HBO's Deadwood
June 07, 2004 | 
17 Comments
I don’t watch much TV. I just can’t seem to stand much on network and basic cable beyond Comedy Central, Cartoon Network, the occasional Fox sitcom, sports and MXC.
Reality TV sucks and it seems like that’s all there is at times. Sure, I do like 24 and a few other network dramas, but they’re so hard to keep up with. Maybe I need a Tivo, I don’t know.
Thanks goodness for HBO, OnDemand and shows like Six Feet Under, The Sopranos, Carnival and now, Deadwood.
This show is a true classic. The acting is superb, the story tight and rife with tension and its unrelenting, brutal realism really keeps you involved. It’s got just about everything that makes a great drama. Alone it’s worth the price of subscription.
So what’s Deadwood all about? From the HBO Web site:
In an age of plunder and greed, the richest gold strike in American History draws a throng of restless misfits to an outlaw settlement where everything — and everyone — has a price. Welcome to Deadwood…a hell of a place to make your fortune.
It is dark. There is no doubt about that. Deadwood isn’t a very friendly place and it’s hard to tell who your friends are. There are a few noble souls in Deadwood, but it’s almost impossible to tell week to week if they’re going to survive this hell hole.
The writers have no problem offing the good guys.
One thing that makes Deadwood especially interesting it that it’s loosely based on actual early American history. That and the characters, real or fictional, are compelling and brilliantly conceived. From the real life players Wild Bill Hickok, the deliciously wicked saloon owner Al Swearengen and Calamity Jane to the fictional characters like the noble ex-sheriff Seth Bullock they’ve created a mix of history and fantasy that really works well.
Update: Thanks to Dan for pointing out that Seth Bullock is based on a real life person as well.
Deadwood is one of the best shows to come around in a long, long, while. The good news is that it’s fairly popular and looks to be around for awhile. Maybe that’s a sign that people are starting to get sick of reality TV?
Nah, probably not.
Filed under: Review
Comments
1. Christopher Holland said:
I have to agree with you 100% about Deadwood (and the other shows on HBO). HBO seems to be getting it right when so many other outlets are just plain missing.
I’ve heard that Deadwood was only intended to run for a single season. Have you heard otherwise?
Posted on June 7, 2004 09:35 PM | #
2. Keith said:
Yep, it’s been picked up for a second season. You can read about it on HBO’s news page.
Posted on June 7, 2004 10:35 PM | #
3. Todd said:
Er.. you forgot a show. “The Wire”
But, Anyway, I do agree that Deadwood is cool. The 6th season is Sopranos last (10 episode) and you saw hints of what’s coming in the Finale of the 5th (They’re heeeeeere!)
Posted on June 8, 2004 03:46 AM | #
4. Kevin said:
Deadwood is my favorite show on television; it is the only show that I look forward to and make the time to watch. While I am a big fan of all HBO shows (even Sex and the City, which I think had more character in one season than the entire run of Friends), Dead wood is absolutely perfect.
Incredible scenery, fantastic acting (that guy who plays Al Swearengine is just dead on perfect) and gorgeous cinematography. While it is violent and heavy on the language, the whole set is so convincing that the rated-R type elements just seem to fit right in.
I look forward to Six Feet Under, but will be sad when Deadwood is over next week. I’ll just have to wait for Carnivale, which is almost as good.
Posted on June 8, 2004 05:46 AM | #
5. Paul G said:
Ha! I wonder if the key words “dead” and “wood” attracted that particular spammer…although spam advertising viagra would definitely have been more apropos.
Posted on June 8, 2004 08:27 AM | #
6. Sean King said:
One of the cool things they did with this show (among the many) is how they took the excessive cussing and cursing and made it the language of Deadwood, adding that pinch of truth to the grittiness of the Wild West.
There is so much swearing that after the second or third episode it becomes vernacular, rather than the slang it is in our society today. Something I haven’t seen since high school.
Posted on June 8, 2004 08:59 AM | #
7. Gambit said:
Hey, dont be so bumbed about the quality of programes on Network, here in South Afrca we have no such thing, we do have DSTV (digital satelite), but its not all that great, about 100 channels.
I’d love to watch Deadwood sounds cool.
Posted on June 8, 2004 09:33 AM | #
8. Todd said:
Six Feet Under depresses the hell out of me sometimes. I hope this season coming up is a little bit more cheery now that Nate can just move on with his life. I got so sick and tired of the Nate looking for Lisa angst.
Posted on June 8, 2004 10:20 AM | #
9. Anton said:
Those shows were the biggest selling point for me when choosing which premium package I wanted to get. Seems like the others (Starz, Showtime, etc…) focus on movie selection, when HBO has the goods on brilliant originals.
As a sidenote, how many more times do you think they can slip in the word “cocksuckers”?
Posted on June 8, 2004 12:20 PM | #
10. Gambit said:
Hey, dont be so bumbed about the quality of programes on Network, here in South Afrca we have no such thing, we do have DSTV (digital satelite), but its not all that great, about 100 channels.
I’d love to watch Deadwood sounds cool.
Posted on June 8, 2004 12:49 PM | #
11. Robin Haney said:
I agree! Deadwood is gendre blowing show! We love the Deadwood Series!! It is probably more realistic of western goldrush towns and life during that time period than any nauseating Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Branded, Gene Autry, candy coated sausage grind western that we have had to swallow thanks to the movie industry.
Look, we are big John Wayne fans. But let’s get real. This DEADWOOD series takes the wrappers off, hoses off the sugar coating, kicks out the sappy cliches – and portraies human nature like it was raw, greedy, searching for its morals and ethics while struggling to survive harsh conditions, with limited resources and man power. This show honestly gives us a glimpse of what our western forefathers were really like. Men and women struggling to survive, get ahead, fighting with their conscienes, trying to overcome their vices, their losses and gains. Showing a much more accurate picture of the West is a little reassuring in how far we have come and yet, ethically we are still the same.
It take great courage and determination to put more of an honest face on the GREAT OLD west and these people are doing a fantastic job!! I’ll admit I would be okay with fewer F words, but let’s get real – when the lead starts flying you are not going to say “fudge and golly darn that was close!” Al Swearengen is better than JR Ewing could have ever been!
Posted on June 30, 2004 04:35 AM | #
12. Logan said:
does anyone know when deadwood season 1 will be out on dvd?????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Posted on July 5, 2004 02:36 PM | #
13. Koos said:
At least you have HBO, we only have DSTV and it sucks!!!
Posted on September 9, 2004 01:57 PM | #
14. Mark said:
Just finished watching the first episode (started tonight in the UK) really interesting, I had been looking forward to it as you seem to have similar tastes - though I visit here on a web basis primarily.
Anyway, thanks for the recommendation :)
Posted on September 21, 2004 03:35 PM | #
15. Gary said:
First let me state that I LOVE HBO’s Deadwood. I own the first season on DVD, and it is one of the few shows I actually make time to watch on TV these days.
That being said, I would like to know what language they are trying to speak on this second season?? Part of the time it is like watching last years series, then the next thing you know, you can not understand a word they are saying!! At least myself and my wife can not. It is almost like they are trying to turn a GREAT show into some form of Shakespeare. If I didn’t record it, and watch most of it twice, I would never know what is really going on anymore with this show.
I really believe HBO should keep Deadwood around for a LONG LONG TIME, but if possible, have good old Al start shooting the writers. :) They tried the high handed talking on NYPD Blue, that didn’t last either. (After they realized it cost them over 20% of their market share.)
I hope someone reads this that has some pull at HBO, and SAVES this great show from their own writers.
Posted on April 26, 2005 02:31 PM | #
16. Pat said:
Glad to find some other Deadwood fans. A note on the Shakespearian language/influence: not only is the language in Deadwood reflect the influence of Shakespeare, but Milch is also using some of the Bard’s techniques, such as monlogues and stage directions in the dialogue (e.g. when EB says “Here comes two of them” or words to that effect as the other principals of the city come out of the saloon). IMO, Milch is doing an incredible job. HBO, leave him alone!
Posted on April 29, 2005 09:57 AM | #
17. Carol said:
The new seriers, there was a song, lyric was “Here I am, Will you send me an Angel”. Can you tell me who sings this?
It is a beautiful song, and I would love to find it.
Thanks for your help.
Carol
Posted on April 29, 2005 01:50 PM | #
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