[Blog]

Permanent link to: <br /><br /><a href="http://www.chrisboylan.com/blog/archives/000252.php">Deadwood and The Wire</a>

<p>Caught both <em>The Sopranos</em> and <em>Deadwood</em> tonight on the HBO. First off, it looks like <em>The Sopranos</em> is really starting to hit its stride this season after a lackluster effort last season. I'm starting to remember why I liked the show in the first place. After last season, I felt I was just watching out of habit and not enjoying a thing, but the entertainment has returned.</p>

<p>As for <em>Deadwood</em>, I have to admit that the show got off to a slow start, but has really turned it on in the past few weeks. <a href="http://www.amberkmiller.com">Amber</a> didn't even make it through the first episode before walking away out of boredom - and I didn't particularly blame her. However, I fell in love with the character of <a href="http://www.hbo.com/interviews/timothyolyphant/index.shtml">Seth Bullock</a>, the ex-lawman turned hardware salesman. His bizarre thoughts on justice seemed rooted in a rock-solid moral code, however it's one that I'm completely unfamiliar with. He executed a man in the first five minutes of the series for horse-stealing - which I don't believe is exactly fair - but seems to do it mostly so the mob gathering outside his jail can't do it themselves. It's almost a spite execution, which as we get to know him seems quite out of character.</p>

<p>Anyway, much like <em>The Wire</em>, the show has taken off like a rocket, racing forward with compelling plot and characters in a way that no drama besides <em>The Wire</em> has. I know, I can't believe that I'm saying it, but it just might be that good. </p>

<p>In related news, it looks like the first season of <em>The Wire</em> may be <a href="http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=1008">coming out on DVD</a> later this month! Rest assured, I will be purchasing it at the first possible moment and I highly recommend everyone within the sound of these ramblings to either go out and rent it, pick it up, or borrow it from me. How good is <em>The Wire</em>? Well, if you read the earlier <em>Deadwood</em> link on Bullock, you would have seen that the reason he (the actor, Timothy Olyphant) starting looking for a TV job in the first place was that he got cable for the first time and starting watching <em>The Wire</em> because the lead actor, Dominick West, was his friend. The first season so blew him away that he told his agent to look for something on TV that might be as good as <em>The Wire</em>. Thus <em>Deadwood</em>.</p>

<p>P.S. Major points to <em>Deadwood</em> for the repeated use of the word <a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=RECONNOITER">reconnoiter</a>. And yes, I had to look it up. (Although you can clearly guess the meaning from context in the show)</p>

[Guest]

Yeah I think Deadwood is sweet so far. The actor who plays Al is so great, just perfect for that part. It sucks they killed off Wild Bill so soon, but since McCall actually killed him in real life it was only a matter of time before it happenend on the show.

The Sopranos has been great the last 2 episodes.I love how AJ's teacher called him Fredo, too funny. And you knew it was only a matter of time before Bushemi went to work for Tony.

[Chris]

Ok, Guest. FYI - You can enter your name when you reply to a post or blog without signing in. Identity is good.

I was thinking the same thing about Wild Bill. I knew that he was killed while playing poker from Positively Fifth Street, a great book on the World Series of Poker I read a month or so ago. I suspected it was in Deadwood, so I was torn between loving the character and wanting him to stay and needing the point resolved so the storyline could move on.

Well, it's done and now Seth can take center stage.

[Matt]

The no name post was me, Matt, I forgot to sign me name. Please don't hate me.

[Chris]

Too late.

You can also register and get your own fancy avatar and colored Blain heads too. In the very near future, I will extend the usernames to the rest of the site, allowing for some (hopefully) cool add-ons.