Here I thought when I watched Deadwood several years ago that I was behind the curve. Nice to know someone else came it to it later than I.
I like Swearengen too. Ian McShane is the reason I finished American Gods to the end. That was one of my favorite books that didn't translate well to film for me. Then again, that book shifted my perspective, and the same shift doesn't happen twice.
I like your parallels of a tv character to our current life's villain, a complete deplorable. Thankfully he doesn't have writers, so we get to see all the raw crazy (and criming) in the open. The most surprising thing for me has been discovering how many rocks hid his brand of thinking. I eagerly watch for how this chapter closes and for all the books, movies, and tv shows it will produce. One thing for sure, if we hadn't lived it, we wouldn't believe the facts that will be revealed.
He never pretended to be anything other than the bastard he was. Pumpkin cloaks himself in the kind of piety that requires a high colonic if it’s swallowed.
I don't think that's exactly true, in either regard. Swearengen often claims to be acting out of piety or high minded ideals (rewatch the episode after William is killed.) And on the other hand, Trump often presents himself as telling it like it is, or as revealing his true thuggish motives (ie, promising to smite his enemies.) That's often framed by his followers as brave truth telling and a virtue in itself.
You could just as easily compare Trump to Tony Soprano, or to Jaime and Cersei in Game of Thrones: villains who somehow become a bit more sympathetic as time goes on. There’s a long dramatic tradition of that kind of character, going back to Shakespeare and even further. And the “good guys” in Deadwood aren’t exactly knights in shining armor. Moral ambiguity usually makes for more interesting drama. And I don’t think we’re more accepting of Trump because of Al Swearengen, Richard III or King Lear.
I think Shakespeare's villains are pretty different than current antiheroes; there's a lot less ambiguity and the moral world is in general a lot clearer.
I haven't seen the sopranos or game of thrones. I think current antiheroes are indicative of why trump is appealing to the people he appeals to though. Swearengen is especially on point because he's got political ambitions and because racism/white supremacy are so central to his character and to those political ambitions.
No doubt and must say I watched the series when it originally came out. So there’s that. Disclosure: I liked Swearengen. His sycophants were great characters as well. I recall few were subtle but all great actors. But must say apart from the tough guy crap trump liked to posture having been a NYer in the 70s he was an obvious clown who no one took seriously. I think Swearengen acted and was the real thing. I’ll rewatch.
Then you definitely should watch “The Sopranos”. “The Sopranos” was the greatest show in history of television. “Breaking Bad” and “The Wire” are next. After that, you have “Succession” and “Mad Men.” I would put “Deadwood “ up there if it had stayed on longer.
My understanding is that its ratings just weren't that great, so it got cancelled. There is a Deadwood movie, though, which wraps up most of the storylines.
I am amazed that it was canceled. The show is so great. It was clearly one of the greatest shows of all time that’s a sad commentary on the Americans viewing public. I was very upset when they stop broadcasting it.
I don't really think that's true! when I said they're not related, I meant not directly and not inversely. some good things are really popular (like Beyoncé!) some aren't. it's just kind of a crap shoot.
Here I thought when I watched Deadwood several years ago that I was behind the curve. Nice to know someone else came it to it later than I.
I like Swearengen too. Ian McShane is the reason I finished American Gods to the end. That was one of my favorite books that didn't translate well to film for me. Then again, that book shifted my perspective, and the same shift doesn't happen twice.
I like your parallels of a tv character to our current life's villain, a complete deplorable. Thankfully he doesn't have writers, so we get to see all the raw crazy (and criming) in the open. The most surprising thing for me has been discovering how many rocks hid his brand of thinking. I eagerly watch for how this chapter closes and for all the books, movies, and tv shows it will produce. One thing for sure, if we hadn't lived it, we wouldn't believe the facts that will be revealed.
He never pretended to be anything other than the bastard he was. Pumpkin cloaks himself in the kind of piety that requires a high colonic if it’s swallowed.
I don't think that's exactly true, in either regard. Swearengen often claims to be acting out of piety or high minded ideals (rewatch the episode after William is killed.) And on the other hand, Trump often presents himself as telling it like it is, or as revealing his true thuggish motives (ie, promising to smite his enemies.) That's often framed by his followers as brave truth telling and a virtue in itself.
You could just as easily compare Trump to Tony Soprano, or to Jaime and Cersei in Game of Thrones: villains who somehow become a bit more sympathetic as time goes on. There’s a long dramatic tradition of that kind of character, going back to Shakespeare and even further. And the “good guys” in Deadwood aren’t exactly knights in shining armor. Moral ambiguity usually makes for more interesting drama. And I don’t think we’re more accepting of Trump because of Al Swearengen, Richard III or King Lear.
I think Shakespeare's villains are pretty different than current antiheroes; there's a lot less ambiguity and the moral world is in general a lot clearer.
I haven't seen the sopranos or game of thrones. I think current antiheroes are indicative of why trump is appealing to the people he appeals to though. Swearengen is especially on point because he's got political ambitions and because racism/white supremacy are so central to his character and to those political ambitions.
No doubt and must say I watched the series when it originally came out. So there’s that. Disclosure: I liked Swearengen. His sycophants were great characters as well. I recall few were subtle but all great actors. But must say apart from the tough guy crap trump liked to posture having been a NYer in the 70s he was an obvious clown who no one took seriously. I think Swearengen acted and was the real thing. I’ll rewatch.
Swearengen is great! as are the sycophants, especially Farnum, who's pretty funny to think of as a Pence-like figure.
Yes!
Just occurs to me - have you watched The Wire?
of course! I love the wire.
Then you definitely should watch “The Sopranos”. “The Sopranos” was the greatest show in history of television. “Breaking Bad” and “The Wire” are next. After that, you have “Succession” and “Mad Men.” I would put “Deadwood “ up there if it had stayed on longer.
I have always regretted that deadwood stopped production. It is one of my favorite shows of all time. I always wondered why they stopped it.
My understanding is that its ratings just weren't that great, so it got cancelled. There is a Deadwood movie, though, which wraps up most of the storylines.
I am amazed that it was canceled. The show is so great. It was clearly one of the greatest shows of all time that’s a sad commentary on the Americans viewing public. I was very upset when they stop broadcasting it.
well...popularity and quality don't really have anything to do with each other, in general. It is what it is.
Yes, it seems like the better of the show the smaller the audience. I have found this to be true all along.
I don't really think that's true! when I said they're not related, I meant not directly and not inversely. some good things are really popular (like Beyoncé!) some aren't. it's just kind of a crap shoot.
I was simply talking about TV shows