Treme follows a pattern. Where most shows will have a big finale to keep viewers hooked and desperate for the next season, Treme gets all of the big stuff out of the way early and leaves the finale episode for a quiet ending – not with a bang, but a whimper. Season 1 had Creighton committing suicide in the penultimate episode. Season 2 had Harley’s shooting three episodes before the end. The season closers, therefore, tend to leave room for other storylines to wrap up, peter out and melt away. They show life as it moves on. Nothing to keep it static. Nothing to keep people stuck in limbo for a year. No major cliffhangers. And it’s no different this year. Last week’s episode saw everything coming to a head. LP was ready to go to print, Toni found a witness, Davis quit (for real this time), Gigi’s burned… And this week was reserved for wrapping things up in neat little bows. Yeah, for sure there are some unresolved strands. Some things were left dangling. But nothing to give us any sleepless nights between now and the Season 4 premiere.
LP’s article comes out and, after giving a copy to everyone involved, he leaves town. No Sofia hook up. Sadness!
Toni and Terry on the other hand? Plenty of hooking up. And although it hadn’t happened by the end of the finale, I predict Terry quitting early on in Season 4. After his fellow detectives planted drugs in his car in an effort to get him arrested, I don’t see how he can stay.
LaDonna’s trial finally went ahead, but she has to be wishing it didn’t – a hung jury led to a mistrial and LaDonna’s rapist back on the streets. “Burnt me out for nothing.”
Like we predicted last week, Davis’ farewell track (the original of which, written by the inspiration for McAlary, Davis Rogan, can be heard here) was his biggest hit. He’s going to find it hard to stick to his guns and turn his back on the biz now. He has officially and publically quit, and has even engaged in a symbolic passing of the torch, but will the lure of fame draw him back in?
Annie moves out. Her record’s been released and she’s got a new man. She doesn’t need Davis anymore. And, in a melancholy twist, Davis has got the one thing he always wanted, but lost the things he really loved.
Antoine has organized a fundraiser for LaDonna and Gigi’s. Pretty much everyone who’s anyone in the Treme music business is playing, as are a few notable celebrities (Trombone Shorty, for one).
Delmond and Albert realize that the Jazz Center is never going to be what it should be and decline to be part of it anymore.
Janette is having some stinking rows with Feeney about the direction the restaurant is taking.
But life goes on. Acceptances are made and stories move forward. Life is cyclical and the one thing that never changes is that we just keep living and doing. Won’t Bow. Don’t Know How.
As we say goodbye to these familiar faces at the end of another season, we’re offered vignettes of their lives as they move on with their stories. They’re not going to be stuck in the past. And neither should we be. In a symbolic farewell to Annie, Davis goes to see her at Jazz Fest, then turns his back and walks away. Terry and Toni play happy families with Sofia – it’s great to see the Bernette women happy again. Despite her rages, Janette hasn’t given up on her cooking. She’s staying at Desautel’s. Sonny and Linh got married! Antoine has morphed even further into the grown-up, contributing member of society. I love this version of him. Toni brings the Abreu witness to talk to the Feds, and they promise a genuine investigation. LaDonna wants to keep fighting and won’t accept the mistrial. Toni’s house is still getting buzzed by the cops. Albert sends his old costumes to a new museum dedicated to the Indians, and he’s already sewing for next year’s Mardi Gras. Can’t keep a good city down. – K
Quoteworthy: “A lot of talk in the press. A lot of money changing hands. Few people get rich, but nothing gets done.” – Albert, telling Delmond how New Orleans “works”