20 Best TV Shows Of 2017

10. The Deuce

The Deuce
HBO

David Simon teams up once again with George Pelecanos for The Deuce, which takes place in 1970s New York amidst the legalisation and rise of the porn industry.

The show's centres around twin brothers Vincent and Frankie Martino (played by James Franco and James Franco), one of whom is a hard-working, earnest bartender who wants to do better in life, the other a ne'er do well whose gambling frequently causes trouble for himself and his brother. Alongside these two are Maggie Gyllenhaal's Candy, a sex worker around Times Square who is unique in not having a pimp.

It's in these, and the many supporting characters (filled by familiar faces from The Wire, Treme and so on) that Simon displays one of his greatest gifts: to write real people, rather than characters, and yet still engross you in their lives.

It's yet another great showcase for Simon's tacking of societal issues and offering a real critique, this time turning his gaze to the porn industry, sex workers, and the way people view others in desperate, dire situations.

He manages to convey a wonderful humanity without trading off on his usual grit, aided by Michelle MacLaren's direction and with an incredibly detailed recreation of 70s New York, along with some fine performances - especially Franco - to boot.

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Contributor
Contributor

NCTJ-qualified journalist. Most definitely not a racing driver. Drink too much tea; eat too much peanut butter; watch too much TV. Sadly only the latter paying off so far. A mix of wise-old man in a young man's body with a child-like wonder about him and a great otherworldly sensibility.