Deadwood: Ian McShane on the (possible) return of "Deadwood"

McShane may be the best television actor ever on the strength of one dynamic character. Its brilliant the way McShane displays simultaneously the need for Deadwood to be a legitamite town and the loathing of the trappings that come with that same legitamacy. His death is almost assured and HBO really needs to treat it in a majestic manner because Al, for all his sins, is a majestic man. You see with every second in every progressive episode that HE is the one out of place in the town, and you root for him because it becomes obvious that he really is in every way the most honest person in the town - with everyone around him and especially himself. Its tragedy at its finest and its a true epic. Pull back and look at the town of Deadwood at its most basic level - Al is its father, Seth and Alma are Deadwoods (and Als) son and daughter. His chemistry is perfect with every character he encounters. The real life story of Deadwood is that Seth Bullock is a real hero of mythical proportions that for whatever reason history omitted. The show dramatizes how he becomes the man he is before he goes on to do a bunch of great things and how Al Swearengen, however fictionalized he is ( he's a real guy but its very vague beyond him owning the Gem Saloon ) makes a man of him. Seth is only 20 or 21 years old at the start of the show - really an innocent. That kinda gets lost in the shuffle because Olyphant plays him so cooly, with a bad temper that masks his real emotion - true empathy, which is rare and really what makes him perfect for his job. If and when Al dies I think you'll see that Bullock will be taking it the hardest.

 

I like your analogy of Al being the father of Deadwood and Seth and Alma being his children. Id never thought of that before, but once again, your insights have gotten my mind going, severian.

Oh, and as far as Al dying, well, I have no idea what Milch has planned as far as his final fate goes, but IRL the real Al Swearengen didnt die until 1899, IIRC, when he fatally stabbed trying to board a train headed to Colorado. We may see this, though, since the movies wont be restricted by the same format that the series was, so its possible Milch may jump ahead to this (or, of course, he may change everything simply for dramas sake).


EDIT:
And speaking of Al, here's some info on the real Al Swearengen for those who arent familiar with his history (some interesting differences between the real Al and the one we know on the show, too, but of course, plenty of similarities).

 

Good info on Al there Vader. Ive been looking for over a year to find out his true fate. Obviously that changes alot of things. 1899 - he'd be like a 65 or 70 year old man. Very interesting. Im starting to get real pumped for these movies now. There bigger than any movies that'll be coming out at that time, at least for me and maybe even the whole year.

 

No prob, dude. There's also a link for the real Bullock on that same page if you didnt notice it.

And I cant wait for these movies, either. I agree that they'll probably be among the best movies of the year, whether its this year or next, and that includes both TV and the garbage they put out in theaters these days. At first I was dissapointed because I looked at as 'oh, we're going to get four more hours of the show, big deal'. But then I read that Milch was abandoing the usual format of the show (which is to have each episode cover about one day in the camp at least for S3 - previous seasons covered about a month) which meant we could see a glimpse of the future for many of these characters, and that really got me excited.

Oh, and the new EW had a quickie interview with Tim Olyphant, and it said that he's going to begin work on the first Deadwood movie as soon as he wraps on another movie he's doing now (they didnt mention a start date, though).

 

When he displays these emotions is when I think he is at his best. This is why I believe he has to die with the show's end. No matter how much he realizes that Deadwood must become a legitament town, his animal instincts so to speak won't let this happen. So Al's death will signify Deadwood becoming this legitament town he wants but doesn't want at the same time.

Jag29

 

I could definitely see that, Al's death being the symbolic end to the camp truly becoming a civilized town.

 

I was out all day yesterday so I missed last night's show (Im going to watch last week's and last night's back to back On Demand later tonight) but I found a cool article on Gerald McRaney/Hearst here if anyone's interested.

 

Good read DV. Just adds to the speculation that there will be blood spilt. I missed it last night also. I will watch it tonight. Nice to know that the real Bullock and Teddy Roosevelt were buddies.

Jag29

 

Oh yea, the real Bullock and TR was very close friends. In fact, IIRC, the real Bullock was one of TR's Rough Riders.

Anyway, just watched both episodes back to back. I really liked the second episode, and it looks like Hearst will be starting a war in Deadwood, and sooner rather than later, too. Another great scene between Al and Hearst at the end there, as well as a couple of other good ones with Jane with the kids and Charlie and Joanie.

Oh, and here's next week's synopsis, from meevee.com :

Episode 27: 'True Colors'

The stagecoach brings Hearst's loyal cook (Cleo King); theater promoter Jack Langrishe (Brian Cox), who's an old friend of Swearengen; and a returning Mr. Wu. Hearst shows he means business during separate dealings with Alma, Bullock and Tolliver.

 

So, anybody else see this week's episode yet ?

 

Click here for a really cool pic of the real Bullock and Teddy Roosevelt.

 

Yes I watched it. I liked how Al didn't want to show weakness after getting stabbed in the hand. Funny how he told his men that whoever touches him he will kill.

Why didn't he react after getting stabbed. I know he carries a knife with him at all times. He has to respond to this. I know he wouldn't attempt to kill Hearst but I thought he would try and do something to the captain. I look forward to next week's episode. I like Brian Cox. He can play a lot of different characters. He was hilarious in Super Troopers and even partly funny in the movie with Johnny Knoxville. Played a good Agamemnon in Troy.

Jag29

 

Was he stabbed ? It looked to me like Hearst hit him with a hammer of some sort ?

Anyway, Al probably knew that after getting knocked over the head with a gun and most likely having his hand broken he was in no condition to go after the Captain, so he most likely felt it best to look meek and stumble out of there, marshal his forces and live to fight another day.

 

He stabs him with the wedge side of the hammer. It looks like from the " next week peview " that Milch is making Hearst an uber-villian, which he probably was but true to Deadwoods m.o. it also seems they will flesh the character out even more to show us what greed will drive a person to.

 

Ah, ok. I'll have to watch more closely when I watch the episode again either tonight or tomorrow.

Oh yea, it definitely looks like Hearst isnt ****ing around here in Deadwood, and I love it. Milch hasnt wasted anytime this year getting right into the power plays and various machinations that the show is famous for, and if anything they've both been upped quite a few notches this season.

 

Here's a slightly extended synopsis for tomorrow episode form HBO.com :

Episode 27: 'True Colors'

Deadwood ushers in some new arrivals on the stagecoach: Jack Langrishe, a flamboyant stage promoter and old friend of Swearengen, and Aunt Lou Marchbanks, Hearst's longtime cook who settles in nicely as the Grand Central chef. Also returning to town is a newly westernized Wu, with news for "Swegin" about a soon-to-arrive group of imported Hearst workers. Apparently recovered from her ailments, with the aid of a reliable pal, Alma decides to approach Hearst with a claim deal, despite Ellsworth's adamant objections. Bullock uncovers the truth about the Gem killings, and vows to put Hearst on notice. Hearst calls Tolliver's bluff, then offers him a "fresh start."

 

I loved last nights show!

From the previews of next week to me it looks like Al might be kinda scared of Hurst but I really can't tell esp after that queer remark he made to Jack.

Also it looks like he got his ring finger lopped off.

I also really enjoyed Seth and Alma's little reactions on the street.

 

Yea, I got the same reaction from the previews, too, that Al may be scared of Hearst on some level, or at the very least intimidated by him. It was also interesting seeing him questioning why he hadnt killed Hearst yet when he confided in Langrishe at the end of the episode. Either way we saw alot more emotional depth from Al last night, even if it was subtle. I also think that we may be seeing more of this in the future, as Langrishe looks to be an old friend in whom Al trusts and obviously doesnt have a problem confiding in (remember, beside talking to him about Hearst he told him that he was the only one he had showed his hand injury).

Anyway, another great episode last night in what has been a great season so far.

 

Al's afraid that he'll have to burn down the town, which weighs heavily on his decision making. But if its either that or the creation of a law that he one day might be subject to, it wouldnt even be a question in Al's mind.

 

If Al does indeed burn down the town I wonder if we'll see it this season, considering the real Deadwood burned down in September 1879, and IIRC, we're still in 1877 in the show's timeline. But then again, it looks like Sol will be elected Mayor, and the real Star wasnt elected Mayor until 1884, so....

 

Here's next week's episode synopsis :

Episode 28: 'Full Faith and Credit'

Alma presides over the bank's grand opening; the feud over the livery between Steve and Hostetler tests Bullock's patience; Swearengen taps Adams to negotiate with Hearst; Joanie has reservations about Langrishe's offer to buy her place.


-- from meevee.com

 

Last Sunday's episode was great. I honestly believe that Al is afraid of Hearst on some level. The preview for this weeks episode kind of showed that. I thought Hearst was going to rape Alma.

I think Brian Cox is a terrific actor. He can play any type of character. There's something more to this character than just a mere actor. I wonder why Al has so much respect for this guy?


Jag29

 

He's afraid of what Hearst can do to the town, not for what Hearst may or may not be able to do to his personal health. Theres a big difference there. If anything it shows that Al is really more of at all costs visionary - much moreso than an unrelenting antagonist, which he can be if crossed. Hearst is also an amoral visionary type but his vision is much more personal and much less societal as Als' is. Hearst is strickly about the greed of gold while Al sees the greed of gold as a means to his ends and thats to have a place in the world that he can do whatever he wants. Hearst has already reached the point in his life where he takes that for granted. Al isnt that narrow minded and he's right to be perplexed by Hearsts power moves in the town which are unnecessary because of his immense wealth. If the character of Hearst in Deadwood shows anything its that Swearengen really isnt about the money but about the status quo, which he created - not some goverment or wealthy entrepenur.

 

Kind of slow here this week with the long weekend and all (I know I havent been around much) but I wanted to up the thread and see what you all thought of this Sunday's episode. Personally I thought that it was another great episode in what has thus far been a stellar season. I loved the scenes with Steve the Drunk and Hostetler and the scene between Hearst, Al and Tolliver. The tension between Al and Hearst is so thick I feel like Im in the room with them everytime they do a scene together. Truly great acting by both men. Oh, and speaking of Al, isnt it amazing how much Hearst's attack has changed him ? Brilliant acting from Ian McShane as he continues to show more and more shades to Al's character each week.

Anyway, enough raving on my part. Here's this week episode summary from HBO.com. :

Episode 29: 'A Two-Headed Beast'

Enabled by Leon, Alma reverts to her bad habits, though she's able to exhibit enough charm to get Merrick to endorse her bank's liquidity during a time of crisis. Two actors, Bellegarde and an ailing Chesterton, are reunited with Langrishe in Deadwood; the troupe then prepare to work on transforming the Chez Ami into a theater. Swearengen, still trying to decipher Hearst's intentions, finally finds use for Farnum after a long chill. After much posturing and delay, Steve and Hostetler work out the arrangements by which the livery will change hands, but all's not ending well. Two couples, Trixie/Star and Alma/Ellsworth, display different degrees of domesticity. Dority rises to Captain Turner's challenge, driving Hearst to the Bella Union, where Bullock hands him an earful.

 

Yeah I loved the show Sunday. I laughed so hard at how mad Seth would get at Steve and then pop him one!

I really can't wait for next weeks show. I had a feeling that Leon was up to no good with Alma when she had to "take in some air" last week.

As far as Al goes there is not much to say other than the fact that when the two of them interact now I am literally on the edge of my seat with my feet bouncing waiting for will come next.

I hope Dan kills the Captain.