Is it just me, or does Steve the drunk have the exact same speech patterns as Jane (the drunk)? I never noticed it before this episode, maybe because Steve the drunk had more lines than usual.
Yeah, I think you’re right about the speech patterns.
They’re great characters, but both of them act like no other drunk I’ve seen, and I’ve seen plenty of them. Jane’s sad drunk is more realistic than her raucous drunk, which makes me wonder if raucous drunk Jane is putting on an act, maybe to keep people away.
Hearst’s speech about the power of the color was really just a restatement of Adam Smith’s invisible hand - how people with nothing in common, with opposing interests, and who even hate each other can come to agreement and work together because the ‘color’ is an objective thing they both value and can haggle over to come to agreements they both find acceptable, work together in their common interest, trade with each other, etc.
I interpreted the letter a little differently. I don’t think that it’s meant for the papers back east nor is it aimed directly to Hearst. I think it’s a letter to everyone in Deadwood. If they realize that they are a community, there are easily enough guns in camp to defeat Hearst’s “25 bricks”.
That’s more how I took it, too. It’s part of the process that fascinated Milch about the story from the beginning – the journey from lawlessness to civilization, from murders meaning pretty much nothing to being viewed as an attack on the community.
Al needs to order a can opener from back East. (Actually, much as I like the show, the Old West has been covered so much that I’d really like to see a show about the civilized part of the U.S. in the 1870’s – the big cities with steam power, plumbing and gasworks. You could call it “Back East”.)
“Don’t eat eggplant” would be the easiest medical advice I ever followed.
I thought it was in a newspaper, which published a letter from Deadwood.
After two additional viewings, I agree with you and Ass for a Hat. It’s the Hooples they want to influence, not Hearst.
Hearst’s words to Odell make me optimistic though. He seems to want to be accepted in society (human society, not “society”), and if he responds badly to the letter, he’ll lose an opportunity for that to happen.
Ah, the transcript has been posted. Gustav said: "And when I am in New York City, I have a letter from a friend. In the news from the camp, he says . . . "
What with that terrible accent, it’s no wonder we’re confused. 
I like how Al thought it was a great idea and yet didn’t really know why.
I also like how even someone as odious and disgusting as Steve the drunk, has a glimmer of humanity in him.
When he gets into a full rant though and his voice does that thing he does when he’s bellowing, I hate that guy.
By the way anyone wonder how Tolliver is going to relate this meeting to Heart or did he have enough when he got the ear twisting?
If anyone is going to break ranks and fuck up the whole thing, it will be Cy.
Cy or EB. EB probably wouldn’t do it on purpose, but he wouldn’t stand up to Hearst for long. In Cy’s case, it will be because he wants to end up on the winning side.
Count me as one of the few who likes the subplot with the actors. At least I like the Langrish character.
I’m really liking Gerald McRaney as Hearst too. It’s possible to feel bad for him while at the same time hating him. In some ways he’s similar to how Al was for most of the first season.
Now wouldn’t it be interesting if they twisted Hearst’s character in a more sympathetic direction, just liike they did Al’s? Not to suddenly show him as a good guy, but to have the events in Deadwood push him towards an alliance with the others. Say, if some politicians came around again and threatened to nationalize the gold claims, or some other external common threat to both Hearst’s and Al’s interests… That would be interesting.
I really, really hope Hearst receives a shipment of bricks in the next episode.
Delivered by Charlie Utter’s freight service.
The closest thing we’ve had to a good practical joke was the Bummer Dan/Slippery Dan fiasco.
I dare ya, Charlie!