Money talks. Sex and the City and Entourage were dirt cheap. Shows like Deadwood and Rome. where they actually gave an effort, cost more to produce. It's simple economics.
I think he even referenced that he HAD a brother with that same affliction. Def gave more weight to his whole relationship to the reverend smith story.
He didn't want to kill him, but in the end it was the only kindness anyone would do him. The docs private mental breakdown over the cruelty he had to witness in the civil war and his argument with god over his own preachers suffering was torture to watch. Deadwood was one of the best.
I will never. Never! NEVER FUCKING let go of the fact that HBO pulled the plug on what is easily one of (if not THE) best shows ever created... To this day I am bitter. So fucking ridiculous. Nothing against Boardwalk Empire (OK maybe a little bit), but that show is just a sad replacement for Deadwood. I really wanted to like Boardwalk and watched the first 2 seasons (though it was so dry in points I had to force myself to keep watching) but it just isn't even close. I can never get it out of my head that it should have been Deadwood...
Nah Deadwood is ok, but I can see why it was cancelled. It takes WAAAAY too long for plots to develop. While the dialogue is good at times, much of it is idle chit chat with no real meaning. Some of the side characters are irritating (calamity jane), there is very little action and most of all the story is bland. I think this show is overrated.
I would agree, if Deadwood got the chance to finish. Unfortunately, it was cancelled, so I have to keep it leveled at a top 5 spot, not a top 1 spot. Not the fault of the writers or the actors, just how it happened. Still, one of my top five favorite shows ever made.
I don't understand the reactions. I think it's a sign that Al, even in his demented behavior, has empathy for those who have struggled. Just look at his relationship with Jewel.
This is one of the most brutally honest lines in this show full of brutality. Subsistence sex and sexual slavery is savage and inhuman. There are millions of women who are sexual victims of poverty and slavery. Anyone finds this line even remotely funny shows himself to be vicious and dangerous to every woman.
Its a shame this show was cancelled after 3 seasons. Ian McShane's character Al Swearengen is probably one of the best villians I have seen anywhere. It was good to see a western that accurately detailed how Deadwood really was.
Only a villain for like half of season 1. Once he and Bullock became friends he was a total anti-hero, sometimes a full on good guy like when he showed remorse for Bullock at the death of his kid or when he protected Alma from the sharpshooters.
I don’t see him as a villains oh he’s no shinning hero, well neither was his rival and almost like a son, bullock. They were men of their time, well even Wyatt fucking Earp was a pimp at one point. What I mean to see is both had their angels and their demons, and while Bullock heeded his angels mostly… one can’t deny Al danced with his devils
Just imagine a scene between Al Swearengen and Bill the Butcher from Gangs of New York. The screen would explode from the pure brutal manliness and silver tongued viscousness.
You missed one of my favourite moments, in a conversation between Al and Merrick; "Pain, or damage, don't end the world; or despair, or fucking beating's. The world ends when you're dead. Until then, you got more punishment in store; stand it like a man, and give some back."
This was the only show I watched in it's entirety because it was so damn good. Al Swearengen was the most well depicted, roguishly spoken, badass character with serious fuckin depth I've had the pleasure of viewing in a number of years. His is the name that I will light up at the mere mention of. All too rarely is there such a great execution and casting of a character.
My favorite Al Swearengen quote is when the whores disrespect Wu and Al says "Them that ain't lining this fuckin hallway when he comes out like Wu isnt the tallest most handsomest white man to ever get fuckin lucky, better be ready for a fuckin beatin'"!!!!!.
Al Swearengen...the most heartless and ruthless bastard you ever did meet... ...until you meet a hard, moral line. Then he's the most heartless and ruthless bastard who happens to be protecting his own people. World of difference.
I don't think it was entirely conscience. The man needed to be dead (simply for mercy's sake, AND since he was taking up a bed in the whorehouse) and Al happened to be the best at that task.
@@jasoncarswell7458 No, I think All couldn't stand to see the preacher's mind go. Giving sermons to cow and pigs. It was a mercy killing, so the preacher could still be remembered with dignity. If I was slowly dying, I would hope someone would assist me. But having a terminal illness is the only acceptable reason for suicide. Not because you got your heart broke, not because you got laid off and you have a family to support. Tough times makes tough people.
I think that's been pretty much put to rest at this point. I would've loved another season, but as it is its still pretty easily one of the best shows ever made.
The "euthanasia" at 2:43, taken in context, is actually an act of mercy. What a scary, compelling, and weirdly-admirable-in-his-consistency character this is...
I didn't say he was a nice guy. But overall his character had integrity and basically worked towards the general interest of the population at large. Cy tolliver was a villain, and obviously mr. hearst, never mind his geologist. those types of characters fascinate me as they represent more of a real life gray area than the 'superhero' that's often portrayed. One reason why i like "the shield" so much, it illuminates how good+bad can exist in one personality.
I downloaded all three seasons of Deadwood last year and man did I enjoy it, and also joined in among the anger of fans that this series was cancelled, albeit years ago, but Al Swearengen reminded me so much of Bill the Butcher from "Gangs of New York". Watching this show was like having three seasons worth of Bill the Butcher, only I kinda think I like Al better. Kinda want to watch both Gangs of NY and Deadwood again now.
I don't recall any other scenes together off hand... I interpreted that scene as Al being the ONLY person that could possibly scare the shit out of Jane. Al was Al and Jane seemed to be pissing herself.
The nut and rib shots on that Pinkerton that though he was special wow. I love when just once in awhile you can see how brutal and vicious Al can be when he gets angry.
yeah i am pretty sure they mention that McShanes character is a decendent of british royalty in one of the episodes. if i am not mistaken its the one where Mr. Elsworths character is introduced. but it is definatly an amazing series and worth the money to check out.
Oddly, RU-vids brain-dead "recommended" algorithm finally got around to suggesting I watch this compilation containing the very scene I said you had missed earlier... the whiskey/beer throat slit scene.
Al was adopted into the family. Younger brother died of a seizure. the older one was a gun hand. often used as Al's enforcer. The gem burned down, he rebuilt. Burned down a second time leaving him penniless. He died in Colorado, after losing a leg trying to hop a train. his actions actually caused the other family to spell our name Swearingin as opposed to swearingen
To each there own, these two are still two of my all time favorite shows, sad they ended to early ): Atleast we can agree on one thing, Deadwood kicked major ass (:
The way my stepdad puts it is its like Gunsmoke with swearing and nudity. It is an amazing show with fantastic writing and acting. It has a feeling of incompleteness to the ending of the series though.
"We show united in the prelude when he's making his entrance and the fucking like. When it comes to viewing the body, I stand for virtue alone. The deception failing, I'll make a pass at him with my blade. In the aftermath, play the lie as mine, knowing I speak of you in heaven."
Is it just me, or does Deadwood's dialogue seem like a hellishly excellent blend of Shakespeare, John Ford, and Yoda, with a bit of George Carlin and Richard Pryor thrown in for good measure?
Such an amazing show on so many levels,and I pretty much hate TV. I think the main reason they cancelled this awesome show,out of nowhere,is because they refer to the "capitalism" of the times as the antagonist (Hearst, Pinkertons, the wealthy and their means of acquisition). Because the show was an extremely accurate,if modernized, representation of the times,and the fact most of the methods seen as villainous in the show are still used on greater scales today, the elite can't have that on TV.
What a shame this show didn't last more than 3 seasons. Got cancelled cause the actors demanded more money than HBO was able to pay at the time. Terrific series.
Rebecca Vozábová ok...was in 2010 at Heathrow Airport(im American). I recognized him but could not remember his name. I asked him for a cigarette lighter, because he was smoking. I asked him if he was an "actor in film"...he shrugged it off, but didn't deny it. He let me use his lighter, I thanked him, and he said "bless ya". I went back to where I was standing, turned around and he was gone. The person I was with said it was Jeremy Irons. I already looked like a fool because I couldn't remember his name but he was damn familiar looking. We googled it on our phone. It was absolutely him...so yea I missed any chance for small talk but he was very polite. He was dressed in corduroy pants, wellington boots, leather coat...he looked rough, but trendy lol. Rolls his own cigarettes
