Deadwood

:

Season 1
  • Network: HBO
  • Series Premiere Date: Mar 21, 2004
Season #: 3, 2, 1
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 26 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 23 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 26
  3. Negative: 0 out of 26
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Critic Reviews

  1. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Linda Stasi
    Oct 3, 2013
    50
    It's really all about shock - not that there's many places to go after you feed not one, but two corpses to animals...When that wears thin, you can always count on an insane amount of four letter words, which are used with the discretion of a 12-year-old boy who's just discovered them. Five "f" words in one sentence just sounds idiotic.
  2. Seattle Post-Intelligencer
    Reviewed by: Melanie McFarland
    Oct 3, 2013
    50
    But these components don't detract from Deadwood as much as the series' inability to get the story rolling, although it shows potential for growing more interesting two or three episodes from now. Look at the introduction as an overly long handshake with a huge cast of characters, then take notice of how tedious such an elaborate setup can be, even one punctuated by thundercracks of violence. [19 Mar 2004, p.D1]
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  3. Orlando Sentinel
    Reviewed by: Hal Boedeker
    Sep 30, 2013
    40
    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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Awards & Rankings

8
#8 Best TV Season of 2004
3
#3 Most Discussed TV Season of 2004
1
#1 Most Shared TV Season of 2004

User Reviews

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User Score
9.1

Universal acclaim- based on 169 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 163 out of 169
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 169
  3. Negative: 5 out of 169
  1. trilby
    Aug 18, 2010
    9
    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. PutI 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.… Full Review »
  2. Magster
    Jul 18, 2011
    10
    HBO absolutely gets the biggest thumbs down ever for the cancellation of this one. Swearengen absolutely one of the greatest characters ofHBO 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 :(… Full Review »
  3. WorldofLucky
    Feb 3, 2018
    9
    This is for the whole series.

    I really do wish the series lasted more then three years, but then again maybe it would have declined and    This is for the whole series.

    I really do wish the series lasted more then three years, but then again maybe it would have declined and been a mockery of itself if it had.

    Set in the town of Deadwood in 1876 where it tells the tale of the town going from open frontier with gold strikes, and how the people living there got along. Fun side note, many of the characters in the series were there in real life (and by default are real people).

    No, it isn't a documentary, yes it is full of violence and sex (and let's be honest, it doesn't stay too close to the truth either). It starts with following Timothy Olyphant (of Justified fame) as he arrives in town. Then it truly becomes a full ensemble cast with Brad Dourif playing the Doc, Ian McShane playing Al Swearengen, Molly Parker as Alma Garrett and even Keith Carradine as the doomed Wild Bill Hickok.

    There are a ton of other famous or semi-famous actors and actresses you will see, but there are so many I can't really list them all.

    The show is as good as it sounds. The acting is superb. By the third season the actors play off each other with just a word or a motion. There was so much put into each character that you could read what they were thinking and they could sometimes have conversations with each other that were in depth without more then a few words.

    The filming was good, and the direction as well obviously. I am saddened that so many people have not seen it. I was especially impressed that rape didn't play a bigger role, after all that is what most westerns are unfortunately built upon. Not saying that some things didn't happen, but for what the show was (the Sopranos in the old west) it stayed away from that most of the time.

    The only thing I thought hurt the show was bringing in Powers Boothe and his whole crew. Not that there weren't good stories, and definitely not because of Mr. Boothe (he is great), but it took away from main characters in the beginning. While I started watching the show for Mr. Olyphant, I ended the show with Ian McShane (Swearengen) as my favorite character.

    Pros: Great acting, directing, story and sets.

    Cons: Perhaps too many secondary stories and plots and too many characters by mid-second season.

    Now to find some more Ian McShane work.    … Full Review »
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