The Wire creator David Simon’s ensemble drama set in post-Katrina New Orleans may not have as much widespread appeal (not being about gun crime and drug-dealing, you see?) as that classic look at Baltimore’s underbelly, but with two more seasons already commissioned, this critical hit shows no sign of slowing down on its idiosyncratic route.

In case you didn’t catch the first season, Treme focuses on the lives of hurricane survivors in the city’s famous historic musical district. Following musicians struggling to make ends meet, alongside those trying to pick up the pieces, Treme’s closest storytelling cousin has to be Robert Altman’s groundbreaking seventies movie, Nashville, about the titular city’s music scene. With a seemingly disparate group of characters living interlinked lives to a stunning musical backdrop, Simon’s show is every bit Nashville’s equal; no mean feat.

Featuring actors from The Wire and Simon’s earlier show, The Corner – most notably Wendell Pierce as irresponsible t-bone player Antoine Batiste and Clarke Peters as proud Mardi-Gras Big Chief Albert Lambreaux – alongside a seemingly endless procession of prominent jazz, blues, folk, Cajun and hip-hop performers including the likes of Steve Earle, Kermit Ruffins, Elvis Costello and Dr John, the charismatic cast and musicians are Treme’s real strength.

Season 2 sees crusading lawyer Toni (Melissa Leo) and her daughter Sofia (India Ennenga) struggling to come to terms with the death of Sofia’s father, Creighton (John Goodman) as Toni liaises with David Morse’s ever-disappointed Lieutenant Colson to track down missing people. Steve Zahn’s loveable loser DJ-turned-musician Davis McAlary has a new project to get his teeth into as the Big Chief’s own project to restore his home in the face of financial disaster continues.

Exiled characters, chef Janette (Kim Dickens) and young jazz musician Delmond (Rob Brown), who are now living in New York, fight for their home city’s cultural heritage as grieving bar owner LaDonna (Khandi Alexander) has a more personal battle to fight.

One of the best things about Simon and co-writer Eric Overmyer’s work is the fact they never stand in judgement over their characters. This second season is just as open-minded in scope. Mediocre guitarist, drug-addict and perpetrator of domestic violence, Dutchman Sonny (Michiel Huisman) was shown previously to be something of an unlikeable wreck.

Season 2 does what most shows wouldn’t: rather than leaving him to his presumed fate, the script continues to follow him, revealing new facets of his character and encouraging unexpected audience empathy. Likewise, John Seda’s Texan venture capitalist Nelson could have been a straightforward opportunistic vulture picking at the city’s remains; his fun-loving nature and New Orleans paints a more complex picture, with redeeming features beside his flaws.

Ultimately, then, it’s Simon and Overmyer’s characters’ ability to party in the face of turmoil and their love of life despite its tribulations that drive’s Treme’s success. There’s something spectacularly entertaining about a blunt refusal to give into despair (the show’s slogan is “Won’t bow, don’t know how”) and this show continues to be a surprisingly optimistic, stunningly realized love-letter to a stricken city.

Released on DVD and Blu-ray on Monday 28th May 2012 by Warner Home Video.

> Buy the DVD boxset on Amazon.

What did you think of Season 2? Let us know below…