Truly despicable characters are a rarity on television, though not in Deadwood. This show seems to revel in them. You probably thought that you couldn’ get any worse than Al Swearengen, the savage foul mouthed owner of the local brothel, then a competitor came in, in the form of Powers Boothe, who’ capacity for violence and emotional manipulation seemed to know no bounds. But the third and most complex season of Deadwood offers a character who makes the two pale in comparison, someone who’ brutality knows no morality in his quest for one thing. Gold. It’s a development that throws everything that we’ve seen over the past two series out of whack. Unlikely alliances form as Deadwood is under threat like never before. It’s violent, political and edge of your seat stuff. Deadwood becomes a powder keg as the town readies itself for all out war on a scale that has not been seen before. This is a Mexican standoff that would have Tarantino weeping with joy. The writing and in particular the dialogue here takes on Shakespearean proportions, peppered with expletives words like cocksucker and Hooplehead have never sounded so lyrical, the way these characters express themselves, even the inexpressive dullards, is a work of art. Perhaps what is most impressive is the writers ability to turn the tables, the new circumstances causing us to re evaluate the characters we’ve learnt to hate, the very aspects of their character that had previously seemed so abhorrent are suddenly the only things that can save the town. Writing this good is such a rarity and will continue to be more so because unfathomably after the most explosive series yet the show was cancelled in the US due to the spiralling cost of the ensemble cast and high production costs. So there you have it. 9 hours. 12 Episodes. 4 discs. Say goodbye to one of the best shows on TV.
EXTRA FEATURES:
Nothing.
Bob Baker Fish
