What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
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T2 WHATS UP! September 8 - 14, 2019 TV Media T here's nothing worse than a sudden can- cellation. When a show ends abruptly, fans are left wishing and won- dering, but a slow, deliberate ending can leave us satisfied in a way that enhances the se- ries, even if we're sad it's over. Starting Monday, Sept. 9, fans of the HBO series "The Deuce" can begin to experi- ence that slow wind down. Season 3 is its last, and know- ing that beforehand has given its showrunners a chance to offer their audience a conclu- sion that feels natural. "The Deuce," named after slang for a section of Manhat- tan's 42nd St. that was once considered the city's red-light district, depicts the eclectic community of that section of New York City during the 1970s. It's creators, David Si- mon and George Pelecanos, are best known for creating the HBO megahit "The Wire," and the stars of the series are no less qualified. The show stars Maggie Gyllenhaal ("The Honourable Woman") and James Franco ("The Disaster Artist," 2017) as two (well, three, actually) people living their lives in and around New York's seedy underbelly from the early 1970s onwards. I say three because Franco plays twins. Other cast members have been promoted this season, going from smaller recurring roles to regulars as the time- line of "The Deuce" jumps ahead several years and new characters emerge as central figures. Among those receiv- ing meatier roles are Olivia Luccardi ("It Follows," 2014) and David Krumholtz ("Hail, Caesar!," 2016), who play the young escort Melissa and di- rector Harvey Wasserman, re- spectively. The supporting cast of "The Deuce" is strong from top to bottom (a trademark of David Simon's television shows), but the leads have received special attention for their performanc- es in the show's first two sea- sons. Gyllenhaal plays Eileen "Candy" Merrell, a former street hustler who eventually James Franco stars in "The Deuce" Seedy streets continued on page T10 TV FEATURE