this show is obviously a complex written script but, in which the characters show a great deal towards. I noticed how, after watching seasons 1-3, that it made sense of how real acting, brilliant setting, and astronomical plot line was made. when i first glimpsed at this show, i was very pessimistic, because in my opinion i don't tend to enjoy the old west scene that much. but carefully abbreviation of this show made me shocked about how this show isn't just your ordinary cowboy, bank robber type, it relates to the REAL old west. not specifically (there in Montana) . you know.

I do like westerns so I wanted to see it and I know there are not that many around now. It was kind of disappointing. It is not that bad but it is like a staged production of something made for extra TV cable instead of a regular TV program. I know how that goes having overheard them in the office. They are usually filmed way out in Hollywood. It gets further and further away to be out in the country.

They have a lot of talks and problems. It was not that terribly entertaining to me. They had been told to kill one of the saloon girls and had a very offhand way of doing it. They kept repeating the 'f' word. I did like finally seeing that the sheriff was going to do something about it with the medical examiner. Of course, that is all planned out. It seems in real life he would have done something else about that. It was not making too much sense. There were dead bodies. The guy killed another guy out on the upper porch without anyone doing anything about it. He also threatened another saloon girl. It just went from one point to another. There were not many film extras but later there were many of them standing there staring at the actors (and camera as that goes). It just is very obviously to get attention and viewers. It was ok in a way being an attempt at the Old West but what it is I didn't think looked too good. If they were to go for that I would rather they really went for it but it seems like a little dilly dally. Deadwood is kind of that. I don't think it's right that they seem to be taking liberties with what historical figures were doing seeing how it was going. If certain people were to have actually have been in that town they wouldn't have lasted longer than five minutes and might not think it so funny.

Where to begin...love it. Came to it very late, stumbled across it late last year on DVD, but ended up watching all three series in three days (ok, so it almost drove me mad, but I did it). David Milch is a god. Not sure how he got so good at writing (probably all that time cutting his teeth on police drama series) but he captures humanity in all it nuances in a way I have never come across before. His dialogue is poetic and astonishingly earthy all in the same breath. So many great characters packed into one series - in particular Al Swearengen, Calamity Jane, Trixie, Doc - even the 'minor' characters have a depth and richness to them that DM is able to inject with a few words or actions.

The swearing is an apparent modernisation, usuing modern-day profanity to attempt to get across the impact the actual (more biblically-based) blasphemies would have had back in the day. (Those would have appeared quaint in the series, without the punch needed to highlight the atmosphere of uncooth lawlessness in pioneering camps and towns).

And the swearing does pack a punch in the beginning. But (and this could obviously be used to prove many a point about this and that) after a while you become desensitised to it and just get on with enjoying the plot unfold,the great acting and the gritty realism of the production values. Favourite scenes, such as the death of Reverend Smith and the truce between Bullock and Star showcase how talented an actor McShane is, and the great material that Milch provided the actors with. He let characters be complex, many-sided, and often contradictory, without white or black-hatting them into boxes.

Haven't seen John From Cincinnatti but from what I heard find it hard to fathom why they decided to can Deadwood to pursue what sounds like a totally off the wall concept piece from Milch. Would like to have seen the two movies that were mooted to round things out, curious to know whether Milch originally intended the production to end in Series Four or Five with the fire that gutted the real Deadwood in 1879, as the last series was based in 1877, and he had based aspects of the show around actual historical event and figures (Al Swearengen, Seth Bullock, Wild Bill Hickock and others). Hopefully one day our curiousity will be satisfied, but doubtful that the outstanding original cast could be assembled again. Deadwood geek, I know, but if your serious about quality stuff, I recommend it.

After reading Ridgewalker's excellent  review below, I finally got around to renting the first season and watching it.

This is extremely well written, shot and acted, with a layered complexity and subtlety seldom seen in television. 

And as to the complaints about the language, well, f*** you you f***ing c***s***ing c***s.

This TV show is somewhat enjoyable, but so often it seems like they're saying and doing things solely for the purpose of shocking the audience. Ian MacShane is great, though.

I know that I'm way behind all of you when it comes to TV shows, which, in my estimation is a good thing, but I do occasionally settle in to try and watch a series. I was strolling through the library video section the other day and picked up Deadwood. This is brilliant stuff. Here are a few clips from some of the previous reviews:

"Takes comedy and tragedy to the next level..."

"Ridiculously well-written."

"This might be a great show...if only I could understand what they're saying! There is always dramatic tensions, numerous subplots."

Ooooh, guys...soooo close. You were heading in the right direction for sure, but just lacked the reach. I began to "feel it" about halfway through the first episode. I was in. Dramatic asides. Soliloquies. Functional shifts. Deceit by the buckets-full. Treachery. Murder, mayhem and debauchery. When a person approaches another person, a "Hello" would seem out of place in Deadwood, so the scriptwriters allowed the actors to dip both fists into a barrel and pull out all of the colorful dialogue they could muster, sizing up the approaching character's very motivation for living by their stride. You see this, consistently, somewhere else: Shakespeare. Yes, there is no doubt that this is what the writers were aiming for: Shakespeare with a frayed  felt hat, spittin' Grizz. This is unmistakable...in spite of being camouflaged in a down pour of vulgarity.

This is brilliant writing, entrusted to more-than-capable actors, all dredged in the mud of a miners camp. Then cancelled.

5 Stars...Ye c-ck suckers... 

It might have been good but they tried sooooo hard to see how many cuss words they could fit in that the sentences sounded rediculus!

This was a great show, it used to go on after Dawsons Creek, which as we know the actress a young Katie Holmes got her start. It was a great show, I liked it a lot, because the father was pretty sensitive when he needed to be, being he was faced with the task of being a single dad, once his wife died, who yes, his children especially his younger daughter did some great dramatic acting, of the absence that is dealt with a parent being deceaed brings.

I was saddened to see DEADWOOD cancelled. Great writing, outstanding performances, and realistic set design. HBO missed the boat in not continuing a terrific TV product.

The most important piece of TV fiction in decades! Takes comedy and tradegy to the next level...

I have seen Deadwood twice and it was the same. I'm a female that works in a male jail. I use profanity (not proudly).But after watching series and seeing and hearing how it sounds, I have stopped. I can't get pass the language to notice the writing.

Imagine a woman who had always wanted to be a screenwriter and takes a class, writes a Western, then puts the script in a drawer. Her twelve year-old nephew finds it and gets together with a few of his friends and re-writes it. You would get "DEADWOOD" Unless, of course, the show was written by Bevis and Butthead themselves.

One of the best ever . Written for those of us that have a brain.

Well it least it gets out of the cop show mode and into the tried and true oater, although this is a semi-oater.

It a very high-quality production, excellent action and excellent actors. I just can't take an hour of the blue language. It's bad enough that I hear it out of so many real people's mouths. One day those people will realize how demeaning it is to them.

Possibly my favorite series of all time. Ridiculously well-written and acted. While all interesting fictional characters possess exaggerated qualities, these characters are as close to real as you will find in television or film. Lyrical.

great show with great characters. the casting was perfect. it is one of hbos best original series.

Its hard to understand the words when you're an illiterate (that means can't read) f---!

Its hard to understand the words when you're an illiterate (that means can't read) f*&*!

This might be a great show...if only I could understand what they're saying! I can't understand a stinkin' word (except c*cksucker, which is every other word). It's like the whole show is written in code. Viewership was down sharply in season 2 and I suspect it's because people finally realized they couldn't understand what anyone was saying. That's why I quit watching. When they start speaking regular English, give me a call and I'll start watching again.

the best show to come around the pike in a long while

Love this show. Beautiful dialogue and peoplethat actually say the F word as much me (well, almost).

I find myself cursing more and more, even using F---ing c-ck s-cker while working on my computer. When I first watched the show with a man friend, I was offended. This is the show I look forward to every week. GREAT show! GREAT acting!

Unbelievably good show. From what I've read, it is very realistic in its portrayal of what life was like in Frontier towns. The mud, the alcohol, the prostitutes, the profanity and the violence, juxtaposed with elements of polite society (for example, Alma requiring an escort when she steps out; the deference displayed toward Bullock by his newly arrived wife/sister-in-law and son/nephew; the very fact that he assumed responsibility for his brother's widow and son). I love the way the characters speak to one another in a formal Elizabethan style peppered with astonishing vulgarities. At first I cringed but now I don't really notice the profanity. According to a certain website that keeps track of such things, the F-bomb has been uttered 477 times already in the first five episodes of Season Two. Heh. Besides all that, though, the show is amazing. I have to agree that Deadwood is HBO's best original series to date, and that's saying something because there are few HBO series that haven't been great in my opinion. But Deadwood is the best of the best.

Has replaced The Sopranos as the best show on television. HBO rocks.

From what I can tell, only thing going for this show is verbal abuse.

This is the best show HBO has ever done! The acting is superior to any show in broadcast (even if the emmy nominators left out some of the best actors from the show), the costumes, set, just the overall look of the show is just plain excellent. The language is strong, but it matches the acting, wonderful writing, wonderful characters, played by fairly unknown actors, it just can't be beat this year. Fingers crossed that season 2 is just as good! The fact that McShane could take one of the worst, most dispicable characters in the show and make him the most popular with viewers shows the depth of acting this show has--and shame on emmy nominators for skipping over him!

This is another HBO classic in the making. I read a review prior to watching the first episode and they were right, about 3 shows and you are hooked. There is a fair amount of historical accuracy and the acting is superb. Yes people curse and horrible things happen but hey, it was just like that in the real Deadwood. It moves at a perfect pace and there is always dramatic tensions, numerous subplots and a stellar cast. I like this more than The Sopranos and Oz. Sheer genius, hope we get at least 3-5 seasons.

Deadwood is the most facinating and richly drawn dramas on any channel. Ian Mcshane is riviting, ruthless, and hilarious. I can't wait until next season.

An absolute revelation!

Deadwood is without a doubt one of the most awesome shows on television. The writing, actors, and western setting allow viewers to really get a feel for that era. The show is so well-rounded that it is hard to choose a favorite actor/actress as they are all amazingly talented! If you want to experience a show like no other, please tune in to Deadwood. The whole time Deadwood airs, I feel as if I have escaped back in time and am taken on a spectacular 60-minute journey!

Completely obscene and entirely too much foul language, I love it! I spend the entire Sopranos episode waiting for Deadwood to start. Ian McShane's performances are Emmy worthy week after week as Swearengen. His voice and expressions are priceless. I could watch an hour of him demeaning his staff with his condescension. Brilliant characters, brilliant writing, my Sunday evenings are complete.

The most brilant show ever made. Best acting ever. Best cast ever. Best Lines ever. Can't get better then that.

I felt absolutely crummy watching it. It has a great story, but the language is horrible and some of the things done is deplorable (i.e. little girls selling themselves into prostitution). Would not recommend!

Amazing show! Completely riveting due to great writing, great acting, great characters, great cinematography. Feels more like you are watching a movie than a television show. It does have a lot of profanity, but it doesn't bother me. This is simply the BEST show on t.v. right now.

Deadwood is the best thing on television. The casting and acting are first rate. The writing and the focus on detail are superb. Each episode has been has more than lived up to the preceeding one.

Now that we've all taken a deep breath, let's agree that this show is stuck in the mud. I've watched six episodes and very little has transpired. The program is full of atmosphere and character, but no story, no real plot. Maybe I'm impatient, but bad guys this bad would have overdoesed the widow, fed the little squarehead girl to the hogs and taken the gold claim three episodes ago. If you remove the word cocksucker from the scripts, the episodes would be ten minutes shorter. I'll give them one more episode to do move forward, storywise, then I'm outta here.

I love the show. The language is unnecesarily vulgar though.

I live in the gold rush area. The program is very realist. It is well written and have very strong plot, characters, and acting. Best mature drama on today.

Man, what a great show! The best show on television. The story line is riveting. You don't want to miss a minute of it. (We actually tape it to watch over again.) Seth Bullock is a great main character you'd love to be successful. Swearengen is a man you just love to hate. Every character is brilliantly written, and fascinating to watch. I liked the Sopranos, and loved the Shield, but Deadwood is better than both of those put together.