Treme: The Complete Second Season

The second season of this acclaimed HBO series created by David Simon continues to explore the lives of New Orleans residents trying to pick up the pieces in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, both at home and in New York. The theme here shifts from defiance in the face of despair to fatigue and frustration as locals grow weary of bureaucratic roadblocks to rebuilding—even the Second Line parades and Fat Tuesday celebrations are a pale reflection of the glory days, downsized versions of the city's signature cultural events. And yet the show still finds hope and optimism in the community and the music—which it offers in the form of old-style jazz, R&B, rock ‘n' roll, brass bands, traditional chanting, and more. Treme is an ensemble show, so the stories are spread around a wealth of characters, including Mardi Gras Indian Chief Albert Lambreaux (Clarke Peters), whose fierce resolve to keep traditions alive leads to frequent collisions with his musician son Delmond (Rob Brown); jazzman Antoine Batiste (Wendell Pierce), who finds his part-time teaching job unexpectedly rewarding; and Janette Desautel (Kim Dickens), a chef forced to close her restaurant and go to New York to make a living. The solid cast also features Khandi Alexander, David Morse, Jon Seda, Steve Zahn, and Oscar winner Melissa Leo. Compiling all 11 episodes from 2011 on DVD and Blu-ray, extras include episode commentaries, music commentaries, and behind-the-scenes featurettes on New Orleans culture (the Blu-ray release also includes interactive viewing modes). Highly recommended. (S. Axmaker)