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June 18, 2004
The Deadwood Award
Deadwood fans, you know that our show is so goddamn good that they haven't even invented an award distinguished enough to do it justice. You might as well create The Deadwood Award.
Doc Cochran's little conversation with god -- we might call it the What Conceivable Godly Purpose? Speech -- was one of the most compelling performances you've ever seen on your television, bar none.
And how about the exquisite complexity of Al Swearengen's character? He has always striven to be as cold, calculating, brutal and self-interested as possible, because he had a horrible childhood, and his cruel ways have been rewarded with material prosperity. Now, in spite of himself, and although he's certainly still a violent hard-ass in his business affairs, he sees in himself disturbing tendencies in the direction of becoming a regular human being with normal feelings like love (e.g., for Trixie) and compassion (for the reverend). Despite his uncommonly dark, sardonic sense of humor, the man is incapable of smiling -- even at the sight of Jewel the Gimp waltzing with Doc Cochran. A psychotherapist could hang an entire career on Al's head.
Posted by Professor B at June 18, 2004 8:47 PM
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