Treme casts a light on the lives of New Orleanians following Hurricane Katrina. The characters come off as everyday people who are simply trying to get by and rebuild their lives following the storm. There are even characters whose homes are left absolutely destroyed (such as the older Mardi Gras Indian man) and so they must set up camp in other areas of the city along with characters who have missing family members (such as the bar owner LaDonna with her missing brother) due to the mismanagement and neglect on the part of local law enforcement.
In spite of the ruins that surround the people of this story, there is still a definitive effort to rebuild, preserve, and celebrate the culture of New Orleans with music, dance, and art. The brass band men trying to find gigs, the Mardi Gras Indian insisting that the survivors of the tribes (even if they are not of the same tribe) reconvene, the chef trying to run her restaurant in spite of shortages, and even the crude guy played by John Goodman defending New Orleans against the smartass BBC reporter.
Treme does a wonderful job with portraying the lives of everyday people as delightfully human with flaws and talents alike. I am enticed to watch more when I can.