More Deadwood

[saavedra77]

I'm drawn to Deadwood by the same morbid curiosity that's kept me watching The Sopranos, all this time: it's a sort of frontier gangster drama, and, beneath that, a theater of human failings.

As I'm coming to the end of Season One, I'm also developing an appreciation for the dialogue's idiosyncratic mix of Victorian elocution and frontier twang. The language is generally profane, unfailingly pithy (as when Cochran swears "Well, if this is His [i.e., God's] will, He's a son of a bitch!") and even occasionally veers toward genuine eloquence (as when Sol ventures that "People have made good lives out of borrowed ones, before").

Also, I can't help noticing by how much Deadwood's resource-extraction/prostitution-based economy resembles Bill Speidel's accounts of early Seattle ...

Comments

[verbicide.livejournal.com]

How funny--Deadwood absolutely reminded me of Bill Speidel's account of early Seattle, too.

I'm glad you gave it another shot! Season two is out now--and once Sarah's done with it, I'd be happy to loan it to you if you are so inclined!

[saavedra77.livejournal.com]

I might very well be so inclined! If nothing else, by the compulsion to see what happens next.

I have to tell you, though, at least at this point Al and Trixie's relationship still makes no sense to me, at all. I mean, I've read about the bond that can form between pimp and pro, in the past, but I guess that I've never quite been able to wrap my head around that dynamic.

Ugly as it is, I find Tolliver's relationship with Joanie more ... comprehensible, y'know?

[verbicide.livejournal.com]

I know what you mean--I can't relate to it, but people form the oddest connections, especially in ugly times, I think.

I have to say, I find Tolliver much much more repulsive than Al...

[saavedra77.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm looking forward to it: Couldn't help but notice that Bullock is wearing a badge, again, on the DVD cover ...

[saavedra77.livejournal.com]

No doubt--I think I was a little thrown off, at first, by Tolliver's polish. But at the point where I am in the series, he's already made it clear how much brutality he's capable of. (I'm thinking of what happens to the two thief kids.)

Regarding Tolliver & Joanie: Don't get me wrong, I don't think their relationship is a good thing--just a comprehensible pimp/madam thing.

[saavedra77.livejournal.com]

I've just seen the end of Season 1: I have to say that several characters became much more interesting during the last several issues. Learned a lot more about Al's past & motives.

I'm still most attached to Alma, Dr. Cochran, Seth, & Sol, though.

If the offer still stand, I'd definitely be interested in borrowing season 2 when you get it back!

[verbicide.livejournal.com]

The offer definitely stands. And Sarah's not going to have time to watch it for awhile, so you're free to borrow it first!

How about Wednesday after 5-5:30?

[saavedra77.livejournal.com]

Sounds good! Usual place?

[verbicide.livejournal.com]

Sounds good to me!

[saavedra77.livejournal.com]

OK, sounds good! I'll see you there.

[aztecson23.livejournal.com]

The dialogue sounds great. I should check out the series.