Deadwood: Season Two ~ Still Ugly and Dirty, but Still Compelling!

The day after DramaMan and I finished watching the first season of Deadwood, we were off to our library to rent the second season. Now accustomed to the brutality and profanity, we were both anxious to see what was going to happen to some of the most complex characters we’ve run across in serial television in quite some time, this time without the shock to our delicate systems.

Previously, in Deadwood:

Note: There will most likely be some big Season One spoilers here. Do not read this section if you plan on watching the series (and I really urge you to do so).

Season One took place in 1876 after Custer’s famous last stand. Deadwood is a camp full of mostly men trying to make their fortune mining and panning for gold. The few women in the camp are prostitutes, working for either the Gem, owned by Al Swearengen, or the Bella Union, owned by Cy Tolliver. Brom Garrett, distantly related to the Pinkertons, was sold a gold claim thought to be worthless. When the original owners found out its true worth, Garrett was the victim of... an accident, leaving his laudanum-riddled widow the owner of a very lucrative gold mine. The same Widow Garrett had fallen for Seth Bullock, owner of the town hardware store, and newly appointed Deadwood Sheriff. Bullock was still awaiting the arrival of his wife and son, actually his brother’s widow and son, while spending his nights with Alma Garrett. Wild Bill Hickok had been killed early in the season, but his traveling companions Charlie Utter and Calamity Jane mostly stayed in town.

Season Two: Main Characters and Plot Lines:

Swearengen isn’t healing as quickly as Bullock from their brutal fight at the end of Season One, partly because he’s got kidney stones, and as tough as he likes to act, kidney stones in a remote place like Deadwood can kill a man. Bullock’s wife and stepson arrive in Deadwood, forcing him and Alma to redefine the boundaries of their relationship, deciding that no relationship would be best for all involved.

The most interesting and catalytic arrival in the camp is that of Francis Wolcott, a psychotic geologist with a penchant for slitting the throats of bad little prostitutes, sent ahead for George Hearst to scope the land and begin rumors that the land claims won’t be valid once Deadwood is annexed. This causes the miners to sell low to Tolliver, acting on Wolcott's behalf, acting on Hearst's behalf. A fragile truce is struck between Swearengen and Bullock for the best interest of the camp.

Trixie has begun a strange relationship with Bullock’s partner Sol Star, and trades her goods for his teaching her figures and numbers. Trixie and Alma have their ups and downs this season, but most often come out on top and look out for each other, as evidenced by Trixie’s meddling when Alma discovers she’s pregnant.

A bank backed by the Garrett gold is opened in Deadwood, moving its inhabitants closer to lawful living. In a whirlwind of events near the end of the season, Hearst finally arrives and wields his power like a little boy with too many toys in the sandbox, Alma marries Ellsworth, the man who’s been working her mine for her, Swearengen strikes out against the Chinese workers Hearst brought to camp, tragedy strikes the Bullock home and annexation occurs.

Twelve Parts of One Movie:

Because there are so many characters, and the plots are not tidily resolved within the one hour episodes, watching Deadwood feels almost like watching a twelve hour movie. Sometimes there are arcs that last two episodes, but rarely, if ever, are there any single episode story lines. The episode titles are as follow:

A Lie Agreed Upon, Part 1
A Lie Agreed Upon, Part 2
New Money
Requiem for a Gleet
Complications
Something Very Expensive
E.B. Was Left Out
Childish Things
Amalgamation and Capital
Advances, None Miraculous
The Whores Can Come
Boy the Earth Talks To

All are worth watching if you watch them in their proper order, much like the aforementioned twelve hour movie. Wolcott’s arrival in New Money and his descent into madness chronicled right through to the very tense, very action packed Boy the Earth Talks To are interesting, if very ugly episodes.

The Ugly Truth of History and Serialized Television:

Deadwood is (somewhat loosely) based on historic events, places and people. I’m sure there is plenty to find fault with when looking at it from an educational point of view. Luckily, I’m no history buff and I was able to enjoy it simply for what it is. There is plenty that really happened (Seth Bullock did become Sheriff of Deadwood and Al Swearengen really did open The Gem), and I’m sure there’s just as much that didn’t happen.

As to the racism, the incredible amount of profanity, the stomach turning, gritty violence, and the blatant sexism, I can’t say how accurately those things are portrayed here, but they’re evident in every single episode, and impossible to ignore. I’m hard to offend (most of the time), but if you’re easier than I am, this most likely isn’t the show for you.

Bonus Materials:

The sixth disc of the DVD set is the Bonus Material which includes the following featurettes: The Real Deadwood: 1877 and Making of the Season Two Finale: “Boy-The-Earth-Talks-To” and actor commentaries on select episodes.

I skimmed through both featurettes, but didn’t’ listen to any of the commentaries. They may be interesting to some who enjoy the historical aspects of the show, but I was in it for the gritty action.

Final Thoughts:

I know the show was canceled after Season Three, so there’s a part of me that briefly thought I should pace myself, watch one episode a night, or possibly even one per week, but I’m not known for my patience. I’m currently two episodes away from finishing the series. Season Two is just as captivating as Season One was, partly because of the writing and the sets, but mostly because of the acting, especially Olyphant, whose swagger just screams “crazy lawman” and McShane who makes every room he walks into look small with his powerful magnetism and intense voice.

Details:

Created by (and many episodes written by): David Milch
Starring: Seth Bullock ~ Timothy Olyphant
Al Swearengen ~ Ian McShane
Sol Star ~ John Hawkes
Alma Garret ~ Molly Parker
Trixie ~ Paula Malcomson
Charlie Utter ~ Dayton Callie
Calamity Jane ~ Robin Weigert
Cy Tolliver ~ Powers Boothe
Francis Wolcott ~ Garret Dillahunt
George Hearst ~ Gerald McRaney