If you have not watched this series from the beginning and truly relish that phenomenon of RARE, great theater, STOP HERE and please start from episode # 1 season # 1.
Please, let me qualify myself. I am a part-time actor, film maker, and true aficionado of exceptionally rare, truly great film. I am also that common herd whom you never hear about but will occasionally see small glimpses of: the classically or well-trained actor who delves into theater and/or film but often surrenders their beloved pursuit of their foremost, heartfelt passion due to the constraints of financial support to a spouse, children, or even merely themselves in the financially unstable, unforgiving world of show business. Nevertheless, the vast bulk of us often retain our love of great acting, theater, and productions, whether they be from the stage theater, movie theater, and/or television. Which brings us to this offering of "Deadwood" season 3, episode 12.
Let me put this way, from me who turns off (or walks out of) EVERY single movie, show, and theater production which does not capture me (reasonably quickly) in a unique, superlative way: do not watch this until you have seen the entire series leading up to it. I have seen enough and done enough to know what is of RARE, great quality and, therefore, worth watching; as well as what is worth watching in its entirety and what SHOULD be watched in full. Deadwood falls into this rare, superlative quality.
POSSIBLE (but non-plot oriented) SPOILERS AHEAD: Deadwood is an extremely uncommon show for American television because it not only tells the truth in an accurate and honest fashion but it allows great, high-quality theater to happen at the same time. Once you see this, after you have seen the preceding episodes, you will know a few things about truly great television, stage, and film theater, which include: how to turn a despised antagonist into a beloved protagonist; how to take a strong antagonist and turn him/her into a multi-faceted character that delivers their great, humane depth including their weaknesses and strengths that will add qualities to your love and simultaneous dislike for them, just like it does for those you know in "real life". Deadwood is great "real life" theater. Enjoy it for what it is and realize this was one of the very few RARE series that should have gone on for much, MUCH longer.
Please, let me qualify myself. I am a part-time actor, film maker, and true aficionado of exceptionally rare, truly great film. I am also that common herd whom you never hear about but will occasionally see small glimpses of: the classically or well-trained actor who delves into theater and/or film but often surrenders their beloved pursuit of their foremost, heartfelt passion due to the constraints of financial support to a spouse, children, or even merely themselves in the financially unstable, unforgiving world of show business. Nevertheless, the vast bulk of us often retain our love of great acting, theater, and productions, whether they be from the stage theater, movie theater, and/or television. Which brings us to this offering of "Deadwood" season 3, episode 12.
Let me put this way, from me who turns off (or walks out of) EVERY single movie, show, and theater production which does not capture me (reasonably quickly) in a unique, superlative way: do not watch this until you have seen the entire series leading up to it. I have seen enough and done enough to know what is of RARE, great quality and, therefore, worth watching; as well as what is worth watching in its entirety and what SHOULD be watched in full. Deadwood falls into this rare, superlative quality.
POSSIBLE (but non-plot oriented) SPOILERS AHEAD: Deadwood is an extremely uncommon show for American television because it not only tells the truth in an accurate and honest fashion but it allows great, high-quality theater to happen at the same time. Once you see this, after you have seen the preceding episodes, you will know a few things about truly great television, stage, and film theater, which include: how to turn a despised antagonist into a beloved protagonist; how to take a strong antagonist and turn him/her into a multi-faceted character that delivers their great, humane depth including their weaknesses and strengths that will add qualities to your love and simultaneous dislike for them, just like it does for those you know in "real life". Deadwood is great "real life" theater. Enjoy it for what it is and realize this was one of the very few RARE series that should have gone on for much, MUCH longer.