Over the years HBO has made a name for themselves with some truly great original series. They continue to develop a wide variety that all seem to be better than the last. The latest series, The Deuce features a great cast including Maggie Gyllenhaal, Gbenga Akinnagbe, Don Harvey, Method Man, Chris Bauer, Gary Carr, Lawrence Gillard Jr., Margarita Levieva and James Franco taking on double duty as twins. Now HBO is bringing the first seasom of the series home.

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The Deuce is based in 1970s New York and gives a raw and gritty portayal of the prostitution business that was so publicly executed at that time. As a result of police crack-down, the characters are forced to venture towards relatively safer and more discrete forms of the same work. I actually went into this series knowing nothing about it other than the cast involved and was pleasantly surprised. The dark and dirty nature of the story is compelling and offers up a unique take on the oldest profession. Instead of just following the sex aspect of prostitution it takes on the varying elements and people involved in different ways. Franco does an awesome job as expected taking on these two completely different characters making you believe that they are two people. As the season moves along you get to see the evolution in some aspects of their persona as well as their success in the bar busisness.

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The real treat here is Maggie Gyllenhaal’s story that takes on an independent prostitute surrounded in a world full of pimps and street walkers doing it her own way. She too gets to see an evolution to herself and career while seeing the complete difference to what she does as opposed to the others in the streets. Surrounding both of these great actors are a just as great supporting cast bringing some memorable characters to life in this gritty story. They make sure to dive into the world of the pimp and prostitute relationships in different ways as opposed to just going the clichéd route we are accustomed to.

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This is a great show that features a real life essence to a world that most think seedy and dangerous. While the danger is there and showcased here, this show is about the people and how they navigate through it in the only way they know how and makes for a great show. This release offers up all 8 episodes of the first season as well as bonus content including featurettes taking you behind bringing this show to life. Grab your copy of The Deuce: The Complete First Season when it hits Blu-ray and DVD on February 13th from HBO Home Entertainment.