Deadwood
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—Review
—Photos
—About this Series
—Spiritual Connections
Have you ever wondered why we seem to have so many television shows revolving around law enforcement? Look at some of our top shows: CSI (Las Vegas, Miami), Law & Order (the original, crime and punishment, criminal intent, special victims unit), The Shield, The Wire, NYPD Blue . . . the list goes on and on. One reason is the seemingly endless supply of stories that come from or can be spun from the lives and encounters of police officers. It also betrays our fascination with law and how it works.
Both reasons haunt David Milch. He went from story editor to Executive Producer of Hill Street Blues, was the co-creator of NYPD Blue, created the two short-lived series Brooklyn South and Big Apple, and now finds himself on the opposite side of the law with Deadwood. Don’t get me wrong, Deadwood continues Milch’s fascination with looking at the nature of law and law enforcement, he just does it from a new perspective. The theme that he focuses this show around is “how does society organize itself in the absence of law?�
This show is loosely based on actual events in the Sioux Indian land of Deadwood, South Dakota, during the 1870s -- just after Custer’s ill-fated stand at Little Big Horn and as gold is discovered in the Black Hills. The former camp of Deadwood becomes a boomtown. Those people who grew up on a diet of 1950s and 60s era Westerns will be shocked by this show. David Milch said that he thinks of the show as a “story as set in the West rather than a Western.� And the casual viewer will be assaulted by some harsh language. Often. We’re talking Good Will Hunting plus Menace II Society levels of profanity. Horror writer Gary Braunbeck calls profanity “violence without action,� and never is that more true than on Deadwood. David Milch spent months (some reports say well over a year) doing research for the show, including the level of foul language. Apparently people who visited the real Deadwood left stunned by the language used there.
While mixing in real-life figures such as Wild Bill Hickok (Keith Carradine) and Calamity Jane (Robin Weigert) into the story, the action centers around two main characters: the former law man trying to start his own business, Seth Bullock (Timothy Olyphant), and the corrupt, murderous, scene stealing, saloon owning pimp Al Swearengen (Ian McShane). Think of Al as the Kingpin (from the Daredevil movie) or Falstaff (from Shakespeare’s Henry IV) or Tony Soprano (from The Sopranos) of the Old West. Hypnotic, charismatic, and brutal, he disposes of the bodies of his victims via hungry pigs. A patron of his said it best, “I don’t trust you as far as I could throw you, but I enjoy the way you lie.� Their stories are set to a backdrop of rampant sex, alcoholism, drug use (laudanum--pure opium in alcohol--being the drug of choice for ladies), greed, and racism/fear (because of the omnipresent Indian threat).
All in a state of lawlessness.
The nature of the literal lawlessness of Deadwood came to light during the “trial� of Cock-Eyed Jack McCall after he shot Wild Bill Hickok in the back. It occurred to several prominent citizens, chief among them Al, that no one could appeal to the law in order to settle on a verdict. To do so would invite the Federal government looking at them, annexing the area as a state, which it was not at the time, and possibly seizing property. So instead, the judge ordered the jurors to deliberate according to common custom, in this case, common custom would have been to do a revenge killing.
But we don’t live in a state of lawlessness.
C.S. Lewis, author of The Chronicles of Narnia, makes an argument for a Law of Human Nature, those laws of right and wrong written onto men’s hearts. After all, ethical disputes presuppose some common standard of human decency. But as we look at the people around us, we’re disturbed by how men actually behave versus how they ought to behave. Something in us tells us that there is a standard of behavior that we ought to adhere or at least aspire to. And if there is some kind of code written into each of us, there has to be an Author of that code.
HBO continues its trend of highlighting our fascination with the brooding criminal side of humanity--The Sopranos, The Wire, Oz--perhaps forcing us to face the ugly truth about our natures. Yet, it is in the sewers of mankind’s heart, without the civilized dress that we like to put on to deceive ourselves about who and what we are, that it’s easiest to find God. The seeming absence of Law in Deadwood still points to a Lawgiver. The preacher on the show, at Wild Bill Hickok’s funeral, summed it up this way: “I believe in God’s purpose, not knowing it. I ask Him, moving in Him, to see His will. I ask Him, moving in others, to allow them to see.�
This is a moody, brilliant show, a gritty look at the Old West, that is defined by the depth of its characters.
—Review
—Photos
—About this Series
—Spiritual Connections
Have you ever wondered why we seem to have so many television shows revolving around law enforcement? Look at some of our top shows: CSI (Las Vegas, Miami), Law & Order (the original, crime and punishment, criminal intent, special victims unit), The Shield, The Wire, NYPD Blue . . . the list goes on and on. One reason is the seemingly endless supply of stories that come from or can be spun from the lives and encounters of police officers. It also betrays our fascination with law and how it works.
Both reasons haunt David Milch. He went from story editor to Executive Producer of Hill Street Blues, was the co-creator of NYPD Blue, created the two short-lived series Brooklyn South and Big Apple, and now finds himself on the opposite side of the law with Deadwood. Don’t get me wrong, Deadwood continues Milch’s fascination with looking at the nature of law and law enforcement, he just does it from a new perspective. The theme that he focuses this show around is “how does society organize itself in the absence of law?�
This show is loosely based on actual events in the Sioux Indian land of Deadwood, South Dakota, during the 1870s -- just after Custer’s ill-fated stand at Little Big Horn and as gold is discovered in the Black Hills. The former camp of Deadwood becomes a boomtown. Those people who grew up on a diet of 1950s and 60s era Westerns will be shocked by this show. David Milch said that he thinks of the show as a “story as set in the West rather than a Western.� And the casual viewer will be assaulted by some harsh language. Often. We’re talking Good Will Hunting plus Menace II Society levels of profanity. Horror writer Gary Braunbeck calls profanity “violence without action,� and never is that more true than on Deadwood. David Milch spent months (some reports say well over a year) doing research for the show, including the level of foul language. Apparently people who visited the real Deadwood left stunned by the language used there.
While mixing in real-life figures such as Wild Bill Hickok (Keith Carradine) and Calamity Jane (Robin Weigert) into the story, the action centers around two main characters: the former law man trying to start his own business, Seth Bullock (Timothy Olyphant), and the corrupt, murderous, scene stealing, saloon owning pimp Al Swearengen (Ian McShane). Think of Al as the Kingpin (from the Daredevil movie) or Falstaff (from Shakespeare’s Henry IV) or Tony Soprano (from The Sopranos) of the Old West. Hypnotic, charismatic, and brutal, he disposes of the bodies of his victims via hungry pigs. A patron of his said it best, “I don’t trust you as far as I could throw you, but I enjoy the way you lie.� Their stories are set to a backdrop of rampant sex, alcoholism, drug use (laudanum--pure opium in alcohol--being the drug of choice for ladies), greed, and racism/fear (because of the omnipresent Indian threat).All in a state of lawlessness.
The nature of the literal lawlessness of Deadwood came to light during the “trial� of Cock-Eyed Jack McCall after he shot Wild Bill Hickok in the back. It occurred to several prominent citizens, chief among them Al, that no one could appeal to the law in order to settle on a verdict. To do so would invite the Federal government looking at them, annexing the area as a state, which it was not at the time, and possibly seizing property. So instead, the judge ordered the jurors to deliberate according to common custom, in this case, common custom would have been to do a revenge killing.
But we don’t live in a state of lawlessness.
C.S. Lewis, author of The Chronicles of Narnia, makes an argument for a Law of Human Nature, those laws of right and wrong written onto men’s hearts. After all, ethical disputes presuppose some common standard of human decency. But as we look at the people around us, we’re disturbed by how men actually behave versus how they ought to behave. Something in us tells us that there is a standard of behavior that we ought to adhere or at least aspire to. And if there is some kind of code written into each of us, there has to be an Author of that code.
HBO continues its trend of highlighting our fascination with the brooding criminal side of humanity--The Sopranos, The Wire, Oz--perhaps forcing us to face the ugly truth about our natures. Yet, it is in the sewers of mankind’s heart, without the civilized dress that we like to put on to deceive ourselves about who and what we are, that it’s easiest to find God. The seeming absence of Law in Deadwood still points to a Lawgiver. The preacher on the show, at Wild Bill Hickok’s funeral, summed it up this way: “I believe in God’s purpose, not knowing it. I ask Him, moving in Him, to see His will. I ask Him, moving in others, to allow them to see.�
This is a moody, brilliant show, a gritty look at the Old West, that is defined by the depth of its characters.
11 Comments:
Check your history! Both Seth Bullock and Al Swearengen were real people, not fictional characters. Most of the characters of Deadwood were real people. Sol Star, Preacher Smith, Charlie Utter, E.B Farnum were all real and in the Deadwood settlement at the time period the series is based.
Al Swearengen - what a name!
Sounds like a good series... Haven't seen it. Does sound a bit violent to be on earlier evening TV (in Britain, certainly!)
Interesting to know it's about historical characters...
BUT AS for the current American entertainment industry's OBSESSION - with Law and Order figures, NOT just "cop" shows, not private eyes (after all, they're private!), but with PROSECUTORS, all sorts of various guards and officers and the whole PARAPHERNALIA of the state...
YOU SHOULD read what David Walsh and so on have to say at www.wsws.org, about it!!
Basically it's just a reflection of the current fascism of our society, isn't it... Or rather, that promoted by our masters!!
It's "DA MAN", Maurice!!
here's a link to my csi review
http://www.hollywoodjesus.com/comments/maurice/2004/11/csi.html
Thanks, Maurice, for a great review. I'm a pastor in Dallas, TX, and my wife are catching up on Deadwood. My guess is that all the "fuck this" and "cocksucker that" is likely problematic for many, but I've not seen a show in many years that more adeptly explores our human tendencies and what St. Paul rightly calls our "groping after God".
Keep reviewing.
Steve
I visited Deadwood in 1998 and never heard any foul language from any of the locals. Even spent a couple of evenings drinking in the #10 saloon and never once heard one 'Fuck' or 'Cocksucker'. Do you think they really used profanities like that in the nineteenth century, or is this just the modern film makers way of degrading history?
They would have used cuss words but not to the extent that this series would have you believe. That is just the film producers way of trying a fresh approach to pull in viewers. Personally I liken that to bad Comedians feebly resorting to dirty jokes to try and get a laugh. There are 'modern' westerns, like for instance 'Dead Man' with Johnny Depp, that didn't need swearing to make them great! I hear foul language all day at work, and I can match the best of them. However I object strongly to that sort of language coming into my family home via the TV.
if you had visited deadwood in 1898, the story might have been different for you. letters from the times spoke of the level of profanity in the town. apparently it was legendary. i believe the writers are trying to be as true to the era as possible. i'm sure some modern substitutions have been made.
unforgiven was also one of the best westerns ever made. i don't see this as some sort of hook to draw in viewers. profanity is no draw. the quality of writing on shows like the sopranos or deadwood, and the superb acting, is the draw.
bad writing, with profanity, (just like bad comedians who use profanity as a crutch) are quickly seen through.
luckily, we have remote controls and we don't have to watch anything that we find objectionable. unless we're just cruising aroung looking for stuff to object to.
I agree it is a good production but just feel that it would still have been more enjoyable without the continual bombardment of profanities. Why the need? Maybe they did swear continually in those days, although I doubt it. I guess I hear so much swearing at work that personally it bores me now! Also where is the line to be drawn? Some people will say Pornography should be allowed on TV! If television companies keep taking steps down then that will soon come about.Maybe I can use the remote to switch channels but I cant always be sure my kids aren't tuning in if I'm not around. I am all for freedom but personally I think TV programmes should be censored and those that want uncensored material should buy the dvd's.
it's a fine line. let me give you an example from writing. as a writer, i want my dialogue to ring as true as possible. however, i can't write exactly as i hear people speak. i hang around folks who cuss a lot. if i wrote as they spoke, every other words would be a profanity of some sort. that's tough to read (or write).
you don't need a lot of profanity to convey truthful dialogue or define a character. though, some writers can use profanity well (david mamet in glengarry glen ross. or the level of profanity in good will hunting). but a friend of mine, gary braunbeck, defines profanity as "violence without action".
here (in America), those that want uncensored material have to pay for it. cable isn't free and cable is the only way that the program is available. on top of that, i have to pay extra for hbo, where deadwood is aired.
i don't have hbo anymore. mostly because i realized i only had it to watch a few series (deadwood being one of them) and it was more cost effective to (as you said) buy the dvds when they come out.
Thanks Maurice. I live in London and it's similar here in that we have to pay for cable or satellite TV. Also we have an annual TV licence as well so it does get quite costly. Your friend sums up profanity very well, it is indeed 'Violence without action'.
Hope you dont think my previous comments too negative but I am a great lover of all things 'western' and hate to see the seedier side of life that I know well enough from living in London all my life, being filtered into the history that I love. I guess Westerns were always a way of escaping from reality for me!
Ian Mcshane starred here in a series called 'Lovejoy' and to be honest he is a bit typecast by that over here. It was a pretty poor series and I never heard any good comments on his acting abilities! However having watched Deadwood I must admit that he has improved immensely. I just dont feel he will ever replace Clint Eastwood or John Wayne in my book of classic western film actors. I know we have to go forward and films get more and more real but there are still people like Kevin Costner making fantastic westerns like 'Wyatt Earp'which was also well researched (and no profanities either!) Regards.
Did they really use that much foul language in the Old West? This is a little fictional and a little factual. From our understanding, they did use bad language back then and lots of it. Especially in the mining camps that were mostly filled with rowdy men and rough characters. However, it was most likely not the words that you hear on the show, or at least not nearly as often. In those days, such words as crap, shit, damn, and bitch were considered to be very foul language. Today, these words are used in every day common language and we hear them all the time, usually taking little offense. Therefore, the show uses the "worst" words (of today) in order to get the point across.
(This was a reference found on a Deadwood history site.)
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