Good to see Al’s violence.
Jane’s face reminds me of Alfalfa’s.
[QUOTE=Johnny L.A.
Jane’s face reminds me of Alfalfa’s.[/QUOTE]
Jane’s entire soliloquy went right over my head. Anyone care to elaborate?
Yeah, good to see ol’ Al back in top form. “Wu.”
What’s with Hearst spitting on E.B.? He had nothing to do with anything.
I love Richardson more each episode.
Another great episode. What a showcase for Ian McShane. He got to show off everything that’s great about Al. Ruthless, deadly and brutal, to be sure but he also showed that streak of compassion, even heroism, that makes the character so compelling. Jumping off the balcony to rescue Alma and having the presence of mind (and that little spark of decency) to send someone to guard the schoolhouse was vintage “good Al.” Stomping the shit out of the Pinkerton, breaking him for information, cutting his throat and feeding him to Wu’s pigs was vintage, badass Swedgin (but in a good way).
The theater troupe storyline still seems kind of pointless and always drags for me but the stuff with Al and Hearst tonight was everything I like about Deadwood.
I actually felt a little sorry for EB tonight. I wouldn’t have thought that was possible. I guess it just goes to show what risably contemptable character Hearst is (and kudos to Gerald McRaney, he’s doing a fantastic job of selling the character).
Agree on the theater troup. I don’t see the point of their rather boring story line.
What an awesome episode! Except for a couple of dead spots, such as Jane’s rambling, it was non-stop action. Some great lines, too:
“I gotta go see to my Jew.”
“Every step a fuckin’ adventure!”
Bullock’s face at the table was downright hysterical. I wouldn’t have been surprised to see steam pour out of his ears.
From the previews:
The unthinkable? Did I understand right that Alma kills somebody?
No. What Al (or somebody) said was “YOU didn’t shoot him.”
I’ll need to read the transcript to decipher what Jane was saying about her dream. Is the gist of it that normally she’s a useless drunk but sometimes she steps up?
Another great episode. Almost too much tension. I’m hoping next week sorts out the violence, and that the final episode is a bit more calm, with some wrapping up. I can’t handle three weeks in a row like tonight.
Another thing I love about this show is how each character’s dialog fits him or her precisely. Hearst’s no-nonsense prose. Al’s near-poetic and completely profane and vulgar utterances. Jane’s drunken rants.
She lost me right around “Row, row, row your boat!” I think she had a point in the beginning but then lost it somewhere in the drunken haze and just ended up making the point that she wanted Joanie to kiss her.
I don’t even understand what’s going on with the actors. Was the new actress a prostitute he was associated with? Had she followed him there? Why do I even care?
Loved seeing boot-stomping Al back in action. Hearst’s big tough hired gun sure crumpled awfully fast. “Think I’ve got 2 broken ribs, maybe 3.” Heh.
Wow, Hearst is just a nasty piece of work. Humiliating anyone within reach, like poor EB.
About next week–I want to know what happened to cause
everyone to cry. Even Trixie! My totally wild speculation is that one of the kids gets caught in the crossfire. Maybe Alma’s girl?
I think Hearst is a great character but a very poor strategist. Every move he makes appears to get thwarted. I think he attacked Farnsworth out of rage and impotence. Picked on the weakest and stupidiest person he could.
The actors are doing less for me each weak.
From the previews, I think Alma shoots Hearst.
I think the point of Jane’s monologue was that she normally absolutely hates herself, and remembers only the times she’s failed, but in her dream, Charlie Utter reminded her to remember the times she’s done things right, like sing for Sophia at some point.
Who was it that the whores were talking about who came from Philadelphia who Jewel could have talked to?
And if anyone figures out what’s going on with those two new dark haired women (Joseanna and Mary?), let us know. And what’s the point of Cy’s new prostitute, Janine?
I’d love for this to happen, but if she did, why would she be crying? Alma picking up a gun is something a lesser writer would do, not Milch. He doesn’t do cliches, or that deus ex machina thing, which is what it’d take to put a gun in Alma’s hands.
Two more weeks, and then I’m done with HBO. Anyone else cancelling?
That’d be Alma. The whores and Jewel were totally smitten with her.
I think Mary is at the camp on a promise from Langrishe to hire her (painting scenery), and I think they had a personal relationship as well.
But Langrishe became entranced with the dancing lady at amateur night and is hiring her instead.
For an old guy, he gets his share. Oh wait, he’s a producer. That explains it.
Aren’t there supposed to be a couple of two hour “movies” being produced now to close out the series? Or did those plans get cancelled?
Fo a gay gay he sure does get around. I wasn’t sure if the two ladies were meant to be related and the younger one was Langrishe’s daughter and the lady in red the mother.
This was a truly spectacular episode.
I thought that Hearst’s treatment of E.B. was wonderful karmic retribution for E.B.'s treatment of Richardson. Of course, E.B. will likely take out his frustrations on poor Richardson. Shit flows downhill.
The Wire, Auntie. The Wire.
To the OP, IMO, this was one of the best episodes of the season. I was motherfucking hypnotyzed by Swigen’s scenes. Masterpieces, every one.
Did I read the credits right in that W. Earl Brown (Dan Dority) wrote the fucking episode? Is that amazing?
My guess about next week:
It’s either Sophia or Ellsworth dies saving Sophia and/or Alma.
Hearst is a real historical person; IRL he didn’t die in Deadwood, so he can’t in this series. I suppose he could have been wounded, though.
For the same reason, can’t be Bullock, Swidgen, Star, Charlie Utter.
Who’s left? Ellsworth? Tolliver?