A note on HBO's Treme

HBO is absolutely killing it right now with The Pacific and Treme, two shows I've enjoyed as much as any I've ever seen.  I have two observations about Treme that I want to share and hopefully get some feedback on.  First, I have an overwhelming sense of foreboding in nearly every scene of every episode.  It feels like all hell is about to break loose at any moment.  I'm pretty sure that's intentional. If so, well done, David Simon.  The suspense adds to the edginess of post-Katrina New Orleans, and wears on the viewer in a way that makes you appreciate the grittiness of life there at that time. 

The second observation is grounded in the first, and, according to my NOLA-based friends, has been floated as rumor around the city ever since these two characters appeared in Episode 2.  Are Annie and Sonny, the street musicians, bound to be the fictionalized version of Addie Hall and Zackery Bowen?  In one of the most gruesome homicides I know of, Zackery Bowen strangled his girlfriend, Addie Hall, and then proceeded to dismember and cook her remains.  Zackery was a worthless layabout, and seems to mirror Sonny in some ways.  Zackery and Addie actually did "rough it" in the French Quarter immediately after the storm, as Sonny loves to tell everyone he and Annie did.  In real life, Addie flashed the police to get them to stick around, providing extra protection for her area.  In Treme, Sonny tells of how Annie did the same.

There are differences between Zackery and Sonny, and certainly between Annie and Addie, however, that might mean we're not about to witness a rather shocking and horrifying twist to Treme.  Zackery and Addie were bartenders, while Sonny and Annie are musicians.  (NOLA tip: Zackery tended bar at Buffa's, which serves a mean breakfast.)  Zackery was from L.A., while Sonny's Dutch.  Addie had a bit of a drug problem and a quick temper, while Annie seems to be a rather calm and nice straight arrow.  In the end, there certainly are more differences than similarities.  But I can't help getting that feeling this will end terribly for Annie.  I, for one, hope that Annie strangles and cooks Sonny, as he's easily my least favorite character on TV.  I guess we'll watch and see.

P.S. - Here's the Times-Pic's blog on Treme.