IMDb list of the best deadwood episodes run the gamut. The fate of the legendary shooter Hickok, nicknamed “Wild Bill” (Keith Carradine) to knockout protracted fistfights, deadwood Masterfully combines real historical events with fiction in a way that satisfies even the most die-hard western fans.
Set during the post-Civil War gold rush, the city of Deadwood is a melting pot of cowboys, outlaws and entrepreneurs looking to make a name for themselves. Saloon owner and buyer Al SwearengenIan McShane) is watching a promising mining camp from the balcony of the Gem Saloon. Al’s unfiltered, hostile nature puts him at odds with Sheriff Seth Bullock (Timothy Olyphant), leading to some of the most explosive episodes on television.
The following article contains spoilers for Deadwood.
10 “Jewel Shoes Are Made for Walking” (season 1, episode 11)
IMDb rating: 8.3/10
Jewel (Jeri Jewell) works as a housekeeper and cook for the Gem, constantly receiving verbal abuse and insults due to his stiff leg. Tired of annoying Al, Jewel asks Doc CochranBrad Dowryf) make her a shoe brace so that she can walk without dragging her leg behind her.
Despite being skeptical at first, Doc changes his mind after seeing how much this means to Jewel. It’s a tender and sincere moment when he shows her the lift he thinks will fit. Jewel is not used to being treated and spoken to as well as Doc, and this time around, viewers will see Jewel experience true happiness.
9 “I’m not the good person you think I am” (season 3, episode 2)
IMDb rating: 8.4/10
DeadwoodThe third and final season was food for thought for both the city and the show’s protagonists. Formerly behind the scenes, millionaire mining tycoon George Hearst (Gerald McRaney) continues his plan to secure ownership of the area’s gold claims with widow Alma Garrett (Molly Parker) being the only opponent.
Refusing to sell her stake, Alma is determined to open Deadwood’s first bank with business partner Seth Sol (John Hawkes), which puts all three in a contradictory position. The already complicated relationship between Seth, his former mistress Alma and Seth’s wife Martha (Anna Gunn) worsens when Alma’s pregnancy is revealed during a business meeting with Saul.
8 “Something Very Expensive” (season 2, episode 6)
IMDb rating: 8.5/10
Working on behalf of Hearst, geologist Francis Wolcott (Garret Dillahunt) is one of the most dangerous inhabitants of Deadwood. A sadist, Walcott takes pleasure in torturing young women in Chez Ami, which escalates into murder in one of the show’s most gruesome episodes. When Madame Chaz Ami, Maddy (Alice Krige), realizes what Walcott has done, she makes a fateful decision.
Joanie StubbsKim Dickens) enters but leaves without going upstairs to see the bodies. Alone with Walcott, the sadistic killer overpowers and kills Maddie while Joanie successfully gets the remaining girls out of the camp.
7 “Lies Arranged: Part 1” (season 2, episode 1)
IMDb rating: 8.6/10
Deadwood welcomes new product made in Season 2′premiere when Maddie arrives with a van of fresh faces, which doesn’t make Bella Union owner Cy Tolliver (Powers Booth) happy. Visibly upset that his longtime partner Joanie is passing away on her own, their relationship hits an all-time low.
Seth and Alma continue their romance despite Martha’s expected arrival.and their son WilliamJosh Ericsson). The typical antagonist, Al, provokes Seth by insulting Alma. When the sheriff of Deadwood returns to the saloon, the men get into a fight in a fight scene worthy of one of the best TV westerns.
6 “Merger and Capital” (season 2, episode 9)
IMDb rating: 8.6/10
Tensions between Alma and Martha escalate when Seth’s wife begins to suspect something is going on between her husband and the wealthy widow. Plans for the bank continue, and an unsuspecting friendship develops between two of Deadwood’s most memorable female characters, Joanie and Calamity Jane.Robin Weigert).
Joanie arrives home to find Jane drunk on her doorstep. The former madam invites Jane to sleep in, which leads to an intimate friendship that fills a void in their lives. The episode takes a tragic turn when a runaway horse tramples William.
5 ‘Mister. Wu (season 1, episode 10)
IMDb rating: 8.6/10
Chinese immigrant Mr. Wu (Keone Young) is involved in the Deadwood opium trade and is known for using his feral pigs to get rid of those who interfere with him or his business. Although his interactions with Al appear to be hostile, viewers can see that the two men respect each other even when they are at odds.
In “Mr. Wu”, Wu turns to Al for help after two white men steal a shipment of drugs at the camp. At first, Al is apprehensive until he realizes that some of the cargo was his. Al promises to find the thieves, but tells Wu that he can only kill one. Al reminds Wu that while the men are thieves, they are also white, highlighting racial relations and tensions in Deadwood.
4 “There Was a Man” (season 1, episode 4)
IMDb rating: 8.8/10
Wild Bill impresses deadwood and viewers for his short time on the show. The infamous shooter met a brutal end when disgruntled poker player Jack McCall, also played by Garrett Dillahunt, shoots Wild Bill in the head at Saloon 10. Despite the one-sidedness, the Wild Bill shoot is one of the show’s most memorable scenes.
Alma’s addiction to opiates escalated after her husband Brom (Timothy Michael Omandson) tragic fall. Unconvinced that Brom’s death was an accident, Alma turns to Wild Bill, a former law officer, to find out what she believes was murder in connection with their statement.
3 “The Boy the Earth Speaks to” (season 2, episode 12)
IMDb rating 8.9/10
George Hurst arrives in great style at deadwood the season finale as the city prepares for the wedding as William’s parents continue to mourn his death. As Hearst meets with Al and Cy, his intentions become more and more clear. Cy threatens to expose the role of geologist Walcott in the deaths of three Chez Ami women.
Alma’s wedding celebration with Ellsworth (Jim Beaver) gathers the city of Deadwood to celebrate. The juxtaposition against the background of Alma’s former lover Seth and Martha’s solemn grief is a narrative in all its glory. When Mr. Wu attacks one of the Chinese working for Hearst, Al intervenes, saving Wu from Hearst’s retribution. Joanie and Calamity Jane continue to explore their friendship after Joanie asks Calamity Jane to move in with her.
2 “Two-Headed Beast” (season 3, episode 5)
IMDb rating: 9.0/10
After the miscarriage, Alma reverts to old habits and starts using opiates again, which disgusts Saul’s girlfriend, Trixie (Paula Malcomson). Meanwhile, Alma continues to expand the bank’s services despite the relapse. Marrying a man she doesn’t love and losing the child she had with the one she loves sends Alma into an emotional tailspin.
One of the best scenes in any TV Western is the face-off between Al’s right hand, Dan Dority (W. Earl Brown) and Hearst’s enforcer Captain Turner (Alan Graf). Dan kills Turner in a death match. A drunken Hurst is later arrested at Bella Union after threatening Seth. The sheriff awkwardly takes him by the ear and throws the millionaire in jail.
1 “Sold by Sin” (season 1, episode 12)
IMDb rating: 9.1/10
A group of American soldiers arrive in Deadwood looking for a group of Sioux. Under the command of General of the Army George CrookPeter Coyote), Cy tries to get Crook to stay and defend the camp, but Crook strongly rejects the offer. Alma’s father, OtisWilliam Russ) has finally exhausted his hospitality and pushes Seth to the extreme by threatening to implicate his daughter in Brom’s death.
After Seth almost beats Otis to death, Seth tracks down Crook to Bella Union, convincing him to put Alma’s father into custody after realizing that Crook’s life is in danger. When Reverend SmithRay McKinnon) mental and physical health is deteriorating, Doc prays for an end to the Reverend’s suffering. Al is already busy putting the preacher out of his misery in one of the show’s most emotional scenes.
Source: Collider
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