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Deadwood (TV series)

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Deadwood
File:Deadwood-2.jpg
Poster for HBO's original series Deadwood
Created byDavid Milch
StarringTimothy Olyphant
Ian McShane
Molly Parker
and Powers Boothe
Country of originUSA
No. of episodes24
Production
Running timeapprox. 1:00
(commercial-free)
Original release
NetworkHBO
ReleaseMarch 21, 2004 –
present

Deadwood is a weekly HBO television drama that premiered in March 2004. The series is a Western set in the 1870s in Deadwood, Dakota Territory. At the time, Deadwood (a real town in the modern state of South Dakota) was little more than a makeshift camp, but it was a popular destination for those prospecting for gold in the Black Hills.

Deadwood features many historical figures, such as Wild Bill Hickok, Seth Bullock, Calamity Jane, and Al Swearengen. The plotlines involving these characters include historical truths as well as substantial fictional elements. Some characters are fully fictional, although they may have certainly been based on actual persons. Despite much of the factuality in the program, the ending credits contain the following disclaimer: "With the sole exception of the well known historical events and persons portrayed, the characters and events depicted in this television series are fictional and any similarity to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and unintentional".

The show was created by David Milch (NYPD Blue) who also serves as executive producer and head writer.

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Cast and characters

Main article at Characters of Deadwood.
Actor Character Based On Profession in Deadwood
Timothy Olyphant Seth Bullock Seth Bullock Sheriff/Owner of Star & Bullock Hardware
Ian McShane Al Swearengen Al Swearengen Businessman/Owner of The Gem Saloon
Molly Parker Alma Garret Unknown/No Basis Widow of claim seeker, now married to prospector Ellsworth.
Powers Boothe Cy Tolliver Tom Miller Owner of rival saloon, The Bella Union.
John Hawkes Sol Star Sol Star Co-owner of Star & Bullock Hardware
Paula Malcomson Trixie Tricksie of the Gem Former prostitute at The Gem Saloon.
William Sanderson E. B. Farnum E. B. Farnum Innkeeper of The Grand Central Hotel; Mayor
Kim Dickens Joanie Stubbs Unknown/No Basis Former hostess of The Bella Union/Proprietor of brothel, The Chez Amis
Garrett Dillahunt Francis Wolcott Unknown/No Basis Geologist working for George Hearst
Robin Weigert Calamity Jane Calamity Jane Follower of Wild Bill Hickok/Frontierwoman
Dayton Callie Charlie Utter Charlie Utter Owner of freightbusiness/traveling companion of Wild Bill Hickok
Brad Dourif Doc Cochran Unknown/No Basis The physician of the camp.
Anna Gunn Martha Bullock Martha Bullock Wife of Seth, mother of the late William
Jeffrey Jones A. W. Merrick A. W. Merrick Editor of camp's press, The Deadwood Pioneer.
Jim Beaver Ellsworth Unknown/No Basis Prospector/ husband to Alma Garret
W. Earl Brown Dan Dority Dan Doherty Henchman to Al Swearengen at the Gem. Part of Al's inner circle.
Titus Welliver Silas Adams Unknown/No Basis Negotiator for Swearengen. Part of Al's inner circle.
Sean Bridgers Johnny Burns Johnny Burns Gem Saloon worker/henchman. Part of Al's inner circle
Larry Cedar Leon Unknown/No Basis Worker for Cy Tolliver at The Bella Union.
Peter Jason Con Stapleton Con Stapleton Worker for Cy Tolliver at The Bella Union.
Keith Carradine Wild Bill Hickok Wild Bill Hickok Gunslinger of the Old West; murdered at Nutall's saloon.
Geri Jewell Jewel Unknown/No Basis Handicapped cleaning woman at the Gem.
Keone Young Mr. Wu Tong leaders Representative for the Chinese population of the camp; owns a pig pen.
Bree Seanna Wall Sofia Metz No Basis adopted daughter of Alma Garret; sole survivor of a attack on her family
Garrett Dillahunt Jack McCall Jack McCall Unemployed, classless camp member, murdered Wild Bill Hickok in Nutall's #10 Saloon.
Josh Eriksson William Bullock No Basis Deceased son of Seth and Martha Bullock.
Sarah Paulson Miss Isringhausen Unknown/No Basis Tutor to Sofia Metz, secretly a Pinkerton.
Franklyn Ajaye Samuel Fields Samuel Fields General of African American troop; keeper of horses.
Ray McKinnon Reverend Smith Henry Weston Smith Deceased minister of Deadwood.
Alice Krige Maddie Unknown/No Basis Deceased prostitute of the Chez Amis.
Zach Grenier Andy Cramed Unknown/No Basis Minister of the camp.
Leon Rippy Tom Nuttall Billy Nuttall Owner of Nutall's #10 Saloon.
Stephen Tobolowsky Hugo Jarry Hugh McCaffrey Commisioner for Lawrence County, Dakota Territory.
Gerald McRaney George Hearst George Hearst Successful California businessman and prospector.
Ralph Richeson Pete Richardson Unknown/No Basis Cook at the Grand Central

Notable plots

Main article: List of Deadwood episodes
File:Ep22 seth martha.jpg
Seth and Martha Bullock.

Season 1 (2004)

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  • 1876
    • Seth Bullock leaves his Montana sheriff job to establish a hardware business in Deadwood. He is joined by his friend and business partner, Sol Star.
    • Characters met along the way include Al Swearengen owner of The Gem, a local brothel. Wild Bill Hickok, the infamous gunslinger of the west. Calamity Jane who is Hickok's accomplice and friend. Amos Cochran, the town doctor. E. B. Farnum, runner of The Grand Central Hotel and A. W. Merrick, the town's personal press reporter.
    • Brom Garret, a businessman from New York without knowing invests in a pyramid scheme (involving a gold claim) with Swearengen and Farnum.
    • The Metz's, who were previously residents of Deadwood quickly leave the town for their native Minnesota. The entire family with the exception of the sole survivor, Sofia are murdered and scalped by "heathens", according to Swearengen.
    • Bullock and Star ask for a piece of property owned by Swearengen. Swearengen gives them a hard time but Bullock puts Star in charge of trying to negotiate and the deal ends somewhat successfully.
    • Cy Tolliver and his entourage purchase an abadoned hotel across from The Gem. When all of the renovations are completed Swearengen learns that he will gain some competition. The Bella Union, a more luxurious brothel is established shortly after although many stayed loyal to Swearengen.
    • Garret soon learns that his "gold claim" is worthless and demands that Swearengen reimburse him his money. Swearengen then asks one of his henchman, Dan Dority to see that Garrett disappears. Garret is thrown of a hill and his body brought back to Deadwood - only for the claim to turn out a rich one.
    • Garret's widow, Alma looks to Wild Bill Hickok for help regarding her gold claim. He tries to settle things with Swearengen who questions his authority. Hickok then asks Bullock if he will help Garret with her claim which he accepts.
    • During a poker game, Wild Bill Hickok is shot in Nutall's #10 Saloon by Jack McCall.
    • Jack McCall is put on trial for Hickok's murder. The jury finds him not guilty however he leaves soon after.
    • Bullock decides to pursue McCall by following him. On the way, he kills an Native American who intended to kill him for violating territory. Bullock bashes his head in with a rock which completely disfigures the heathen's face. Bullock and Utter then find McCall who is hiding out at a boarding house and take him to Yankton for trial.
    • Smallpox breaks out in Deadwood which causes the need for vaccines. Those who have been affected are housed away from the camp in a tent.
    • Alma Garret takes custody of Sofia Metz when Calamity Jane dissapears on a drinking binge following Wil Bill's murder.
    • Flora and Miles Anderson are brother and sister who arrive in Deadwood looking for their lost father and for work. Miles finds a job as a sweeper in The Gem and Flora as a harlot at the Bella Union. They are soon murdered by Stubbs and Tolliver on his orders after they attempt to rob the Bella Union.
    • Charlie Utter establishes a Postal and freight business in the town of Deadwood which includes deliveries to Cheyenne.
    • The senior members of the community form a municipal government in preparation for future annexation, as well allowing them to pay bribes to the territorial legislature in order to ensure the titles, claims and property already in Deadwood remain secure in the future.
    • Swearengen bribes the local Magistrate, Clagett, in order to quash a murder warrant.
    • The Reverend Smith becomes a regular guest at The Gem causing Swearengen to become angered since he may lose business. He quickly shoos Smith out.
    • Alma's father, Otis Russell arrives who has an ultimatum and many words to say to Bullock.
    • The U.S. army arrives in Deadwood to celebration and a parade.
    • Bullock beats Otis Russell in The Bella Union and asks him to leave. Bullock then meets Alma at her hotel room and the two make love.
    • Swearengen hires Magistrate Clagett's toll collector, Silas Adams, to murder him when he attempts to extort Swearengen further over the murder warrant.
    • Bullock volunteers to become sheriff after the previous sheriff Con Stapleton is quickly bought out by Cy Tolliver.

Season 2 (2005)

  • 1877
    • Seth Bullock's wife Martha and their son William arrive in Deadwood unexpectedly.
    • Bullock and Swearengen have a heated argument regarding his authority and his alleged affair with Alma Garret. The fight begins and ends when Bullock throws him and himself over the balcony landing in the dirt. A truce is made when Swearengen returns Bullock's gun and badge.
    • Bullock tells Alma that because of his wife's arrival in the camp that they not see each other. Alma understands and agrees that it better that they only see each other for business reasons.
    • Garret hires a tutor, Miss Alice Isrighausen to tutor young Sofia.
    • Calamity Jane resurfaces drunk and manages to help Bullock and Utter persuade Swearengen down to return Bullock's items.
    • Swearengen is diagnosed with kidney stones and suddenly collapses in his office with the door locked. He is discovered days later. Cochran then performs a surgery which has success.
    • Joanie Stubbs opens her own brothel, The Chez Amis.
    • Francis Wolcott, a geologist working for George Hearst moves to Deadwood and soon runs into trouble at the Chez Amis.
    • Alma becomes pregnant by Bullock and is persuaded by Trixie to begin to see Ellsworth, who is in charge of her gold claim.
    • Alma fires Miss Isrighausen who then goes to Adams and the two begin to see each other.
    • Wolcott murders Joanie Stubb's most valuable whores: Maddie, Doris and Carrie. Cy Tolliver takes care of the murders and pardons Wolcott.
    • Stubbs sends the remaining whores away so that they will not be murdered under Wolcott's wrath.
    • Hugo Jarry, a commisioner tries to persuade Swearengen and Tolliver, two of the prominent figures in Deadwood to become part of Dakota territory rather than Montana.
    • Alma Garret, with the help of Sol Star establishes a bank in the camp.
    • William Bullock is trampled by a horse that escaped after a failed neutering.
    • The camp is vigil shortly after young William is injured. William dies hours after.
    • George Hearst arrives in Deadwood and finds out about the murders of the prostitutes by Wolcott's hands. Wolcott soon hangs himself and Hearst purchases the Grand Central from Farnum.
    • With Swearengen's blessing, Mr. Wu and Al's henchman plan an invasion in Deadwood's Chinatown. The operation goes successful as Mr. Wu slits his rival, Lee's throat.
    • Alma and Ellsworth marry at a ceremony conducted by Andy Cramed at the Grand Central.

Season timeframe

File:Ep20 al cheers.jpg
Al Swearengen.
  • Season 1: Summer/Fall 1876: Soon after Custer's Last Stand, the first season of Deadwood takes place six months after the founding of the camp. Most of those who live far and outside of the camp have dreams of living in Deadwood to get richer and have a gold claim; however, when they arrive, new citizens find that Deadwood is unlike it has been told. It is a lawless, godless place where greed and corruption rule and in order to make your fortune you have to make yourself something.
  • Season 2: End of Spring/ Early Summer 1877: One year after the events that occurred previously in the camp of Deadwood, Seth Bullock has become the Sheriff with Charlie Utter as his deputy, what was once a lawless place has miraculously become orderly. The camp is progressing swimmingly with many inventions that later have become a necessity such as the telegram and a bank. Former Bella Union hostess Joanie Stubbs has formed her own brothel called the Chez Amis. Both a well-connected geologist and a government official have arrived at the camp to the dismay of the other residents. Al Swearengen is still known as the "unofficial" head of the camp. Seth Bullock's family have arrived in town which forced a breaking off of his relationship with Alma Garret and balancing out time between his work, sheriff's duties, and family.
  • Season 3: Airing in Summer of 2006.

Broadcasting

Deadwood is broadcast on the following channels around the world:

HBO broadcast history

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