"Deadwood" is an American Western television series set in the 1870s in Deadwood, South Dakota, before and after the area's annexation by the Dakota Territory. The show charts Deadwood's growth from a lawless camp to a town, attracting people seeking fortune after a significant gold strike and those looking to exploit the lack of organized law. Created, produced, and largely written by David Milch, the series premiered on HBO on March 21, 2004, and concluded on August 27, 2006. The series is known for its gritty realism, violence, profanity, and a blend of historical and fictional events.
The series features a large ensemble cast:
- Timothy Olyphant as Seth Bullock
- Ian McShane as Al Swearengen
- Molly Parker as Alma Garret
- Jim Beaver as Whitney Ellsworth
- Brad Dourif as Doc Cochran
- John Hawkes as Sol Star
- Paula Malcomson as Trixie
- Leon Rippy as Tom Nuttall
- William Sanderson as E.B. Farnum
- Robin Weigert as Calamity Jane
- W. Earl Brown as Dan Dority
- Dayton Callie as Charlie Utter
- Keith Carradine as Wild Bill Hickok
- Powers Boothe as Cy Tolliver
- Kim Dickens as Joanie Stubbs
- Anna Gunn as Martha Bullock
- Jeffrey Jones as A.W. Merrick
- Sean Bridgers as Johnny Burns
- Titus Welliver as Silas Adams
"Deadwood" received critical acclaim, particularly for David Milch's writing and Ian McShane's performance. It is widely regarded as one of the greatest television shows of all time.
- Rotten Tomatoes: The series has an average Tomatometer score of 92% and an average audience score of 95%. Season 1 has a Tomatometer score of 85%, Season 2 has 96%, and Season 3 has 95%.
- Awards: The show won eight Emmy Awards and one Golden Globe. Ian McShane won the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Television Drama Series in 2005.
TV Guide ranked "Deadwood" #8 on its 2013 list of 60 shows that were "Cancelled Too Soon". The Writers Guild of America ranked it #32 on their list of the 101 Best Written TV Series.
"Deadwood" consists of 3 seasons with a total of 36 episodes. The show aired from March 21, 2004, to August 27, 2006. The series concluded with "Deadwood: The Movie," which premiered on HBO on May 31, 2019.
While an official trailer for the entire series isn't readily available, here's a trailer for the 2019 movie continuation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9qQ5-fL8Qs
Viewers who enjoyed "Deadwood" might also like:
- Hell on Wheels: A series set in a similar time period that follows a former Confederate cavalry colonel seeking revenge during the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad.
- Godless: A Netflix miniseries about an outlaw on the run who seeks refuge in a town primarily inhabited by women. Themes include defending an enclave from sinister forces.
