What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
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T10 WHATS UP! September 8 - 14, 2019 gets involved in the produc- tion of, well, unsavory films. Candy's arc has been one of self-improvement and person- al discovery, as she fought her way up from the gutter to a job that has a new sense of legiti- macy (but also poses new risks and challenges). It's no sur- prise that the hard-working, Oscar-nominated actress has received constant, glowing praise for her portrayal of Can- dy — she was also nominated in the Best Actress category at the 75th Golden Globe Awards last year. Franco has also been praised for his performance in "The Deuce," but in his case, it has been less for rendering an ex- cellent, original character than for the technical prowess of his work. Franco plays twin brothers Vincent and Frankie Martino in the show. Vincent began the series as a down-on- his-luck bartender working long hours to provide for his family. His brother, Frankie, is more of a loose cannon; he's a gambler and occasional scam artist who has ties to the mob. In Seasons 1 and 2, the broth- ers saw their fortunes rise as they took advantage of their mob connections (sometimes reluctantly) and got involved in bar ownership and brothels. The Vincent and Frankie char- acters have been criticized for being stereotypical "New York guy" caricatures, but Franco has received almost universal acclaim for his dual perfor- mances, which regularly re- quire him to act in scenes with only himself. His ability to per- form in a convincing manner opposite thin air (that is subse- quently filled in by seamless CGI) has captured the atten- tion of fans and critics alike. Several years ago, after the fi- nale of the first season of "The Deuce," multiple members of the cast and creative team indi- cated that the show had a roughed-out narrative de- signed to last for three seasons. Back then, the future of the series was in doubt, and there was no guarantee it would be re- newed enough times to make it to its natural conclusion — HBO isn't above canceling critically acclaimed shows when the rat- ings aren't there, and ratings for "The Deuce" have never been particularly strong. Instead of the twists, turns and cliffhang- ers that propel so many shows to must-watch status, "The Deuce" simply depicts the lives of its characters in a realistic, believable way and allows the narrative to play out naturally. In the end, HBO allowed the show to run its full course, and audiences can expect a solid, thought-out conclusion instead of the abrupt or scattershot end- ing that can plague shows can- celed before their time. The third season of "The Deuce" will replicate the five- year timeline jump that oc- curred between Seasons 1 and 2. The show's first season was set in the early 1970s, the sec- ond played out five years later, and this one takes us five more years into the future to the start of the 1980s. The season finale of Season 2 hinted at the goals of the fi- nal season when Harvey gave Candy a preview of an emerg- ing form of technology: the VCR. The final season will look at the impact of that tech- nology. It will also take a look at the emergence of HIV and AIDS in New York City in the early 1980s, and the devastat- ing toll the epidemic took on New York's LGBTQ communi- ty. You can also expect the show to delve into the early '80s cocaine trade. "The Deuce" begins its final season on Monday, Sept. 9, on HBO. Olivia Luccardi in "The Deuce" continued from page T2 Wrap it up: 'The Deuce' returns for its third and final season TV FEATURE