I've never understood the hate for Davis in the first season and now that I've caught up with the most recent episode (yes, I absolutely marathoned them!) I still have that opinion. I mean, I guess if you don't like energetic, enthusiastic people then he might be a bit annoying, but it's a personality that I find a breath of fresh air in a city that is so clearly struggling and, when it comes down to it, he's a great guy. The way he acted with Janet, now Annie, and even the small stuff like looking after Sofia when she was blind drunk shows that. He's somebody I'd happily have as a friend.
I agree that Antoine maturing this season is one of the most interesting elements, however. Not only is he becoming a Pryzbylewski figure as he becomes more attached to teaching, but also showing growth in putting together his own bands and reflecting on the mistakes he made with his children. He was always an extremely likeable character, but in the last few episodes he's really come a long way.
I also like how now that Antoine has really put that "struggling musician" chapter in his life to rest somewhat, the show picks up Annie's journey in trying to find herself and what she can become.
Toni and Sofia are also infinitely more interesting this season than last, as one would expect without Creighton there stealing the show, and I think it's great that they've shown Toni really move away from being obsessive with her job and quest for justice (although she clearly still has it) to worrying about her daughter and how the darker elements of New Orleans can make a troubled teen even more self-destructive.
Terry has also been ramped up as a character this season and I've loved watching his disgust with the state of police work and frustration that a place he loves isn't getting any noticeably better. It would always be easy for this show to turn into The Wire set in New Orleans, but they've focused on it just enough and given it a real personal edge that it never feels that way. His arrest at the Mardi Gras and then happiness that only one person was killed was really beautiful to watch.
The only thing I'm not totally sold on is Janet's story arc in New York. It's not bad, and I'm happy they didn't swiftly bring her back home like I assumed they would, but at the same time it's not really doing much for me. It's just... there. She's a great actress and a great character, but other than throwing the drink over the asshole critic I haven't seen that fire or passion from her that I really love. Hopefully something decent comes of it all by the end.
And still, with all of that going on, the show is still largely "about nothing" and just focusing on a few lives in this wonderful place. It's as gorgeous to look at as ever and I'll be damned if the soundtrack to this season isn't better than even the last one. I can't think of any other shows where I'd be happy to have five or six minutes of every episode dedicated to people playing live music.
I feel like I made the right choice in collecting them until I could watch them all back to back, because even now I'm craving the final two episodes and the wait will feel like torture. I'm a bit sad this thread is so small, though, considering how great the season has been... I guess it will always be an acquired taste. I was hoping this show would get the attention it deserved after The Wire got so (relatively) popular.
As good as Game of Thrones is, this is still HBO's crown jewel.
