Tag Archives: American West

Deadwood Is Dead

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Well, we’re all done watching the third and final season of Deadwood (having become seriously addicted). It would have been great if there had been another season, but at least season 3 didn’t end with a big cliffhanger. In the video below, David Milch, Deadwood‘s creator, talks about the show’s sudden cancellation. He doesn’t disclose much in the way of future plans for the characters, however, except for mentioning what happened to a few of them in real life.

There were talks about doing a Deadwood movie or two, but it appears those plans have since fallen through. But maybe they can do a fourth season of Deadwood when they get around to doing a fourth season of Star Trek with Kirk, Spock and McCoy (with the original sets and costumes, of course). 

(Maybe that’s one of the activities available to pass the time in the afterlife. Watching seasons of your favorite shows or sequels to your favorite movies, none of which were made while you were alive.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZQqyoawXj8

Al Swearingen sums it all up for us:

PS — The last voyage of the Enterprise:

https://screen.yahoo.com/star-trek-last-voyage-starship-000000229.html

Addicted to Deadwood

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Years ago, I watched an episode of the HBO series Deadwood on a motel television and wondered “what the hell is this?”. A Western overflowing with mud and filth, brutality and extraordinary profanity.

Now, having watched two of its three seasons on DVD, I know what Deadwood is. It’s one of the best television series ever made. Personally speaking (of course), I think it’s better than The Sopranos, The Wire and Breaking Bad. I’d rank it right up there with I, Claudius.

The series is beautifully made, the acting is superb, the characters are fascinating and the writing is out of this world. It’s shocking and funny and beautiful. I can’t believe that the residents of an American mining town in 1876 truly spoke as directly and as eloquently as these characters do, but that doesn’t detract from the pleasure of listening to them speak. If you enjoy the spoken word in all its variety, both coarse and elegant, consider becoming addicted to Deadwood, if you haven’t already.

A few selections: 

Calamity Jane comes looking for Wild Bill Hickock but doesn’t stay long:

Saloon owner and force of nature Al Swearingen discusses a troubling event with Mr. Wu, a local service provider:

Seth Bullock, unofficial sheriff, delivers a very strong message to an unscrupulous visitor: 

E. B. Farnum, sleazy but well-spoken owner of the town’s hotel, bemoans his fate:

Later, the cultured Alma Garret toys with E.B.:

And finally, Doc Cochran and Jewel are both as nimble as forest creatures: