Deadwood "New Money" Review (2x03)
May 16, 2015 17:58:00 GMT -5
jerkassimo, nowimnothing, and 1 more like this
Post by Pear on May 16, 2015 17:58:00 GMT -5
When one part of the Deadwood body falters, other people have to step up to fill some large shoes. That part, of course, is Al Swearengen, who spends the entire running time of “New Money” lying on the floor and incapacitated by his kidney stone. It’s an interesting choice by the show, and although the episode is sorely missing his wonderful presence, it’s a great illustration of both how important he is to Deadwood and what happens when he is unable to do anything. His illness is followed up by an immediate struggle for power in the town, and the arrival of newcomer Francis Wolcott definitely shakes things up a bit.
Played by Garrett Dillahunt, Wolcott is immediately an intriguing presence, and the actor plays him in a completely different manner than he did Jack McCall. Wolcott is a perceptive and intelligent man, and he knows what makes people tick, what drives them to do the things they do. He’s able to tell that Joanie has a gun hidden in her clothes, Maddie is afraid of being around him, and he subtly stirs up unrest in the town. There’s no Al available to rattle off a few “cocksucker”s at him, so he’s largely successful at carrying out Hearst’s bidding. And even though Hearst is nowhere to be seen in this episode, we certainly feel his presence as the groundwork is laid for the devalued gold claims.
Also, it looks like Cy is getting in on this as well. I was of the opinion last season that he was starting to lose his grip on power as the season wore on, but he’s the kind of guy who can take hold of any opportunity placed in front of him and use it to his advantage. So, Hearst and Wolcott are going to be using him moving forward to get what they want, and he’s already beginning to spread the rumors in order to stir the town up. It’s going to be really interesting to see how this all plays out when Al recovers after basically getting his dick stabbed by Doc, and it’s even more interesting considering Al’s characterization is much different now than what we were expecting at the start of the series.
One final idea: last season, the characters had to deal with the plague, and I connected that to the idea of the town being a body. At the beginning of season two, I’m seeing a similar type of idea with the spreading of rumors: it’s fantastic when everything is working together smoothly, but one drawback of this intricate weave of people is the fact that shit can spread. If they’re all leaning on each other to keep the town functioning, then what happens when there’s a power vacuum, when that power vacuum is filled by rapidly spreading rumors introduced by an outside source? Is it…like a disease? Haha…
GRADE: B
OTHER THOUGHTS:
-Cocksucker count: 8
Total cocksucker count: 162
– “You might add as a postscript: ‘I also have the news you dispatched me to secure of the newly arrived c**t’. Please.”
-The shot of Seth and his family through the window of his house is really wonderful.
-Alma turning the tables on E.B. and taking out her anger on Miss Isringhausen=the best. “My preference is your saying goodbye.” *Cue Isringhausen being crushed by the power of Alma Garrett*
-Shakespeare monologue of the week, courtesy of E.B. Farnum: “Richardson, won’t you sit yourself? Allow me to take up your labors, I am confiding that turbulence, upheaval of the most violent sort, churning seas, waves of a scale and force to make the most seasoned seafarer vomit–bleah–are in prospect for this camp. And we, Richardson, you, I, and tragically others–so very many others who journeyed to the hills to stake their claims, and with those claims their hopes for the future–are but pawns of the savage sea and playthings of the fucking deep. Not for us, apparently, the placid harbor, on which voyages, near complete to bob and rot, bob and rot, be calmed. For us, to the very end, the dizzying surges of the storm and its crashing descents! Do you understand me, you repulsive lout?”
– “Where’s fucking Dolly?” “Fucking.”
