Now that we know Deadwood is officially coming back to its home, HBO, in the form of a film, it’s time to rejoice. Deadwood remains one of the finest programs that HBO has ever produced — from its lofty, period production values, to its thrilling characterizations of good and evil, to the violent outbursts punctuating the profane dialogue, it became one of the grandest shows on TV before its run was cut short after only three seasons.
But, what should we expect from the film? It remains to be seen if all the characters are returning — it’s probably safe to say that Al Swearengen (Ian McShane) and Seth Bullock (Timothy Olyphant) will be back — but creator David Milch has released few details about the return. While we don’t know the specifics of this new iteration of the series, we do know the reasons why we love the show. Here’s why we should be excited that Deadwood (which you can catch up with on HBO Now) is coming back for one last run.
More Al Swearengen
The villains get to have all of the fun, but Al Swearengen is more than just a nasty denizen of Deadwood. Sure, he may have killed his fair share of people, including innocent prostitutes and shady politicians, over the course of the run, but Swearengen is one of the true gems of the series. From his ability to let cocksuckers fly with the grace of an Olympic gymnast, to his proficiency in politics and knife-wielding, Swearengen is likely the reason many viewers of the HBO show came back for seconds. McShane gave fans one of the truly great characters in contemporary television, and just to have him back in the saddle as Swearengen is worth the price of admission for a Deadwood film.
More Seth Bullock
If Al is the cesspool in the camp of Deadwood, Seth Bullock (Timothy Olyphant) is the cleansing mineral bath — the two men are the antithesis of each other. Where Swearengen was conniving and grotesque, Bullock was honest, and appropriately heroic. The yin and yang of their relationship — which, at times, hinges on similar motivations — is one of the driving forces in the Deadwood narrative. The two men have seen their interactions range from pleasant to violent and Bullock’s journey from lawman to retail salesman back to lawman is one of the highlights of Deadwood.
More Swearing
Cussing isn’t the primary reason to watch Deadwood, but it’s fascinating to see a show let such volatile profanity into our living rooms. But the appeal of the dialogue has as much to do with its eloquence as its f-bombs. One of the most endearing aspects of Deadwood is the language, and not just because a f*ck or prick entered our eardrums every two minutes — hearing Swearengen and Bullock wax poetically in the most passive-aggressive manner is downright musical, but also unnerving. In Deadwood, words are weapons.
More Politicking
When asked about the content of Deadwood, I liken it to if The West Wing were set in the 19th century, had an assortment of cusses added to its repertoire, and every character was allowed to walk around with a loaded weapon. Also — murder. Lots of murder. It’s very much character based; the motivations, wants, and needs of each individual clash in a mining town-sandbox. It makes for riveting television, and the experience of watching it requires paying close attention to the deals and backend finagling as the characters make power plays to increase their standing. Like a highly skilled chess match, the joy of watching the show comes in going back and seeing the endgames materialize early in the game.
