Deadwood "Amateur Night" Review (3x09)
Aug 16, 2016 14:58:26 GMT -5
Albert Fish Taco, jerkassimo, and 2 more like this
Post by Pear on Aug 16, 2016 14:58:26 GMT -5
“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.”
In my reviews thus far, I’ve consistently written about the show and its relationship with humanity: its understanding of what it means to be alive and the reasons we find to keep living. In “Amateur Night”, it becomes even clearer that the show appreciates and celebrates the creative expression we’re capable of. Anything from music to theater to juggling is on display here, and the amateur night itself is a strong answer to the Pinkertons riding into town. Hearst is planning, but the rest of the town is performing, and a perfect outlet is therefore available to counteract ruthlessness; it’s a way to simultaneously escape and deal with reality a little better. Hearst’s desire to divide probably sounds better on paper, just as his thoughts about “the color” are better in theory than when he tries to live by that code. It’s never a good idea to underestimate a guy as powerful as he is, but it seems like the community is really coming together on the opposing side.
In this episode, we also witness the opening of the new school, an act of unity and an expression of a new beginning with the town’s next generation. The sequence in which Jane walks the kids to school is incredible, and it’s reminiscent of the scene in the premiere in which Seth and Martha walk to the schoolhouse. The directors of this series–Adam Davidson helmed this one–definitely have a keen eye for the set and its spacing, and both sequences are great visual representations of the show’s themes. They’re also just nice ways to be taken on a short ride through the town, and we’re definitely running out of those opportunities as the series comes to a close.
The schoolhouse itself is also a fascinating thing to look at. “I think the story was of the tree,” Charlie says, “and the schoolhouse built around it.” The tree can be read as a symbol of the past, of the old days, of the wild west. The fact that it’s still here reflects longevity, history, and a willingness to appreciate what got them to this moment. George Hearst would probably tear down the tree and plant a bigger one. That’s not the way to go.
GRADE: B+
OTHER THOUGHTS:
-Cocksucker count: 10
Total cocksucker count: 274
-Aunt Lou and Richardson.😦
– “Theater types being perceived as transient, nomadic—without stake, so to speak, in a place’s particulars—my redundant undertakings would allay mistrust of my kind endemic in such camps as these. Oh. No less weighty than my verbiage.”
– “Swedgin, Hearst, Heng Dai?” “We’re the opposite of fucking Heng Dai! We’re bok gwai Lo, the two of us.” “Bok gwai lo?” “Fuck bok gwai lo! We’re not fucking heng dai! We’re the opposite of fucking heng dai. Now make your fucking point.” “Yah! Swedgin! Hearst! Eek!” “Jesus fucking christ.”
-Cy can still be pretty scary, as we see in his scene with Joanie. Kudos to Joanie for standing her ground.
-Bullock asserts himself over the Earps and handles that situation very well. Over the next few episodes, I expect to see him transform into the sexy-smooth operator that is Raylan Givens.
In my reviews thus far, I’ve consistently written about the show and its relationship with humanity: its understanding of what it means to be alive and the reasons we find to keep living. In “Amateur Night”, it becomes even clearer that the show appreciates and celebrates the creative expression we’re capable of. Anything from music to theater to juggling is on display here, and the amateur night itself is a strong answer to the Pinkertons riding into town. Hearst is planning, but the rest of the town is performing, and a perfect outlet is therefore available to counteract ruthlessness; it’s a way to simultaneously escape and deal with reality a little better. Hearst’s desire to divide probably sounds better on paper, just as his thoughts about “the color” are better in theory than when he tries to live by that code. It’s never a good idea to underestimate a guy as powerful as he is, but it seems like the community is really coming together on the opposing side.
In this episode, we also witness the opening of the new school, an act of unity and an expression of a new beginning with the town’s next generation. The sequence in which Jane walks the kids to school is incredible, and it’s reminiscent of the scene in the premiere in which Seth and Martha walk to the schoolhouse. The directors of this series–Adam Davidson helmed this one–definitely have a keen eye for the set and its spacing, and both sequences are great visual representations of the show’s themes. They’re also just nice ways to be taken on a short ride through the town, and we’re definitely running out of those opportunities as the series comes to a close.
The schoolhouse itself is also a fascinating thing to look at. “I think the story was of the tree,” Charlie says, “and the schoolhouse built around it.” The tree can be read as a symbol of the past, of the old days, of the wild west. The fact that it’s still here reflects longevity, history, and a willingness to appreciate what got them to this moment. George Hearst would probably tear down the tree and plant a bigger one. That’s not the way to go.
GRADE: B+
OTHER THOUGHTS:
-Cocksucker count: 10
Total cocksucker count: 274
-Aunt Lou and Richardson.😦
– “Theater types being perceived as transient, nomadic—without stake, so to speak, in a place’s particulars—my redundant undertakings would allay mistrust of my kind endemic in such camps as these. Oh. No less weighty than my verbiage.”
– “Swedgin, Hearst, Heng Dai?” “We’re the opposite of fucking Heng Dai! We’re bok gwai Lo, the two of us.” “Bok gwai lo?” “Fuck bok gwai lo! We’re not fucking heng dai! We’re the opposite of fucking heng dai. Now make your fucking point.” “Yah! Swedgin! Hearst! Eek!” “Jesus fucking christ.”
-Cy can still be pretty scary, as we see in his scene with Joanie. Kudos to Joanie for standing her ground.
-Bullock asserts himself over the Earps and handles that situation very well. Over the next few episodes, I expect to see him transform into the sexy-smooth operator that is Raylan Givens.