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Deadwood Supreme *****
You know I loved the first season of HBOs Deadwood. I wasn't sure at first -- the issue of language anachronisms got in my way -- but by the end, I was in love with the whole production, and in complete awe of the the writing. The character development over the course of that season was masterful.
I still can't figure out how they made me like Al Schwearengen (Ian McShane) -- the profane, murderous, greedy alpha dog of the small mining camp. The masterstroke is this: Al is far more self aware than his counterpart, the virtuous, straight arrow but conflicted and cynical Seth Bullock. Al is who he is, and makes no apologies or excuses; Seth (played by Timothy Oliphant) can't live with himself because he's in love with one woman and married to another.
The second season starts with a long-overdue confrontation between these two, a fist fight of monumental proportions. Rarely do you see (on any screen, small or large) men looking as truly beat up as these two afterwards. It all starts because the outside world is making itself felt in a way that frightens Al, and so he provokes Seth into a fight with a few well chosen words. This episode was perfectly timed from beginning to the end, and so densely packed that I watched it three times before I felt I really caught every nuance.
They aren't going to fix the language anachronisms, but I am so fascinated with the whole enterprise, I'm willing to overlook that. I don't watch a huge amount of tv, but this is now, officially, my favorite program still in production. The rest of my current favorites, not in order: Huff (Showtime), CarnivĂ le (HBO), Dead Like Me (Showtime), The Sopranos (HBO), The Wire (HBO), Battlstar Galactica (SciFi).
What if We Went to Italy from the album "A Place in the World" by Mary Chapin Carpenter
March 13, 2005 12:39 PM
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Comments
I just said to my husband: "We forgot something this weekend." Inquiring look in response. "Battlestar." "Awrgh!"
How pathetic - we missed it even though we get two chances to watch on Space each weekend. So good.
Posted by: Pam at March 13, 2005 05:42 PM
I absolutely LOVe this show, both my husband and i watch it every Sunday. I have found that if i do not get it all in two watchings that i just go over the the HBO site and they give a very detailed synopsis of their shows.
My husband painfully watched the show, this past Sunday (March 20th). I thought the poor guy was gonna' pass out... they really do a great job in making it all look real. *G*
It is very interesting to see where the characters are going... some that i liked in the begining, i am getting a bit fed up with and the ones that i could barely stand, i am seeing a more human side to them... very good character play... Trixie, is doing a LOT of mumbling this year...
Next week is Carnival's last for the season...
Posted by: joanna at March 23, 2005 01:35 PM