Conversely, the knights in shining armor in Milch's Deadwood are also flawed. The closest thing to a hero in the series is Seth Bullock, played by Timothy Olyphant. The reluctant sheriff is a flawed and troubled character. He set out from North Dakota, where he was a Marshall, hell bent to seek his fortune as a merchant in Deadwood. But he is inextricably pulled back in by his moral fiber's call to bring law and order to this purgatory over which Swearengen rules. But, rather than enemies, he finds himself strangely allied with his ethical antithesis in the town's quest for self rule and voting rights. His morality is further challenged when, after doing the "right thing" and marrying his dead brother's wife, he falls in love with the femme fatale, Anna Garrett (Molly Parker), recently widowed at the hands of Swearengen and heir to the richest gold claim in the town.
These are but a few of the circus of characters in Deadwood. Cy Toliver (Powers Boothe) enters to play the even more evil foil for Swearengen with his own brothel and casino. Wild Bill Hickock (Keith Carradine) met his end there in season one but his sidekicks, Calamity Jane (Robin Weigart) and Charlie Utter (Dayton Callie) are still important pieces to Milch's web of human, well, er - calamity. The artistry with which Milch keeps the thickening strands of the Deadwood web and the constant ebb and flow of allies and enemies is a wonder to watch. It is a soap opera with teeth; Dynasty, Falcon Crest, Knot's Landing and Dallas with dirt, grime, and horse droppings. It is, unquestionably, the best series on television, cable or otherwise. [Trivia Fact: Ian McShane actually was on Dallas in 1989 as suave Englishman Don Lockwood. His character tempted Sue Ellen away from J.R. Ewing and ended up marrying her.]
As the finale for season two approaches on May 22, it promises to set the stage for the next season with even more plotlines. Who will meet their end before contract renewals is anyone's guess, though I have heard that Sy Tolliver (Powers Booth) will be leaving in the finale. Who will become Swearengen's evil foil for next year? Will it be the arrival of Hurst, the Klondike multimillionaire from San Francisco? Who will stay and become the nemesis? Or will Hurst's psychotic flunkie, Wolcott, stay around (personally, I doubt that "Mr. W" will live through the finale but never try and predict David Milch’s twists and turns)? And what will become of the Chinese family feud of Mr. Wu (old school) versus Mr. Lee. One - or both - clearly, must die.
Article comments
1 - Aaman
Shouldn't this be under Video?
Fine post
2 - Eric Berlin
Somebody switched it over, Aaman.
3 - gonzo marx
watch Deadwood or i'll toss all you cocksuckers feet first into the woodchipper...
nuff said?
Excelsior!
4 - Eric Berlin
I don't get HBO and can only get three Netflix DVDs at a time, so Deadwood has been on my list for a while now. Trying to get through Carnivale Season One, then Sopranos Season Five, then...
If only the wife would stop insisting on mixing in a movie every now and again!
5 - Nicolette Rivers
I love this show. Swearengen is a character you can loathe and like in the same episode.
You can do a whole drinking game based on how many times they same "cocksucker" per episode.
6 - dietdoc
Nicolette write: You can do a whole drinking game based on how many times they same "cocksucker" per episode.
Reply: You would be pretty drunk after each show. (grin) Maybe one shot for every 5 for Al, and one shot for 3 from Jane and Trixie, and one shot per utterance of "cocksucker" from every one else. There would be a bonus of two shots for every utterance of the word from Alma or Seth. Keeping up with Al and Jane would be enough to put me under the table.
Al is the most lovable villain ever, IMHO. Just when you start to think he is totally corrupt, you see him do something so off character it is downright tender.
I just love the writing. It is truly becoming a lost art. And Milch has the touch. The scripts turn the whole cast of serviceable but ordinary actors into complete stars.
Stars are made from scripts and script choices not just talent. I watched one of our generation's best, DeNiro, recently in "Godsend." Even an actor of his quality couldn't save that crap. And then you think back to "Godfather II" and "Raging Bull." It's the writing, not the acting, that makes stars. And the script writing never gets enough credit.
Sorry for the tangent.
Cheers,
Ron
Cheers,
Ron
7 - Nicolette Rivers
If you really want to get drunk fast you do the drinking game during the episode called Mr Wu. That's the one where Wu is in Al's office trying to explain that someone stole the dope.
8 - dietdoc
Postscript:
Season 2 ended 05/22/2005 and the ending bodes well for the future of the series.
In the finale, Al gets what he wants from Yankton, Alma marries Ellsworth, Mr. Lee gets taken out by Mr. Wu (with a big assist from Al's henchmen), Mr. Hurst arrives (the only disappointment was his seemingly banal character), Mr. Wolcott is discovered by his employer (Mr. Hurst) and hangs himself and, to my great joy, Powers Booth (the evil Tolliver) gets gutted by the new preacher who earlier in the day married Alma and Ellsworth.
I am sure this make no sense to anyone who has not followed the series but it was a classic setup for Season 3 and I thought I would give it a notice in this thread. David Milch continues to excel in writing and the series remains a classic tale of the real old west.
Cheers,
Ron
9 - Temple Stark
From two weeks ago -- Blogcritics' editors liked this one. It's a pick of the week. Congrats. Put the news up proudly on your site.
Here's a link to the rest of this week's picks where we say why we chose 'em.
10 - Paul Dennis
For fans of the magnificent HBO Deadwood series there is a new source of all things Deadwood, both real and fictional -- The Real Deadwood Podcast. Hosted by Paul Dennis, it is a variety show from the real Deadwood in the Black Hills of South Dakota for fans of the award-winning Deadwood series all over the world combining interviews, entertainment and news from both Deadwoods.
11 - Jesse
long time coming but i love this show, three years since the last post uh oh, best drinking game, dress up like cowboys, (with a modern twist if you have to) take a shot when they cocksucker, or they themselves take a shot, choose a character and drink along with them. 4 or 5 of us all above 23 years of age up to 35 get sloppy with Deadwood classic, I can't wait to do it again.