The Deuce is one of the most underrated shows on television right now. Though it has received critical acclaim in its first two seasons, the complex show is not talked about nearly enough. From the creators of The Wire, the epic story follows the rise of the porn industry in New York City's Times Square.
Filming for the third and final season of the show recently wrapped and is set to premiere on HBO on September 9th. With such a complex story based on real events and with a massive cast of compelling characters, there are still plenty of loose ends the show needs to tie up in order to bring the whole thing to a satisfying end. Here are some of the things that need to happen on The Deuce before the show ends.
The Changing Porn Industry
The show is a fascinating look at the porn industry of the '70s when pornographic films were actually reaching the mainstream. We see the seediest possible beginnings of the industry while also expanding out to see those who are becoming genuine celebrities through their work in porn films.
As the history of the industry tells us, that peak era for the porn industry did not last. The way films were made changed and the storytelling component of these films became unimportant. It will be interesting to see the fall from grace the industry experiences and how some of the characters cope with it.
Candy's Move To Mainstream
Perhaps the most interesting character on the show is Candy (Maggie Gyllenhaal). She was introduced early on as one of the few prostitutes working the streets who refused to have a pimp. This made for a tough living and she eventually moved into the film business.
Though she started out with acting, Candy proved to have a real talent in directing. In Season 2, we see her direct her first feature and become a hot commodity in the industry. However, it's clear Candy does not want to limit herself to porn and it would be great to see her make a go at legitimate filmmaking.
Consequences Of Organized Crime
One of the main aspects of the series has been how organized crime is intricately involved in almost all activities in Time Square. While the mobsters we meet in the series are certainly violent individuals, they are also seen as reasonable businessmen.
To this point, the involvement of the mob has always felt like a plot point that is threatening to explode. Season 3 needs to show the real consequences of what the mob brings to this situation. Whether it is characters we love crossing them or struggles for power, there needs to be some deadly payoff.
Candy's Family Life
Even when Candy seems to have a good grasp on her career aspirations, she does still struggle with her complicated family life. We see that she has a strained relationship with her son who lives with his grandparents. Candy often struggles with how to introduce him to her line of work.
Even more troubling is her relationship with her parents. Her mother is clearly disapproving of Candy's lifestyle and constantly voices those concerns. As for her father, there is a dark aspect of that relationship that has yet to be revealed.
Dark Side Of The Industry
At this point, we have seen several of the characters in the show move into the world of porno films. For many of them, this has meant an escape from their previous lives in prostitution and pimping. While that certainly seems like a step up, it would be unwise for the series to not address the darker side of the porn industry.
With the way the industry changes, Season 3 feels like a good time to look at some of the pitfalls of pornography. This could include characters getting addicted to drugs, being aged out of the industry, or abused. It's not ground-breaking subject matter but it's important to show.
Vincent Chooses A Side
James Franco has a difficult task on the show of playing two roles as the twin brothers Vincent and Frankie. Vincent is the more prominent of the two roles as he has become a successful businessman, managing several establishments in Time Square that serve as fronts for the mob.
For the whole series up until this point, Vincent has been able to walk on both sides of the issue, benefiting from mob partnerships while keeping his hands clean. The finale season needs to see Vincent not longer able to remain innocent and finally make a definitive choice on which side he is on.
Frankie Gets His Comeuppance
Frankie, the other of the brothers, is a less reliable guy. He has no problem operating on the wrong side of the law so long as it makes him money. He is also a guy who is willing to take major risks, like stealing from mob-owned businesses. After killing a pimp and getting away with it, Frankie seems like the luckiest guy around.
In Season 3, that luck needs to run out. Whether it's crossing the mob, getting in trouble with the law, or a robbery going wrong, we need to see Frankie finally paying for his crimes.
Candy's Backstory
Despite the massive cast of the show, it does feel like it is Candy's story at the heart of it all. She certainly has the most compelling storyline and she is the character we are all cheering for. So before the series ends, it would be nice to learn a bit more about her.
While the show probably couldn't spare an entire episode dedicated to her backstory, some flashbacks or explanation of her past. Apart from the bad blood with her father, it would be interesting to find out how she found herself becoming a sex worker.
New Times Square
The entire series feels like it has been leading up to the inevitable changes to Times Square. The famous seediness and adult entertainment of Time Square was eventually replaced with the more family-friendly and tourist-friendly atmosphere it is today.
The final season is said to take place in the early '80s so the timeline does not quite match up for these changes which took place in the early '90s. However, this "end of an era" seems like the perfect way to conclude the series.
Next Steps
With so many characters and so many storylines, it is easy to see the show ending in a similar way as The Wire, a show it shares many similarities with. In that series' final moments, we see flashes of all the characters and locations we have come to know over the years and giving us a hint of what the future might hold.
The Deuce does not necessarily have to wrap up each character's story in a neat bow, but it would be nice to check in and see what their next steps might be. Some can be hopeful and others are bound to be depressing as is the nature of this show.