Deadwood (2004)

The critic hails Deadwood as one of the boldest and richest pieces of American entertainment since The Godfather, a masterpiece that demythologises the Western genre. They single out the foul-mouthed dialogue, character vitality and immersive, shit-strewn naturalism for particular praise.

The critic calls Deadwood the greatest TV drama never to achieve its full potential and a magnificent Western masterpiece. They single out Ian McShane’s extraordinary, foul-mouthed saloon owner Al Swearengen as the standout anti-hero whose arc reveals unexpected nuance and humour.

The critic praises the series for its ambitious exploration of how civilization emerges from chaos through power plays and violence in a lawless camp. They highlight the strong ensemble cast, memorable dialogue with musicality, and the show's rare sense of scope after finding its rhythm midway through the season.

The critic praises the series for its foul-mouthed, nihilistic take on the western genre and its exploration of lawlessness and death. It singles out the performance of Ian McShane as Al Swearengen for praise.

The critic calls it a vulgar, gritty, captivating addition to HBO with dark genius from creator David Milch, a vivid living town full of profanity, corruption, and strong performances from the ensemble including Olyphant, McShane, and Carradine.

The critic describes a brutal, passionate, heroic, and fascinating Western deeply rooted in historical reality, with fine performances (especially Carradine and McShane) and outstanding production values under director Walter Hill.

The critic describes the series as riveting with strong performances, especially from Ian McShane, and notes its brutal, lawless setting in 1870s Deadwood.

The piece ranks Deadwood among the top 10 TV shows of all time for its brilliant performances and poetic dialogue. It singles out the show's messiness and aversion to closure as integral to its appeal and thematic truth.