Ian McShane told MTV News last night that the amazing-yet-prematurely concluded HBO series "Deadwood" hasn't been forgotten by its creator David Milch. There is absolutely nothing bad about hearing this information. "Deadwood" was one of the greats, a strong contender for the "Best Television of All-Time" crown that would be a real threat to "The Wire" if it were a full, completed story.
Even as it stands, "Deadwood" is excellent television. It's tough to see season three end and know that there are unfinished stories to be told, but it nonetheless stands as an impressive work. Let's dream for a moment about the show coming back in some form. What's left to explore? Where would the based-on-truth story have gone next?
Big things were brewing at the end of season three (spoilers ahead), largely spurred on by George Hearst's season two arrival and the establishing of his mining operations there. He leaves camp at the end of the third season riding a wave of hatred. Key players Cy Tolliver, Seth Bullock and Al Swearengen all have their beefs, but Hearst manages to get out unmolested. Still, with his operation running at full swing it's clear that there is more conflict to come on that front.
There's also the actual history of Deadwood, South Dakota to consider. The events of the series so far have been confined to 1876 and 1877, but an 1879 fire that destroyed more than 300 buildings would almost certainly have factored into the events that were to come. The fire started in a local bakery and then quickly spread when it reached a nearby hardware store -- perhaps Bullock & Star Hardware in the fiction of the series? -- and the eight kegs of gunpowder that were stored there. With nearby gold veins running dry, the fire was a last straw for the many residents who packed up and left.
There's actually a great Deadwood: Fact vs. Fiction feature to be found at Legends of America, a multi-page look at the characters and events featured on the show and how they line up with the real history. If you want to read more about the town of Deadwood and ponder the possibilities of where the series might go, I strongly recommend giving it a read.
Where would you like to see "Deadwood" go if it came back? Tell us what you think in the comments section and on Twitter!
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If 'Deadwood' Came Back, Where Would It Go?
Posted 2/2/11 2:45 pm EST by Adam Rosenberg in Commentary
Even as it stands, "Deadwood" is excellent television. It's tough to see season three end and know that there are unfinished stories to be told, but it nonetheless stands as an impressive work. Let's dream for a moment about the show coming back in some form. What's left to explore? Where would the based-on-truth story have gone next?
Big things were brewing at the end of season three (spoilers ahead), largely spurred on by George Hearst's season two arrival and the establishing of his mining operations there. He leaves camp at the end of the third season riding a wave of hatred. Key players Cy Tolliver, Seth Bullock and Al Swearengen all have their beefs, but Hearst manages to get out unmolested. Still, with his operation running at full swing it's clear that there is more conflict to come on that front.
There's also the actual history of Deadwood, South Dakota to consider. The events of the series so far have been confined to 1876 and 1877, but an 1879 fire that destroyed more than 300 buildings would almost certainly have factored into the events that were to come. The fire started in a local bakery and then quickly spread when it reached a nearby hardware store -- perhaps Bullock & Star Hardware in the fiction of the series? -- and the eight kegs of gunpowder that were stored there. With nearby gold veins running dry, the fire was a last straw for the many residents who packed up and left.
There's actually a great Deadwood: Fact vs. Fiction feature to be found at Legends of America, a multi-page look at the characters and events featured on the show and how they line up with the real history. If you want to read more about the town of Deadwood and ponder the possibilities of where the series might go, I strongly recommend giving it a read.
Where would you like to see "Deadwood" go if it came back? Tell us what you think in the comments section and on Twitter!
Tags deadwood
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