Deadwood - The Complete First Season (2004)

Calling all Heathens and Hoople-heads!!!

Perhaps the most amazing thing about "Deadwood" is the incredible sense of place that director David Milch conveys with every scene. You could almost say that the mining camp itself is really the star of this series. Beautiful scenery, lavish sets, an impressive ensemble cast, scores of extras, and a script riddled with harsh profanity all serve to remind the viewer-- often with all the delicacy of a sledgehammer-- that "Deadwood" really is a place apart from the 'wild wild west' depicted in other western films.

Yes, the language in "Deadwood" is vile, crude, and filthy-- but ironically, it's also lyrical. In fact, you won't find the English language used with as much wit or finesse anywhere else on television, unless Shakespeare happens to be on PBS. I understand that the profanity is a big turn-off for some viewers, but the language in this show is a lot like the mining camp itself: yes, there really is "gold in them thar hills," but to harvest a few flakes of gold you have to pan through tons and tons of muck and river filth. It ain't pretty, but it just might be rewarding.

The acting in this series is uniformly brilliant! Standouts include Ian McShane as the murderously seedy Al Swearingen, Robin Weigert as the tragically-inebriated Calamity Jane, Powers Booth as conniving brothel owner Cy Tolliver, Brad Dourif as the haunted Doc Cochran, and, of course, Keith Carradine as a tired and world-weary Wild Bill Hickok... but Timothy Olyphant, Molly Parker, Dayton Callie, W. Earl Brown, Leon Rippy, Geri Jewell, and just about every other member of the cast (both lead and supporting) also turn in memorable performances. This really is as solid an ensemble cast as you're likely to see anywhere!

My biggest criticism of "Deadwood" is that (at times) the pacing seems to be a bit off. While important events and developments take place in each of the twelve episodes, it seems like the plot only picks up a full head of steam in three or four. This didn't trouble me greatly, as I felt that Milch did an incredible job of maintaining suspense throughout the entire season, but I'm also completely sympathetic to other reviewers who've complained about the series' relatively slow pace.

I was also underwhelmed with the extras on this DVD set. While this set is generous with commentaries (four of the twelve episodes have director and/or actor commentary), the remaining features pretty much consist of long dialogues between David Carradine and David Milch. I would have greatly preferred a mini-documentary about the 'real' Deadwood to David Milch's take on historical events.

That said, "Deadwood" is one of the best new shows on a network already known for great programming. HBO is to be congratulated for adding another quality series to its lineup!

"God grant that I may seek rather to comfort than to be comforted; to understand, rather than be understood; to love, rather than be loved... and the rest I forget." --Reverend Smith

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