And More Deadwood Rewatch . . .

[chelseagirl]

The last two episodes of season 1 are when I realized this wasn't just a good show, but a great show -- and on rewatching a decade later, that still holds true. Al's near-Shakespearean soliloquy while on the receiving end of a bj was brilliant enough, while so many things in that finale -- Doc Cochran's on-his-knees soliloquy, Seth and Alma's doomed-from-the-start but so passionate coming together, and especially Swearengen's killing the terminally ill and raving (of a brain tumor) Reverend gently, almost kindly and carrying the body back to the Doc's himself in his arms (how often do we ever even see him leaving the Gem?), and then coldheartedly arranging for Adams to kill the magistrate in an almost offhand way.

I love that Swearengen supports Seth's ascension to the position of Sheriff in 1.12 and then that they're almost immediately at odds in 2.1.

It almost hurts to see how Trixie's self-loathing causes her to keep sabotaging things with Sol, and how patient he is. (He still gets my vote for Most Sane and Reasonable Person in Camp.) And while I'd remembered later on Joanie/Jane vividly, I'd forgotten about Alice Krige's character. Watching Cy Tolliver towards the beginning of s. 1, it's notable how alone he is now, surrounding by yes-people and underlings as he's driven away both Joanie and Eddie, who'd seemed to be such a unified team when the Bella Union first opened. (I was pleased to see that Ricky Jay was still writing scripts in s. 2 even though he'd left the series after s. 1.)

Since I hadn't rewatched since the original broadcast, I was surprised about Garrett Dillahunt's recasting in a second role in s. 2. I guess M and I never noticed because of the time in between, as well as because the character was so different in appearance and manner. But now it's striking me as really odd, especially in a show that is so very meticulous about detail.

Also, there is a story I want to write about Wu -- something that I expected to happen all through the series and never did. Maybe I'll get on that tonight.

Comments

[lunabee34]

I think Sol is a saint. He's definitely the most sane.

Ooh, I'm fascinated what you think should have happened with Wu that didn't.

[chelseagirl]

I do like it when he's been shot and has laudanum in him and actually calls Seth on his bs. But most of the time, I just can't even -- he's like this oasis of sanity and good sense.

Story's up on A03, re. Wu! Linked in my next post.

[scripsi]

I remember that I enjoyed the first episode, but also felt it was a rarther common set-up, Al being the baddie, Bullock the hero, and Alma the damsel in distress. And I was delighted when I realised things were a lot more complicated. Alma is certainly not helpless, Bullock isn't a very pleasant person at all, and Al, well, is Al.

I love Sol too! And Another reason to love this show is the multitude of different and engaging characters. Man yshows with several characters often only show them in relation to a few major ones, but here they have relationship that are just their own, if you know what I mean. Like Mr. Utter's and Joanie's friendship, for example. It's theirs, not there to make a plot point about anyone else.

[chelseagirl]

Definitely. I mean, okay, I will never not think Bullock is very, very pretty, but between his principled stands which are uncomfortable, and then the times he's maybe not coming from any place that I can understand . . . I love that Alma gets stronger and stronger as the series goes on.

And yes, it feels like a real world. You could remove any of the prime movers from the equation, and it would still carry on.

[scripsi]

I agree, Bullock is nice to look at. But he is not very plesant, most of the time.

[chelseagirl]

I just had such a crush on him last time. I do think he's an interestingly complex character, but my heart is Sol's. And Ellsworth's . . . I tend to go awwww a lot, as he tries to do the right thing for Alma. And, disturbingly, Al's.

[trepkos]

It is a brilliant show. Who did Garret Dillahunt play?

[chelseagirl]

First season, he was Jack McCall, the one who shot Wild Bill Hickock. Second season he shows up again as Hearst's agent, Francis Wolcott. As McCall, he had a droopy eye, is clean-shaven and dressed like ; as Wolcott, he's grown in his beard, has shorter hair, and his clothes indicate he is much higher up the social scale.