Deadwood - Any good?

What's the show like? I know the basics and some of the cast from a quick perusal of the website, but am curious to hear from actual viewers regarding it.

RTP

It is brilliant

Love the dialogue and the plot. Haven't watched all of the first season but haven't missed any of the second season yet.

Ian McShone (sp ?) does a great job as Al Swergen (sp ?)

I even got a kick out of seeing him in the MST3K version of "Codename: Diamondhead" - A horrible pilot for a failed action drama series (Assignment in Paradise) with a balding Roy Thinnes as a secret-federal-agent type.

RTP

Brad Dourif is also a pretty good actor, among others on the list.

RTP

He was one awesome Cocksucker (tell me I haven't been watching too much "Deadwood"!). Smart, funny, and unbelievably knowedgable about the current U.S. political scene---he was by far the best guest Maher has had this year, a bright light on a show that's going downhill fast.....

I've avoided Maher's show since the election, but I think I'll catch that segment.

BTW - Both Maher's show and (as I've just discovered) Deadwood are available via on-demand cable for free, but they only have Deadwood eps 13-18, and I want to watch it from the start in sequence. FYI, they also seem to carry a season one "recap" (I'd rather watch the episodes, but this is a nice addition) and a 'behind the scenes' for season two.

RTP

I'm really glad to see it's gathering a following; hope it goes on for seasons to come.....

about world history and the current political state than we do. My job brings me in contact with lots of bright foreigners, and their opinion of * is a nice blend of fear, disgust, and disbelief.

On the upside, they really blame "America", or "Americans" - they realize that the WH was hijacked and we are pretty powerless to do anything about it.

I don't know if I could be as reasonable about it if I were in their shoes, esp. after the 2004 election.

RTP

..would cause myself to recall numerous instances of Fine acting ..Laced with Royally exquisite Cussing coupled with a story line that is intriguing from the Get-Go...Damn it!

;)

Is this un-PC of me? But the Magistrate with Tourette's...perfect!

:rofl:

oh by the way, love Deadwood, and the theme music too. Also I like the way there is NO background music during the show; adds to the realism.

Gee I wish I could remember to watch it. But I don't watch much TV so I forget when its on.

Try to get the season one shows, though...they set up a lot of what's going on now:)

Characters die off etc. so continuity seems important.

RTP

who plays Jane to be pretty hot. Not in her Jane make-up, but in her Law & order guest spots and on celebrity poker.

Ian MacShane is a good actor, and HBO originals (Sex, Sopranos, Arli$$) tend to be pretty good, so I'd give it a look.

I checked out of Law and Order when Sam Waterston arrived. Never cared for him, and his character on the show rubbed me the wrong way esp. after enjoying Moriarty so much as Ben Stone. Maybe I’ll go back one day and check the rest. They have been spinning that show off like CSI lately, it’s a bit nuts.

RTP

once as a murderess, once as a victim. Good actress, interesting look. Waterston's character is getting a little old - they need to rotate him out. But I stopped watching this year anyway - they seem to have started pandering to the RW

How disappointing. I've always found Ben Stone's character to be staunchly progressive and liberal, so it's particularly ironic for that show to go septic.

RTP

Smirk apologist Fred Thompson to play Jack's boss. Then they started having some RW story lines - last year some nut case got off for killing a war protestor. Then this year Thompson's character told Serena that if she didn't believe in colonizing Iraq, she should quit her jon. Then he ended up firing her for being too sympathetic to the truth in an iffy case they were prosecuting. For some icing on the cake, when she got fired, she said, "Is' this because I'm a lesbian?" (get it - she' against the war - must be a lezbo). All in all a very sad turn for one of the great dramas ever.

And that's not a subtle turn either, it's full on propaganda. Very sad indeed.

Trivia - Did you know the first DA on L&O - Steven Hill, was the head of the Mission: Impossible team in the first season of that great old show back in 66'? He was replaced by Peter Graves when issues between Hill's faith (He is a convert to Orthodox Judaism) and his harsh shooting schedule lead him to quit the show.

RTP

and must say that Graves was better.

Started to go downhill after Martin Landau & Barbara Bain left. They actually got blacklisted after the nasty firings, and had to go overseas to ITC on Space:1999 to find work again.

RTP

I have a crush on her too.

rent it and watch it.

Then you'll see why some people think it's possibly the best drama ever done for TV.

It's so character-driven, it's compelling. The plot twists are almost incidental, because the characters are so resounding.

I'd imagine Dourif, McShane, Jones and Boothe are all good. Anyone in particular that you enjoy seeing or that I should keep an eye out for? Love hearing it's so character driven, a big plus for me.

I'll likely watch them in order via DVD...

On Edit- The cast seems huge, btw.

RTP

no one really stands out for me.

They just mesh so beautifully, and their stories entwine.

The cast is big, but they look so much alike at the beginning. You'll soon discern each individual.

Actually, I'm kind of fond of the pigs ..................

Some aspects seem pretty close from what I've read. I suppose that raises the question of whether a set number of episodes/seasons are planned.. after which, on the timeline, all the main characters would either be dead or have moved on etc.

RTP

but, having read a profile of David Milch - in Vanity Fair, I think, or maybe the New Yorker - he's done the research, and is trying to stay pretty close to the actual portrayal of how it was.

As for the pigs, well, I don't really want to know.

I don't know about lifeline on HBO. Remember that "The Sopranos" was originally only meant to be a one-time two-hour movie. So, in the vast, wonderful world of cable TV, anything can happen.

The History Channel's "Wild West Tech" recently had an episode about the real Deadwood. It will tell you a lot about the history. One of the people they interview is the producer of the HBO series.

Al Swearengen may have been even WORSE in real life than he is portrayed in the series, if you can imagine that. Two wives divorced him for "spousal cruelty" after continual savage beatings. I believe Swearengen beat his third wife so badly she died from her injuries.

Seth Bullock really was a partner in a hardware store. They show an old photo of the place. And he really was Sheriff, with a reputation for being able to "stare down a rattlesnake."

At some point (in real life) Bullock and Swearengen apparently came to an agreement that Swearengen would police the saloons and brothels, and Bullock would watch the rest of the town.

The end credits of the show mention the Adams House historical site in Deadwood. The H.C. show interviews a nice librarian, who says people really did talk like they do on the show. Then she lets loose with a flood of cussing that required serious bleeping.

Next to The Wire, it's the best thing they've got going right now.

without working the word, "Cocksucker", into one of your posts. And you call yourselves fans.

Seriously, if you don't like cursing in your entertainment, stay far, far away from this show.

Is that the "Wu" character? I think there was a joke about that somewhere in GD-Pol. I love this quote from the HBO website-



This does sound like a pretty good show, I must say.

RTP

My first novel was in the editing process, and, since it was about a collection of people who talked like real people, the language was rough. My editor at HarperCollins was very cool and understood that their way of talking was who they were.

But, one day she called me, and said, "The funeral scene, on page whatever, you see that?"

I had it front of me. Yeah, I saw it. "What's wrong?" I asked.

"I'm so tired of the word 'cocksucker.' Can we please just change that one to 'clown'?"

I felt so sorry for her, I agreed. It was one of the few changes from my original.

But, to this day, whenever I think of it, I know 'clown' was wrong and 'cocksucker' was right.

but I don't think it would be appreciated by the mods.

Deadwood is very good, not the best on HBO, but better than most television except Lost, Six Feet Under and Carnivale.

Anyone? :)

RTP

great cast, sets, characters, dialogue, and plot. a little convoluted if you miss an episode, but i haven't had that problem yet.

the language is rough and its sometimes graphically violent, but i don't mind such things. it can be some what comical also, in a very subtle way.

Swearingen is the biggest cocksucker on tv. maybe one of the most diabolical characters in serial tv history, yet likable in a coarse manner. watching swearingen is cool, having to deal with him would make your teeth chatter.

deadwood is the only show that keeps me from cancelling my hbo package.

I can see where he'd be good for a role of that type. Didn't he play Alexander Haig in Nixon?

RTP

I remember him playing Jim Jones very convincingly.

That's the spirit of the show. For the rest of you cocksuckers on this thread, Good Night!

A great period piece set in 1876 in the Black Hills of Dakota. Extremely raw and realistic depiction of the Deadwood mining camp that was ripe with gold and had absolutely no law. With very deep and detailed characters and a dialog that is both extremely profane and beautifully eloquent the series has everything a fan of westerns could want. I highly suggest renting or buying the first season on DVD before delving into this season. Deadwood might be might favorite show ever, highly recommended.

Never miss it!

for the time being. Have watched it since its start and love it!! Six Feet Under starts in about 6 weeks or so...it has been my favorite since its beginning. I've heard this is the last season.

Haven't seen any of this either. Looks like a good cast as well.

From the website-



Sound accurate to you? Looks like it revolves around three marriages and the business itself .. Does it lean more toward humor or drama? It's a little hard to tell from what I've read..

RTP

...dramatic AND funny with great characters. Since this is the fifth season, I think, and the last one, you should definitely find a way to watch the first four seasons so you get the full impact and get to know the characters well. I can't tell you how many times I've been moved to tears.

because it actually deals with subject matter that the R/W want us to keep quiet and sweep under the carpet. The characters look like the average person that you or I would know. I'm like you...I've been moved to tears several times...it's a wonderful show.
You're right...I highly recommend that you get the 1st 4 seasons and watch them before this season starts.

yes, it RULES!! And you get to learn a lot of cool authentic 19th century slang, mostly referring to sex acts and genitalia. It has a great cast too.