HBO's Deadwood : When Swedgen Falls

Fall 2006 marks the end of the last season of HBO’s Deadwood, a historically based drama with a strong and growing fan base. From Shakespearean gritty Al Swearengen to foul-mouthed drunk Martha Jane Cannery (Calamity Jane,) the greatest character in the series by far is the actual town of Deadwood encompassing the lot of characters into a pressure cooker of hardships and mixed alliances. It is of debate whether Deadwood will stay true to the actual historical record. Read no further if you don’t want to be spoiled by history.

There are several characters that actually existed in Deadwood, but quite a few for which there is little record. Some of the storylines on Deadwood the series closely resemble history, but others are quite definitely fictionalized for entertainment purposes. It is interesting to think about the outcomes of some of the characters, the recorded facts Deadwood must polish into the storyline or creatively leave out.

The series started in 2004, with graphic language, sexually explicit, and often violent subject matter. Its plot revolves around the 1870’s Dakotas in the early gold-mining town of Deadwood. At first, Deadwood was a prospecting encampment until the entrepreneur entered the picture, adding outfitting, saloons, and gambling to the growing community. Of course, along with the town’s growth came its attraction for the shadiest of characters. In addition, disease, accident, and short tempers due to the difficult life along with vendetta and personal gain made life in Deadwood an often hazardous, short existence.