Treme is back, and with it returns a fictionalized history of New Orleans after Katrina. Recovery a year after the storm remains elusive and difficult on the program (as it was in real life), but people continue to know what it means to miss New Orleans. Delmond needs his home more than he thinks he does, as he looks for that elusive link that once made jazz the music of America. Janette, who fled to New York after her restaurant collapsed, has learned how to use a Sazerac as a weapon. There are other, similar stories being told.

One of the fun things about a David Simon series is to watch the return of actors from his previous programs. This time around, in addition to a sprinkling of people from The Wire, Simon has pulled in a few folks from Homicide: Life On The Street, the show that put him on the map. Last year, it was Melissa Leo (who has since won an Oscar!) who turned up as a main character. This year, Jon Seda appeared on the scene.

And of course, through it all is a ton of great music. Steve Zahn plays a sort of roguish music-head who’s more privileged than he’d care to admit, and his character has become obsessed by rap and bounce music. Suddenly, he’s not so interested in playing Professor Longhair on the community radio station and is again out of a job. Wendell Pierce, one of the Wire veterans, plays a character trying to get his act together as a musician and a man.

Treme continues to be filled with great characters telling great stories. And in fine New Orleans fashion, here’s a little lagniappe: The menu at the New York restaurant where Janette is working. “Timbale of Maine Peeky Toe Crab.” Please.