DVD Pick of the Week - Deadwood: Season 3
DVD Pick of the Week - Deadwood: Season 3
I really, really hope John From Cincinnati fails. That’s awful, I know – you shouldn’t wish ill upon anyone, much less someone like television maestro David Milch, whose quality of work deserves more thoughtful treatment, most of the time. Yet despite the raves for his new HBO series, which premiered last Sunday, I can’t help hoping it tanks…because it’s for this Cali surfing parable that Milch ditched Deadwood. As the magnificently potty-mouthed Al Swearengen (Ian McShane) might say…. “Cocksucker.”
Oh alright, so maybe it wasn’t exactly a pure result of Milch’s capricious desire to move on; even on the commentary track for the final episode of this riveting third season, he indicates that it was a painful decision to end the series. Budgetary concerns and the cost of re-contracting the show’s massive (and worth every penny) cast were reportedly to blame. Nevertheless, the partially-factual saga of a lawless South Dakota gold encampment reached Shakesperean heights in its final year, with megalomaniacal tycoon George Hearst (Gerald McRaney) pinning everyone down under his unforgiving boot heel. Where just one season ago they were pounding the crap out of each other in the street, a genteel alliance forms between short-fused saloon owner Swearengen (McShane’s f-bomb laced tirades were never better), and equally quick-tempered yet stand-up sherriff Seth Bullock (Timothy Olyphant), who is gunning for his job against tampered-with odds. Though his storyline sort of meanders throughout the season, the brilliant Brian Cox is a welcome addition as a traveling theater owner who shares a history with Al.
Long-simmering tensions, tragic allegiances and surprising romances are also in store for the Deadwood denizens; alas, it all comes to an abrupt halt with the future of the camp very much in question. Will we ever have closure? Milch promises yes; even if John From Cincinnati is a massive hit, he’ll come back and finish Deadwood with a four hour miniseries. Don’t leave us hanging, Dave, or we won’t be “heng-dai” anymore.
Also recommended this week: The Hustler: Collector’s Edition; The Verdict: Collector’s Edition
— Nicole Campos
