Treme Season 2, Ep. 7

• Courtesy of HBO
• HEE HEE HEE - IT TICKLES!

In Season 1 of “Treme,” the good times barely rolled for the first post-Katrina Mardi Gras. Every instance of celebratory whimsy, like Janette frolicking in the street in a fairy costume, found a melancholy counterpoint like Creighton’s inability to enjoy the festival. The cops even held Chief Albert in jail until Ash Wednesday, although he did get to lead the Indians on St. Joseph’s Day. (I had to check our recap from last year to remember.)

This year, “Treme” paints the 2007 carnival as much bigger and rowdier — but also safer, as Colson points out with relief. No doubt that reflects the year’s real-life Mardi Gras to some extent, but maybe “Treme” simply spent more time with the parade scenes this year, conveying a grander scale and more hearty partying. The show pushes “pause” on some of the season’s more downbeat plot threads. Downcast Chief Albert not only parades with his Indians in resplendent white plumage and his son’s beadwork — he even gets lucky.

The episode opens with the all-female Krewe of Muses’ parade and Davis’ desperation to get a shoe. He even flashes his nipples, to no avail: “You objectify me, and then you deny me?” he complains. Speaking of which, Colson informs a young woman eager to exercise her shirtless option that Krewe of Muses is a family parade, and she’d have better luck in the French Quarter. Things aren’t all beads and boobs, however.