Deadwood Reviews

An epic, Shakespearean drama set in the settlement of Deadwood in the Black Hills of South Dakota, this series focuses on the will of humans to make their name and their living, each taking advantage of the complete freedom--or lawlessness--on a different moral spectrum. In Deadwood, those that seem the most evil may not be, and those that smile and pay well may well be rotted on the inside.

Featuring an impressive cast and well-developed characters, with prominent historical figures making appearances, you see how life might have been in all of its brutality. Alliances--some surreptitiously made, others more public--forged and broken at the sight of gold or the idea of the government encroaching and slowly but surely removing those freedoms people have learned to love, in the name of safety and lawfulness. Or is it just another surreptitious alliance, some power play by a wealthy businessman across the nation trying to take advantage of a fledgling community? It's easy to see how simplistic morals can become complicated when your life and liberty is on the line and the only person you can trust is public enemy #1. This is a deep, eloquent and moving series, punctuated by moments of blue-collar wisdom ("I wouldn't trust a man who wouldn't try to steal a little..."), real heartbreak (the Civil War is still a fresh wound to many in the camp) and downright dirty tactics. I could not recommend this series any higher.