# Deadwood (2004)

> A profane, ambitious frontier drama tracing how a lawless gold camp in 1870s South Dakota struggles toward civilization.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/1322

## Facts

- Seasons: 3
- Episodes: 36
- Episode runtime: 56 min
- Status: Canceled
- Genres: western, drama
- Created by: David Milch
- Network: HBO
- Cast: Timothy Olyphant, Ian McShane, Molly Parker, Jim Beaver, W. Earl Brown, Dayton Callie, Kim Dickens, Brad Dourif
- TMDB rating: 8.6/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0348914/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: measured
- Intensity: strong
- Complexity: dense
- Violence: brutal
- Tone: gritty, profane, melancholic, darkly funny, brutal

## What critics say

Deadwood is widely acclaimed for its dense, profane dialogue, its richly drawn frontier characters, and its ambitious portrait of a lawless camp becoming a town.

## Synopsis

Deadwood (2004-2006) is an American HBO prestige western created by David Milch. Set in the rough gold mining camp of Deadwood, South Dakota, the series follows former lawman Seth Bullock (Timothy Olyphant), who arrives hoping to build a stable life, and Al Swearengen (Ian McShane), the profane, calculating saloon and brothel owner who runs the camp's underworld. Their uneasy rivalry drives a three-season saga of gold claims, graft, gambling, and shifting alliances, with Alma Garret (Molly Parker) and Doc Cochran (Brad Dourif) among the other principal figures. Each season is built around a sprawling ensemble and an ongoing struggle to turn a lawless camp into an organized town. The show's language is famously ornate, its violence sudden and brutal, and its mood gritty, melancholic, and darkly funny. Historical figures stand behind many of the characters, giving the frontier an earthy authenticity. Fans of Hell on Wheels, Boardwalk Empire, and Justified will find resonance in its blend of period grit and morally complicated power. Its arc ends with the story unfinished after cancellation.

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