Should I binge Deadwood, despite never having a series ending?
12-29-14, 06:43 AM
#1
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Thread Starter
Should I binge Deadwood, despite never having a series ending?
I am binge watching Mad Men right now (absolutely love it), and I am trying to figure out the next show I will binge after I am done?
HBO OnDemand has all of the Deadwood Seasons for free, so I was thinking of starting that next. I remember it always got great reviews, but I believe HBO never let them do a proper series ending?
Is it still worth it to watch (no spoilers please), or is it anti-climatic because they were never able to end it on their terms?
Thanks!
HBO OnDemand has all of the Deadwood Seasons for free, so I was thinking of starting that next. I remember it always got great reviews, but I believe HBO never let them do a proper series ending?
Is it still worth it to watch (no spoilers please), or is it anti-climatic because they were never able to end it on their terms?
Thanks!
12-29-14, 08:28 AM
#3
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Re: Should I binge Deadwood, despite never having a series ending?
I have to say, as much as I loved watching Deadwood as it aired, knowing that we'll never get a clear resolution to the show has severely diminished my desire to revisit it (no matter how cheap the blu sets happen to be going for).
12-29-14, 08:37 AM
#4
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Thread Starter
Re: Should I binge Deadwood, despite never having a series ending?
Why was it cancelled as everyone I know who watched it really loved it. Were the ratings that bad in the last season?
12-29-14, 09:37 AM
#6
Moderator
Re: Should I binge Deadwood, despite never having a series ending?
I had a very similar experience to what you're contemplating so here are my thoughts:
I recently watched it over a couple weeks via Amazon Prime Instant Video and it was my first time watching it, aside from the first few episodes I caught when they originally aired (at the time, it was okay but I didn't dig it). I went into it knowing there wasn't a true ending of the series and decided not to let it deter me.
Pros:
Cons:
I'm glad I watched it. No real desire to watch it again. Still, I'd recommend it and if it holds your attention, stick with it.
I recently watched it over a couple weeks via Amazon Prime Instant Video and it was my first time watching it, aside from the first few episodes I caught when they originally aired (at the time, it was okay but I didn't dig it). I went into it knowing there wasn't a true ending of the series and decided not to let it deter me.
Pros:
Spoiler:
Cons:
Spoiler:
I'm glad I watched it. No real desire to watch it again. Still, I'd recommend it and if it holds your attention, stick with it.
12-29-14, 11:35 AM
#7
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Re: Should I binge Deadwood, despite never having a series ending?
Motherfuck yes plus two San Francisco cock suckers say you need to watch that shit right the fuck now, fuck no ending or whatnot. Seriously, Ian McShane's portrayal of Ellis Albert "Al" Swearengen is worth it alone.
12-29-14, 11:48 AM
#8
Moderator
Re: Should I binge Deadwood, despite never having a series ending?
Everything I said, plus what van der graaf said.
12-29-14, 12:20 PM
#9
Re: Should I binge Deadwood, despite never having a series ending?
You don't have to "binge" it, but yes watch the whole series, take your time with it if you need. Still one of my top shows, despite not having an ending.
12-29-14, 02:36 PM
#11
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Should I binge Deadwood, despite never having a series ending?
While it doesn't really have an ending, it doesn't really have any major cliffhangers, either...you'll be fine. Go ahead and watch it.
12-29-14, 02:44 PM
#12
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: Should I binge Deadwood, despite never having a series ending?
12-29-14, 07:05 PM
#14
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Should I binge Deadwood, despite never having a series ending?
It's a great show, but it's not one to binge.
Each episode takes place over the course of one day, and it's not particularly fast moving, nor does it really build up to anything (which is why not having an "ending" isn't too big a deal). The reason you should watch it but shouldn't binge it is because the show is really fucking dense. Something like 24 can be binged easily, since there's really nothing to think about. Deadwood is full of meaning, subtleties, nuance, and those scripts, my god, the dialog! If anything, you should watch each episode two or three times before moving on to the next, just so you catch all the brilliance coming out of each character's mouth.
Each episode takes place over the course of one day, and it's not particularly fast moving, nor does it really build up to anything (which is why not having an "ending" isn't too big a deal). The reason you should watch it but shouldn't binge it is because the show is really fucking dense. Something like 24 can be binged easily, since there's really nothing to think about. Deadwood is full of meaning, subtleties, nuance, and those scripts, my god, the dialog! If anything, you should watch each episode two or three times before moving on to the next, just so you catch all the brilliance coming out of each character's mouth.
12-29-14, 08:41 PM
#15
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Should I binge Deadwood, despite never having a series ending?
Absol-fucking-utely.
Cocksucker.
Cocksucker.
12-29-14, 09:06 PM
#16
Senior Member
Re: Should I binge Deadwood, despite never having a series ending?
Watch it for sure. This talk has now made me want to revisit. Such a great show and way too forgotten.
12-30-14, 09:06 AM
#17
Re: Should I binge Deadwood, despite never having a series ending?
Did Solid Snake write the show or something??? I must be missing some inside joke with all the cussing... I have been contemplating this as well however I am not sure I want to invest that much time in a show that does not end.
12-30-14, 10:45 AM
#19
Banned
Re: Should I binge Deadwood, despite never having a series ending?
The open-endedness of the show didn't bother us. Not like it ended on a cliffhanger.
That said, I thought the show dragged somewhat in the second and third seasons. I honestly feel that if Milch had known in advance that he would only have three seasons, a lot of the Shakespearean monologues from secondary characters which didn't move the plot along (and I'm not including Swearengen, Jane, Farnum, etc. doing their hilarious ruminations) would have been jettisoned in order to get on with the show.
There's way too much sitting around at night contemplating what might happen, IMHO. And that would be true even if the show had gotten its planned final season.
The first season, on the other hand, is a master class in pacing and characterization.
Agree that there's no need to binge-watch. Savor it.
That said, I thought the show dragged somewhat in the second and third seasons. I honestly feel that if Milch had known in advance that he would only have three seasons, a lot of the Shakespearean monologues from secondary characters which didn't move the plot along (and I'm not including Swearengen, Jane, Farnum, etc. doing their hilarious ruminations) would have been jettisoned in order to get on with the show.
There's way too much sitting around at night contemplating what might happen, IMHO. And that would be true even if the show had gotten its planned final season.
The first season, on the other hand, is a master class in pacing and characterization.
Agree that there's no need to binge-watch. Savor it.
12-30-14, 10:50 AM
#20
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Re: Should I binge Deadwood, despite never having a series ending?
http://movies.stackexchange.com/ques...ty-in-deadwood
12-30-14, 11:21 AM
#21
Banned
Re: Should I binge Deadwood, despite never having a series ending?
Why all the Profanity in Deadwood? See here (no spoilers, but a few funny/clever lines revealed):
http://movies.stackexchange.com/ques...ty-in-deadwood
http://movies.stackexchange.com/ques...ty-in-deadwood
I like the observation that a lot of comments that would have been considered blasphemous then would make the characters sound like Yosemite Sam if used today. Of course, I'm not totally convinced since interviews with Milch sound as though a lot of the "shocking" words meant to convey the "lawlessness" of Deadwood culture seem to show up regularly in his casual conversations.
12-30-14, 01:31 PM
#23
Re: Should I binge Deadwood, despite never having a series ending?
Same answer as "should you breathe some air today?"
One of TVs all time high points. And best dialogue in any show, ever.
One of TVs all time high points. And best dialogue in any show, ever.
12-31-14, 03:34 AM
#24
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Should I binge Deadwood, despite never having a series ending?
Fantastic show. Certainly up there with my very favorites. Sure it doesn't have a real ending but if you want to know what happened, read a history book (in fact there are a few good "wiki" type sites on the internet explaining it).
01-06-15, 01:12 AM
#25
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Should I binge Deadwood, despite never having a series ending?
Go ahead and try. I made it to about halfway through the third season, it was just so slow and I couldn't take the dialogue any more.
Watch this video, and it is not far from the truth:
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/f31PLcCXD0U" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Watch this video, and it is not far from the truth:
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/f31PLcCXD0U" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>