Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
If you were keen enough to check out all three excellent seasons of David Milch’s Deadwood at HBO, then you already know that the following opinion is wholly justified.
The original series, which spanned 36 episodes, ended on a high note and featured some of television’s most memorable characters. The acting, along with the show’s true-to-life stories, made for highly entertaining television, even for viewers who don’t necessarily like Western dramas.
First, let’s talk about Al Swearengen. Played by Ian McShane, the ruthless pimp and Gem Theater owner was the show’s most entertaining character and arguably McShane’s most iconic role. His uninviting edge and harsh business tactics kept the entire town on edge throughout the series and provided for some intense situations and character interactions.
One character that Swearengen seemed to have a love/hate relationship for is Timothy Olyphant’s Seth Bullock, the small town’s sheriff and co-owner of Star & Bullock Hardware. The motivated Bullock ruled with a stern and aggressive manner, mostly putting Swearengen in his place but also often cleaning up his mess.
The latest update on a potential movie spinoff is that Milch has turned in a script that HBO programming boss Casey Bloys says “is terrific.” The network is in the process of getting the cast together and finalizing the budget before giving the project an official green light. The film, if ordered, would focus on the real-life event of the town burning to the ground as Swearengen flees by barge.
The series was a true Milch masterpiece and we have nothing but high hopes for a continuation of the project in any capacity. McShane, who originally broke the news, seems excited at the prospect so it’s a no-brainer that HBO should revive the project. As we await further updates, feel free to binge all 36 episodes via HBO Go, whether you’ve already watched them or not.
Michael is a music and television junkie keen on most things that are not a complete and total bore. You can follow him on Twitter — @Tweetskoor
