Deadwood (TV series)

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Deadwood

Deadwood title screen
Genre Western-Drama
Running time approx. 0:60 minutes
Creator(s) David Milch
Starring Timothy Olyphant
Ian McShane
Molly Parker
Jim Beaver
Brad Dourif
Paula Malcomson
William Sanderson
Kim Dickens
Robin Weigert
Dayton Callie
W. Earl Brown
Bree Seanna Wall
and Powers Boothe
Country of origin USA
Original channel HBO
Original run March 21, 2004–August 27, 2006
No. of episodes 36 (+ 2 feature length films)
Official website
IMDb profile
TV.com summary

Deadwood was a weekly American television drama series that premiered in March 2004 on HBO. The series is a Western set in the 1870s in Deadwood, Dakota Territory. At the time, Deadwood (a real town in the modern state of South Dakota) was little more than a makeshift camp, but it was a popular destination for those prospecting for gold in the Black Hills. The series charts Deadwood's growth from camp to town, incorporating themes ranging from the formation of communities to western capitalism.

Deadwood features many historical figures, such as Wild Bill Hickok, Seth Bullock, Sol Star, Calamity Jane, Al Swearengen, Wyatt Earp, E. B. Farnum and George Hearst. The plotlines involving these characters include historical truths as well as substantial fictional elements. Some of the characters are fully fictional, although they certainly may have been based on actual persons. Despite featuring a degree of factuality, the end credits of the program contain the following disclaimer:

"With the sole exception of the well known historical events and persons portrayed, the characters and events depicted in this television series are fictional and any similarity to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and unintentional."

The show was created by David Milch (NYPD Blue), who also serves as executive producer and head writer. The theme music was written by David Schwartz.

The third and final season premiered on June 11, 2006 and ended on August 27, 2006. It will be followed by two feature length TV movies, to be broadcast on HBO and expected to air in 2007, that will tie up various series plotlines.

Contents

[edit] Cast and characters

Main article: Characters of Deadwood
Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.
Actor Character Based On Profession in the Deadwood TV Series
Timothy Olyphant Seth Bullock Seth Bullock Sheriff/Owner of Star & Bullock Hardware.
Ian McShane Al Swearengen Al Swearengen Businessman/Owner of The Gem Saloon.
Molly Parker Alma Garret Ellsworth Unknown/No Basis Widow of claim seeker, later widowed to prospector Whitney Ellsworth.
Jim Beaver Whitney Ellsworth Unknown/No Basis Prospector/husband to Alma Garret; murdered by George Hearst's henchmen.
Powers Boothe Cy Tolliver Tom Miller Owner of rival saloon, The Bella Union.
John Hawkes Sol Star Sol Star Co-owner of Star & Bullock Hardware.
Paula Malcomson Trixie Tricksie of the Gem Former prostitute at The Gem Saloon.
William Sanderson E. B. Farnum E. B. Farnum Innkeeper of The Grand Central Hotel; Mayor.
Kim Dickens Joanie Stubbs Dora DuFran or Mollie Johnson Former hostess of The Bella Union/Co-proprietoress of brothel, The Chez Amis.
Garret Dillahunt Francis Wolcott L.D. Kellogg Sociopathic geologist who worked for George Hearst. Committed suicide by hanging.
Robin Weigert Calamity Jane Calamity Jane Follower of Wild Bill Hickok/Frontierwoman.
Dayton Callie Charlie Utter Charlie Utter Owner of freightbusiness/traveling companion of Wild Bill Hickok.
Brad Dourif Doc Cochran Lyman F. Babcock The physician of the camp.
Anna Gunn Martha Bullock Martha Bullock Wife of Seth, mother of the late William. School teacher in Deadwood.
Jeffrey Jones A. W. Merrick A. W. Merrick Editor of camp's press, The Deadwood Pioneer.
Pasha D. Lychnikoff Blazanov Unknown/No Basis Operator of Deadwood's telegraph service.
W. Earl Brown Dan Dority Dan Doherty Henchman to Al Swearengen at the Gem. Part of Al's inner circle.
Titus Welliver Silas Adams Unknown/No Basis Negotiator for Swearengen. Part of Al's inner circle.
Sean Bridgers Johnny Burns Johnny Burns Gem Saloon worker/henchman. Part of Al's inner circle.
Larry Cedar Leon Unknown/No Basis Deceased worker for Cy Tolliver at The Bella Union.
Peter Jason Con Stapleton Con Stapleton Worker for Cy Tolliver at The Bella Union.
Keith Carradine Wild Bill Hickok Wild Bill Hickok Gunslinger of the Old West; murdered at Nutall's saloon.
Geri Jewell Jewel Unknown/No Basis Disabled cleaning woman at the Gem.
Keone Young Mr. Wu Tong leaders Representative for the Chinese population of the camp; owns a pig pen.
Bree Seanna Wall Sofia Metz No Basis Adopted daughter of Alma Garret; sole survivor of an attack on her family.
Garret Dillahunt Jack McCall Jack McCall Unemployed, classless camp member, murdered Wild Bill Hickok in Nutall's #10 Saloon.
Richard Gant Hostetler Unknown/No Basis Deceased owner of the livery. Black man that can read (Uncommon in 1877).
Josh Eriksson William Bullock Loosely based on Douglas Kislingbury Deceased stepson of Seth Bullock; biological son of Martha Bullock and Seth's brother Robert.
Sarah Paulson Miss Isringhausen Unknown/No Basis Tutor to Sofia Metz, secretly a Pinkerton.
Franklyn Ajaye Samuel Fields Samuel Fields Self-proclaimed Union Army General (the Nigger General); keeper of horses.
Ray McKinnon Reverend Smith Henry Weston Smith Deceased minister of Deadwood.
Alice Krige Maddie Unknown/No Basis Deceased madam of the Chez Amis.
Zach Grenier Andy Cramed Andy Cramed Gambler who brought small pox to Deadwood, minister of the camp.
Leon Rippy Tom Nuttall Billy Nuttall Owner of Nutall's #10 Saloon.
Stephen Tobolowsky Hugo Jarry Hugh McCaffrey Commissioner for Lawrence County, Dakota Territory.
Ralph Richeson Pete Richardson Unknown/No Basis "Special" cook at the Grand Central.
Michael Harney Steve Fields Unknown/No Basis One of numerous camp drunks. Takes over livery stable on Hostetler's disappearance.
Gerald McRaney George Hearst George Hearst Successful California businessman and prospector.
Gill Gayle The Huckster Soapy Smith Con man, known for his prize soap sell swindle.
Gale Harold Wyatt Earp Wyatt Earp Legendary lawman from Dodge City, Kansas, works a timber lease.
Brian Cox Jack Langrishe John Langrishe Flamboyant stage promoter.
Alan Graf Captain Turner Unknown/No Basis Deceased enforcer and bodyguard of George Hearst.
Cleo King Aunt Lou Lucretia Marchbanks Cook at the Grand Central Hotel.
Brent Sexton Harry Manning John J. Manning Bartender at the Number 10 Saloon; running for sheriff.
Austin Nichols Morgan Earp Morgan Earp Brother of Wyatt Earp, works a timber lease.

[edit] Notable Plot Points

Main article: List of Deadwood episodes

[edit] Season 1 (2004)

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.
Deadwood Season 1 DVD cover
Enlarge
Deadwood Season 1 DVD cover
  • 1876
    • Seth Bullock leaves his Montana sheriff job to establish a hardware business in Deadwood along with friend and business partner, Sol Star.
    • Characters met along the way include Al Swearengen owner of The Gem, a local brothel, Wild Bill Hickock, the infamous gunslinger of the west, Calamity Jane who is Hickok's accomplice and friend along with Charlie Utter, Amos Cochran the town doctor, E.B. Farnum the proprietor of The Grand Central Hotel and A. W. Merrick, the town's personal press reporter.
    • Brom Garret, a businessman from New York is deceived in a confidence game (involving a gold claim) with Swearengen and Farnum.
    • The Metz family, residents of Deadwood, quickly leave the town for their native Minnesota. On the road, they are all murdered and scalped except for Sofia Metz. Swearengen claims the murders were committed by "dirt worshippers," (alluding to Native Americans), though they were actually perpetrated by road agents under his own employ.
    • Bullock and Star ask for a piece of property owned by Swearengen. Swearengen gives them a hard time but Bullock puts Star in charge of negotiating and the deal ends semi-successfully.
    • Cy Tolliver and his entourage purchase an abandoned hotel across from The Gem. When renovations are complete, Swearengen learns that he will gain competition. The Bella Union, a more luxurious brothel, is established shortly thereafter, although many patrons remain loyal to Swearengen.
    • Garret soon learns that his gold claim is worthless and demands Swearengen reimburse his money. Swearengen asks his henchman, Dan Dority, to "Make it look like an accident". Garret is thrown off a cliff and his body is brought back to Deadwood - only for Dority to discover that the claim is actually a rich one after all.
    • Garret's widow, Alma Garret, asks Wild Bill Hickok for help regarding her gold claim and the renewed interest from Swearengen's henchmen. Hickock sizes up Swearengen, and asks Bullock to help Garret with her claim. Bullock agrees.
    • During a poker game, Wild Bill Hickok is shot in Tom Nuttall's #10 Saloon by Jack McCall.
    • Jack McCall is put on trial for Hickok's murder. The jury finds him not guilty, however he leaves soon after.
    • Calamity Jane disappears on a drinking binge, following Hickok's murder, so Alma Garret takes custody of Sofia Metz.
    • Bullock pursues McCall, determined to bring him to justice. On the way, he inadvertently violates an Indian burial ground, resulting in an attack by a Lakota Indian. In the ensuing fight, Bullock beats the Lakota to death. Bullock and Charlie Utter later find McCall hiding at a boarding house and take him to Yankton for trial.
    • Andy Cramed, a con man and card shark arrives in Deadwood to start a scam. Instead he falls ill with smallpox at the Bella Union, and Tolliver, (with whom Cramed has had previous dealings) removes him and abandons him in the woods to die. He is found by an inebriated Calamity Jane who comforts him.
    • The smallpox outbreak spreads in Deadwood, creating an urgent need for vaccines. The afflicted are segregated from the main camp, housed in tents. Cramed recovers, and Calamity Jane aids Doctor Cochran in caring for the sick.
    • A pair of con artists, Flora and Miles Anderson, arrive in Deadwood under the pretense of searching for their lost father, and looking for work. Miles finds a job as a sweeper in The Gem and Flora as a harlot at the Bella Union. After an attempt to rob the Bella Union, they are soon murdered by Stubbs and Tolliver, on his orders.
    • Charlie Utter establishes a postal and freight business in Deadwood, which includes deliveries to Cheyenne.
    • The senior members of the community form a municipal government to prepare for future annexation, as well to bribe the territorial legislature to ensure the future security of existing titles, claims and properties already resident in Deadwood.
    • Swearengen bribes local Magistrate Clagett to quash a murder warrant.
    • The ailing Reverend Smith becomes a regular guest at The Gem, which angers Swearengen. He quickly shoos Smith out.
    • Alma's father, Otis Russell, arrives with plans to secure Alma's new found wealth both to pay off his debts and fulfill his own greed.
    • The U.S. army arrives in Deadwood to celebration and a parade is quickly organised.
    • Bullock confronts a self-confident Otis Russell in The Bella Union. Russell threatens the future safety of his own daughter, should Bullock stand in the way of his acquiring the Garret gold claim, but is promptly beaten and ordered to leave the camp.
    • Bullock, still enraged, suggests to Dan Dority it would be in both his and his boss's best interest to have Otis Russell killed. He later comes to his senses, and has Mr. Russell hauled out of the camp with the departing U.S. Army convoy.
    • Bullock meets Alma at her hotel room and the two make love.
    • A dying Reverend Smith, seemingly from a brain tumor, is smothered to death by Al Swearengen.
    • Tolliver attempts to bribe General Crook to leave a garrison in Deadwood (no doubt to his own ends) but is indignantly refused.
    • Magistrate Clagett attempts to extort Swearengen further over the murder warrant. Swearengen's response is to hire Clagett's toll collector, Silas Adams, to murder him. Silas performs the deed and allies himself with Swearengen, becoming his agent.
    • As Sheriff Con Stapleton has been compromised by Cy Tolliver, Bullock volunteers to become the new sheriff as the cavalry ride out.

[edit] Season 2 (2005)

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.
Deadwood Season 2 DVD cover
Enlarge
Deadwood Season 2 DVD cover
  • 1877
    • Alma Garret hires a tutor, Miss Alice Isringhausen to teach young Sofia.
    • Swearengen publicly expresses his concerns regarding Bullock's abilities as sherrif, alluding that Bullock's focus is not on the job due to his affair with Alma Garret. The fight begins and ends when Bullock throws Swearengen and himself over the Gem balcony.
    • Seth Bullock's wife Martha and their son, William, arrive in Deadwood.
    • Bullock tells Alma Garret that with his wife's arrival in the camp, they must either leave camp, or stop seeing one another. Garret understands, agreeing that it is better that they remain in town and only see one another for business purposes.
    • Calamity Jane resurfaces drunk and manages to support Bullock and Utter in persuading Swearengen to return Bullock's posessions. A truce is made when Swearengen returns Bullock's gun and badge.
    • Swearengen is diagnosed with kidney stones. In deteriorating health, he collapses in his office with the door locked. It is assumed by his concerned associates that he wants to be left alone, but as the days pass their concerns grow and they finally break into the office. Cochran then performs emergency surgery using his crude implements, which has some success.
    • Joanie Stubbs opens her own brothel, The Chez Amis, with her newly arrived partner Maddie.
    • Francis Wolcott, a geologist working for George Hearst arrives in Deadwood and soon makes his presence felt at the Chez Amis, to the distress of Joanie Stubbs. Wolcott has paid for transportation of most of the prostitutes', in order to cater to his selective tastes.
    • Alma Garret discovers she is pregnant by Bullock. On learning the news, Trixie persuades Ellsworth to make a marriage proposal to Garret, and influences Garret to accept the proposal, to save her from the humiliation of being an unwed mother.
    • Alma Garret fires Miss Isringhausen. Isringhausen then goes to Silas Adams and they embark upon a relationship.
    • Samuel Fields, "The Nigger General", returns to camp (he had notionally been there before, "between seasons"). He tries to enlist Hostetler in his schemes. Bullock is forced to rescue him from an angry mob (headed by a roustabout named Steve).
    • Miss Isringhausen convinces Silas Adams to allow her to meet with Swearengen. At the meeting, she admits to being an agent of the Pinkertons and under the employ of Alma Garret's in-laws. Isringhausen had been instructed to frame Garret for charging Swearengen with the task of murdering her husband. Swearengen agrees to play along, but later reveals to Garret that he intends to blackmail Isringhausen, due to his hatred for the Pinkerton agency.
    • Cy Tolliver learns of Wolcott's sexual proclivities and baits him, resulting in Wolcott murdering two of Joanie Stubb's whores, Doris and Carrie. When Maddie attempts to extort money from him, Wolcott kills her too. Cy Tolliver takes care of the removal of the bodies and pardons Wolcott.
    • Hostetler catches a drunken Steve in the livery stable performing a sexual act on Bullock's horse in revenge for his treatment at Bullock's hand. With Fields' help and threats of violence, Hostetler coerces a confession of bestiality from Steve. The admission would be publicised should Steve make any trouble for either of the livery workers in the future.
    • Stubbs sends the remaining whores away so that they will not be murdered under Wolcott's wrath.
    • Stubbs confides in Charlie Utter regarding the murders, extracting a promise from Charlie that he never repeat the information. Enraged, Utter confronts Wolcott whilst in line for food at Farnum's hotel, pulling him into the street and assaulting him, without revealing the true reason for the attack.
    • Having come into possession of Hickock's last letter, Charlie leaves to deliver it to Hickock's wife. A now isolated Joanie Stubbs begins a friendship with Calamity Jane.
    • Hugo Jarry, a Yankton commissioner tries to persuade Swearengen and Tolliver that Deadwood should become part of Dakota territory rather than Montana. He ends up siding with Swearengen.
    • Alma Garret, with the help of Sol Star, establishes a bank in the camp.
    • Wolcott's agent, Lee, burns the bodies of Chinese prostitutes who have died through malnourishment whilst in his remit. Mr. Wu is enraged and requests Swearengen's help to stop Lee. As Lee is employed by Wolcott, who in turn is employed by George Hearst, Swearengen refuses any help until after negotiations over the town's future have been resolved. Mr. Wu escapes house arrest at The Gem, but is stopped from exacting his revenge or being killed just in time, by Burns.
    • William Bullock is trampled by a horse that escaped during a failed neutering.
    • The camp is in vigil shortly after young William is injured. William dies hours after. The funeral is attended by many of Deadwood's citizens, and the service is conducted by former card shark Andy Cramed, who has returned to Deadwood an ordained minister.
    • George Hearst arrives in Deadwood and learns of the murders committed by Wolcott. He confronts Wolcott and fires him. Hearst purchases the Grand Central hotel from E. B. Farnum. The shamed Wolcott hangs himself.
    • Tolliver blackmails Hearst for 5% of every Gold Claim he has acquired in Deadwood. Tolliver claims to be in possession of a letter of confession, written by Wolcott, in which he stated that Hearst was aware of his murderous ways, but retained him in employment regardless.
    • Al Swearengen negotiates with George Hearst on behalf of Mr. Wu, and they agree that Wu can regain his status if his people prove to be better workers than the people employed by Lee, the "San Francisco cocksucker". Mr. Wu, along with Swearengen's henchman, plan vengeance in Deadwood's Chinatown. The operation is successful and Wu slits the throat of his rival, Lee.
    • Alma Garret and Ellsworth marry at a ceremony conducted by Andy Cramed at the Grand Central hotel.
    • With a great degree of dealing and double-dealing on behalf of Swearengen and Silas Adams, the official papers confirming Deadwood's annexation into Yankton territory are signed by Bullock and Swearengen with Hugo Jarry present.
    • Tolliver is stabbed by Andy Cramed outside the Bella Union.

[edit] Season 3 (2006)

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

[edit] Season timeframe

Al Swearengen
Enlarge
Al Swearengen
  • Season 1: Summer/Fall 1876: Soon after Custer's Last Stand, the first season of Deadwood takes place six months after the founding of the camp. Most of those who live far and outside of the camp have dreams of living in Deadwood to get richer and have a gold claim; however, when they arrive, new citizens find that Deadwood is unlike it has been told. It is a lawless, godless place where greed and corruption rule; and in order to make your fortune you have to make something of yourself.
  • Season 2: End of Spring/ Early Summer 1877: One year after the events that occurred previously in the camp of Deadwood, Seth Bullock has become the sheriff with Charlie Utter as his deputy, and what was once a lawless place has miraculously become orderly. The camp is progressing swimmingly with many inventions that later have become necessities, such as the telegraph and a bank. Former Bella Union hostess Joanie Stubbs has founded her own brothel called the Chez Amis. Both a well-connected geologist and a government official have arrived at the camp, to the dismay of several residents. Al Swearengen is still known as the unofficial head of the camp. Seth Bullock's family have arrived in town, forcing him to break off his relationship with Alma Garret and balance out his time between co-owned hardware store, sheriff's duties, and family.
  • Season 3: Mid/Late Summer 1877: Six weeks after the events of the Second Season, the first steps of civilization and law begin to enter the town; as well as the interests of larger, more powerful entities - in particular Hearst and his mining company. Deadwood preps itself for its first elections as it enters the Dakota territory, with Seth Bullock vs. Harry Manning (sheriff) and Sol Star vs. E.B. Farnum (mayor).

[edit] Use of profanity

From its debut Deadwood has drawn attention for its extremely explicit profanity, especially among the more coarse characters. The question of whether or not Deadwood's profanity has been excessive, or even anachronistic to the period being dramatized, was being asked of the show's creator since early in development process. According to The New Yorker magazine, in a profile from early 2005, Milch was asked by executives at HBO to defend the validity of this seeming over-use of profanity, even for the relatively loose standards of HBO. Milch produced an essay, "five single-spaced pages, followed by four pages of bibliography," on the subject of "defending realism and freedom of expression as indispensable correctives to the varnished mythologies of the West perpetrated by Hollywood." The New Yorker published a small excerpt of Milch's essay, which asserted that

"If, as seems demonstrable, words like prick, cunt, shit, fuck and cocksucker would have been in common usage in the time and place in which 'Deadwood' is set, then, like any words, in form and frequency their expression will be governed by the personality of a given character, imagined by the author with whatever imperfection, as the character is shaped and tested in the crucible of experience. The goal is not to offend but to realize the character's full humanness." [1]

The argument over the authenticity of Deadwood's dialogue has even been alluded to in the show itself. Early in the second season, after E.B. Farnum has fleeced Mr. Wolcott of $10,000, Farnum tries to console the geologist:

EB: Some ancient Italian maxim fits our situation, whose particulars escape me.
Wolcott: Is the gist that I’m shit outta luck?
EB: Did they speak that way then? [2]

The word "fuck" was said 43 times in the first hour of the show. (as reported by MTV Canada, 2006)

[edit] Historical divergence

In addition to the use of fictional characters that interact with real life Deadwood inhabitants, some liberties have been taken in regards to known events of the time and great liberties taken when it comes to real personalities:

Wild Bill Hickok's Funeral
While the series suggests that the interment of Wild Bill was a sparsely attended affair, it was in fact quite the opposite. While Charlie Utter was indeed away when Hickok was killed, he returned and was the person who claimed the body. He placed an advertisement in the local paper and attended the funeral.
Gem Variety Saloon
This was not built until 1877, the second of Al Swearengen's Deadwood establishments. In 1876 when Bullock and Starr arrived, Swearengen ran a small establishment called the Cricket Saloon, which featured prize-less "prize fights" of bare knuckled brawls among miners as the entertainment. The Gem did not open until April 7th, 1877.
Charlie Utter
Unlike the somewhat unkempt man, uncomfortable in urban settings of the show, the real life Charlie Utter was a man known for the pride he took in his appearance. He dressed in hand-tailored suits and kept his long blonde hair and mustache well-groomed at all times, keeping combs and mirrors with him constantly. He slept on high-quality blankets. Quite unusual for the time, he also took daily baths.
Seth Bullock
Seth was not married to his brother's widow, but the woman who was reportedly his childhood sweetheart that he married in Utah in 1874. Robert Bullock was not Seth's brother, but a cousin. He did not have a son at the time his wife came to join him, but a daughter who was still just a toddler. He would later have a son.
Al Swearengen
Al was not originally from England, but Iowa. At the time the story opens in 1876, he was still operating the smaller Cricket Saloon. He was also still married to Nettie Swearengen, his first wife (but in keeping with his fictional counterpart, she divorced him on the grounds of mistreatment some time later).

[edit] Cancellation

On May 13, 2006, HBO confirmed it has opted not to pick up the options of the actors, which were set to expire on June 11, 2006. This means that a fourth season with the current cast as it stands is unlikely, though HBO has stressed that the show is not cancelled and talks regarding its future are ongoing. The chance of the show returning in its current state of cast and crew, however, is limited. [3]

On June 5, 2006, HBO and creator David Milch agreed to make two two-hour telefilms in place of a fourth season, after Milch declined a short-order of 6 episodes. This is because in the show's original form, each season was only a few weeks in length, with each episode being one day, in the town of Deadwood. The final two-hour format will release these time restraints and allow for a broader narrative to finish off the series.[4]

[edit] Broadcasting

Promotional picture from Season 2.
Enlarge
Promotional picture from Season 2.

Deadwood is broadcast on the following channels around the world:

[edit] HBO broadcast history

[edit] DVD releases

The first two seasons are available on DVD. HBO was responsible for the North American DVD releases, while Paramount Home Entertainment handled international distribution -- the latter being a division of CBS Paramount Television (the successor-in-interest to the television unit of Paramount Pictures) handling worldwide TV distribution for the series.

[edit] Books

The novels Tales from Deadwood (2005) and Tales from Deadwood 2 (2006) depicts some of the same characters and events of the TV series, but there is no connection between the books and the series.

[edit] External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:
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