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'The Deuce' Season 3 finale: Best Maggie Gyllenhaal moments as Eileen Merrell before HBO show’s last episode

'The Deuce' is coming to an end with Season 3 Episode 8 titled 'Finish It'. So here's a look at the best of Maggie Gyllenhaal as Eileen Merrell aka Candy Rene. From a prostitute on the streets to becoming an erotic filmmaker, the character's progression is one of the best
PUBLISHED OCT 24, 2019

HBO's show 'The Deuce' created by George Pelecanos and David Simon is coming to an end. The finale episode titled 'Finish It' is set to be aired in a few days and so here's a look back at the best Maggie Gyllenhaal moments.

From playing a prostitute with stage name Candy, who doesn't depend on a pimp for her safety on the streets, her character progresses into a successful porn actor who falls in the love with the art of filmmaking. She transitions into working behind the camera and explores a side of porn films she considers progressive.

Eileen Merrell is abandoned by her family at an early age because she gets pregnant, begins working on the streets to support her son and still manages to keep a little bit of herself hidden away. She does so to safeguard herself from being affected by the reality of the career she has chosen.

This must not be mistaken for guilt or regret for what she has done to survive. Eileen is proud of the choices that she has made in her life. She is particular about not letting others' judgement of her cloud her judgement about herself and that really is the soul of her character.

The best moments on the show oscillate between her being conflicted about her beliefs or finding inspiration to go on another day. In the first season, when we meet Candy for the first time, we don't know much about her. She is a street worker who is sought after by the most popular pimps on 42nd Street, but she is not ready to give in to any of them.

She chooses her clients, takes the risk and in the end enjoys the benefits of her hard work completely without allowing some man to take a cut. The most impressive scene of the season is when Eileen works for a porn movie for the first time and is visibly fascinated by the whole process of filmmaking.

From the lights and reflectors to where they need to be placed, she has questions about everything and to see that fascination take shape in Eileen's eyes is a pleasure to see unravel. With each question that she poses, we understand Eileen a little better.

Her ideas for the future are taking root right at that moment and to be audience to that is in a strange way empowering. If the first season empowers, the second season's best scene is one of great discomfort. This is a scene that comes through early on the second season when Candy is trying her best to get finances to make her porn film.

A still of Candy in 'The Deuce' Season 1. (Source: IMDb)

The film was to be a feminist take on Red Riding Hood in which Candy wanted to spotlight female urges and desires and effectively make a film that would evoke desire in women as opposed to porn films that only concentrate on the male perspective.

While in conversation with a producer, Candy faces a predicament. The male producer who swaggers in makes lewd comments and tells Candy she can get the money if she can do something in return for him.

One would assume that receiving such offers would not be uncomfortable for someone who was once a prostitute. However, that is exactly what she feels and that minute where Candy reflects on the offer, we understand why it is important to get the difference between being a victim of the powerplay as opposed to choosing to sell one's body. It is a powerful moment, but not an easy one to digest. 

Maggie Gyllenhaal as Eileen in 'The Deuce' season 3 episode 5. (Source: HBO)

Finally, in the last season, there were a number of scenes in which Gyllenhaal was exemplary. What does stand out the most is the conversation Eileen has with one of the actors for her upcoming film.

The scene is to understand and portray a woman who has chosen to work on the streets. When the actor asks for the character's background to better prepare for her role, Eileen confesses her life story, for the first time.

She recalls how she had gotten pregnant and her father, who she had at the time believed would support her, had instead left her at an unsafe corner abortion center to fend for herself. Her emotional confession cuts deep into the actors present at the film reading and into Eileen's longtime friend Harvey as well.

The emotional weight of this confession followed by this burst of energy that we see in Eileen is inspiring and moving. To watch Eileen come to terms with things in her life and using that to propel her creativity is brilliant. 

The last episode of 'The Deuce' will air Monday at 10 p.m. ET on HBO.

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