going to get anymore flashbacks either---this isn't damages.

[nancykelley]

"But music exists above the water, moves around the city in that secret place that can't be touched by the physical world. Yes, instruments can be destroyed, and players can drown. The music itself, however, floats."

What a lovely piece of writing. Thank you!

As far as the series, I enjoyed it immensely but admit to feeling a bit out of the loop with all the constant NO insider references. The upshot of that is that I learned a lot of new lingo I didn't know before - including the true definition of a 2nd line. My brother is a professional chef/bartender in San Francisco and he found the Janette character supremely annoying with all the overdone restaurant jargon, and felt there was a lot of superfluous "fill" time going on every episode. But then there were those moments - those dazzling moments that more than made up for it - nearly all of them involving Khandi Alexander. What a jewel of an actress she is! I feel equally as enamored of Wendell Pierce and Clarke Peters, they are superb in their respective roles. I hope the Creighton character never returns, wish he would've pulled Sonny down into the river with him. John Goodman is a wonderful actor but I found his bloviating (and bloated) sermonizing about Katrina to be mostly irritating.