---
title: "Deadwood: the reviews"
canonical: "https://film.one/tv/deadwood/reviews"
title_page: "https://film.one/tv/deadwood"
critics_score: 82
critics_reviews: 8
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Deadwood (2004): what the critics said

Critics' score 82 from 8 reviews: 8 positive, 0 mixed, 0 negative.

With only 5 reviews in so far, the consensus is uniformly positive: critics praise Deadwood’s brutal, foul-mouthed western setting and its account of how a community takes shape amid corruption and violence. Praise clusters around the ensemble, with Ian McShane singled out repeatedly, and the vivid detail of the town. There is little disagreement, though The AV Club notes that the series finds its rhythm midway through the season. Its emphasis on the dialogue’s musicality complements the other reviews’ appreciation of the profanity, rather than marking a dissent.

## Empire — Ian Nathan

Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 4 July 2005. 

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.

[Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/tv/reviews/deadwood-season-1-review/)

## The i Paper — Mark Butler

Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 6 July 2017. 

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.

[Read the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/television/deadwood-tv-western-cancelled-too-soon-76618)

## The AV Club — Noel Murray

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 1 March 2005. 

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.

[Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/deadwood-the-complete-first-season-1798200448)

## The Guardian — Mark Lawson

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 20 September 2004. 

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.

[Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/media/2004/sep/20/broadcasting.tvandradio)

## Variety — Brian Lowry

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 11 March 2004. 

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.

[Read the review](https://variety.com/2004/tv/reviews/deadwood-4-1200534541/)

## The Hollywood Reporter — Barry Garron

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 18 March 2004. 

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.

[Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/deadwood-review-season-one-hbo-2004-1235857267/)

## The Times — Barry Norman

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 18 September 2004. 

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

[Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/the-very-wild-west-sv85d7cwnmr)

## The Ringer — The Ringer Staff

Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 1 September 2016. 

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.

[Read the review](https://www.theringer.com/2016/09/01/tv/deadwood-hbo-tv-the-book-dadb4007790e)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/tv/deadwood.md