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October 16, 2017

The Deuce “Why Me?” Review: Oh, the Whorin’ Outside is Frightful

It’s a dangerous time for the pimps and their charges in 1970s New York on this week’s episode of The Deuce. The show has fast forwarded to the winter time and the NYPD is cracking down on prostitution around the holidays more than ever. This and the “No Go” arrest zones are all part of Rudy’s master plan to force the pimps into paying to put their ladies in his brothels, like the one run by Vinnie and his brother-in-law. As a result, he makes a profit from the pimps (oh, the irony!) and is safe from raids and/or busts.

Just one problem: The downtown precinct is all paid off, but now the uptown one wants in with $500 a week for “protection” against any legal action taken against the cat house. That being said, I think things will go south for the entire operation with this uptown precinct and with Sandra doing investigative work (Alston, wanting to more than just a “source” in the hopes of actually dating her, is giving her high-level info). Rudy makes a point to Vinnie that he trusts him with the bar and brothel because he’s honest, but it’s really because Rudy’s bosses don’t want any “made” men involved in these enterprises in case something goes wrong with Johnny Law.

Of course, the pimps also have the option of renting their whores out to pornography productions like C.C. does with Lori and with New York judges acquitting smut makers such as Mr. Wasserman of wrongdoing when it comes to the making and distribution of said smut, it’s a smart way to hedge their profit losses against the police crackdown.

Candy’s got a good thing going with Harvey, but right now, the porn industry doesn’t have the longevity for her to sustain a stable career in it by acting alone; she wants to learn the ins and outs of movie making. Still, the chivalrous kishka-loving, seltzer-drinking Wasserman hooks her up with, well, it’s  hooking job, but much safer than if she were to go it alone. The clients are vetted, he promises her. We also get a hint of someone from her previous life while she’s wrapping presents at her mother’s house. Judging by the fact that she needs to run out when she hears a car doom slam, I’m guessing it’s her son’s father with whom she has a less than amicable relationship.

This week, Frankie Martino goes from owing Rudy Pipilo to working for him as he and Big Mike do a little snooping into one of Rudy’s business associates, Marty Hodas. Hodas stocks Rudy’s porn-viewing machines in his stores and Rudy’s a tad suspicious that Hodas is skimming from his cut of the machine earnings. The suspicion is justified, but did Hodas have to be Jewish? When Rudy pays a visit to the dude’s office, there’s an electric menorah in plain sight. So far, The Deuce’s two blatantly Jewish characters are porn-directing, money-grubbing degenerates.

Does it do the best for the already pervasive stereotypes about our culture? Not so much, although that doesn’t end my enjoyment of the show. Not by a long shot. Now that the setting has switched to Christmas time, The Deuce can show off a different, crisper set of brighter colors and fashion styles that were not present in the summertime-set episodes.


SONG PICK(S) OF THE WEEK:

*”The Lion Sleeps Tonight” — The Tokens (1961)

*A fun, personal fact about this song: I once worked with the sister of Mitch and Phil Margo of The Tokens.