Deadwood is an American Western television series that aired on the premium cable network HBO from March 21, 2004, to August 27, 2006. The series is set in the 1870s in Deadwood, South Dakota, before and after the area's annexation by the Dakota Territory, and charts Deadwood's growth from camp to town. The show was created, produced, and largely written by David Milch. Deadwood features a large ensemble cast headed by Timothy Olyphant and Ian McShane, playing the real-life Deadwood residents Seth Bullock and Al Swearengen, respectively. Many other historical figures appear as characters, including George Crook, Wyatt Earp, E. B. Farnum, George Hearst, Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane, Sol Star, A. W. Merrick, Jack McCall, and Charlie Utter. The plot lines involving these characters include historical truths as well as fictional elements. Milch used actual diaries and newspapers from 1870s Deadwood residents as reference points for characters, events, and the look and feel of the show.
Deadwood received critical acclaim, particularly for Milch's writing and McShane's performance, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest television shows of all time. It also won eight Emmy Awards (in 28 nominations) and one Golden Globe. TV Guide ranked it #8 on its 2013 list of 60 shows that were "Cancelled Too Soon", while the Writers Guild of America ranked it #32 on their list of the 101 Best Written TV Series. The show was produced by Red Board Productions and Roscoe Productions in association with HBO and Paramount Network Television.
After several years of discussion and pre-production, Deadwood: The Movie began filming in October 2018. The film is set ten years after the end of the third season and premiered on HBO on May 31, 2019.
Cast
Main cast Actor Character Based on Profession Timothy Olyphant Seth Bullock Seth Bullock Sheriff/co-owner of Star & Bullock Hardware Ian McShane Al Swearengen Al Swearengen Owner of The Gem Saloon Molly Parker Alma Garret Widow of claim seeker, later married to Ellsworth Jim Beaver Whitney Ellsworth Prospector/husband to Alma Garret Brad Dourif Dr. Amos "Doc" Cochran Composite of several Deadwood physicians, including Lyman F. Babcock and F.S. Howe Physician John Hawkes Sol Star Sol Star Co-owner of Star & Bullock Hardware Paula Malcomson Trixie Based on a number of "Tricksies" who were prostitutes at The Gem Prostitute Leon Rippy Tom Nuttall Billy Nuttall Owner of Nuttall's #10 Saloon William Sanderson E. B. Farnum E. B. Farnum Owner of The Grand Central Hotel Robin Weigert Calamity Jane Calamity Jane Friend of Hickok/scout W. Earl Brown Dan Dority Dan Doherty Gem Saloon worker Dayton Callie Charlie Utter Charlie Utter Friend of Hickok/deputy to Sheriff Bullock Keith Carradine Wild Bill Hickok Wild Bill Hickok Famed pistoleer Powers Boothe Cy Tolliver Tom Miller Owner of The Bella Union Kim Dickens Joanie Stubbs Loosely based on Dora DuFran Former hostess of The Bella Union/owner of The Chez Amis Anna Gunn Martha Bullock Martha Bullock Wife of Seth, mother of William Jeffrey Jones A. W. Merrick A. W. Merrick Editor of The Deadwood Pioneer Sean Bridgers Johnny Burns Johnny Burns Gem Saloon worker Titus Welliver Silas Adams Emissary of Magistrate Clagett turned crony of Al Swearengen Bree Seanna Wall Sofia Metz Adopted daughter of Alma; sole survivor of an attack on her family Josh Eriksson William Bullock Loosely based on Douglas Kislingbury Stepson of Seth; biological son of Robert and Martha Bullock Garret Dillahunt Francis Wolcott L. D. Kellogg Geologist for George Hearst Brent Sexton Harry Manning John J. Manning Barman at Nuttall's #10 Saloon Supporting cast Actor Character Based on Profession Geri Jewell Jewel Caulfield Disabled cleaning woman at the Gem Franklyn Ajaye Samuel Fields Samuel Fields Self-proclaimed "Nigger General" Keone Young Mr. Wu Wong Fee LeeEdith C. Wong, "Deadwood's Pioneer Merchant: Wong Fee Lee and his Wing Tsue Bazaar", South Dakota History Vol. 39 Issue 4, 2009 Leader of the Chinese population; owns a pig pen and laundry Peter Jason Con Stapleton Con Stapleton Worker for Cy Tolliver Cleo King Aunt Lou Lucretia Marchbanks Hearst's personal cook Gerald McRaney George Hearst George Hearst California businessman and prospector Recurring cast Actor Character Based on Profession Timothy Omundson Brom Garret Alma's husband and claim seeker Garret Dillahunt Jack McCall Jack McCall Murderer of Wild Bill Hickok Ray McKinnon Reverend Smith Henry Weston Smith Minister of Deadwood Ricky Jay Eddie Sawyer Card shark employed at The Bella Union Larry Cedar Leon Worker for Cy Tolliver Zach Grenier Andy Cramed Andy Cramed Gambler who brought smallpox to Deadwood, later minister Ralph Richeson Pete Richardson Cook at the Grand Central Alice Krige Maddie Madam of the Chez Amis Sarah Paulson Miss Isringhausen Tutor to Sofia/Pinkerton agent Monty "Hawkeye" Henson Hawkeye Assistant to Silas Adams Stephen Tobolowsky Commissioner Jarry Hugh McCaffrey Commissioner for Lawrence County, Dakota Territory Pasha Lychnikoff Blazanov Operator of Deadwood's telegraph service Richard Gant Hostetler Livery owner Michael Harney Steve Fields Takes over livery stable when Hostetler leaves camp Allan Graf Captain Joe Turner Enforcer for Hearst Brian Cox Jack Langrishe Jack Langrishe Stage promoter Jennifer Lutheran Jen Gem prostitute and special friend of Johnny Burns Guest cast Actor Character Based on Profession Gale Harold Wyatt Earp Wyatt Earp Legendary Western lawman Austin Nichols Morgan Earp Morgan Earp Legendary Western lawman Omar Gooding Odell Son of Aunt Lou
Production The first book that the show's creator, David Milch, purchased as research for the series was Deadwood: The Golden Years by Watson Parker, a historian who specialized in the history of the Black Hills. Milch and his colleagues later bought many of Parker's books and papers as references for Deadwood.
Writing Themes Milch has pointed out repeatedly in interviews that the intent of the show was to study the way that civilization comes together from chaos by organizing itself around symbols (in Deadwood the main symbol is gold). Initially, he intended to study this within Roman civilization (the central symbol was to be the religious cross), but HBO's Rome series was already in development, and Milch was asked by the network if he could stage the story in another place. Although the series touches on a variety of issues including race, prostitution, violence, alcohol, politics, and immigration, most of the major story lines are grounded in the issue of bringing order from chaos.
Use of profanity From its debut, Deadwood drew attention for its extensive profanity. The historical accuracy and dramatic intent of its use of obscenities has been the subject of controversy and discussion. The word "fuck" is said 43 times in the first hour of the show. It has been reported that the series had a total count of 2,980 "fucks" and an average of 1.56 utterances of "fuck" per minute of footage.
Plot
Season 1 (2004)
The first season takes place in 1876, six months after the founding of the camp, soon after Custer's Last Stand. Seth Bullock leaves his job as a marshal in Montana to establish a hardware business in the gold-mining camp of Deadwood, along with his friend and business partner, Sol Star. Wild Bill Hickok, the infamous gunslinger of the west, is on a separate journey to Deadwood, accompanied by Charlie Utter and Calamity Jane. Al Swearengen is the owner of The Gem, a local saloon and brothel. Other notable residents include Dr. Amos Cochran, A. W. Merrick, owner and editor of the local newspaper "The Pioneer", and E. B. Farnum, proprietor of The Grand Central Hotel.
Bullock encounters a man of an unknown name, who claims that Indians had killed an immigrant family along the road, and he and Hickok along with others ride out to investigate. Swearengen at his saloon offers bounties for Indian scalps, in apparent revenge for the murders, and discounts on booze and women. Bullock and Hickok investigate and find the wagon turned over and all but one of the immigrant family killed. Before sunrise they confront the unknown man and point to holes in his story, saying the raid appeared to be a setup by whites. When he draws his weapon both men draw in defense, and Hickok's bullet kills him. Swearengen wakes to hear of these new events as told by Farnum, and is particularly unhappy hearing that one of the immigrant party survived, suspecting that his road agents may have been responsible for the raid.
Brom Garret, a wealthy businessman from New York City, lives at The Grand Central Hotel with his wife, Alma, who nurses a secret laudanum habit. Aware that Garret is interested in prospecting, Swearengen and Farnum deceive him into purchasing a gold claim in a confidence game. Newly arrived Cy Tolliver and his entourage purchase an abandoned hotel across from The Gem and begin renovations, then open the Bella Union Saloon, a luxurious gambling house and brothel. Brom Garret soon learns that his gold claim is worthless and demands Swearengen reimburse his money. Swearengen orders Dan Dority to kill Garret and "make it look like an accident." Dority throws Garret off a cliff, only to discover that the claim is actually a rich one after all. Newly widowed Alma Garret asks Wild Bill Hickok for guidance regarding the gold claim and Swearengen's renewed interest. Hickok asks Bullock to advise Garret; Bullock agrees. Bullock suggests that Garret hire Whitney Ellsworth, a trustworthy and experienced prospector. Alma Garret takes custody of young Norwegian speaking Sofia Metz, whose family was murdered on the way back to Minnesota.
During a poker game, Wild Bill Hickok is murdered by Jack McCall in Tom Nuttall's #10 Saloon. When McCall is put on trial, Swearengen leans on the acting magistrate, suggesting that McCall must be acquitted to avoid scrutiny from Washington, D.C. The judge cuts the trial short and the jury acquits McCall, who leaves town immediately after the verdict. Bullock pursues McCall, determined to bring him to justice. Bullock and Charlie Utter later find McCall hiding at a boarding house and take him to Yankton for trial.
Smallpox spreads in Deadwood, creating an urgent need for vaccines. The afflicted are segregated from the main camp in plague tents. Calamity Jane aids Doctor Cochran in caring for the sick.
The senior members of the community form a municipal government to prepare for future annexation, as well as to bribe the territorial legislature, thereby ensuring the security of existing titles, claims and properties. Swearengen bribes local magistrate Clagett to quash a murder warrant.
Alma's father Otis Russell arrives with plans to secure Alma's new-found wealth in order to pay off his endless debts and fulfill his own greed. The U.S. army arrives in Deadwood and a parade is organized. Bullock confronts a self-confident Otis Russell in The Bella Union. When Russell threatens the safety of his own daughter should Bullock stand in the way of his acquiring the gold claim, Seth unceremoniously beats him and orders Russell to leave the camp.
The increasingly addled Reverend Smith, dying from an apparent brain tumor, is smothered to death by Al Swearengen in a mercy killing. Tolliver attempts to bribe General Crook to leave a garrison in Deadwood but is indignantly refused. When Magistrate Clagett attempts to extort Swearengen further over the murder warrant, Swearengen responds by enlisting Clagett's "toll collector", Silas Adams, to murder Clagett. Silas performs the deed and allies himself with Swearengen, becoming his agent. As Sheriff Con Stapleton has been compromised by Cy Tolliver, Bullock volunteers to become the new sheriff as the cavalry rides out of town.
Season 2 (2005)
Season two begins in 1877, seven months after the events of season 1, and the camp has become somewhat more orderly and civilized.