HBO's vulgar, witty, entirely credible exploration of life in Deadwood finished up its second season on Sunday and cemented its status as the best show of the 2004-05 TV season.
Last season the fresh take on TV westerns from TV genius David Milch aired in the shadow of The Sopranos. This season it had the attention of the HBO audience almost entirely to itself, all the more appropriate for the show to blossom into one of television's most complex and satisfying studies of characters, place and time.
No other show that aired this season demanded as much attention, and rewarded it as greatly, as Deadwood.
On the heels of a major funeral in the penultimate episode, the season finale featured a wedding, a stabbing, a new arrival in town, a hanging, plans for an election, a throat cutting and Calamity Jane in a dress. But, as always, the emphasis remains on the characters.
The last thing the Emmys need is another acting award but Deadwood makes a remarkably compelling argument for an ensemble cast honor. Lead players Ian McShane, Timothy Olyphant and Molly Parker continue to carry the show in an estimable fashion and are ably supported by an impressive group of scene stealers including Robin Weigert (a standout as Calamity Jane), Paula Malcolmson, Powers Boothe, William Sanderson, Kim Dickens, Brad Dourif, John Hawkes, Dayton Callie and W. Earl Brown.
A strong argument could be made for each of them when it comes to Emmy nominations. I think McShane and Weigert are shoe-ins (for nominations and probably wins) and I'm optimistic about the chances of Parker, Malcolmson and Boothe.
This year the ensemble was strengthened even further with the addition of Garret Dillahunt, Sarah Paulson, Anna Gunn and Titus Welliver (sadly not all will return). This is a show that takes every character seriously, from McShane's saloon proprietor Al Swearengen (it's no longer too soon to call Al one of TV's all-time great characters) to smaller, recurring characters like saloon maid Jewel and Chinese businessman Mr. Wu. That only makes watching each episode even more critical, and some viewers may find the ideal way to watch Deadwood is in marathon viewings on DVD.
Managing a cast of this size while fully recreating another place and time is no small task, but Deadwood makes it look easy. And watching the show is an experience like no other.
Right now TV doesn't get better than this.
Finale Grade: A
Season Grade: A
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