The Gem Saloon-related stories
Posted Aug 27th 2006 11:16PM by Jonathan Toomey
Filed under: Other Drama Shows, HBO, Premium Cable, OpEd, Deadwood

(S03E12) Maybe I sit alone with this belief, but I was royally disappointed with this finale. This entire season has been building up to this episode. It was supposed to be a magnificent explosion with guns a blazing as Bullock and Swearengen delivered Deadwood from the clutches of Hearst and his Pinkerton pistoleros. There was none of that. For the most part it was calm. It's clear that this finale was written with a full-length fourth season in mind and I only hope now that the remaining four hours of this wonderful series can do it the justice it deserves.
Continue reading Deadwood: Tell Him Something Pretty (season finale)
Posted Aug 27th 2006 12:18PM by Jonathan Toomey
Filed under: Other Drama Shows, HBO, Premium Cable, OpEd, Deadwood

(S03E11) Forgive the extreme lateness of this review folks, but between work and my cable being out for a day, I just haven't had the opportunity to sit down and watch this episode. But now that I have... wow. Words cannot describe how excited I am for tonight's season three finale. So take this review as sort of a refresher on the season as a whole as we prepare ourselves for the final stand-off between Hearst's men and the camp of Deadwood.
Continue reading Deadwood: The Catbird Seat (late review)
Posted Aug 13th 2006 11:10PM by Jonathan Toomey
Filed under: Other Drama Shows, HBO, Premium Cable, OpEd, Deadwood

(S03E10) Once again, great as usual... but man, they are really building up to this season's climax at a snail's pace. As much as that fact has me agitated, you still have to admire it though. Every move, every scene, every choice bit of dialogue in this show means something. It all ties together. It's just so meticulously laid out and that's why we're unfortunately not being treated to a full fourth season. It's too bad that series renewal relies on viewership and not the quality level of the program, because let's face it. Deadwood, along with a few select others (Rescue Me comes to mind), are alone at the top right now.
Continue reading Deadwood: A Constant Throb
Posted Aug 6th 2006 11:23PM by Jonathan Toomey
Filed under: Other Drama Shows, HBO, Premium Cable, OpEd, Deadwood

(S03E09) Since there are only three episodes left this season, I was expecting this to be a much tenser hour. Don't get me wrong, it was great, but David Milch and Co. are being very economical about when, where, and how they're doling out the really explosive stuff. If anything, the final three installments will be brimming with what this whole season has been building up to: a final confrontation between the people of Deadwood and George "Boy the Earth Talks To" Hearst.
Continue reading Deadwood: Amateur Night
Posted Jul 30th 2006 11:19PM by Jonathan Toomey
Filed under: Other Drama Shows, HBO, Premium Cable, OpEd, Deadwood

(S03E08) This show just continues to impress. After missing last week's episode, I sat down an hour early tonight and got a double dose. Talk about a great two hours of television. We pick up the morning after Al's impromptu meeting with the rest of the camp elders. Tensions are high as Merrick and Blasinov distribute fresh copies of The Pioneer around camp. The waiting game came next as it would only be a matter of time before Hearst saw Bullock's letter to the families of the murdered Cornishmen. And find it he did. He had some words with Merrick about printing the letter. But Hearst is no fool. He knows it was published to embarrass him and shed light on the murders he clearly had a hand in. If anything, all this has done is strengthened his already powerful dislike for the camp and its residents.
Continue reading Deadwood: Leviathan Smiles
Posted Jul 17th 2006 8:20AM by Jonathan Toomey
Filed under: Other Drama Shows, HBO, Premium Cable, OpEd, Deadwood

(S03E06) Omar Gooding?!?! This is too much to handle. From Wild and Crazy Kids to Deadwood. And yes, before people go comment crazy, I realize he's done plenty since then. But c'mon, he hosted a show where kids threw water balloons full of whipped cream and chocolate syrup at each other. Regardless, I'm not sure what adding his character (he plays Odell, Aunt Lou's son) will accomplish. I was starting to become content with all the players we had. Now we add Odell and leave out someone like Jack Langrishe, who I absolutely love. But I shouldn't discriminate... or else I'll come off sounding like E.B. or Steve the Drunk.
Continue reading Deadwood: A Rich Find
Posted Jul 9th 2006 9:09PM by Jonathan Toomey
Filed under: Other Drama Shows, HBO, Premium Cable, OpEd, Deadwood

(S03E05) This sums just about everything up:
Johnny: "What are we waiting for?"
Swearengen: "To see what kind of hell breaks loose."
And break loose it did. From drug addiction to street fights, plenty of things came out into the open this week on Deadwood.
Continue reading Deadwood: A Two-Headed Beast