When you look up most underrated shows of all-time I guarantee you that you'll find Deadwood near the top of every list you find. This is truly a special show! Deadwood takes place in a fictional mining town in the U. S. post Civil War years. It's a lawless town that attracts people that like it doesn't have organized law and people looking to strike it rich after a huge gold strike. It is more than just a great western show, it's just a flat out great show in general! Everything about it is top notch. It's so good they even had to come back and make a movie over 15 years after it aired! Deadwood is not only on every most "underrated show ever" list that you'll find but you'll also find it on just about every "best show ever" list too. If you're a fan of westerns and looking for a great show to binge then give this a try.
381 Reviews
The old west brought back to life
gogoschka-111 August 2014
If you want to experience the – real – old west first hand, look no further; you'll find it in 'Deadwood'. There has never been a show or a film that came as close to showing what life must have been like in those lawless young towns that got built nearly over night wherever gold was found. A magnet for all kind of fortune seekers (gold diggers, whores, outlaws – but also settlers who were just hoping to build a better life), the town of Deadwood was notorious even by the standards of the time. In the show, this "cesspool of vice" is brought back to life with great attention to historical detail. You'll find no romanticised view of pioneers who lived and died by "the code of honour", but real people whose moral standards are – in most cases – murky at best. And the world they inhabit is a rough, dirty, violent place where only the fiercest – and the most cunning – survive.
As far as the historical characters depicted in the show are concerned, the writers naturally had to take some liberties (after all, nobody knows exactly who said or did what at the time), but the depiction of the era and the historical background are very accurate. Yet this is not a history lesson; it's an immensely entertaining western-show blessed with some of the best writers and actors working in television and film today – and especially the cast of 'Deadwood' really can't get enough praise: there is not a single performance here that isn't excellent. Of course, the one who steals the show is Ian McShane. His Al Swearengen is one of the most morally complex and fun-to-watch characters I've ever seen (and he misses absolutely no opportunity to show you just what the first five letters in "SWEAR-engen" stand for). The power-struggles in Deadwood he is involved in – and since he wants to maintain his position at the top of the food-chain he's involved in all of them – are equalled in complexity and entertainment value only by those in top-notch shows like 'Game of Thrones', 'House of Cards' or 'Breaking Bad'. And the lengths Al is willing to go to achieve his goals secure him a place in the top ten of "all-time great bad-asses".
So my verdict: While certainly not for the easily offended or those who prefer a "sanitized version" of the old west, 'Deadwood' offers a fascinating look at a time we mostly know from myths and legends and gives us a chance to revisit those and see them from a different angle. Great, intelligent and informative entertainment. 9 stars out of 10.
Favorite films: http://www.IMDb.com/list/mkjOKvqlSBs/
Lesser-known Masterpieces: http://www.imdb.com/list/ls070242495/
Favorite Low-Budget and B-movies: http://www.imdb.com/list/ls054808375/
Favorite TV-Shows reviewed: http://www.imdb.com/list/ls075552387/
As far as the historical characters depicted in the show are concerned, the writers naturally had to take some liberties (after all, nobody knows exactly who said or did what at the time), but the depiction of the era and the historical background are very accurate. Yet this is not a history lesson; it's an immensely entertaining western-show blessed with some of the best writers and actors working in television and film today – and especially the cast of 'Deadwood' really can't get enough praise: there is not a single performance here that isn't excellent. Of course, the one who steals the show is Ian McShane. His Al Swearengen is one of the most morally complex and fun-to-watch characters I've ever seen (and he misses absolutely no opportunity to show you just what the first five letters in "SWEAR-engen" stand for). The power-struggles in Deadwood he is involved in – and since he wants to maintain his position at the top of the food-chain he's involved in all of them – are equalled in complexity and entertainment value only by those in top-notch shows like 'Game of Thrones', 'House of Cards' or 'Breaking Bad'. And the lengths Al is willing to go to achieve his goals secure him a place in the top ten of "all-time great bad-asses".
So my verdict: While certainly not for the easily offended or those who prefer a "sanitized version" of the old west, 'Deadwood' offers a fascinating look at a time we mostly know from myths and legends and gives us a chance to revisit those and see them from a different angle. Great, intelligent and informative entertainment. 9 stars out of 10.
Favorite films: http://www.IMDb.com/list/mkjOKvqlSBs/
Lesser-known Masterpieces: http://www.imdb.com/list/ls070242495/
Favorite Low-Budget and B-movies: http://www.imdb.com/list/ls054808375/
Favorite TV-Shows reviewed: http://www.imdb.com/list/ls075552387/
Truly is a special show!
Supermanfan-1323 November 2020
Deadwood truly is a special show! It is more than just a great western show, it's just a flat out great show in general! Everything about it is top notch. It's so good they even had to come back and make a movie over 15 years after it aired! Deadwood is on just about every "best show ever" list that you can find for a reason...because it is!
A Hell of a place to make your fortune...
garynorton20 September 2006
This stands out for me as one of the best series I have ever seen hit the small screen. The attention to detail,story and character is second to none. Deadwood is brought to life by the good, the bad and the very ugly- with some of the most wonderfully theatrically profane, but ultra-realistic dialogue of any western. True, you could question some of the dialogue for exactly how accurate it is to the time it is set- but it sounds absolutely convincing in the world they have managed to build. Lets face it- not too many Westerns even bothered all that much in the first place! The 3 series have impeccable standards of production, weaving some of the real historical events of the time into a fictional Old West testament. The degradation, ill manners, costumes, dirt, mud and profanities are all present and accounted for.
Aside from the "real" characters we know of from Deadwood (Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane and even the Sheriff Bullock), we have some of the most unsavoury villains of the time as well.
The various stories, historical events and personal issues of the characters interweave with no discernible template or pattern to formalise the show. The only thing that is certain in the old West is that where the desire for excess, fortune and greed are combined, human nature will see to the rest.
Stand out performances are plentiful in this series- but Ian McShane is incredible, a true tour-de-force, a foul-mouthed, back-stabbing bad ass villain- who manages to humanise a repellent character in Al Swearengen.
As the series wore on, the writers broadened his character and nature a little more so it was unavoidable but to side with him- even agree with his nastiest ideas.
This was not a compromise or sell-out of the principally dark natured and notoriously ill-tempered brothel owner! "Sparks" of humanity seem to have warmed his character, particularly from his confrontations with the flint-like moral code & core of Sheriff Bullock (Timothy Olyphant). However, even Bullocks is prone to questionable actions, as he wrestles with his own conscience to resolve things in a "civil" way, or resort to a pistol-whipping to get the job done.
If you have never seen this- look out for repeats or go buy the box sets and enjoy the best Western experience ever made. My only regret is that its all over after 3 series (apart from a couple of 2 hour specials they plan to make to round it off.) Short but ever so sweet!!
Aside from the "real" characters we know of from Deadwood (Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane and even the Sheriff Bullock), we have some of the most unsavoury villains of the time as well.
The various stories, historical events and personal issues of the characters interweave with no discernible template or pattern to formalise the show. The only thing that is certain in the old West is that where the desire for excess, fortune and greed are combined, human nature will see to the rest.
Stand out performances are plentiful in this series- but Ian McShane is incredible, a true tour-de-force, a foul-mouthed, back-stabbing bad ass villain- who manages to humanise a repellent character in Al Swearengen.
As the series wore on, the writers broadened his character and nature a little more so it was unavoidable but to side with him- even agree with his nastiest ideas.
This was not a compromise or sell-out of the principally dark natured and notoriously ill-tempered brothel owner! "Sparks" of humanity seem to have warmed his character, particularly from his confrontations with the flint-like moral code & core of Sheriff Bullock (Timothy Olyphant). However, even Bullocks is prone to questionable actions, as he wrestles with his own conscience to resolve things in a "civil" way, or resort to a pistol-whipping to get the job done.
If you have never seen this- look out for repeats or go buy the box sets and enjoy the best Western experience ever made. My only regret is that its all over after 3 series (apart from a couple of 2 hour specials they plan to make to round it off.) Short but ever so sweet!!
A perfect series
numenorsniper-6639614 August 2020
Perfect is a word that should pretty much never be used. Yet, this series Deadwood is indeed perfect (in my opinion of course).
The long-awaited movie sadly doesn't meet the original series' tenacity or energy, As perfect as the series is, it too sadly fell prey to being cancelled before its time. Anyone who's watched it in full will know what I'm talking about, but anyone yet to watch it, I won't spoil it for you.
I watched Deadwood when it was originally airing back in 2004, when I was 15, and often found it hard to understand everything they were saying lol, due to it's Shakespearean eloquence that for many native English speakers requires English subtitles. I revisited the series in 2014 when friends of a friend starting talking about it, and so that late friend of mine (God rest his soul) and I re-watched it all on his projector screen, and we couldn't stop laughing and cussing and using the term "cocksucka!" in every other sentence of our every day conversations, haha!
I'm re-watching the first episode as I type out this review, and my god is it truly awesome.
The long-awaited movie sadly doesn't meet the original series' tenacity or energy, As perfect as the series is, it too sadly fell prey to being cancelled before its time. Anyone who's watched it in full will know what I'm talking about, but anyone yet to watch it, I won't spoil it for you.
I watched Deadwood when it was originally airing back in 2004, when I was 15, and often found it hard to understand everything they were saying lol, due to it's Shakespearean eloquence that for many native English speakers requires English subtitles. I revisited the series in 2014 when friends of a friend starting talking about it, and so that late friend of mine (God rest his soul) and I re-watched it all on his projector screen, and we couldn't stop laughing and cussing and using the term "cocksucka!" in every other sentence of our every day conversations, haha!
I'm re-watching the first episode as I type out this review, and my god is it truly awesome.
TV doesn't get any better than this
nick-18961 July 2007
Absolutely superb. I don't think I've ever given anything a 10/10 before, but for a TV show, Deadwood is excellent - and given the crap we're generally subjected to on the box, absolutely outstanding. The sets, the research, the directing, the characters, the acting - all shine. And without wanting to sound gushy, the script is close to Shakespearian in its prosaic yet pragmatic tone. The juxtaposition of the grit and dirt and blood of the real 'Wild West' with formal Victorian language is genius. Even the opening credits are beautiful. It may not be everyone's cup of tea (the language and content can be a little 'strong' although entirely appropriate and in context) but anyone who's a fan of quality entertainment, shouldn't go past it.
They finally got the western right!
killgore8623 September 2004
Don't get me wrong, there have been great westerns to come before Deadwood, but none of them really got it right. There is just a reality that some people aren't willing to deal that after 50 years of our history being whitewashed through film and TV, we're finally starting to see the truth. David Milch has done his research and discovered the wonderfully bizarre contradiction of languages used in the old west. Watching the cast of Deadwood converse with a combination of old world English laced with profanity straight from the gutter is incredible and feels right for the first time. Where do people think our language came from? People always want to think that they were the first to do something, when things like profanity, substance abuse and prostitution have been around since before man walked erect.
Along with the incredible dialog and storytelling, David Milch has introduced possibly the greatest character to ever come to TV or film...Al Swearengen. Ian McShane plays Al with the same intense conviction and truth that the character himself lives by. In Al's world things are black and white and never apologizes for a second for living his life by a strict code of morals of his own making. I don't think we've ever seen a character go from crying after a mercy killing to watching a murder he orchestrated stone faced.
This is indeed a special show that is continuing to pave the way for the facts of our history to finally be told with truth...Instead of the whitewashing we've seen our whole lives to make us feel better about ourselves.
Along with the incredible dialog and storytelling, David Milch has introduced possibly the greatest character to ever come to TV or film...Al Swearengen. Ian McShane plays Al with the same intense conviction and truth that the character himself lives by. In Al's world things are black and white and never apologizes for a second for living his life by a strict code of morals of his own making. I don't think we've ever seen a character go from crying after a mercy killing to watching a murder he orchestrated stone faced.
This is indeed a special show that is continuing to pave the way for the facts of our history to finally be told with truth...Instead of the whitewashing we've seen our whole lives to make us feel better about ourselves.
Television's finest hour
mattoid-4560531 May 2019
Hands down the best show ever written! Sopranos, Breaking Bad, The Wire are fantastic, well written shows as well but Deadwood beats them all hands down. The Deadwood movie premieres tomorrow night. I'm sure it won't disappoint.
Very simply magnificent
AnneOBrienRice15 June 2004
Ian McShane as the evil Al has established himself as one of the greatest actors of the moment and of the time. He's up there with Pacino, DeNiro and Keitel. The magnificent writing and directing of Deadwood support him completely in mesmerizing the audience. This is for my money the finest work being done on television today. The show has a sure moral compass and a daring to take the violence to the level of Shakespeare or the Greek Tragedy while maintaining verisimilitude with brilliant dialogue and perfect art and set direction, as well as a flawless supporting cast each of whom engages us immediately and convincingly no matter how intimate or distant the focus might be. I can't get enough of this show. I want to see it all in reruns, to cherish it later on DVD. Each episode is fresh and surprising and at times astonishing. But Ian McShane steals the show, no question of it. His face is profoundly expressive and his lines are so marvelous that some of them surely must be ad lib. The guy's a scoundrel but my heart's breaking for him. The Season Finale was the single greatest television drama I've ever seen. We have here a villain who isn't morally bankrupt. And thank heaven, we have a show runner and a writer who isn't morally bankrupt either. Bravo!! I've run out of superlatives. Please, more. And more. And more.
Watched again in 2023. Still brilliant.
Osmiumos12 November 2023
Just re-watched in 2023 after years. The brilliance of Ian Mcshane and Brad Dourif's performances as Al and the Doc continue to shine incandescently.
This remains in my top three shows of all time and casts heavy shade over the ordinariness of the streaming era dross that we trawl through in the vain hope of finding something of genuine quality.
The secondary characters are so well written and so consistent, and the stories of all are engaging. There is no filler and no worthless, disinteresting meandering. It all moves along seamlessly.
If you don't mind occasional swearing, if you rated Yellowstone, give this a watch to experience real quality.
This remains in my top three shows of all time and casts heavy shade over the ordinariness of the streaming era dross that we trawl through in the vain hope of finding something of genuine quality.
The secondary characters are so well written and so consistent, and the stories of all are engaging. There is no filler and no worthless, disinteresting meandering. It all moves along seamlessly.
If you don't mind occasional swearing, if you rated Yellowstone, give this a watch to experience real quality.
A well written western!
groundzero-273-3971107 July 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Deadwood is not a series filled with western action and gun duels, so if that is what you are looking for, then Deadwood is not a series for you. Deadwood is about how a community full of corruption and crime, the community of Deadwood, develops and the people who live there with their ordinary lives.
The series is well written in terms of both dialogue and characters. It also has an phenomenal cast. Watching this in 2023, I recognized almost every actor. Al Swearengen is without a doubt my favorite character. The dialogue and chemistry between Al Swearengen and Wu was so amazing and funny to watch everytime they were in a room together.
During the third season I started to lose interest. It wasn't as good as the first and second seasons. There were so many side tracks that didn't directly lead to anything. The end of the series was not that satisfying either. They really built up for a big fight, but it didn't happen and it just became a big anticlimax for me. Still a good series though.
The series is well written in terms of both dialogue and characters. It also has an phenomenal cast. Watching this in 2023, I recognized almost every actor. Al Swearengen is without a doubt my favorite character. The dialogue and chemistry between Al Swearengen and Wu was so amazing and funny to watch everytime they were in a room together.
During the third season I started to lose interest. It wasn't as good as the first and second seasons. There were so many side tracks that didn't directly lead to anything. The end of the series was not that satisfying either. They really built up for a big fight, but it didn't happen and it just became a big anticlimax for me. Still a good series though.
My All Time Favorite
dafoat7 June 2018
Deadwood is my favorite television drama of all time. I can't think of another show with such depth, complexity and humanity. Throughout its original run I was consistently surprised and impressed. I return to the series every few years, and my fondness for it just grows. Every performance on this show is a revelation. It has the most consistently talented ensemble cast I've ever seen. My only regret is that it was cancelled before it came to a proper resolution.
And it started out so well ...
gce230812 January 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Just watched the whole 3 series of this show and am just left feeling a bit "is that all there is?".
In fact I'm really, really disappointed – because I started out loving it. Lots of things to like, the theme song, the cinematography, the costuming. And Ian McShane a stupendous actor. I wondered how did he remember ALL those lines of dialogue - since he was the one who spoke the most during the entire 36 episodes.
BUT – a time came (mid-series maybe?) when I found there were lots of things just starting to plain annoy me as it progressed. I don't take offense at swearing; I often swear quite robustly myself, but as this series moved along I found myself getting more and more bored at hearing it all over and over and over again.
And then other things started to really irritate me, Molly Parker's whispered voice just totally grated in the end. Does she ever speak any other way?? Boring. Paula Malcolmson also began to annoy and become pretty unlikeable with her overuse of swearing; she just became quite unbelievable to the point of funny. And Timothy Olyphant I also found amusing – I could not get over his very strange gait like he had a wooden plank strapped to his back the whole time. Which I guess matched his wooden performance. And Robyn Weigert's "Calamity Jane" – funny as hell to start with, then just bloody annoying.
And don't get me started on the ending. WTF? All that – for nothing? No real resolution to anything? C***suckers!!!
In fact I'm really, really disappointed – because I started out loving it. Lots of things to like, the theme song, the cinematography, the costuming. And Ian McShane a stupendous actor. I wondered how did he remember ALL those lines of dialogue - since he was the one who spoke the most during the entire 36 episodes.
BUT – a time came (mid-series maybe?) when I found there were lots of things just starting to plain annoy me as it progressed. I don't take offense at swearing; I often swear quite robustly myself, but as this series moved along I found myself getting more and more bored at hearing it all over and over and over again.
And then other things started to really irritate me, Molly Parker's whispered voice just totally grated in the end. Does she ever speak any other way?? Boring. Paula Malcolmson also began to annoy and become pretty unlikeable with her overuse of swearing; she just became quite unbelievable to the point of funny. And Timothy Olyphant I also found amusing – I could not get over his very strange gait like he had a wooden plank strapped to his back the whole time. Which I guess matched his wooden performance. And Robyn Weigert's "Calamity Jane" – funny as hell to start with, then just bloody annoying.
And don't get me started on the ending. WTF? All that – for nothing? No real resolution to anything? C***suckers!!!
Gave up
MikeyB179312 October 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Into the second season I gave up.
There really was no substantial storyline and/or narrative flow.
It was more about the setting of the town than anything else.
Also it was repetitive. I became tired of scenes of dead bodies being dragged to the pigpen for consumption.
No character stood out and the misogyny was overdone in episode after episode. I seemed to be seeing and hearing the same dialogue over and over again.
The women were a cliche - either well-spoken refined ladies or prostitutes. Calamity Jane was perhaps different but her constant shouting annoyed me.
There really was no substantial storyline and/or narrative flow.
It was more about the setting of the town than anything else.
Also it was repetitive. I became tired of scenes of dead bodies being dragged to the pigpen for consumption.
No character stood out and the misogyny was overdone in episode after episode. I seemed to be seeing and hearing the same dialogue over and over again.
The women were a cliche - either well-spoken refined ladies or prostitutes. Calamity Jane was perhaps different but her constant shouting annoyed me.
Very Good
lakotawolf7114 December 2004
I felt I needed to write after reading the comment made of the show. Everyone is entitled to an opinion but the individual the wrote the comment "Falls Short" does not know anything. I live in Deadwood and with the exception of stuff added by Hollywood to quicken the story it is quite close to our history. None of the characters are fictional, the all lived at one time. I admit the show in vulgar but cleans up as the show continues and the town grows from a miner's camp to a town. Don't let the first few episodes scare you off. The show is very good and quite close to the truth. If you like old west history you will love Deadwood.
"A hell of a place to make your fortune"
classicsoncall23 July 2006
Warning: Spoilers
First off, the Western is my favorite film genre, however "Deadwood" transcends that genre so completely that it seems like a new one altogether. If you can, try to get your hands on the Season I DVD set with the special features disc. I was surprised to learn that many of the main and supporting characters beyond Wild Bill and Calamity were in fact also based on real life people. Al Swearengen ran an operation that took in between four and six thousand dollars a night, while other notables with a true history include Doc Cochran and the Reverend Henry Smith. Though the story playing out in the series is often a product of creator David Milch's 'imaginative reality', that in no way lessens it's impact as a narrative of the Dakotas and it's overly rich history of villainy, debauchery and profanity.
Deadwood itself grew from a small mining camp to ten thousand inhabitants in a dizzying matter of three months in 1873. Word of a substantial ore find literally led to the phrase 'there's gold in them thar hills', creating an endless stream of immigrants to the Badlands. The territory itself was relegated to the Sioux Indians, and the U.S. Government was supposed to keep settlers out. But as everyone knows, money talks.
With a series so rich in characters and story lines, it's hard to pick a favorite. Backed against the wall I'd have to pick Brad Dourif's portrayal as Doc Cochran as my own choice, but that's today. Individual episodes offer stunning performances by William Sanderson as E.B. Farnum and Robin Weigert as Calamity Jane. Of course, series stars Timothy Olyphant and Ian McShane have rewritten the rule book for Western heroes and villains with their portrayals. It's too bad Keith Carradine couldn't hang around more than four episodes as Wild Bill Hickok, but he drew those darn aces and eights in Deadwood.
Not for the squeamish or faint of heart, "Deadwood" remains true to the gritty origins in the mud, blood, manure and urine of it's namesake. Prepare to be shocked, terrified and at times even amused, but most of all, watch "Deadwood" to experience one of the most unique television events ever created.
Deadwood itself grew from a small mining camp to ten thousand inhabitants in a dizzying matter of three months in 1873. Word of a substantial ore find literally led to the phrase 'there's gold in them thar hills', creating an endless stream of immigrants to the Badlands. The territory itself was relegated to the Sioux Indians, and the U.S. Government was supposed to keep settlers out. But as everyone knows, money talks.
With a series so rich in characters and story lines, it's hard to pick a favorite. Backed against the wall I'd have to pick Brad Dourif's portrayal as Doc Cochran as my own choice, but that's today. Individual episodes offer stunning performances by William Sanderson as E.B. Farnum and Robin Weigert as Calamity Jane. Of course, series stars Timothy Olyphant and Ian McShane have rewritten the rule book for Western heroes and villains with their portrayals. It's too bad Keith Carradine couldn't hang around more than four episodes as Wild Bill Hickok, but he drew those darn aces and eights in Deadwood.
Not for the squeamish or faint of heart, "Deadwood" remains true to the gritty origins in the mud, blood, manure and urine of it's namesake. Prepare to be shocked, terrified and at times even amused, but most of all, watch "Deadwood" to experience one of the most unique television events ever created.
My First Western Show
marcrubenpierre18 February 2023
Watching an Old West movie is fine but if you truly want to go in depth; the very core of the everyday life of a COWBOY, please looks no further, DEADWOD is your destination. From the moment the sheriff made the move along with his partner to that small little town, you could anticipate the drama coming. I would like to praise all the actors who tool part in this special project, a masterpiece of events after on anther. Imagine combining the adventures of Josie Wells with True Grit boom, instant impact, some characters will have you latching on to them, but please understand that you will be surprised, so please try to enjoy each episodes with attentive care. I'm hoping that they find a way to reboot this show again in the near future.
Absolutely the greatest TV ever
philsayles5 August 2023
Deadwood is the Apex of the western genre. It is absolutely the best series ever written, acted and directed. The character development is simply astonishing. Gritty, realistic, and true to life this series most likely will never be topped in many categories. Al Swearengen represents probably, the greatest character in TV series history. Ian McShane is simply magnificent in unraveling a complex character over the course of the series to be not what you think he is at the beginning to who he really is as a man. I've watched Deadwood 10 times and still enjoy every minute and unravel new things about the complexities of human nature each time I watch this magnificent series.
Welcome to f*cking Deadwood!
Bobske_21 March 2006
I've been a fan of HBO since I saw Band of Brothers on Dutch television. Unfortunately, the Dutch television companies don't know anything about good programming. Most television series are cut short during the season so that the second part of the season can be shown the next year. Sometimes when they stop mid season, the rest of the episodes aren't shown at all and they start all over again. This is one of the reasons that I don't watch series on Dutch television. I usually rent or borrow the DVD's. Although we get to see most popular HBO series (Carnivàle, Sopranos, Six Feet Under) I never watch them on television. Although I'd never seen the show, I decided to buy the DVD after reading some reviews. Thank God I did!
Deadwood is a very very good show. The setting of this drama is the town in the title. Deadwood is a town where there is no law and where anything goes. Seth Bullock, sheriff in Montana and his partner Sol Star, decide to leave Montana and depart for Deadwood after hanging their last prisoner. When arriving in Deadwood they set out to buy some property so that they can build their hardware store. Before they've actually purchased the ground, you've met all characters including E.B. Farnum (hotel owner), Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane. This show's strong point is its character driven storyline. The characters are so well cast that you have no problem accepting them. The foul mouth of Al Swearengen, the short temper of Bullock or the preaching's of the reverend are features that you'll come to love. All characters have certain features that you love about them, even the bad guys. In addition, all characters have certain features you really hate, even the good guys.
This show is so well written that you'll be on the edge of your seat with suspense or you'll be laughing your ass off because of the brilliant and funny lines. An example; Commissioner Jarry has been imprisoned to keep him safe from a mob. Calamity Jane is guarding him.
Jarry: I'm thirsty! Jane: Lie on your back, take aim and p!ss!
This show has so many great lines that it is hard to pick a favorite. One thing people might not like about the show is the amount of swearing. Some may think it's too much but I'm not bothered by the amount of swearing. Most great lines are delivered with a couple of swear words and yes you'll get used to the swearing and I found myself even using some of them on my friends... Euhmm, anyway, about the language, some may also have problems following the show because of the use of Western Period English. My native tongue is Dutch and although my English is pretty good (don't have to watch movies with subs :P) I had a hard time following the show without the English subtitles. I don't have problems with the English itself, but a lot of the dialogue is very specific for the period. Words like, Hooplehead, Squarehead and sentences like "My bicycle masters boardwalk and quagmire with aplomb" got me stumped for a while. Just turn on the subtitles or you might miss some of the amazing dialogue.
One last thing about this show. The last episode of season 1 has to be the best finale to a season I've ever seen! Sold Under Sin is so good you'll certainly shed a tear.
This show is brilliant! Just, brilliant!
10 out of 10 stars.
Deadwood is a very very good show. The setting of this drama is the town in the title. Deadwood is a town where there is no law and where anything goes. Seth Bullock, sheriff in Montana and his partner Sol Star, decide to leave Montana and depart for Deadwood after hanging their last prisoner. When arriving in Deadwood they set out to buy some property so that they can build their hardware store. Before they've actually purchased the ground, you've met all characters including E.B. Farnum (hotel owner), Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane. This show's strong point is its character driven storyline. The characters are so well cast that you have no problem accepting them. The foul mouth of Al Swearengen, the short temper of Bullock or the preaching's of the reverend are features that you'll come to love. All characters have certain features that you love about them, even the bad guys. In addition, all characters have certain features you really hate, even the good guys.
This show is so well written that you'll be on the edge of your seat with suspense or you'll be laughing your ass off because of the brilliant and funny lines. An example; Commissioner Jarry has been imprisoned to keep him safe from a mob. Calamity Jane is guarding him.
Jarry: I'm thirsty! Jane: Lie on your back, take aim and p!ss!
This show has so many great lines that it is hard to pick a favorite. One thing people might not like about the show is the amount of swearing. Some may think it's too much but I'm not bothered by the amount of swearing. Most great lines are delivered with a couple of swear words and yes you'll get used to the swearing and I found myself even using some of them on my friends... Euhmm, anyway, about the language, some may also have problems following the show because of the use of Western Period English. My native tongue is Dutch and although my English is pretty good (don't have to watch movies with subs :P) I had a hard time following the show without the English subtitles. I don't have problems with the English itself, but a lot of the dialogue is very specific for the period. Words like, Hooplehead, Squarehead and sentences like "My bicycle masters boardwalk and quagmire with aplomb" got me stumped for a while. Just turn on the subtitles or you might miss some of the amazing dialogue.
One last thing about this show. The last episode of season 1 has to be the best finale to a season I've ever seen! Sold Under Sin is so good you'll certainly shed a tear.
This show is brilliant! Just, brilliant!
10 out of 10 stars.
Fantastic!
camillusdsl28 February 2009
I'd been hearing about Deadwood from my friends for some time and figured they must be wrong; nothing could be that good. Guess what?... I was wrong! Deadwood is without doubt the most enjoyable series I have ever watched. It's gritty, course, violent and foul, that's what makes it great. I have a brother who worked in mining camps in Canada in the 1970's. When one camp was being struck they found three bodies of guys that had never been missed! He reckons Deadwood is right on the mark. The quality of script and acting is top-shelf. The fact that (allowing for the necessary poetic license needed ) it is a true story makes it absolutely fascinating. I have no hesitation in recommending this wonderful series to anyone.
2 of the best seasons of television ever
mesaxi26 March 2023
I used to watch Deadwood when it originally aired and I was in High School. I always love it but I didn't watch intently enough to follow it. With the streaming options of today it's very easy to blast your way through the series, but that's also a good way to catch where a show faulters.
The first 2 Seasons of Deadwood are an absolute masterpiece. The acting, the writing, the set design, it was just perfect. The show features some of the most Shakespearean dialogue I've ever heard, with a few "cocksuckers" thrown in for flavor. EB's frantic soliloquies are probably my favorite moments of the show.
Then there's Season 3. Don't get me wrong, I still like Season 3 there's a lot of great stuff, but that's where the show definitely changed. The story hit a bit of a climax with the arrival of Hearst at the end of Season 2, but the writers spent about half of the season on side stories that didn't seem to factor into the main plot. Jane was entirely wasted, Cy became a confusing mess whose cruelty lacked any perceptible motivation, everything with Steve, Hostettler, General Fields, Aunt Lu, O'Dell, just didn't seem to have a point (granted the show was cut short), Johnny became silly, Al was too nice, Harry was there for fart jokes, the Earps were overdone, the Theater Troup a complete waste of time, and the logic of the final episode was just bad. I hate saying that I understand why it got cancelled in retrospect, but after rewatching it for the fifth time I've decided they didn't have the writing to justify a Season 4.
Still one of the greatest shows ever made and the third season is still better than 90% of other television.
The first 2 Seasons of Deadwood are an absolute masterpiece. The acting, the writing, the set design, it was just perfect. The show features some of the most Shakespearean dialogue I've ever heard, with a few "cocksuckers" thrown in for flavor. EB's frantic soliloquies are probably my favorite moments of the show.
Then there's Season 3. Don't get me wrong, I still like Season 3 there's a lot of great stuff, but that's where the show definitely changed. The story hit a bit of a climax with the arrival of Hearst at the end of Season 2, but the writers spent about half of the season on side stories that didn't seem to factor into the main plot. Jane was entirely wasted, Cy became a confusing mess whose cruelty lacked any perceptible motivation, everything with Steve, Hostettler, General Fields, Aunt Lu, O'Dell, just didn't seem to have a point (granted the show was cut short), Johnny became silly, Al was too nice, Harry was there for fart jokes, the Earps were overdone, the Theater Troup a complete waste of time, and the logic of the final episode was just bad. I hate saying that I understand why it got cancelled in retrospect, but after rewatching it for the fifth time I've decided they didn't have the writing to justify a Season 4.
Still one of the greatest shows ever made and the third season is still better than 90% of other television.
Inbred and Diseased Writing
mailjohnw19 August 2007
I'm watching the DVDs of DEADWOOD third season and it seems that somewhere near the middle or the end of season two, Milch's writing became infected with writing disease. You can usually sleep this off, but perhaps the production schedule prohibited that.
Many people in entertainment forums marvel at Milch's writing, but it's a question of balance. Forgive the cliché, but sometimes "less is more". The Shakespeare bug bit Dave, apparently, and, no, it's not that he's trying to write like Shakespeare wrote, but he's trying, way too hard, to write GREAT--and he can't. Here and there he can, yes, but not for every character in every other line. A little greatness goes a long way.
Something gotta give when almost everyone is speaking in their very own stilted "high-style". The scenes bog down. The flow of the story falters, and even stops. Make way for The Writing! The story even becomes predictable, because every scene is merely a vehicle for Milch-speech. You're walking along, trying to groove with the story, and you step in a sticky puddle of piddle.
This is not how people apprehend a story, through the preciously special use of "language". People apprehend a story by identifying with its characters, perhaps in spite of the writing, and Milch's writing--like Mamet's, by the way--too often shackles the actors, and literally tries to steal the scene from them, always for the worst. The "writing", having a life of its own, eclipses the characters, that the actors have busted their guts over to bring to life. There ends up being just one character: Milch.
Having said that, I notice the stories flow better when people other than Milch write. Plot comes first, it seems, when others write. As it should. Minus the goofy "comic relief" half-scenes, the stories are compelling, and I'm sorta sorry there won't be another season--even if I believe Deadwood is pretty much tapped out.
Many people in entertainment forums marvel at Milch's writing, but it's a question of balance. Forgive the cliché, but sometimes "less is more". The Shakespeare bug bit Dave, apparently, and, no, it's not that he's trying to write like Shakespeare wrote, but he's trying, way too hard, to write GREAT--and he can't. Here and there he can, yes, but not for every character in every other line. A little greatness goes a long way.
Something gotta give when almost everyone is speaking in their very own stilted "high-style". The scenes bog down. The flow of the story falters, and even stops. Make way for The Writing! The story even becomes predictable, because every scene is merely a vehicle for Milch-speech. You're walking along, trying to groove with the story, and you step in a sticky puddle of piddle.
This is not how people apprehend a story, through the preciously special use of "language". People apprehend a story by identifying with its characters, perhaps in spite of the writing, and Milch's writing--like Mamet's, by the way--too often shackles the actors, and literally tries to steal the scene from them, always for the worst. The "writing", having a life of its own, eclipses the characters, that the actors have busted their guts over to bring to life. There ends up being just one character: Milch.
Having said that, I notice the stories flow better when people other than Milch write. Plot comes first, it seems, when others write. As it should. Minus the goofy "comic relief" half-scenes, the stories are compelling, and I'm sorta sorry there won't be another season--even if I believe Deadwood is pretty much tapped out.
As good as it gets
latinfineart2 July 2022
I have always described this show as Shakespeare in Tombstone. The writing is absolutely brilliant. There are more quotable lines, than in any other show in the past 20 years. And this is likely the best western TV series, ever. The cast is awe inspiring, the direction is outstanding, the characters are well drawn, and the show is standing up to the test to time, as I have recently started re-watching the entire series. Amazing work.
Dropped out at after S1 episode 7
FKDZ17 February 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I've been recommended by some folks online and in general decent ratings to watch and I thought (after really liking westworld) that maybe an actual western TV show would be nice.
I can get why people like this slow western and its shakespearean dialog (seriously you're gonna need subtitles to understand anything in this show). But that's where all the redeeming qualities end.
Directing is decent, not great but serviceable. Some weird zooms and close ups that didn't match the scene.
Acting is iffy all around the board with big offenders like Calamity Jane and Charlie Utter, except for Ian Mcshane who its outpreforming everyone by a high standard. And one of my only hooks that kept me through these episodes. Sadly not enough though. Timothy once again gives a stiff performance, as expected.
Story is really nowhere to be found, I thought with episode 3 when the belle union came in it would get interesting but instead the show decides to focus on funerals of people we care none about. It's a slow show but not in a good way, it drags out interesting story lines over its entire seasons and fills up the rest with incredibly boring side stuff.
And this is not to say I don't love slow shows, I do. Sopranos is a good example, probably my all time favorite show at that. But Sopranos has one thing that Deadwood doesn't and that's top of the class actor performances and great dialog writing. Now I'm all up for profanity, that's fine, and I rarely get annoyed but this show managed to make curse word(s) sound silly and without intend.
What people say is valid, the amount of cursing is overdone and unrealistic even, and the use of one specific word, I swear they used it more than a hundred times already in just the 7 episodes I've seen. Now as I mentioned before, if this was done appropriately, no problem, sopranos is famous for its amount of profanity... but here it's not done well. So regarding users saying it took them IN to the world, it took me OUT. Make of that as you will.
I'm not wasting more time on this show, especially with its 50 minute runtimes so...for now... 6/10 for the effort of recreating an accurate setting and some good performances.
I can get why people like this slow western and its shakespearean dialog (seriously you're gonna need subtitles to understand anything in this show). But that's where all the redeeming qualities end.
Directing is decent, not great but serviceable. Some weird zooms and close ups that didn't match the scene.
Acting is iffy all around the board with big offenders like Calamity Jane and Charlie Utter, except for Ian Mcshane who its outpreforming everyone by a high standard. And one of my only hooks that kept me through these episodes. Sadly not enough though. Timothy once again gives a stiff performance, as expected.
Story is really nowhere to be found, I thought with episode 3 when the belle union came in it would get interesting but instead the show decides to focus on funerals of people we care none about. It's a slow show but not in a good way, it drags out interesting story lines over its entire seasons and fills up the rest with incredibly boring side stuff.
And this is not to say I don't love slow shows, I do. Sopranos is a good example, probably my all time favorite show at that. But Sopranos has one thing that Deadwood doesn't and that's top of the class actor performances and great dialog writing. Now I'm all up for profanity, that's fine, and I rarely get annoyed but this show managed to make curse word(s) sound silly and without intend.
What people say is valid, the amount of cursing is overdone and unrealistic even, and the use of one specific word, I swear they used it more than a hundred times already in just the 7 episodes I've seen. Now as I mentioned before, if this was done appropriately, no problem, sopranos is famous for its amount of profanity... but here it's not done well. So regarding users saying it took them IN to the world, it took me OUT. Make of that as you will.
I'm not wasting more time on this show, especially with its 50 minute runtimes so...for now... 6/10 for the effort of recreating an accurate setting and some good performances.
South Park visits Ye Olde West: a big disappointment
LilyDaleLady2 October 2006
I read about this for years before being able to get a hold of a copy of the DVD set (first season), and how wonderful and unique and groundbreaking it was. Gee, what a letdown! There is nothing special or even original in this series, except perhaps for using the "f" word three times in every sentence. Unless you are a very juvenile type, this gets mind-numbingly boring after a few episodes. (Interviews with Mr. Milch, who swears about as much as his main characters, suggests that he is referencing his own behavior and not the norms of the Old West.)
The REAL Deadwood was a fascinating place that existed for a very brief time, before becoming a sort of ghost town tourist attraction. Some traditional westerns show the violent action set in places that eventually grew into sober, stable cities and towns -- not the case here. That sense that Deadwood is doomed is entirely lost in translation, though.
Is the profanity realistic? (The DVD even features a short documentary talking a bit about this.) In my opinion, NO. While rough miners and brothel owners undoubtedly used profanity in 1876, it was not identical to the profanity we use today. The "f" word dates back to the Shakespearean era (if not earlier), but it was used as a verb to describe sexual activity and NOT as an adjective, modifying literally every noun. This is entirely a modern adaptation of that word. As such, it is as out of place in 1876 as cell phones and i-pods.
There WAS a lot of profanity, but what was considered profane in the 19th century were phrases like "god damn" or "blast" or "tarnation" -- seriously, those were heavy duty, obscene swear words.
Another problem I have is with the depiction of women -- and I mean how they are dressed. (For the record, I studied both fashion and historical costume at the university level, with the intent of being a curator at a fashion museum.) Modern day filmmakers have long had a problem with the fact that prior to the present era (post 1960s), virtually all adult women wore their hair UP. The modern fashion of long, loose hair simply did not exist -- it would have been stranger to see a woman with her hair all about than to see her walking down the street naked. Part of the reason was that nobody had the resources (detergent soaps, unlimited hot water) to wash their hair on a daily basis as we do today. Nor did they have hair dryers! Washing one's hair meant taking many hours to let it dry -- and possibly in cold or windy weather...it would have been impossible.
Look at photos from the era: every woman, even whores, are wearing hair elaborately styled UP, often greasy looking to our modern eyes, but firmly arranged with lots of hair pins. Most women wore hats in public -- most men, too. It entirely ruins a period film for me when women are shown with long loose contemporary hair, not to mention things like eye makeup and lip gloss. Bad form and certainly not within the "ultra realistic" premise of "Deadwood".
On top of that, all the women depicted are rail thin, per the present desire for a very thin body. However, that style is fairly recent, and would have seemed very bizarre to anyone from the 19th century -- this was the absolute era of plump, curvy, corseted women (fat by our odd standards). Of course, some individual women were thin, perhaps sickly or even consumptive, but this would NOT be considered attractive.
I could go on -- no woman would have appeared on the public streets undressed, in short garments exposing her bare legs, in underwear, etc. -- not even a whore. (If you look at actual photos of 19th century prostitutes, they are wearing normal, if gaudy, clothing.) Any community of Deadwood's size (about 10,000) would have had some children. Where there are women, even whores, there are going to be babies -- that's simple biology. Birth control was non-existent at the time, and yes, prostitutes did get pregnant.
Basically, this is a stupid, badly researched show made largely for the kind of childish audience that thrives on potty mouth stuff like South Park, where genuine humor and cleverness is undone by a constant need to use shock swear words (in that case, coming out of the mouths of cartoon kids). On the positive side, some excellent performers, including the rightly praised Ian MacShane as Swearingen (based on a real life Deadwood resident, but how lame is it to take a character with such a name and have him "swear" a lot???), the excellent Powers Boothe, and Keith Carradine in one of his very best roles.
This would have been vastly better as a trimmed down, four-to-six hour mini-series...with swearing and costumes true to the era. A wasted opportunity and vastly overpraised. Don't bother to subscribe to cable for this -- I got the DVD set at my library for free.
The REAL Deadwood was a fascinating place that existed for a very brief time, before becoming a sort of ghost town tourist attraction. Some traditional westerns show the violent action set in places that eventually grew into sober, stable cities and towns -- not the case here. That sense that Deadwood is doomed is entirely lost in translation, though.
Is the profanity realistic? (The DVD even features a short documentary talking a bit about this.) In my opinion, NO. While rough miners and brothel owners undoubtedly used profanity in 1876, it was not identical to the profanity we use today. The "f" word dates back to the Shakespearean era (if not earlier), but it was used as a verb to describe sexual activity and NOT as an adjective, modifying literally every noun. This is entirely a modern adaptation of that word. As such, it is as out of place in 1876 as cell phones and i-pods.
There WAS a lot of profanity, but what was considered profane in the 19th century were phrases like "god damn" or "blast" or "tarnation" -- seriously, those were heavy duty, obscene swear words.
Another problem I have is with the depiction of women -- and I mean how they are dressed. (For the record, I studied both fashion and historical costume at the university level, with the intent of being a curator at a fashion museum.) Modern day filmmakers have long had a problem with the fact that prior to the present era (post 1960s), virtually all adult women wore their hair UP. The modern fashion of long, loose hair simply did not exist -- it would have been stranger to see a woman with her hair all about than to see her walking down the street naked. Part of the reason was that nobody had the resources (detergent soaps, unlimited hot water) to wash their hair on a daily basis as we do today. Nor did they have hair dryers! Washing one's hair meant taking many hours to let it dry -- and possibly in cold or windy weather...it would have been impossible.
Look at photos from the era: every woman, even whores, are wearing hair elaborately styled UP, often greasy looking to our modern eyes, but firmly arranged with lots of hair pins. Most women wore hats in public -- most men, too. It entirely ruins a period film for me when women are shown with long loose contemporary hair, not to mention things like eye makeup and lip gloss. Bad form and certainly not within the "ultra realistic" premise of "Deadwood".
On top of that, all the women depicted are rail thin, per the present desire for a very thin body. However, that style is fairly recent, and would have seemed very bizarre to anyone from the 19th century -- this was the absolute era of plump, curvy, corseted women (fat by our odd standards). Of course, some individual women were thin, perhaps sickly or even consumptive, but this would NOT be considered attractive.
I could go on -- no woman would have appeared on the public streets undressed, in short garments exposing her bare legs, in underwear, etc. -- not even a whore. (If you look at actual photos of 19th century prostitutes, they are wearing normal, if gaudy, clothing.) Any community of Deadwood's size (about 10,000) would have had some children. Where there are women, even whores, there are going to be babies -- that's simple biology. Birth control was non-existent at the time, and yes, prostitutes did get pregnant.
Basically, this is a stupid, badly researched show made largely for the kind of childish audience that thrives on potty mouth stuff like South Park, where genuine humor and cleverness is undone by a constant need to use shock swear words (in that case, coming out of the mouths of cartoon kids). On the positive side, some excellent performers, including the rightly praised Ian MacShane as Swearingen (based on a real life Deadwood resident, but how lame is it to take a character with such a name and have him "swear" a lot???), the excellent Powers Boothe, and Keith Carradine in one of his very best roles.
This would have been vastly better as a trimmed down, four-to-six hour mini-series...with swearing and costumes true to the era. A wasted opportunity and vastly overpraised. Don't bother to subscribe to cable for this -- I got the DVD set at my library for free.
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