Treme Review: “Poor Man’s Paradise” (Season 3, Episode 9)

Unfortunately for the two bar flies, though, Gigi’s isn’t long for this world. After continuing to remain unyielding to the threats against her and her family, Ladonna gets a phone call in the middle of the night that there has been a break in at her bar. With her husband at her side, she goes to check in on her family’s bar, only to find it engulfed in flames. After dealing with family, finding a house, and the sluggishness of the justice system, Ladonna is finally moved to tears.

Janette likewise finds herself brought down into despair, mainly because she feels she is losing control of her restaurant. It seems every day finds another group of Tim’s friends taking up a section, getting a comped meal, while her crawfish ravioli has become her signature dish, eclipsing all her other work. After turning into the stereotypical “screaming chef” to squelch some good-natured jubilation in her kitchen, she slinks up to her apartment (strikingly bereft of any personal touches or even food) and pours herself a paper cup of whiskey.
On the outskirts of all this we find Antoine trying to help his long-abandoned and neglected students find some hope in the midst of poor education and lack of parents. Del grapples with the decision to leave New Orleans to tour in Europe in order to push his album sales and keep his career alive, even has his father struggles for his life in a much more real way.

It’s this struggle that gives us the tender closing scene of the episode, another meeting of two kindred souls on the level of Terry and Toni. Ladonna comes to the hospital to see Albert as he gets his chemo treatment, bearing comfort food. He tells her he won’t be able to eat for a while, but she sits down and offers to keep him company, looking for some “quiet company.” They hold hands, and we see two people who never allow themselves to look weak, taking solace in knowing that even the strong sometimes need a hand. The difference is, these two have never sought or accepted pity or aid, and that makes their connection all the strong.

Next week closes us out for this season, and I’m actually really concerned about how we will end. Even with all the strides we made, I can’t imagine a suitable conclusion to most of these stories. Ladonna is on the beginning of a dark path toward reconstruction, Albert is still sick, Del might be leaving, Janette is at her lowest personally while her career is at it’s highest… where can we possibly go that will feel like a fitting conclusion until next year? I don’t know, but I am eager to find out.