Absolutely one of my wife and my all time favorite TV series. Great amount of history, really great acting, yet mixed with an irrational amount of obscenities. We still watch reruns of it today on Prime Video, as it takes our minds off the crimes in real time currently being committed by America's Al Swearengen, aka Donald Trump.
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Much of my family lived in Deadwood/Lead during the boom days, working in the Homestake. My grandmother hated the place for the lawlessness (her brother was shot in the back while in the mine) and was much offended at the presence of legions of ladies of easy virtue as she called them when she was being polite. They lived on a ranch in the area and broke wild horses which they supplied to the 7th cavalry for many years. It was an interesting series in that it showed the unvarnished iniquity of the place at that time.
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Fantastic. "Deadwood" was one of the best, most unique and authentic period TV dramas ever. It was never clear back then why it was cancelled. Going to miss Tolliver. I hope many in the original cast return, specifically Molly Parker, Kim Dickens and Anna Gunn.
6
Great series. I'll definitely tune in. And if only there was some even remote chance that Rome would come back.
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@Ken
OMG - wasn't that series incredible? Every episode had me on the edge of my chair. Great question and nice to know someone else out there enjoyed the series.
6
Shakespeare in the Old West returns...welcome back... you were missed. Yes, Deadwood was one of the finest dramas on TV. Everything about it was nearly perfect: from the realism of the sets and the tremendous acting to the screenplays that almost took your breath away. Can't wait to see the film.
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@Claudia
"The writing took your breath away."
Yes! I was constantly astounded. It sometimes seemed as if Shakespeare had written a western.
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I don’t know that the sets had to be exact exact.
I really liked the tv show , but, it was definitely cringeworthy on many occasions.
At home I was able to turn away or leave the room.
I think I’ll have to wait until it comes to cable before I see it.
Very exciting though.
1
Am so happy for another chance to watch Deadwood. Some fantastic acting and writing. Could good ratings bring on another series? We hope this is not the finale for Deadwood.
5
Can't wait.
Why did they cancel this wonderful series.
We watched the entire series three times, the third time we watched with English subtitles in order to truly capture the marvelous, flowery language.
David Milch the creator has been ill, what shame.
All the best wishes to this wonderful creator.
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Why not a new series? A wee little one, even. Ah, can't have everything.
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Still the greatest tv show ever made
The Americans and Rectify come close
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Not a weak link in the entire cast but I think the guy who shines brightest in William Sanderson as EB. Especially the soliloquies he delivers while pondering his misfortunes. And Mr. Sanderson should thank the writers for their great work.
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@Dan
Could not agree more.
The writing was superb and by all accounts faithful to the vernacular of the time period, even the cursing.
EB is such an oily, obsequious creature and Mr. Sanderson is a marvelous actor.
9
Did I miss the reason for cancelling this show in the first place? Why is is this such a weird mystery?
One of the best shows of all time - so why doesn't HBO bring it back? It doesn't seem like many of the critical cast has more compelling work.
Would have been a perfect way for HBO to reel in new viewers after GoT.
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It was always astounding that HBO abruptly canceled the show. Because it was already sweeping up awards, I figured there was bad blood somewhere. I wonder what kind of reception a show like this will get when its heart was planted in 2006. Be interesting to see.
1
Hands down one of the best TV series of all time.
I actually stopped reading the article because I don't want any spoilers. Hats off to the cast and crew for (hopefully) sending this show off properly.
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So stoked for the movie. Everything about the three seasons was sophisticated narrative perfection. If there was ever a TV drama that so consistently spoke in shakespearean caliber language while staying true to character and narrative I'd love to hear of it. Sure do hope the production lives up to its potential !
7
I loved Deadwood, favorite TV series of all time. Small criticism, though. The set dressers have done a fantastic job. But as with most Westerns from Hollywood, the set designers, creating a town to look like the old West, forget that at the time the drama takes place, it was the new West. Everything in most Westerns looks weathered 150 years when most buildings were new. Even advancing the story 10 years, the town shows wood looking as though it were about to sink into the earth. I live in a house in the mountains with brutal winters and summers, old wood frame house built in 1929 - at 90 years old, the wood work looks newer than the Deadwood set. The ghost town of Bodie in the Sierras looks fresher the than Deadwood set.
To see a Western with a truly authentic take on frontier architecture, fresh timber and wretched construction, see Altman's "McCabe and Mrs. Miller" and the town of Presbyterian Church.
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I am not a fan of westerns, to me they tend to be dusty limited dramas, but Deadwood was multi layered. For one, it will give you a completely different view of the practice of medicine and you may decide never to eat pork again.
If you have not seen Deadwood, you should.
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@arubaG
Ditto about the pork observation.
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Deadwood is my all time favorite tv series. Number 2 is Breaking Bad. Number 3 is Arrested Development. Can't wait for the Deadwood movie!
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@kosmicman
You should also have a look at "Justified", a six season series starring Timothy Olyphant. The show was produced by Elmore Leonard of "Get Shorty" and many other books of crime dramas. Much mayhem, twists and turns, great cast and wonderful writing
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@Larry Tweedy
"Justified" was exceptionally great. It was because of seeing Timothy Olyphant in that show that convinced me to watch him in "Deadwood". There wasn't a "Deadwood" character that I either didn't love, despise or longed for. That show was so rich on so many levels.
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@Larry Tweedy
Though the real stand out in that show was Walton Goggins
2
I thought Deadwood was one of the greatest series on television. I was so impressed with the realism and attention to detail. Language, sets, scenery. All were amazing.
I had occasion to go "out west" shortly after the series ended. I almost crashed my car driving into town as I could not stop staring at the scenery and appreciating how well the crew had recreated it for the show.
So glad the movie will be out soon.
Thanks
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@F J Clark
Great to read about your experiences when you went "out west". My husband and I plan on visiting Deadwood some time this year. He was there many, many moons ago, long before it became the brilliant HBO TV series. I am excited for a plethora of reasons, but the biggest one is to see that moonlit sky with billions and billions of stars illuminating the entire scene. It's those clear and crystal nights that alerts one to being "out west" or so I read and hear.
4
@Marge Keller Hi, just a tip...you don't have to "go West" to see the "billions" of stars...Just go North a few clicks and you'll find them ! Actually, you just need to get away from the city lights and the skies open up.
You're spot on though.... looking to the heavens, late at night, in the Northern (or Western) skies is truly one of the most pleasurable experiences left in this world.
have at it, Marge !
1
@the Bambino
Hi there. Thanks for the suggestions. I always heard the air is so much purer, cleaner and simply just smells better "out west".
You are spot on about getting away from all city lights and simply enjoy the night sky. I'll have to come up with some kind of eye gear where I can hopefully actually see the stars. My night vision is so bad, I am fearful that I won't be able to view very much, if anything at all. But at very least, I can still smell that cool, crisp night air.
Thanks again for your kind and thoughtful comment.
1
Great series - can't wait to see the movie.
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What a fascinating article. Often times the "back story" is more interesting than the focal one.
I am impressed that the Deadwood team hired a" part-time researcher, Jerry Bryant" (I can't wait to read his book about Al Swearengen) and that they "wanted to recreate as many of the details as [they] could, just so it’s true to history, and to honor that.” Their primary focus was on factual history while telling a Hollywood story secondary.
My husband and I have always believed that telling a historical story the way is actually took place was far more interesting than any Hollywood fantasy version.
Can't wait to see the original cast and am curious about the story line and where it will trail off to.
Very sad that Powers Booth passed away (he was as iconic in the role of Cy Tolliver as Ian McShane is in the role of Al Swearengen) and Ricky Jay who played Eddie Sawyer. Both characters were fascinating and both men were tremendous actors. They will be missed.
Cannot wait for May 31st.
Thanks NYT for a wonderful and rich article. Very much appreciated.
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@Marge Keller Alas, Cy Tolliver was one of the fictional characters as were a number of others. https://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-deadwoodhbo/7/#HBO%20Deadwood%20Series%20Cast
Great show. Can't wait for the movie. It should have been another season :-(
4
So glad there will be an ending (I hope). Loved this series.
9