Need feedback on the show "Deadwood"

Jack Tabbs ^ | 5/26/06 | Jack Tabbs

[Sonora]

Very comparable to the Sopranos, set in an early western town - I'd say it's worth renting for sure, if you like something along the lines of the Sopranos.

[x]

"Renting" as in paying money for it? Or borrowing it from a friend or public library? Or getting it through netflix?

To tell the truth, I don't think it would have been worth paying for, but once you start watching, you may find yourself hooked by the "what will happen" or "how's this all going to turn out" factor.

I certainly wanted to see the whole season, and if I can get my hands on the subsequent ones I'll watch them as well. But I don't think my life would be any poorer if I'd never heard of the show.

Authenticity is kind of a tricky thing. People are so used to 19th century characters saying "blasted" or "dagnabbit" that such evasions become "authentic" for them. I can't help thinking that Deadwood overdoes the profanity, but it was a rough, mining town, and so there had to have been a lot of swearing going on.

But beyond questions of authenticity, how much do people really accept and care about the characters, rather than just getting carried away by the plots? Ian McShane's character and some of the others are pretty repulsive, and can make the show hard to take.

"Deadwood" is sort of like "The Sopranos Go West", but the humor is staler and there isn't the same kind of first-hand social observation that kept "The Sopranos" so interesting for so long.

[ChadGore]

Re: "Renting" as in paying money for it? Or borrowing it from a friend or public library? Or getting it through netflix?

Or these torrents:

http://www.mininova.org/search/?search=Deadwood+%28XviD+asd%29

[Cvengr]

We had a family tradition whenever we bit into something too hotand burned our tongue or mouth of exclaiming, "Hot Tamale, Milk, and Mush!"
Sure beats a mouthful of other profanities.

[lilylangtree]

Never watched it.

[Wolfie]

Hmmm...Throat slittings, antler impalings, shootings, whores kept in cages (bodies burned when they expire), etc, etc. But oh my, the language! Tsk. Tsk.

[fnord]

agree about the Shield, you can't stop watching

Shield, Deadwood, Sopranos ... cable has some gripping dramas

[Hildy]

Have you seen ROME? It's Sopranos set in Ancient time...All of HBO's shows are Sopranos with different scenary!!! But they are good...but THE SHIELD is still my favorite with NIP/TUCK being my guilty pleasure!

[turbocat]

Absolutely!!!

We are hooked. I bought the season set and it just arrived, so we are starting Season 2 tonite.

Terribly profane, and incredibly enthralling. Bad guys & heros and probably what it was really like. Deadwood was a real town and these guys were real historical figures, if I recall correctly.

I am already disappointed to hear that the cast has been released from their contracts after either Season 3 or 4...

[fnord]

I forgot about Nip/Tuck, it is good also. It is very hard to guess where it is going next.

I didn't have a TV for many years, and only recently got HBO (for Sopranos and the upcoming Deadwood). All my other viewing experience with these shows was by DVD. Is Rome out on DVD yet?

[mugs99]

In outlaw mining camps, certainly. The show's producer deliberately wanted to over-do the foul language, but as someone who celebrates the late 19th Century gold mining culture, I can vouch for the accuracy of the use of Victorian-era language sprinkled with profanity used as punctuation.

I don't think the foul language is too overdone for Deadwood. Al certainly did use profanity to the extreme as did most of the other low lifes.
Of the real characters portrayed on the show, only Sol Star was known as a gentleman.


Sol Star
.

[mugs99]

the impressions left by John Wayne in True Grit, were probably closer to the norm throughout the settling period, than the saloon/whorehouse represented in Deadwood

The impressions left by True Grit were rehashed nineteen forties Hollywood soap. Deadwood is authentic for that era.
.

[mugs99]

I'd show you these testimonials, but you're not a #@$%*&ing Clamper

LOL...
I have photos of some of the girls of Deadwood to back up your ECV testimonials. Can't post them on FR!
.

[OKIEDOC]

I watched this show for a awhile but the language just got worse and worse.

This would be a great show if no bad language was used.

Good actors do not have to use foul language to make the shoe interesting.

Case in point Jimmy Cagney, Edward G. Robinson, Gary Cooper, John Wayne, Charleston Heston, Errol Flynn and others as example.

I wonder if as adults we really need to be reminded of filthy language every other word.

Living on a ranch I heard foul language but children were admonished with a strap that no one under 21 was to use dirty language.

Also until you had reached adult hood you never called an adult by their first name.

[MotleyGirl70]

If you can tolerate the utterly foul language. Worst I have ever heard. I stopped watching it on account of that. I'm no prude but this was well over the top. Even the Sopranos didn't match it.

Ditto that.

I saw a couple episodes of the first season and when I heard the "c" word used again and again, I didn't watch anymore.

BTW, what evidence is there that they used such vulgarities back then.

[MotleyGirl70]

What they said. Language is far worse than The Big Lebowski or Fargo (if youve seen those).

Or "Goodfellas" or "Crash." Lots of "f-words" in those too.

[RichardW]

I don't know but I find it unlikely and like you I find the use of that particular word totally uncalled for and utterly disgusting.

[FReepaholic]

...Actually I think it is good for kids to see and hear the profanity on shows like this...

Well, there's more than profanity on Deadwood.

I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with you on this. At least MY sons won't be watching this until they're 18.

[SamAdams76]

At least MY sons won't be watching this until they're 18.

You just go on thinking that! Unless you have your boys chained in a basement or in your presence 24/7, they are bound to be into things you do not approve of.

[Cvengr]

I disagree, Deadwood is too influenced by associating inner city gangsta use of profanity in every other word in an attempt to assault the thinking processes as a fleshly impression of worldliness.

People were much further removed from one another than presented in Deadwood. Their language and issues aren't well represented in Deadwood, but for a modern day culture that doesn't have to either grow or slaughter its next meal, the series seems impressive.