The first season of the HBO drama The Deuce explores the birth of the legal porn industry in New York City during the early 1970s. Created by George Pelecanos and David Simon, the series meticulously recreates the gritty and dangerous atmosphere of Times Square. The narrative follows the interconnected lives of a diverse cast of characters, including bartenders, sex workers, law enforcement, and hustlers, as they navigate a city on the brink of transformation. This season establishes the core themes of capitalism, exploitation, and the commodification of sex.
At the center of the story are Vincent Martino, a hard-working bartender played by James Franco, and his opportunistic twin brother, Frankie. Vincent is reluctantly drawn into a partnership with the mob to run a topless bar, providing a legitimate front for criminal enterprises. This move pulls him deeper into the underworld, forcing him to balance his desire for a stable business with the violent realities of his new partners. His journey illustrates the complex relationship between organized crime and the burgeoning adult entertainment market.
The series gives a powerful voice to the sex workers through the character of Candy, portrayed by Maggie Gyllenhaal. An independent streetwalker, Candy begins to see the potential for more autonomy and profit by moving behind the camera. Her initial forays into filmmaking mark a pivotal shift from the dangerous streets to a new form of enterprise. Candy’s arc highlights the themes of agency and exploitation, as she seeks to control her own destiny within a male-dominated industry.
Simultaneously, the season follows the efforts of police officers Alston and Flanagan to clean up the streets, facing institutional corruption and bureaucratic inertia. Their work often conflicts with the economic interests of the mob and the complex realities of the sex trade. This law enforcement perspective provides a crucial view of the systemic challenges and the often-ineffective attempts to regulate vice, showing how the city’s official response is as messy and compromised as the world it seeks to control.
As the season progresses, the fledgling porn industry evolves from seedy peep shows and film loops into a more organized business. The finale sees Vincent opening a legal, mob-backed bordello, while Candy secures funding for her first directorial effort. These developments signal the professionalization and commercialization of vice, setting the stage for the industry’s explosive growth. The season concludes by establishing the foundation for the profound changes that will impact every character in the years to come.
The Deuce – TV Series – Season 1 – Trailer
