Deadwood "Advances, None Miraculous" Review (2x10)
Jun 10, 2015 21:20:39 GMT -5
Lady Bones likes this
Post by Pear on Jun 10, 2015 21:20:39 GMT -5
“Day saw advances, Trixie. None miraculous.”
“Life ends, but life moves on” is the idea that “Advances, None Miraculous” is centered on. As much as you may hope for a miracle, the days are simply going to advance and leave you behind if you wait too long. You cannot stop the perpetual march of life, and most of the time, you also can’t really control when someone else’s march of life comes to an end. What can definitely happen, however, is the living on of that lost life in some way, the living on of those lingering memories and emotional weights that can influence any actions moving forward. And here, just like Wild Bill’s influence was still felt after his death, the gravity of William’s situation is felt in every other aspect of life in Deadwood.
I don’t think it’s any coincidence that the episode features Doc Cochran having to remove a bullet from Mose’s body, as we have two similar health scenarios here side by side. Yet, William is the one who dies, and the doc still has to do his job: save another person’s life. “The hoof hits just one inch to the right, boy’s pain is gone,” Cochran says. “Don’t have to watch him suffer. I doubt He’s omniscient. I know He’s myopic.” There’s no miracle to be found here with William, and as Martha and Seth stand over him, talking to him as the life drains out of his body, they’re closer than they’ve ever been before. Timothy Olyphant and Anna Gunn are absolutely phenomenal here, and they really help to convey the idea that tragedy can bring people together.
Also, this tragedy ties into so many other elements of the camp and the time period, whether that be the politics or the racism or the religion. For instance, the absence of Bullock at the moment affects Isringhausen’s negotiations with Al, Tom doesn’t want anything do to with the bike–and is found later by Jane sitting by himself and crying–and Hostetler and the N****r General start to flee from Deadwood. “There isn’t a white man on Earth gonna stand against ropin’ us up now, is there?” Hostetler asks, and it’s a sad truth he’s stating right there. However, they eventually decide that the right thing to do is find that horse, and the show once again finds a small ounce of hope in what seems like a dire situation. “I guard, that man might think, settin’ forth afterwards with whatever fuckin’ loudmouth went along with him…” Hostetler suggests with a smile, “…that if he made it to Oregon alive, the two of ’em might open a livery”. Maybe life can go on.
GRADE: B+
OTHER THOUGHTS:
-Cocksucker count: 7
Total cocksucker count: 214
– “I am a sinner who does not expect forgiveness. But I am not a government official.”
– “You talk like you take it up the ass.” “I do not, my friend Adams, take it up the ass.”
-This episode features some more arrivals–or rather, returns–the first one being of Commissioner Jarry. I’ll admit that I don’t quite follow exactly what Al, Silas, and Jarry are talking about in this episode, but I do gather that Al’s trying to pull one over on Jarry. Another arrival? Andy Cramed, the plague-ridden guy who was talking to Jane early on in season one. It’s nice that he’s coming back as a minister; perhaps it’s a nod to Reverend Smith?
-Richardson praying with the antlers is a really great shot. Throughout the series, he’s been largely a victim who many don’t give much thought to, and it’s nice to see a small moment like this for him here. Also, someone could probably write an essay about all the animal symbolism in this show. There’s quite a bit.
– “We come to know the truth of our actions only in the protractions of time.”