Deadwood: Season 1

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 26 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 169 Ratings

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9.1

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9.1	User Score Universal acclaim based on 169 Ratings

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Deadwood

Now Playing: Deadwood

Season Details & Credits

HBO | Season Premiere Date: March 21, 2004

Starring: Dayton Callie, Paula Malcomson, Garret Dillahunt

Summary: In an age of plunder and greed, the richest gold strike in American History draws a throng of restless misfits to an outlaw settlement where everything - and everyone - has a price. Welcome to Deadwood...a hell of a place to make your fortune. From Executive Producer David Milch ("NYPD Blue") comes DEADWOOD, a new drama series that focusesIn an age of plunder and greed, the richest gold strike in American History draws a throng of restless misfits to an outlaw settlement where everything - and everyone - has a price. Welcome to Deadwood...a hell of a place to make your fortune. From Executive Producer David Milch ("NYPD Blue") comes DEADWOOD, a new drama series that focuses on the birth of an American frontier town and the ruthless power struggle that exists in its lawless boundaries. The story begins two weeks after Custer's defeat at Little Bighorn, combining fictional and real-life characters and events in an epic morality tale. Located in the Black Hills Indian Cession, the "town" of Deadwood is an illegal settlement, a violent and uncivilized outpost that attracts a colorful array of characters looking to get rich - from outlaws and entrepreneurs to ex-soldiers and racketeers, Chinese laborers, prostitutes, city dudes and gunfighters. … Expand

Creator: David Milch

Genre(s): Drama, Action & Adventure, Suspense

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Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E12. Sold Under Sin
Air Date: June 13, 2004
tbd
S1:E11. Jewel's Boot Is Made For Walking
Air Date: June 6, 2004
tbd
S1:E10. Mister Wu
Air Date: May 23, 2004

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Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Brian Lowry

Oct 3, 2013

HBO just might have found its next great dramatic addiction --- a vulgar, gritty, at times downright nasty take on the Old West brimming with all the dark genius that series creator and screenwriter extraordinaire David Milch has at his fingertips. [19 Mar 2004, p.2]

100

Staff [Not Credited]

Sep 30, 2013

A fascinating and disturbing vision. [21 Mar 2004, p.F5]

Steve Johnson

Oct 3, 2013

In the same way that "The Wire" showed there is an HBO way to update that staple of regular TV, the cop show, Deadwood demonstrates that the western can be revitalized, too, with a dose of extreme realism. [19 Mar 2004, p.C1]

Rob Owen

Sep 30, 2013

It's a true character piece with top-notch acting all around. [21 Mar 2004, p.TV-5]

David Bianculli

Oct 3, 2013

Get past the language, though, and Deadwood slowly but surely draws you in. Keith Carradine, as Hickok, brings quiet stoicism and strength to a new level; Timothy Olyphant as Seth Bullock, who has hung up his lawman's badge to hang a hardware-store shingle in town, isn't far behind. [18 Mar 2004, p.101]

San Jose Mercury News/Contra Costa Times

Charlie McCollum

Sep 30, 2013

What Deadwood becomes within its first four episodes is a complex, neo-Shakespearean take on social and institutional corruption, racism, environmental barbarism, and the nature of good and evil. It not only provides a different view of how the West was won but also muses on how the taming of the frontier mirrors modern times. [21 Mar 2004, p.3E]

Hal Boedeker

Sep 30, 2013

The bonanza of off-color dialogue makes Deadwood a hard sell: Who knew the Wild Wild West could be such a joyless place? [21 Mar 2004, p.4]

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User Score

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9.1

User Reviews

Magster

Jul 18, 2011

HBO absolutely gets the biggest thumbs down ever for the cancellation of this one. Swearengen absolutely one of the greatest characters of all time. So so sad it is no more :(

4 of 6 users found this helpful42

FrodoFraggins

Jul 26, 2013

Consistently amazing writing, acting and directing. The characters are extremely well developed. Not only is it the best show HBO has even made. It is quite possibly the best show ever. Certainly the best written.

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

Piyush

Jan 31, 2011

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. uh ....! i just brought it :)
Apparently it is based on history of Deadwood , South Dakota @Trilby , @ Anfractuous ....thnx that encouraged me for it… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

jeremyp

Dec 17, 2011

2011 and I finally get to see the series. The wife hates Ian McShane, but we ran out of series from Netflix. After a fight she conceded and now says (as I suspected she might) "when's the next episode." I love this stuff, in it's Dickensian look at the old bad west. The language is very raw,2011 and I finally get to see the series. The wife hates Ian McShane, but we ran out of series from Netflix. After a fight she conceded and now says (as I suspected she might) "when's the next episode." I love this stuff, in it's Dickensian look at the old bad west. The language is very raw, but after 4-5 episodes it's so glued to the dialog that it's necessary for the characters, especially Calamity. Shows like this have to be loved by actors who can get their teeth into characters, like "The Wire." The history is questionable (Wild Bill was 39 when he was shot, and not Carradine's age) and Calamity was known for lying like a politician. It's great to have a show with dialog that's thought through and rich. 2 more seasons, yay!… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

trilby

Aug 18, 2010

I could not believe that im the first reviewer of what i see as the most daring exiting and groundreaking TV series of the past 10 years. Put simply the script and characterisation is as good as it get's. All the actors excel and its no wonder with the tools at their disposal. I beg anyoneI could not believe that im the first reviewer of what i see as the most daring exiting and groundreaking TV series of the past 10 years. Put simply the script and characterisation is as good as it get's. All the actors excel and its no wonder with the tools at their disposal. I beg anyone who reads this to buy the 3 season box set and take a whole weekend and immerse yourself in a world of pure unadulterated genius.… Expand

6 of 9 users found this helpful63

Hoodinski

Sep 29, 2014

A series of true excellence. Thoroughly enjoyable, very crafty and with an amazingly accurate and yet vibrant background. The history is enthralling, the characters as human and real as they get.

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

wiiy71

Dec 26, 2017

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0 of 0 users found this helpful00

SEE ALL 24 REVIEWS

Seasons & Episodes

85

Series Overview
Season 3

85
- Season 3 Overview
  Air Date: June 11, 2006
Season 2

93
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: March 6, 2005
Season 1

80
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: March 21, 2004
- tbd
  S1:E12. Sold Under Sin
  Air Date: June 13, 2004
- tbd
  S1:E11. Jewel's Boot Is Made For Walking
  Air Date: June 6, 2004
- tbd
  S1:E10. Mister Wu
  Air Date: May 23, 2004
- tbd
  S1:E9. No Other Sons Or Daughters
  Air Date: May 16, 2004
- tbd
  S1:E8. Suffer the Little Children
  Air Date: May 9, 2004
- tbd
  S1:E7. Bullock Returns to the Camp
  Air Date: May 2, 2004
- tbd
  S1:E6. Plague
  Air Date: April 25, 2004
- tbd
  S1:E5. The Trial of Jack McCall
  Air Date: April 18, 2004
- tbd
  S1:E4. Here Was A Man
  Air Date: April 11, 2004
- tbd
  S1:E3. Reconnoitering The Rim
  Air Date: April 4, 2004
- tbd
  S1:E2. Deep Water
  Air Date: March 28, 2004
- tbd
  S1:E1. Pilot - Deadwood
  Air Date: March 21, 2004