Deadwood: The Complete Series

First, I'd like to say that I don't spend my time writing reviews about anything... unless I feel pretty dad-burned strongly about it. Also- I try to be fair, even if I don't particularly like something. I mean, I can see that there's surely others who wouldn't agree... or may just have different 'tastes', than I.About "Deadwood".... If you have ANY interests in history... or 'the Old West', or 'the Wild West'... like it REALLY was, then you should keep reading. As a kid, all the way up to now (in my 50's), I never particularly liked Westerns. But in the last few years, I've developed a strong liking for the ones that were 'well done'. Like- the only John Wayne film I really kinda liked, was "The Shootist". Of course, the newer 'classics' like "Dances with Wolves", "Tombstone", and even "Silverado", I've enjoyed... and I consider worthy of my v-library.I had heard about "Deadwood" running on HBO, some time back... but wasn't an HBO subscriber, and never got a chance to watch it, until- DirecTv's exclusice "101" channel began running it... and in HI-DEF, too! (And yes... it WAS filmed in Hi-Def... not just a conversion). So, I was fortunate enough to be able to start with the first episode of season one.Ya know... at first, I suppose like a lot of people, I found it a little hard to follow the language (as in syntax)... as if, most of the verbiage seemed like it came out of a 'Victorian-era' book. However- there's a reason for that... and it's a good one. That's the way most people actually spoke back then... those who could read... that's what was available. And let's face it... entertainment 'HAS' evolved quite a bit in the last 125 years, or so. Also, in the 'bonus DVDs', there's an entire chapter about the speech... as well as the cussing (which is in great abundance!!!!!!)(I don't see how "Deadwood" could ever be edited or overdubbed for television, and still make sense, as well as be longer than three minutes per episode). But- that's a GOOD thing. Remember- we're talking about 'realism'... the way it really was... NOT the way the history books and Hollywood would have us all think.The next thing you need to know is- 'most' of the characters, were REAL-LIFE people. Seth Bullock, Wild Bill Hickock, Calamity Jane, Charlie Utter, Al Swearengen... these were all real people. Actors, some of whom you'll recognize, and some you may not... but they just can't be any better! Ian McShane; Brad Dourif; Powers Booth; Keith Carradine; W. Earl Brown... and so many others... Damn! They're perfect! And David Milch tries to follow the major (known) historical events, as much as possible. Also... this show was not written in advance, then the script run past countless studio executives, for them to P__ in, 'til they like the flavor... then rewritten several more times... no! David Milch and the writting staff wrote everything, usually the same day they shot it... and they improvise a great deal, often writing additional material because of something one of the actors may have done or said, yet still staying pretty dad-burned close to historical fact.The set- wOw! Several blocks built just for this show... and researched incredibly well, so that you see exactly what you would see in old photographs of the period and location. It was a filthy era to live in, with little if any sanitation... and the show reflects that, as well. P**-pots, and everything else, back then, was routinely just thrown out into the street... so, there'd be a near constant mud, made from animal and human waste, trash, you name it... it was probably in there. Even the building materials are authentic... the same type, color, contruction styles (like wooden pegs)... just the way it really was (not some cleaned-up Hollywood executive's idea of how it should have been).The casting... absolutely top-notch... as is the acting... the effects... the blood, gore, and guts... animals slaughtered... hell, people slaughtered, and fed to the pigs. You have authenticity in the hotel, brothels and saloons... the alcohol and drug use... and you very quickly find yourself relating to the characters... even, the 'bad guys', you kinda find yourself becoming attached to... and as the story evolves, you may even find yourself beginning to relate to them as well... seeing everyone as humans, with their good, and bad points. As one actor put it "There are no black or white hats... everyone where's a different shade of gray".I quickly found myself not only looking forward to the next episode, but since 'Lost' is likely in it's last season... or at least, spacing nearly a year between seasons has made me loose interest (being tired of waiting, and being at the whim of those in charge)... anyway- "Deadwood" is my new 'favorite show'. So much so, that I simply could not wait for my weekly 'Deadwood-fixes'... I bought 'The Complete Series' for myself, for Xmas... so I don't have to wait, and so I can review any parts I wish.Yep! All three seasons, plus four bonus-feature DVDs are included in the set. One has the creater/producer/director/writer David Milch taking us on a tour of 'Deadwood', and describing the 'conclusion' of the series... as if HBO (in it's infinite wisdom) hadn't cancelled the show (sure wasn't for lack of ratings).... anyway- how Milch sees how the fourth season, had there been one, would have likely gone.This is one of those few shows/films that you can watch over and over and over... and over again... some mo... and still continue to find new things that you missed before... either in the words/script... or acting/actors' performances... scenery/set... or even the extras. I can't say enough good s**** about 'Deadwood' (Ha! you though I was gonna say S***, when I was really gonna say 'Stuff').This has got to be the very best Western, ever! 'Authentic' should be in the title, somewhere!!! I suppose the only warning I'd give.... don;t let your kids watch or listen to it... 'cause the veriage 'taint what I'd call 'polite'... albeit very good, funny, and accurate for the time. You may find yourself asking why every-other word seems to be MF, and CS, and everything else in and out of the book... again- this is not your Hollywood version... this is the way it really was (check the bonus DVDs for more info on that.Buy it! Buy it NOW. The whole #$%&(*) complete set! If you just buy one season... you'll be sorry!

Deadwood is another brilliant and enthralling series that HBO knocked out of the park. The kind of programming that pretty much only it and AMC have on right now. This show is crude, offensive, shocking, sensitive, endearing, hurtful, and amazing all at once. With the power struggle that happens between the three main powers of the show, and after watching Game of Thrones, it will show like comparison to the underlying story. Different factions, all trying for power positions in the world. The world in this case, being Deadwood, SD during the Panhandling Gold Rush. The casting in this show is bar none, and the performances given by many characters, high and low on the totem pole, are absolutely stunning. Ian Mcshane makes one of the most stern, honest, brutal, yet somehow likeable characters in any show I have watched, film or TV. Timothy Olyphant, wooden walk and all, makes a great bid in his role and performs it well, but a lot of the background characters reall push this to excellence. There are so many actors in here, odds are you will not know all the names without looking, but it is fun watching this with friends and seeing them say, "Hey there's Lassie from Monk, Bobby from Supernatural, Wormtongue from Lord of the Rings, JF Sebastian from Blade Runner!" Whomever was in charge of and actually secured all this talent onto one show should be given a raise.While not a show for kids at all, and completely unrepentant, it will hit every nerve and facet of Old West living. From the huge amounts of swearing, alcohol, drugs, prostitution, murder, robbery... it is all there and in your face non stop. Some I have discussed with found it even TOO much for them to handle and distracted them from enjoying the show. I think you have to put past our modern day thinking and realise the time set we are watching and how they spoke, and you will get much more out of it. They did a lot of fact checking and include many historical figures, places, events, and information that also begs the watcher to invest themselves more into the world and look into them. I grew up in South Dakota not far from Deadwood so it was not new to me, but knowing the material and information only increased my enjoyment of the series as I watched, as I could relate to what was being presented on screen.The complete series set was purchased for just over $65 during the Gold Box Sale and is worth every penny. The packaging it comes in is simple and elegant, with a nice framing, thick cover box. Inside, the whole series is bound into a facsimile book with a disc in every turn of the pages, each of those featuring a character, picture, and quote. Some are quite humorous. It takes up less space than one season of Game of Thrones, looks sleek, and makes getting the discs in and out a breeze. All in all, if you can get used to the lingo anf lifestyle of Deadwood, you will have a heck of a ride through this series, now saddle up!