Deadwood lately. I know, lame. I'm like, 15 years late on that train. This show has been on my "I'll get to it someday" list since it's release and while I didn't have HBO back then, I've had plenty of opportunities over the years to actually sit down with it but I guess it was never the right time. Well, now is the right time.
I've binged the whole of season one over the past week and am now three episodes deep into season two and typically am completely head over heels in love with the show. I've always loved the genre and this one really captures it for me. Costuming and set design and the muck and the endless shots of whiskey. The camp becoming a town and the absolute misery that life must have been for anyone who didn't have an income or status or family. Oh, and the language of course. Everyone knows about the language. Which, I must admit, even took me, an unashamed user of colorful expressions on the regular, for a pause. It really is quite jarring for the first episode or two. And then it becomes poetry. Milch is a genius. I was a huge fan of NYPD Blue for the first couple of seasons and interestingly or coincidentally I was watching that series right before I started Deadwood on a whim.
So, as I've been doing lately with shows/movies I watch, I have to find an accompanying podcast. Since this is such an old show, there's not a whole lot out there, but I did find a few:
the Real Deadwood Podcast is an early one and while not really a great dive into the episodes or much on the actual show as a piece of entertainment, it is kinda cute and a fun listen by an actual resident of Deadwood who combines show info and interviews with a history dive and current news and info about the town.
I tried another one: Hooplecast, which I found a bit tiring. The episodes were three times as long as the show and too many contributors with poor production values. Took forever to get around to the episode.
I think I found my go to though tonight with Hoopleheads. With only two guys who are strictly talking about the themes and the episode, we have a winner.
One of my favorite characters on the show besides the obvious is John Hawkes who plays the real-life Sol Star. His performance as the friend and partner to Seth Bullock is perfect. Sympathetic and our everyman. A guy (a persecuted jew no less) simply trying to make his way without violence.
SPOILER>>> The moment he grabs a gun and rushes out to back Bullock is great and awkward and when he was shot, I practically threw my phone at the tv.<<
Hawkes has a band called King Straggler and their song called "Good Man" I thought particularly nice. New fan.
So, HUGE new fan. I'll be consuming the next 21 episodes as fast as I can. Plus, I'm lucky enough not to have to wait ten years for the movie. So excited.
