The second year of Deadwood amplifies the Shakespearean resonance of the brilliant HBO series' debut season. Creator David Milch, previously best known as the head writer on NYPD Blue, guides all 12 of these 2005 episodes, focusing on such fundamental virtues as duty and loyalty in a late 19th-century lawless (more or less) territory in South Dakota's gold-rich Black Hills. But as in the tradition of great Westerns, “virtues” are, of course, relative. In Deadwood, a titanic battle emerges between would-be kings and kingmakers seeking to consolidate power and wealth as the town rises from its mucky origins to become a legitimate municipality. Despite his many cruelties, it's hard not to side in this bid for a piece of America's future with saloon owner Al Swearengen (a magnificent performance by Ian McShane), a visionary monster who is nevertheless more recognizably human than some of his rivals. Uneasily partnered with Al is Seth Bullock (Timothy Olyphant), the steadfast hardware supplier who became Deadwood's sheriff in last season's finale. Also returning is the unstable Cy Tolliver (Powers Boothe), who backs mostly offscreen millionaire George Hearst's bid to snap up all of the area's gold-mining interests (Hearst's frontman Francis Wolcott, chillingly played by Garret Dillahunt, is a particularly nasty piece of work). Meanwhile, the widow Alma Garret (Molly Parker) struggles with her feelings for Bullock after the arrival of his late brother's wife and young son, while prostitute Trixie (Paula Malcomson) romances and spies on Seth's friend, Sol Star (John Hawkes), for Al. Happily, Calamity Jane (Robin Weigert) is back and more lovably uncouth than ever. Special features include a historical featurette, a three-part “making-of” on the season two finale, and nine actor commentaries on select episodes, the best of which finds Olyphant and McShane cutting up while watching the season premiere. Highly recommended. (T. Keogh)
Deadwood: The Complete Second Season
HBO, 6 discs, 720 min., not rated, DVD: $99.98 Volume 21, Issue 4
Deadwood: The Complete Second Season
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