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Deadwood - The Complete 2nd Season Deadwood: The Complete Second Season continues the Shakespearean brilliance of the landmark first season, created by NYPD Blue head writer David Milch. Milch either wrote or supervised the writing of each of the 12 episodes in this stunning follow-up, which contains more than a few surprises for anyone who thought they knew the myriad characters in the late 19th century town of Deadwood--a mucky, ungoverned, exceptionally violent development in South Dakota. As with the first season, Deadwood continues to be about many things--survival, loyalty, alliances, duty--but all of them are happening against a titanic battle between several parties to consolidate power and real wealth in the territory. Despite his cutthroat ethics, astonishing profanity, and bursts of cruelty, it's hard not to side in this bid for a piece of America's future with saloon owner Al Swearengen (a magnificent performance by Ian McShane), a visionary monster who is nevertheless more recognisably human than his rivals.
Entering an uneasy partnership with Al is Seth Bullock (Timothy Olyphant). Seth begins the second season by teaching Al a few lessons in chivalry, and their brief but bloody feud commences physical ailments for Al that become increasingly shocking to behold. Yet Al's difficulties have the practical effect of sidelining him for a couple of episodes while the story sets up more complex power struggles. Al takes on Deadwood's other saloon-brothel owner, the unstable Cy Tolliver (Powers Boothe), as well as an off-screen millionaire who is intent on owning all the gold-mining interests by buying out weary prospectors' claims. Meanwhile, Seth's wife and son (actually, his late brother's widow and child) arrive, an unsettling development for Seth's lover, the widow Alma Garret (Molly Parker), who soon reveals herself to be a more complicated person than in the first season. The prostitute Trixie (Paula Malcomson) begins thinking about her future and asserts independence from Al by having sex with Seth's friend, Sol Star (John Hawkes). Best of all, Calamity Jane (Robin Weigert) is back and more endearingly uncivilized than ever. Special features include actor commentaries on select episodes, the best of which finds Olyphant and McShane cracking each other up while watching the season premiere. --Tom Keogh ... Read More » |
Average User Rating: 80% (12 Reviews) | |
| 5 / 5 | 2 is better than 1
Mr. D. M. Cooper "dazthephenom" (UK) - 17 February 2006 The Second series of Deadwood starts off where we left at the end of season 1. The camp is going through major changes which dominate the second series, with the government trying to steal gold claims off the hard working men of Deadwood and also trying to get the camp itself into a state of America. Of course the people will stop them, they have Al Swerengen for one. And once again he is up to his ruthless deeds trying to stay ahead of the game and trying to avoid problems on comming by emlininating them brutally in most cases. Bullock now the sherrif of Deadwood goes through more termoil with his Sherrif postion, and dealings with Al, which ends with a horrific fight between the two that occurs in the first episode. The fight causes a tension between AL and Bullock, but eventually it gets sorted out as Bullock is the only one who can keep the camp in order. Other story lines involve, Bullocks family moving to camp, the return of Calamity, and Al getting very ill. And many more fantastic events. I was sceptical that a second series would be as good or better than the first. I was completly wrong, its far far better. Characters have evolved, story lines are gripping, the brutallity is still there, and so is that shcok factor which was from the first series. The show remains fresh, and that is great. The other good thing about this season 2 box set is, that we get it before the Americans do, which is a bonus for all us UK Deadwood fans!!... Read Full Review » |
| 1 / 5 | Please wait for the Region 1 edition!
Yanni Sis "Zoom, zoom" (London, U.K.) - 28 February 2006 The Region 1 edition of the first season of "Deadwood" was far superior to the Region 2 set. Aside from the superior packaging, there were numerous bonus features including episode commentaries and background documentaries which, given the setting of this series, were important sources of background for the real-life characters and the town itself as well as the genesis of the series. Do not encourage studios to differentiate between regions when it comes to content and quality. Do not buy the Region 2 set but wait until May for the Region 1 edition. If nothing else, this will teach the publishers to ensure that all regions get the same bonus content, and discourage double-dipping as well if they have an intention of re-releasing the seasons with the extra content again in the future.... Read Full Review » |
| 5 / 5 | Deadwood - Season 2
R V FLOOD (England) - 5 April 2006 This is a superior series. The standards have been maintained from the first season, and continues to explore the motivations of the main characters against the backdrop of the evolving town of Deadwood. I'm really looking forward to Seasons 3 and 4. I agree that the bonus features should have been included, but its the episodes that will enjoy repeated viewings. I would suggest that anyone wishing to find out more about Deadwood and its characters, should order from Amazon the book "The Real Deadwood" by John Ames. Its a useful book as it highlights the real lives of the characters portrayed in HBO's Deadwood. In a way this compensates for the lack of bonus features on the region 2 editions. I found it a good background primer for the show.... Read Full Review » |
| 5 / 5 | the show itself
Mr. D. M. Cooper "dazthephenom" (UK) - 27 March 2006 It annoys me that the last two reviews for this box set have been based solely on the bonus content. You are turning people away from a brilliant show that can stand on its own. The bonus features are thin yes you are correct, but the second series of Deadwood is good enough on its own without any extra features and is well worth the price also!! Don't be put off buying this box set, if u loved the show itself which is the reason why we buy the dvd, then you cannot go wrong with this.... Read Full Review » |
| 1 / 5 | ripped off
David Shiels "David shiels" - 12 March 2006 i agree with minyas , on the inside packaging it says there are commentaries from castmembers on the disc , but i cant find any , i feel cheated ,if it wasn't written on the inside it would be ok but to advertise and then not put them on is a feckin joke . |
RRP
£54.99
Release Date
6 March 2006
Price Range
£13.99 - £49.99