Now That's What I'm Talking About

I stand corrected. Deadwood does surprise. Or, I should say, Al Swearengen, masterfully portrayed by Ian McShane, surprises.

I finally got around to watching episode 10, "A Constant Throb." Most of this season we've seen Swearengen, usually Deadwood's main bully, being bullied and beaten by George Hearst. And as complicated as such matters get, Swearengen just hasn't been able to figure out how to solve the puzzle of Hearst. He's seemed, as the season has progressed, to become more and more powerless.

In "A Constant Throb," Hearst sends Barrett, his main enforcer, over to the Gem to deliver Swearengen a message. This meeting plays out the way Hearst would like--Barrett swaggers with his power over Al. Swearengen still seems muddled, like he's trying to figure out exactly how to handle this situation, but is still far from reaching any sort of decision. As Barrett stands to leave Al's office, he says to Swearengen, "You don't seem halfway like such a halfway bad fucking person."

The absolute beauty of this line is how thoroughly convincing McShane's performance has been in every episode leading up to this moment. The evolution of the confused, frayed Swearengen has played out to the point where, until the second Swearengen's knee makes contact with Barrett's crotch, beginning one of the show's most brutal shit-kickings to date, I'm ready to agree with Barrett's estimation. But no, Swearengen is a surprising character--thanks to both good writing and to McShane's stand out performance.

I'm still tired of the Jane & Joanie love connection, but I can't be bothered to care as much about that anymore. Sure, they're predictable. But as long as Swearengen's around, Deadwood is pure fucking magic.