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'The Deuce' Season 3 Episode 5 portrays glimmer of hope amid Vince’s quest for revenge and Todd’s impending death

As the episode delved into different facets of death and decay it revealed hope too. When we see former prostitute Darlene, real name Donna, walkthrough Abby's bar, we are shown there is a way out. It is not easy, but if change is what is needed, then Donna serves us as a reminder, there's a way out
PUBLISHED OCT 8, 2019

This article contains spoilers for 'The Deuce' Season 3 Episode 5: 'You Only Get One'

Watching 'The Deuce' Season 3 Episode 5 is like throwing yourself into the deep end. You drown in the misery of the people the show portrays, watch as relationships fray, come to an end in the face of death or even decay amid judgement passed by people they love.

Yet, you also see hope. Not a shining bright light that hints at a happy-ever-after kind, but more like the end dim light at the end of a very long and dark tunnel. Everyone grieves loss differently and this episode is essentially about how different people come to terms with everything that they have lost or are losing in life. 

A still of Vince and Abby at Frankie's wake in 'The Deuce' season 3 episode 5. (Source: HBO)

Vince (James Franco), who lost his twin brother Frankie Martino to a gunshot wound, is on a treacherous path and going forward with his plan of exacting revenge on the person responsible for his brother's death. All Vince is doing is putting a target on his back.

The mob, especially one such as Gambino is not something Vince can take on, even if he did have Rudy's (Michael Rispoli) support. None of this matters though, because this is Vince's way of paying respect to his brother's memory.

Since the beginning, Frankie has always been the one who needed taking care of, and it seemed Vince was the more responsible and mature individual among the brothers. This episode, to the contrary, throws light on how Frankie had always assumed the position of taking care of Vince irrespective of the results. 

A still of Paul and Todd in 'The Deuce' season 3 episode 5. (Source: HBO)

While Frankie's death has changed a huge part of Vince, Todd Lang's (Aaron Dean Eisenberg) lover Paul Hendrickson (Chris Coy) is weighed down by Todd's impending death. The gay couple who have been together for over five years has been one of the best plotlines of the show.

It was a pleasure to watch them come together, fall head over heels in love with each other and it is heartbreaking to watch how Todd's illness is slicing away at something that he and Paul had nurtured together. It is not the relationship that is corroded here, nor their feelings for each other, but the time that the two would have spent loving each other has been cut short and the tragedy of this is more painful to watch than anything else.

A still of Eileen in 'The Deuce' season 3 episode 5. (Source: HBO)

To portray different facets of death or more accurately, an end; the episode portrays different relationships that are on a destructive path. For instance, when Eileen Merrell (Maggie Gyllenhaal) meets her son Adam (Mikey Moughan) after a really long time, she is not welcomed with open arms.

Her son wants money for his business and he has no problem asking his mother for it. The minute Eileen questions him about his business idea and the feasibility of it, he throws her profession in her face and goes to the extent of even calling her a w***e.

When Eileen hears her son address her so, she looks devastated. This woman who has fought like a warrior since the first day to be independent, to be everything she can be within the limitations of her situation and making the best that she can, unravels. With just one word, her son managed to break something inside her, which even if momentarily; had her question her decisions. 

A still of Lori Madison in 'The Deuce' season 3 episode 5. (Source: HBO)

Lori Madison's (Emily Meade) trip to New York is something that could be viewed in the same vein. This job may be the end of Lori's strength and the passion she held in herself to do something more. To do something that does not equate to disrespecting herself in her head, something substantial.

Even with all the money she is making, Lori is unhappy. For a woman who has always depended, first on her pimp and now on her manager; Lori tried to step out by herself. It was not her choice to head out by herself into a world she is not familiar with - strip dancing - but she gathers courage.

However, when she sees strange men recognize her for her work and approach her with a predatory look in their eyes, Lori loses her calm. So much so, she hears a voice she hasn't heard in a while. A voice that now belongs to a dead man - CC (Gary Carr) - now haunts her. 

Yes! The show is delving deeper into different facets of an ending but there is hope as well. When we see a former prostitute named Darlene, real name Donna (Dominique Fishback), walkthrough Abby's (Margarita Levieva) bar, we are shown there is a way out.

It is not easy, but if change is what you are looking for, then Donna serves us as a reminder that there is hope after all. You have to fight for what you deserve, as Donna continues to do so now. It is a glimpse of the dull light at the end of a long tunnel and at this moment it's exactly what 'The Deuce' needs. 

The next episode of 'The Deuce' Season 3 will air Monday at 10 p.m. ET on HBO. 

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