Has anyone watched "Treme" on HBO? Is it worth the effort to watch?

It's playing all the time on HBO but I haven't watched any of the shows. I figured I could catch up with On-Demand but first I just want to see if anyone else has watched this show and their opinion of it.

It's almost worth the effort to get HBO. :(

Seriesly, it's the first successful attempt to capture NOLA on screen since the short-lived Frank's Place.

I thought it was very, very boring.

I haven't seen it, but that's generally how opinions go.

The ensemble cast is top notch.

The music is fabulous.

The anger at the Bush Administration is out in the open.

A couple of the characters are a bit cliche...but
I wouldn't miss a single episode!

If only to see Bunk and Freamon. And if you watching The Corner, then you'll recognize some others as well.

I like it but imho it's nowhere near the quality of The Wire. But then, that's a helluva standard.

.... flashbacks, we may see more of him yet.

Very solid finale. And now the bad stuff really starts:

http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/whats-alan-watching/posts/interview-treme-co-creator-david-simon-post-mortems-season-one

--for those who haven't seen an episode yet.

I like it a lot. It's more like Robert Altman than Jerry Bruckheimer - so if you don't like character-driven pieces that don't mind meandering - it might not be something you like.

Lots of things happen - but they happen more like life happens - without easy or quick resolution, without a lot of clear villains. The main characters can seem unlikable in many ways but the core of their lives has been entirely destroyed and they are still shell-shocked by the devastation to real lives.

Early on, some people's attitudes toward outsiders seems offputting - but those people are also called on this - because they were once outsiders too.

The music is great, to me. But if you want to hear what's on mainstream radio, you won't hear it on this show.

It shares The Wire's long view of a place. It shares The Wire's willingness to let bad things happen to main characters - to the point of losing that character.

and watching the BP Oil Gusher destroy a far larger area of the coast is heartbreaking. Last night was the final episode of this season and I felt like I was part of the funeral procession dancing and playing music in the streets and I cried.

everywhere from street corners to the airport terminals.